face to face greg hoskin
Neil Nixon speaks to Greg Hoskin,
managing director of Megahertz
Broadcast Systems Ltd.
Face to Face
What are the benefits of being owned application without favouring a our business only constitutes around
by Azcar? particular approach. half our total revenue.
Azcar is a well-respected major
systems integrator in North America - Megahertz is widely considered to be You describe yourself as a media
in fact we are one of the top five solely an OB truck business. To what entertainments business rather than a
largest in the industry. The group can extent is this true? broadcast business. What do you
draw upon 150 staff worldwide and This is in fact not true at all. However mean by that?
being a publicly quoted company has we do understand why this external Broadcast is far too narrow a concept
its advantages too by providing a
Greg Hoskin,
perception exists as we have for today’s media owners. Our clients
certain level of stability in a turbulent managing director produced many innovative trucks since are increasingly needing to publish
economic market.
of Megahertz
Broadcast Systems
2000. Our vehicle output includes their content across multiple platforms
Although size is significant, it is the
Ltd.
everything from triple expanding including shared environments such as
wealth of experience, solid production trucks and specific-purpose D-Cinema and in the home; personal
understanding of technology and the rigid trucks for radio, concerts and viewing - streaming to PC and the
deployment of leading edge solutions production to small vans and 4x4 Web or for example in public areas
that really counts. Members of the vehicles for satellite, microwave and like digital signage at train stations,
Azcar management team are very fibre communication. Consequently stadiums and venues. We are active in
active in driving the industry standards
MHz will
our reputation seems firmly fixed in all these areas which allows us to
with many working with the SMPTE
continue to
trucks. address adjacent markets in addition
standards body. In fact the current However this could not be further to those undertaken by traditional
president, two past presidents and the
grow its
from the truth. Other clients would broadcasters. For instance we have
2007/2008 VP of engineering of offering to know MHz as a global independent designed and installed broadcast and
SMPTE all came from Azcar. Overall
the wider
teleport and earth station solution AVIT systems within educational
the company participates in eight
digital
provider with installations in London, establishments, sports venues,
SMPTE, IEE or other industry standards
media
Paris, Washington, the Middle East and religious venues (including Mosques in
committees, giving the Azcar Group a as far afield as Fiji. Added to this the Middle East) and even financial
clearer insight into future
community
Megahertz has also been quietly institutions such as the London Stock
technological developments. as these designing and installing server-based Exchange.
companies
systems including 48TB SANs, Avid
What are the benefits of being a truly
further
ISIS-based editing system and How critical to your business is it to
independent systems integrator?
explore
Omneon MediaGrid with FCP for news, retain specialist in-house workshops
MHz is not owned or aligned to any production and playout applications. covering areas such as wood and
particular manufacturer but maintains
file-based
Key examples include: the four HD- metalworking?
healthy established relationships with
solutions in
ready studios, a digital automated MHz has always placed a high value
all the major media equipment and a multi- server-based newsroom and a multi- on offering a complete service using a
software vendors. This independence
platform,
channel playout MCR at Time Group in dedicated team of in-house
provides our clients with a truly
multi-format
India; the server-based infrastructure professionals. Clients want to discuss
objective perspective for business and
technical analysis, system design and
environment
for the 24-hour news channel at etv in every aspect of the detailed design
South Africa; and the HD refit of the directly with the experts and not have
equipment selection. It enables us to production, editing and playout these relayed through 3rd party
listen, understand and constructively facilities at EPIC in the UK. So in truth, project managers. Furthermore,
advise our clients on the best fit of although our reputation is firmly fixed offering a ‘one stop shop’ approach
technology for their specific in trucks, the reality is that this part of with specialist in-house coach and
14 l ibe l may/june 2009 l www.ibeweb.com
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