The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has issued its ‘Call for Speakers' for the 2011 International CES, the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow, set to run from 6-9 January in Las Vegas, Nevada.

OmniBus Systems has announced that Alhurra has migrated to the OmniBus iTX broadcast automation and playout platform for its multi-channel services to the Middle East region and Europe. Alhurra went live with iTX at the beginning of May, delivering three Arabic-language news and information networks - Alhurra, Alhurra-Iraq and Alhurra-Europe - from its headquarters in Springfield, Va.

Ericsson is enabling DishTv, India's largest direct-to-home satellite operator, to improve its satellite bandwidth efficiency, increase channel capacity and offer more choice to its subscribers in HD and SD. The head-end upgrade enables DishTv's 7 million subscribers to enjoy new HD services. Viewers can also access new SD channels without the need to swap existing MPEG-2 set-top boxes.

A range of Harris Corporation's 3DTV-compliant broadcast equipment is being used by Nine Network and SBS to support Australia's first 3DTV trials. The trials will include coverage of this year's Harvey Norman State of Origin Series rugby showdown - the world's first sporting event to be broadcast live in 3D on free-to-air TV - and the 3D screening by SBS of selected football matches from South Africa.

ProMotion, the dry-hire facilities house, is the first in the UK to take delivery of Canon's new HD portable lens with built-in image stabiliser, the HJ15ex 8.5 KRSE-V (VAP lens), purchased through Mitcorp.

The prototype of this lens was used extensively in last year's Tour de France - on over 60 % of the shots - and ProMotion, a Canon-dedicated lens house with offices in London and Brighton, see this as being a very important addition to its lens line-up.

Prism Sound has appointed Johannesburg-based Specialized Engineering Group in Media Advancement (SEGMA) as its exclusive South African distributor for all SADiE products and Prism Sound recording and post products.

SEGMA is a group of specialised media engineers who work together to bring advancements to the industry, whether it is through distribution of class leading products or through the research and development of a product that will benefit the media industry. Among the brands already represented by SEGMA is ADAM Audio, which manufactures studio monitors.

SENCORE, provider of signal quality and video delivery solutions, and Bridge Technologies, developer of the first complete satellite-to-set-top-box monitoring solution for IPTV operators, have announced a strategic partnership to provide the VideoBRIDGE line of advanced video analysis, measurement, and monitoring tools to broadcast, cable, and satellite operators around the world.

Harris Corporation has appointed Brad Turner to the newly created position of vice president of strategy and marketing for its Broadcast Communications business. Turner will report to Harris Morris, division president, and will be based in the division's Denver office.

GlobeCast provided a full HD 3D solution recently for the live broadcast of the much-anticipated final of French reality TV show Nouvelle Star. 200 VIPs invited by broadcaster M6 to a cinema in Paris, as well as the subscribers to Orange's experimental 3D channel with access to a 3D television, were treated to a perfect rendering of the depth, colours and light effects of the set.

This year's conference at IBC2010 will seek to tackle the real issues facing the industry, one of the most pressing of which is the place of public service broadcasting (PSB) in an increasingly online and on-demand environment. Is the national and cultural role of the PSB sufficient to protect its privileged position in today's highly competitive and commercially cut-throat world?