CBC rolls out CBC News Express broadcast service, powered by Audience digital signage platform across five major Canadian airports

  • Provides airport passengers with up-to-the-minute national and local news and weather information – from live data feeds
  • Audience digital signage solution provided by Capital Networks Limited ensures Canada's national public broadcaster has cost-effective, high quality content management and delivery
  • Part of CBC's drive to ensure it remains nation's top creator and distributor of news content across all media platforms
Markham, Ontario, Canada – 01 June, 2010 – CBC, Canada's national public broadcaster, has rolled-out its CBC News Express broadcast service to five major airports across Canada – including Toronto Pearson International Airport, the busiest in Canada – to ensure that critical news and weather reports are available to the thousands of people who pass through the country's airports each day. The service is powered by Capital Networks Limited’s Audience digital signage solution, which enables it to present the latest video content and live data feeds for up-to-the minute local and national news, weather, business and sports updates. The highly scalable Audience platform will allow CBC to deliver its News Express service to more airports and more public spaces in the near future.

CBC is dedicated to delivering its news journalism to a wide audience and across a range of media, exploiting new and innovative new media – such as digital signs – to connect with people no matter where they are. The broadcaster was replacing a previous system and needed a solution with advanced content management capabilities that would be able to support the expansion across multiple airports. The Audience solution is an open system that integrates easily with existing hardware and software so CBC didn't have to 'rip and replace' its entire infrastructure, which helped minimize costs.

“As Canada's national broadcaster, CBC takes the management of public dollars extremely seriously. And, CBC: News Express is an important source of commercial revenue for the Corporation. Similarly, we can't compromise quality for cost because we have a reputation for delivering technologically advanced broadcasts across every medium,” commented Robert Bishop, executive producer at CBC. “After a rigorous selection process, we chose Capital Networks as our digital signage partner because it delivers on both these points: the solution is cost-effective because it’s so scalable and open; and the quality of broadcast is second to none, as is content management.”

“Capital Networks bridges the gap between digital signage and broadcasting,” Bishop continued. “Most companies fall into one category – digital signage vendor or broadcasting production – but Capital Networks has a solid history in both. Its Audience broadcast solution ensures that our programming is really sophisticated in terms of layout and design and meets our need for flexibility and rapid delivery in a rapidly changing news environment.”

CBC's editors create all the video news content in the corporation's Toronto Broadcasting Centre. Digital files are managed through Flip Factory and delivered into the Audience system at the click of a mouse. This creates a seamless flow so editors don't have to spend time uploading, and news items go into the system immediately. Added to this, local data from news and weather reports are integrated into the system via live data feeds so travelers see local information as soon as it's reported.

Jim Vair is VP Business Development at Capital Networks: “CBC is an extremely well respected cultural institution so of course we are delighted to be working alongside them as they expand the News Express service into more airports across Canada. The speed of delivery via digital signage means that it is an ideal way of communicating real-time news to public spaces. We look forward to working with CBC in the future as it continues to grow its broadcast services and reach new audiences, while all the time providing a valuable public service.”

About CBC/Radio-Canada:
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages. For more information please visit: http://www.cbc.ca/

About Capital Networks Limited:
Capital Networks Limited (CNL) is a leading global provider of broadcasting and dynamic digital signage software, which it delivers to 35 countries worldwide through authorized re-sellers. Its Audience™ suite reflects a remarkably flexible product line widely accepted by leaders in a wide range of industrial, educational, broadcast, cable, digital signage, hospitality, military and medical applications. Clients include: the BBC, United States Marine Corps, Purdue University, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Pan Pacific Hotels in Singapore and Cablevision. CNL is a privately held company based in Markham, Ontario, Canada and has been established since 1991. For more information please visit: http://www.capitalnetworks.com/

Contact information:
Morgan Henderson
Marketing Manager – Capital Networks Limited
Tel: 905-946-1122 x249
Email: mhenderson@capitalnetworks.com

Alison Smith
ThePressOffice – PR for Capital Networks Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 1780 721433
Email: asmith@pressoffice.targetwire.com

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