Advantages
for consumers, broadcasters and manufacturers
T-Systems
transmits RAPS-S data via Astra and Hot Bird
On
2 September 2003 at the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) in Berlin the innovative
channel listing system RAP-S will be presented.
Until
now, consumers have only been able to watch and listen to the digital channels
that were pre-programmed into their set-top-box when it left the manufacturer.
To add new channels, they had to be manually or automatically searched and
stored. They would then be placed somewhere within the channel list. RAPS-S
transmits via satellite each week an up-to-date channel list in which the
channels are bundled together into logical groups. Viewers will never miss out
on new channels. RAPS-S is offered at no charge to the consumers.
Broadcasters,
which use the two main satellites Astra and Hot Bird, achieve a broad technical
reach, but there has been no guarantee that a set-top-box can receive their
channels - the precondition that the consumers are actually able to watch or
listen to them. RAPS-S offers all broadcasters their "own" permanent
channel position on RAPS-S compliant set-top-boxes. In particular small
broadcasters can use this feature as a marketing advantage.
Set-top-box
manufacturers already offer a large variety of innovative ideas in their
receivers. But the creation of channel lists and the search for new channels has
not always been easy for consumers. With RAPS-S, manufacturers with a RAPS-S
licence have a clear advantage over their competitors.
T-Systems
transmits the RAPS-S data streams on Europe's two most important satellite
positions - Astra 19.2° East and Eutelsat Hot Bird 13° East.
This
is one way the consumer will be able to use RAPS-S:
When
the consumers switch on their RAPS-S compliant set-top-box for the first time
they are welcomed by a menu. The consumers will be asked whether they want to
use RAPS-S and, if yes, which of the regional television channels offered by
Germany's public broadcaster ARD is preferred for the channel position 3. Then,
further options can be selected. For example, it is possible to store the
channels available as part of the pay-TV platform Premiere or leave them out, so
that during channel switching with a sole free-to-air receiver no blanked out
channels appear. The consumers can reactivate the option "Load Premiere's
Channels" at any time. All functions offered by RAPS-S are explained at www.raps.tv.
Manufacturers
currently holding a RAPS-S licence will be presented at IFA 2003. Applications
from further manufacturers are welcomed.
RAPS
will be presented during IFA on Tuesday, 2 September at 11.00 CET in hall 2.1 on
stand 211 (Wela Electronic). Contact persons are Jürgen R. Grobbin and Andreas
Paetz.
The
people behind RAPS:
Jürgen
R. Grobbin, Company ideeMedien in Thedinghausen
www.grobbin.com
Wolfgang
Litzinger, Company SetEdit in Trippstadt
www.setedit.de
Andreas
Paetz, Company sattechnik.de in Riesdorf
www.sattechnik.de and www.dxandy.com
Further
Information:
www.raps.tv
info@raps.tv
Deutsche Version