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BELGIAN broadcasting mirrors the unique political and
linguistic nature of the country. The cultural communities,
rather than the federal authorities, are responsible for
regulating radio and TV. Unlike most other European
countries, Belgium does not have a single public
broadcasting organisation, but two separate bodies, with
their own regulations, running their own radio, TV, and
external broadcasting.
Some 95% of Belgians are hooked-up to cable TV; one
of the highest take-up rates in the world. Cable services
offer dozens of domestic and foreign channels, including
Dutch and French stations. Belgium aims to complete the
conversion to digital TV by 2011, when it aims to switch off
the analogue signal.
Luxembourg exerts immense media clout and has a
long tradition of operating radio and TV services for pan-
European audiences, including those in France, Germany,
and the UK. The Luxembourg-based media group RTL is
Les Misérables Continues Alcons Success
The Netherlands – Sound Designer Jeroen
ten Brinke is using an Alcons Audio-based
sound system for the touring production of
Les Misérables.
The show has run for nine months in the
Rotterdam Nieuwe Luxor Theatre, now moved
to Amsterdam’s 1,800-seat
Royal Carré Theatre, a return
to the capital’s theatre after
17 years, and from here
to the Stadsschouwburg
in Antwerpen, so Jeroen’s
design – with equipment
supplied by Peter
Scheunhage at Dutch
rental company Focus
Showequipment – has to take variations in size
and configuration of the venues into account.
“We have a total of three hangs of six LR14
ultra-compact line-arrays (RBN401 pro-ribbon HF
+ 2x 6.5” LF) per side for theatres where we have
three levels or two balconies,” explains ten Brinke.
“But usually, with one balcony, we use the top and
bottom cluster only, which are two arrays of six
LR14s on each side.
“For front-fills, we use eight
low profile SR9s (RBN401 proribbon
HF +2x 5” LF) and the
centre clusters comprise two
hangs of 12 LR16 left and right
(RBN601 pro-ribbon + 2x 8”
LF), and subs are BF302s (2x
15”). The complete system is
powered and controlled by
the Alcons 2x 2kW ALC’s.”
In the final implementation phase, ten Brinke
was joined by West End Sound Designer Nick
Lidster from Autograph London.
Zwolle College Invests in Midas Package
The Netherlands – Midas Consoles Benelux has
sold a package of equipment including two
PRO6 live audio systems, a Venice 160 console,
and Klark Teknik Square ONE signal processing to
the Deltion College in Zwolle, the Netherlands.
The Deltion College provides around 16,000 young
people with vocational training and education
per year.
“This is equipment you won’t yet see in many reallife
theatres; a dream come true for every instructor
and every student,” says Gert Venema, tutor on the
course’s Sound and Theatre Techniques module.
The college’s attitude to new technology is largely
MEDIA MATTERS
behind much of this activity. RTL’s radio stations have
been a part of the broadcasting landscape in France and
Germany for decades.
Luxembourg’s media empire extends to the skies.
The country is home to Europe’s largest satellite operator,
Societe Europeenne des Satellites (SES), which operates
the Astra satellite fleet.
The Dutch approach to public broadcasting is unique.
Programmes are made by a variety of groups, some
reflecting political or religious currents in society, others
representing interest groups. These organisations are
allocated airtime on TV and radio, in line with the number
of members they have.
Public radio and TV channels face stiff competition
from commercial stations, which mushroomed after a
1988 law lifted the ban on commercial broadcasting.
The TV market is very competitive.
down to the passion of the instructors, according
to Midas Consoles Benelux’s Axel Nagtegaal.
“A good specification is wonderful, but without
passion it is sterile,” he says. “The real added value
and creativity of this project is the way the school,
instructors, and consultant have worked together in
a concerted effort.”
For Nagtegaal, the equipment sale is just the
beginning of his cooperation with the Deltion College.
“The school can call us in for training, workshops, and
master classes, and we are also offering internships
to students with the potential for junior and senior
management positions,” he says.
AUDIO MEDIA MAY 2009