Eurosport Asia-Pacific launches new HD Channel

28 September 2011

Eurosport Group today unveiled a new high definition channel available to operators and viewers across its Asia-Pacific territories. The Eurosport Asia-Pacific HD channel serves to further enrich the existing Eurosport offering that includes the popular channels, Eurosport Asia-Pacific and Eurosportnews, which are currently distributed in 19 countries and territories across the region.

From the outset, TFN Media and Kbro in Taiwan and SkyLife in South Korea are the first distribution platforms to take up the exciting new HD channel, with more platforms set to follow before the end of the year.

The launch of Eurosport Asia-Pacific HD continues Eurosport’s strong tradition of broadcast innovation. In 2008, it launched the successful Eurosport HD channel in Europe, which is now available in 43 countries and in 20 languages and 15 million homes. Today Eurosport HD offers 2,500 hours of native HD programming. In 2009, Eurosport 2 HD was launched in Europe and is broadcast in 22 countries, offering extensive coverage of premium properties such as Bundesliga football.

Eurosport’s Managing Director of Asia-Pacific, Mr. Arjan Hoekstra said: “Sport as a genre is ideally suited for high definition (HD) broadcasting. It enhances the viewer experience, and heightens the emotion and action that is synonymous with sport.

“Eurosport Asia-Pacific has always been committed to offering our viewers choice, by broadcasting a wide variety of over 60 sports, and focusing on live coverage. Now our viewers have the added option of watching these sports with superior picture and sound quality, as nowhere is the value of HD more apparent than in sports.”

The Eurosport Asia-Pacific HD channel will be a near simulcast of the current Eurosport Asia-Pacific standard definition channel, with key content in HD to include the Tour de France, WTA Women’s Tennis Tour, IAAF Diamond League Athletics, World Touring Car Championships, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Rugby French Top 14, Eurocup Basketball, World Championships of Alpine Skiing and much more.

Alhurra TV Nearly Doubles its Audience in Egypt

23 September 2011

Alhurra’s weekly audience in Egypt jumped to nearly 8 million viewers according to the international research firm ACNielsen. The network’s viewership in Egypt rose from 3.9 million (7.5 percent) in 2010 to 7.7 million (14.7 percent) in the 2011. Ninety-three percent of network’s audience said they found the news to be credible.

“Alhurra’s viewers responded when we gave them what they wanted: increased local on the scene reporting and human interest stories that resonate with the Egyptian viewer,” stated MBN President Brian Conniff. “The increase in Alhurra’s audience is even more impressive when you consider the competitive media environment in Egypt and the number of channels that have launched since the revolution.”

The audience growth follows Alhurra’s extensive coverage of the Egyptian revolution and the Arab Spring. When asked what television sources viewers followed during the Egyptian revolution, 21.9 percent named Alhurra as one of the stations they used. In January and February, Alhurra’s team of journalists in Cairo and Alexandria provided 18 days of live continuous coverage and broke the news of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation.

Local media increasingly cite and recognize Alhurra for its news. One example is pan-Arab newspaper Alquds Alarabi that wrote, “(Alhurra’s) Akram Khuzam, in particular, shined during the coverage of Egypt’s events for Alhurra. He was professional, warm and moving.” At the same time another regional newspaper, Alhayat, wrote that Alhurra distinguished itself during the Egyptian protests with its up-to-the-minute reporting and live continuous coverage.

Alhurra’s daily flagship magazine program Al Youm originates from Cairo, along with Dubai, Beirut and Jerusalem. The network also broadcasts Hiwar Cairo a weekly show dedicated to the latest in Egypt’s political and social developments. Alhurra’s daily newscasts and talk shows also cover Egyptian news and life extensively.
The survey was conducted among Egyptian adults, age 15+ in June and July of 2011.

Alhurra broadcasts on the Nilesat and Arabsat satellites in the Middle East. It is operated by the non-profit corporation “The Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc.” (MBN). MBN is financed by the U.S. Government through a grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an independent federal agency. The BBG serves oversight and as a firewall to protect the professional independence and integrity of the broadcasters.

RRsat expands its backup and disaster recovery services

23 September 2011

RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd., a leading provider of comprehensive content management and global distribution services to the television and radio broadcasting industries, announced that it signed an agreement with Spacecom, the operator of the AMOS satellite fleet, for monitoring, backup and disaster recovery services.

As part of the agreement, RRsat will act as Spacecom’s remote and mirror earth station for telemetry monitoring, tracking, and commanding (TT&C) and In-Orbit Testing (IOT) operations for Spacecom’s AMOS-5 satellite to be launched later this year. The earth station will also act as a disaster recovery (DR) site for the operations. In addition RRsat will provide indoor space – hosting all relevant ground control equipment and operation positions.

With over 160 satellite dishes in 6 RRsat-owned teleports plus an extensive global fiber network that is connected to RRsat’s advanced playout centers, RRsat provides backup and disaster recovery services that allow TV channels, multi-channel platform operators and satellite operators like Spacecom to stay on air during disruptions in playout, distribution or operations. These services include content preservation, downlink and turnaround uplinks to the same or substitute satellites, fiber and IP connectivity as backup of existing connectivity or as potential workaround solutions, full or partial playout as well as hosting equipment to be maintained and monitored by our expert staff.

Mr. David Rivel, Founder and CEO of RRsat stated: “We are very happy to have signed an agreement with Spacecom, a veteran and current customer, for a new line of business. The Backup and Disaster Recovery Services is a growing market for us where we are well positioned to offer tailor made solutions to our customers due to the size and location of our teleports in Hawley, PA and Emek HaEla, Israel and our full range of end-to-end solutions.”