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Specialty Data Systems, Canada's Leading Supplier of Broadcast Management Software, Launches New Solution for Quebec Market

Toronto, Ontario – November 6, 2006 – Specialty Data Systems (SDS) Inc. of Toronto, Canada's leading provider of broadcast management software, has announced the launch of its unique system to the conventional broadcast market in Quebec.

The first Quebec-based conventional broadcaster to benefit from the SDS solution is Radio Nord Communications Inc., headquartered in Gatineau, which operates five television stations in Quebec: CKRN-TV (an affiliate of Radio-Canada Television), CFEM-TV (an affiliate of TVA Network) and CFVS-TV (an affiliate of TQS Network) in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, and CHOT-TV (an affiliate of TVA Network) and CFGS-TV (an affiliate of TQS Network) in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.

“With five geographically-dispersed television stations, which are part of large affiliates and experience frequent last-minute programming changes, Radio Nord Communications Inc. needed a robust, flexible system that could be tailored toward the station’s needs, and SDS fit the bill,” said Robert H. Parent, Vice-President Executive Ttelevision of Radio Nord Communications Inc.

The SDS eBroadcast system is the first proven all-in-one broadcast management system, enjoyed by cable and conventional television broadcasters, and radio stations, across Canada and in the U.S. The system offers a unified approach to sales, traffic, programming, operations and accounting, enabling a two-way flow of data to be shared across departments and eliminating the need to re-key information or use paper. With the SDS system, users access information on-line in real-time, filtered and formatted to meet their particular needs, whether they’re programming airtime, booking orders, scheduling promos, or producing sales and commission reports.

According to Dave Cole, President of SDS, more and more broadcasters are implementing his company’s solution to benefit from the automated tools and centralized traffic control they need to maintain market share, increase revenue, and reduce costs in an environment that is in constant flux.

To meet the particular needs of Radio Nord Communications Inc. – which not only covers a French-speaking market, but also requires the ability to quickly and easily implement up-to-the-minute programming changes from its network affiliates – SDS worked closely with the broadcaster to develop a customized system. “As a result of our extensive research and development efforts, we have expanded the features of our existing system, which not only benefits Radio Nord Communications Inc., but all our conventional broadcaster clients as well,” said Cole.

"The SDS solution offers broadcasters the opportunity to operate more efficiently, reduce redundancies, and better deal with the technological changes that challenge the industry,” he added. “In a competitive market, these are capabilities that are critical to help broadcasters succeed."