May 28, 2007 -- Sony Professional Services has struck a couple of major deals with state broadcasters in North Africa. Algerian Public Television, L'Entreprise Publique de TéléVision (EPTV) has commissioned Sony to build five HD OB (Outside Broadcast) vehicles for the channel while Egypt's ERTU will have an additional two OB trucks for sports broadcasting.

EPTV, which is responsible for transmitting three channels of locally produced news, entertainment, culture and sports programming to French and Arabic speakers in the North African region, is building five HD OB vehicles as part of a major internal modernisation strategy and its move towards HD production.

The HD trucks will include 48 HDC-1550 HD cameras, 80 LMD monitors, 10 HDCAM VTRs, and five Sony video switchers amongst others.