AmberFin and ATG Broadcast have today announced an expansion of their UK channel partnership agreement to encompass the Middle East region. ATG Broadcast, which has been AmberFin’s channel partner in the UK since early 2011, is opening a new sales and support office, ATG Broadcast Middle East FZ-LLC in Dubai Media City, Dubai, UAE, enabling them to promote AmberFin in the UAE, Lebanon and Qatar.

ATG Middle East will promote and support AmberFin’s iCR broadcast content ingest and file transcoding system including the recently introduced Unified Quality Control (UQC) module. UQC combines multiple tools for baseband checks during tape ingest, file-based post-ingest QC and overall operator-controlled QC including annotation and mark-up.

“The Middle East market is one we understand well and which we are now able to support directly through our recently-opened regional office in Dubai Media City,” comments ATG Broadcast Managing Director Graham Day. “Broadcasters worldwide today recognise the huge gains in efficiency, flexibility and operational security they can achieve by switching from discrete cine film and video tape to file-base operation. We have first-hand experience of integrating AmberFin’s iCR products into our own system designs. They are ideal for television networks and playout service-providers seeking a solution to the tasks of format manipulation and automated quality control in modern file-based workflows.”

“The extended channel partnership agreement will help AmberFin build a higher profile with potential customers in an important regional market. “The Middle East is a focus in our market development initiative and we recognise the need for a local presence,” commented Jeremy Deaner, Chief Executive Officer at AmberFin. “We have developed a close working relationship with ATG Broadcast in the UK and the decision to extend our relationship into the Middle East region makes sense on many different levels.

“The company’s MD, Graham Day, has an excellent understanding of this region having spent a number of years working in Dubai, whilst their Dubai office manager, Hassan Ghoul is somebody we have worked with before and know well,” explained Deaner.

AmberFin’s decision to strengthen its presence in the Middle East comes at a time when many regional broadcasters are investigating their quality control resources. ATG Broadcast’s Graham Day sees significant potential for establishing iCR in this market, especially with its recently introduced Unified Quality Control (UQC) capabilities.

“AmberFin’s iCR solution is unique in the market, given its ability to create a high quality file-based HD/SD master, provide unique file conversion to multiple formats and implement appropriate levels of automated and manual quality control, all within a single unified software environment,” explained Day. “Now is the right time to promote this smart technology to Middle East broadcasters, plus we know the working relationship works well from our experiences in the UK.”

About AmberFin

AmberFin (www.amberfin.com) is a company at the heart of solving file-based workflow problems for content owners, broadcasters, sports organizations and post-production houses. The AmberFin Media Factory, based on the iCR family of modular software products, digitizes and transforms new and archived content, combining a service oriented design philosophy with intelligent use of cost-effective generic IT. This enables customers to save time, increase revenues and grow in-line with business demands.

Unique to the Media Factory system, AmberFin’s industry first approach to Quality Control, known as Unified Quality Control (UQC), introduces a QC mark that brings a new level of trust to media assets. UQC uniquely combines an automated process with a human touch, enabling more efficient and effective decision-making and new levels of confidence in the file creation and transformation processes.

AmberFin has experienced growth of 90% in the last year thanks to hundreds of iCR systems being deployed worldwide. Systems that are trusted where quality matters by some of the world’s leading media organizations including Sony Pictures, NBA, Turner Broadcasting, ZDF, NRK, National Geographic, BT, Discovery and Warner Brothers.

About ATG Broadcast

ATG Broadcast (www.atgbroadcast.com) is one of the world’s most successful providers of high-end reliable and easy-to-operate integrated systems for broadcasters and programme makers alike.

ATG Broadcast’s engineering skills extend from front-end studio systems to transmission-based systems for multiple deployment platforms. ATG Broadcast offers a comprehensive portfolio of services including workflow design, project planning, equipment installation, software configuration, commissioning, documentation and on-site training.

ATG Broadcast is part of Dan Technologies’ Systems Integration Division, one of Europe’s leading suppliers of audio, video, transmission products and digital media solutions.

The Dan Technologies Systems Integration Division covers a wide spectrum of operations ranging from designing, installing and commissioning studios, playout centres, news-rooms and satellite systems to providing the complete infrastructure of television and radio stations for major broadcasters and service providers worldwide.

The Dan Technologies Group operates from offices in the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Vietnam and Duba