Founded in 1985, the International Satellite Operations Group (ISOG), and rebranded in 2015 as International Media Connectivity Group (IMCG), is a committee of the World Broadcasting Unions (WBU). IMCG provides a global forum for members of the WBU to exchange information, outline requirements and resolve common operational problems.
WBU-IMCG’s mission is to identify, evaluate, educate and (where appropriate) implement solutions for all operational matters associated with transmission (collection and delivery) by any means and to any platform of video, audio, and broadcast-related data from any location where news, sports, special events and entertainment originate and/or are distributed. Operational issues considered by WBU-IMCG include transmissions/delivery of audio/video data using Internet Protocol (IP) and any media platforms. The WBU-IMCG will work neutrally with all relevant international groups, institutions, organizations, and appropriate bodies to achieve these ends. By doing so the WBU-IMCG reflects one of the core aims of the WBU by supporting the needs and the requirements of broadcasters around the world.
Chair:
Morwen Williams, Head of UK Operations, BBC News
Vice-Chair:
Joe Shimizu, Senior Manager, Development and Strategy Center, General Broadcasting Administration, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp)
WBU-IMCG Forums are held twice a year and permit open dialogue from an international perspective on key communications issues.
WBU-IMCG is a tri-partite organization whose participants include members from the WBU including broadcasters, satellite and fibre optic carriers, transmission service providers and invited participants associated with the industry.
The work done by the International Media Connectivity Group (IMCG), which was originally created by the North American Broadcasters Association (NABA) and now operates under the WBU umbrella, is of great value to NABA. As long as FOX utilizes satellites for distribution and contribution (and we expect to be for many years), IMCG and the relationships it fosters internationally will continue to be important to us. Operational benefits of IMCG like devising a Carrier-ID Standard, Profiles for Digital Newsgathering or its must-attend twice-annual Forums, are all part of the many reasons that FOX continues to be a long-standing member of NABA. We also invest time and resources on spectrum issues, operational improvements, and signal protection from piracy, just to name a few. We do so because NABA provides an efficient and neutral stage by which we can share ideas and tackle challenges.
Richard Friedel, Executive Vice-President, Engineering, Operations and Technology,
Fox Television Stations / President, NABA
The Global VSAT Forum is an association of key companies involved in the business of delivering advanced digital fixed satellite systems and services to consumers, and commercial and government enterprises worldwide. The Forum is independent and non-profit and has a global remit. It is also non-partisan - any companies or organisations with an interest in the VSAT industry are encouraged to join.
Visit SiteThe Satcoms Innovation Group (formerly Satellite IRG) is an open forum which generates innovative thinking, enabling the industry to come together and discuss the current challenges facing the satellite industry. SIG promotes innovation to improve operational efficiency and reduce impact, saving time and money. The group provides members with an opportunity to discuss the operational and technical impact of the changing satellite ecosystem, allowing them to address issues within the industry to maintain satellite communication as a leading form of connectivity.
Visit SiteWTA is a nonprofit trade association that focuses on the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global hybrid carriers. WTA is dedicated to helping the operators of teleports maintain and expand their businesses by advocating for their interests, promoting excellence in business practice, technology and operations, and promoting the vital role of teleports.
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