30 September 2011
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU)* will demonstrate its new online content trading platform EurovisionShowcase.com on the Eurovision TV stand (G3.01) and at the Internet Zone (Level 0) at MIPCOM in Cannes, 36 October.
EurovisionShowcase.com captures programming and formats from around the globe enabling creators to showcase their work and buyers to source compelling content for their channels.
Andy Wood, CEO, Eurovision London Limited (EBU subsidiary) comments, Our strategy is to create an online marketplace and community for media professionals. This media platform for audio and visual content represents a significant step by the EBU towards serving the broader media community.
He explains, Eurovision Showcase offers an easy-to-use and secure environment. It complements existing distribution channels by providing a powerful set of tools such as HD video upload, template driven entry, advanced search, private screen rooms, personal and company contact profiles and social features including private messaging and relationships.
Why EurovisionShowcase.com?
The falling cost of content production and the widespread availability of broadband and mobile viewing platforms are key enabling factors. The push to develop and improve technology capable of receiving and playing high-quality content media is in turn driving demand for more and higher quality audio and visual content.
In turn, the trading of rights must evolve to enable properties to be purchased more easily. As the volume of content grows an electronic platform is needed that makes promoting and sourcing quality content for media professionals easier.
Platform brings businesses together
Members of Eurovision Showcase can upload, browse and search a database of content and formats. Buyers can then negotiate directly with the sellers to conclude rights deals. It provides content buyers with a powerful sourcing tool and enables open collaboration and sharing between the TV & media content community.
Eurovision Showcase has been developed by Eurovision London Limited, a subsidiary of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). EBU Members have an audience share exceeding 650 million viewers each week.
30 September 2011
Voice of America reporter John Tanza Mabusu is getting credit for successfully pushing the worlds largest online map sites to recognize the new Republic of South Sudan, which gained independence more than two months ago, but is still not shown on most maps.
When South Sudan was declared an independent nation, we were all excited, says Tanza. So, he was surprised when online sites didnt quickly update their maps to reflect the emergence of the new nation on July 9th.
Tanza, a native of South Sudan who works for the VOA program, “South Sudan in Focus,” decided to launch an online petition calling on Google maps, Microsoft and other sites to make the change and show South Sudan as a separate nation from its neighbor to the north.
The petition, which he organized in his private time, caught the attention of Google Maps. The site, which said it had already been gathering data for the change, promptly placed South Sudan on its map. I dont want to make a big deal of this, Tanza told one of his VOA colleagues, Nation building is a long process, and there are the small steps you need to achieve on an individual basis.
Tanza, who has reported extensively on the countrys long struggle for independence, has now been recognized by a number of media organizations, which credit him with Putting South Sudan on the map.
He says the attention has helped get the maps changed, but he gives the credit to those who took the time to join the campaign. I have been receiving congratulatory messages for taking this initiative. But the truth is, I need to thank them for signing the petition, Tanza says. And he says hes optimistic that all the mapping services will soon make the change.
30 September 2011
Eurosport are the sponsors of the AIBs category “Best cross-media production”. Eurosport is the leading sports entertainment group in Europe and boasts six TV channels worldwide. The flagship channel Eurosport is the no 1 pan-European TV channel, broadcast in 20 languages and reaching 125 million homes across 59 countries.
OASYS are the sponsors of the AIBs category “Most innovative technology”.
OASYS has been leading the transition to software-based playout solutions for 20 years. The company’s flagship product, OASYS Player, is complemented by straightforward optional OASYS software to provide efficient, high quality, end-to-end playout solutions that are easy-to-use, scalable, flexible and, most importantly, highly reliable.
RTG TV are the sponsors of the AIBs category “Best current affairs documentary”.
Russian Travel Guide TV is an international documentary TV channel focused on the cultural and geographical variety of the world’s largest country. It covers a wide range of topics from history to culture, cuisine, nature programmes, active holidays, and Russia’s ethnic mix.
Vizrt are the sponsors of the AIBs category “Best live sports coverage”. Vizrt creates leading-edge content production tools for the digital media industry – from award-winning 3D graphics and maps through integrated video workflow solutions and online publishing tools. Vizrt proposes a new vision for content creation, management and delivery with an end-to-end solution from conception to multi-format distribution.
The 2011 AIBs Peoples Choice Award will
be hosted on
30 September 2011
11 SEPTEMBER 2011 Yahoo! Maktoob and the Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) have announced that the 2011 Peoples Choice Award will be hosted on Yahoo! Maktoob, harnessing the sites enormous reach, which includes over 55 million users in the Middle East and North Africa. The Peoples Choice is the category in the AIBs international media excellence awards which is open to online viewers everywhere who vote for their favourite entry, and each year attracts entries from broadcasters across the globe.
This years topic for the Peoples Choice award is Best Coverage of Democracy Uprisings reflecting the momentous changes happening in the Middle East and North Africa during the Arab Spring and highlighting the impact that traditional and social broadcasting has had in enabling the movements for change.
The deadline for final entries is Friday September 16th, but already programmes have been submitted from Europe, Middle East, and Africa and include entries from Al Jazeera, Al Hurra, France24, NDTV, Press TV and The Doha Debates. A short list of the six best will be selected from which online users from across the world can view and vote on Yahoo! Maktoob from the second half of October. The winner will be announced at the AIBs ceremony on the 9th November.
Yahoo! Maktoob will be hosting the programmes on special pages in both English and Arabic versions, allowing a worldwide audience to participate in viewing and then choosing the one they like best. Viewers can also use the power of Yahoo! Maktoobs platform to comment on their choice and share their views and their votes with friends on Yahoo! Maktoob and other social media platforms.
Hosam El-Sokkari, Head of Audience, Yahoo! Middle East said, As the premier digital media company, our partnership with AIB demonstrates our commitment to international broadcasting and our determination to bring the best from the top broadcasters in the Middle East. Yahoo! Maktoob is a natural home for the Peoples Choice Awards, as it leverages our existing video property and our big user base. The unfolding of the events in the region has been a central theme in the discussions that have been taking place across Yahoo! Maktoobs social platforms, and it is only fitting that the general public should decide the best programme on these events that have been vital to so many and on which thousands of individuals have contributed to breaking the news.
Simon Spanswick, CEO of the Association for International Broadcasting said, The partnership with Yahoo! Maktoob means that these compelling TV programmes will catch the attention of a huge audience across the world, especially in the Middle East and North Africa, the heart of the region affected by the Arab Spring. These highly important events have presented extreme challenges for the broadcasters trying to cover them, but have resulted in some really fantastic output. They have demonstrated new methods of working where broadcasters have used input from those involved directly in the uprisings, via citizen journalism and social media, and have added context and validation before transmitting the news to a wider audience. Voters comments will once again make sure the story evolves still further as broadcasters continue to be fully engaged with the audiences they are serving.
Media Contacts
For further information please contact
Tala Toukan, Yahoo! Middle East
ttoukan@yahoo-inc.com
– or
Roger Stone, AIB
roger.stone@aib.org.uk
T +44 (0)20 7993 2557
AIB, PO Box 141, Cranbrook TN17 9AJ, UK
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO) is the premier digital media company, creating deeply personal digital experiences that keep more than half a billion people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the globe. Thats how we deliver your world, your way. And Yahoo!s unique combination of Science + Art + Scale connects advertisers to the consumers who build their businesses. For more information, visit the pressroom (
target=_blank>
pressroom.yahoo.com) or the companys blog, Yodel Anecdotal (
target=_blank>yodel.yahoo.com).
About the AIB
Established in 1993, the AIB is the international industry association and global knowledge network for the international broadcasting industry cross-media, cross-border, cross-cultural. With a reach of over 25,000 communicators and media professionals, AIB is a unique centre of information about international broadcasting, covering TV, radio, online and mobile. AIB researches regular market intelligence briefings for its members and provides client-specific consultancy and project support. Members receive an extensive package of services throughout the year. AIB publishes the comprehensive Global Broadcasting Sourcebook and the international media magazine, The Channel. AIB hosts the annual AIB International Media Excellence Awards the “AIBs”. For more information, visit
target=_blank>www.aib.org.uk or call +44 (0) 20 7993 2557
29 September 2011
The Associated Press (AP) today announced an exclusive deal between its video newsgathering arm, Associated Press Television News (APTN), and North Korea to provide video news coverage in high definition to international broadcasters from the country.
The three-year agreement represents a unique partnership with North Korean state broadcaster, KRT, and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. Under the deal, Associated Press Television News will be the only agency to transmit broadcast-quality HD pictures of key news events in North Korea. Additionally, the agency will have exclusive rights to deliver unilateral HD video feeds for all news broadcasters wishing to transmit from the country.
The infrastructure has been put in place ahead of 2012 when North Korea is expected to stage a series of major events to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the founder of the communist state.
The new deal builds on a long-standing relationship with authorities in North Korea, after the agency became the first Western news organization to open an office in Pyongyang in 2006.
In June of this year, AP announced the signing of two memos of understanding and a contract with the Korea Central News Agency, including one to open an AP news bureau in Pyongyang.
Sandy MacIntyre, vice president and director of news for APTN, said: It builds on our leadership position in covering North Korea and makes us the must-have partner for any news organization wanting comprehensive coverage from the region particularly high-definition video.
Daisy Veerasingham, senior vice president of AP, said: The move to HD in North Korea is part of APs multi-million dollar upgrade of our global newsgathering infrastructure which will see us fully HD for news in time for the London Olympics. Well be HD for all entertainment customers on Nov 11th 2011.
