CGI, a leading IT and business consulting company, has successfully completed the upgrade of all 19 radio stations of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to the full dira solutions suite.
This upgrade has significantly enhanced the reliability, efficiency, and revenue protection of the SABC radio network.
Increased Reliability and Performance
According to Nada Wotshela, Group Executive of SABC Radio, the dira Solution Suite has shown exceptional reliability throughout its implementation phases. The digital transition facilitated by dira has improved the on-air quality across all 19 stations. Additionally, the adaptive commercial playout technology has drastically reduced human errors in ad placements, leading to an 80% reduction in penalties from commercial partners. The suite has also adapted well to the diverse programming formats of public service stations.
Successful Partnership
Michael Thielen, Vice-President of Radio Solutions at CGI, emphasized the close collaboration with SABC, which was crucial for the successful rollout of the dira solutions to all radio stations nationwide. This partnership has ensured the implementation’s success and established a strong working relationship between CGI and SABC.
Unified Production Workflow
The dira solution suite at each SABC station ensures organizational continuity and covers the entire production workflow for media management in radio journalism. It provides a unified working environment across all stations, extending from broadcast production and material exchange to broadcast scheduling, on-air playout, post-production, and archiving.
Adaptability to Diverse Needs
The SABC’s diverse portfolio of radio stations, covering all 11 official languages and featuring both public service and commercial offerings, benefits from the adaptability of the dira solution suite. The dira Multisite module, for instance, allows content sharing between stations, such as between Cape Town and Johannesburg, 1400km apart. Additionally, dira Scotty enables editors to contribute material using iOS or Android applications or via a web browser, ensuring flexibility in the production chain.
Future-Proofing Radio Services
Thielen concludes that digital transformation is crucial for the future of radio. This upgrade ensures that SABC can maintain and enhance its vital services to South African communities, allowing the organization to continue thriving and evolving.
The successful upgrade of SABC’s 19 radio stations to the dira solution suite by CGI marks a significant milestone in the digital transformation of South Africa’s broadcasting landscape, enhancing both the quality and efficiency of radio services across the nation.
About CGI
CGI Inc. is a leading information technology (IT) and business consulting services provider, headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1976, CGI has grown to become one of the largest IT and business consulting firms in the world, employing approximately 90,000 professionals across 400 offices in 40 countries.
About SABC
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is the national public broadcaster in South Africa. Established in August 1936, SABC operates under the mandate to inform, educate, and entertain the public. It is a Schedule 2 “Major Public Entity” as defined by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) of 1999.
News source: CGI
