Global Arab Network | Oman: Information Ministry Signs Agreement with Sony for Digital TV Studio Complex

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Oman: Information Ministry Signs Agreement with Sony for Digital TV Studio Complex

Global Arab Network - - Adnan Kassar

Monday, 08 November 2010 09:30

Oman (Muscat) - The special agreement related to the implementation of the second stage (technical preparations stage) for the Digital TV Studio Complex and rehabilitation of TV studios in Salalah was signed at the Information Ministry today between the Information Ministry and Sony company of Japan at a cost of RO.26,550,416.

The agreement was signed by Hamed bin Mohammed al Rashdi, Information Minister and Hidiyaki Nakumura, CEO of Sony (Middle East). The ceremony was attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Shuwain al Hosani, Undersecretary of the Ministry, a number of the project committee members. It was also attended from Sony Company by Shjui Nimoto, 1st Vice Chairman of Sony company (Japan) and Masahiro Sugha, senior GM for Planning and Marketing ( Japan).

The complex is a qualitative and developed leap for the TV production in the Sultanate using the most advanced digital technologies at the highly accurate TV system. It will replace the current studios which have been operational since 1974, especially they don't meet the daily needs and do not cope with modern technologies.
Oman_Information_Ministery_-_Sony

A contract has been signed with one of the international expertise house to provide the consultancy service for this project which includes the design state and the engineering supervision for implementation stage. The Complex has been designed using HD digital technologies as per the international standards. The design of the building combines between the Islamic and modern architectures.

The total built area is about 21,000 square meters, in addition to, annexes and external works including the sub station for electricity, the central A/C building and car parks.

The project also includes rehabilitations of a number of the TV studios in Salalah to keep pace with the new technologies used in the new complex and the shift to the HD digital system.

The Complex includes 4 digital studios for drama production and mass recreation, the size of them ranging between 700 to 200 square meters. The complex comprises a department for news that includes a main editing hall up to world class standards with a fourth studio for transmission from inside the hall. It also includes three other digital studios for the news programs.

The complex also includes three studios for connection, in addition to, a theater, built on 1500 square meters to accommodate 700 persons. This theatre may be used for mass programme, as well as, music and theatre performances. The complex also includes the main control room, the central digital network which is the core of the digital system as it accommodates all huge computer sets that control the inflow of information through all the sections of the complex. They are also used for archiving the sound, video and data materials.

It also includes control rooms for studio, digital production, graphics, art digital library, archive, décor, accessories, maintenance center and other supporting equipment and offices.

It is worth mentioning that the first stage (construction and civil works) for the complex has started in March 2006 at a cost of RO.12,755,500. The stage is expected to be completed by the end of February 2011 after which the second stage (technical preparation stage) will be commenced by Sony company of Japan, which signed the contract today. The project and the complex will become operational in November 2011.

The project includes phased out training of a number of Omani cadres in the different engineering, operation and production fields to help them operate the complex in the coming decades.

Sony company said that the project will place the Sultanate of Oman, the leader in the region in terms of using the most advance TV production technologies. It affirmed that the project, when completed in November 2011, will allow TV viewers in the Sultanate of Oman to enjoy the full features of HD transmission for the first time in the region.
(ONA)

Global Arab Network

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