The Channel | 2002 | September

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the channel | 7
BBC launches massive HIV/AIDS media campaign
The first-ever mass media campaign aimed at increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS in
India was launched in London on 9th July by the BBC World Service Trust in
partnership with India’s National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and the
country’s national television service, Doordarshan together withAll India Radio with
support from the UK’s Department for International Development (DfID).
The mass media campaign has been welcomed as an innovative, effective way to
tackle HIV/AIDS in a country where talking about sexual health issues is still
considered taboo. An interactive detective drama, a ‘reality TV’ youth show and a
radio phone-in programme form a unique media partnership between the BBCWorld
Service Trust and Doordarshan to
combat the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Dr S Y Quraishi, Director General,
Doordarshan said, “Doordarshan’s
growing partnership with the BBC is
of great importance to us in India. We
share the same values of public service
broadcasting and there can be no more
vital public service work than mounting
a campaign like this to head off the
threat of AIDS to our country’s social
and economic development.”
More than 1,000 individual broadcasts will be aired to reach more than half the
Indian population. More than 3,500 video screenings of the programmes are also
planned for villages with limited access to TV and radio. The BBC World Service
Trust and Doordarshan TV have teamed up to create cutting-edge interactive TV and
India’s first audience participation drama.
In addition, a major TV advertising campaign made locally in Doordarshan studios
in Lucknow, Jaipur and Delhi underlines the need for people to protect themselves
from AIDS.
BBC World Service Trust is a not-for-profit organisation, created to promote
development through the effective use of media. The Trust focuses on health,
education, social action and media training.
Merlin rebrands, extends its family
AIB member Merlin Communications,
acquired by UK ship-building to support
services conglomerateVosper Thorneycroft
last December, is to rebrand. From this
summer, the transmission and broadcast
facilities management company will be
known as VT Merlin Communications, with a logo bringing the company - formed
from the transmission department of BBC World Service - in line with other Vosper
Thorneycroft companies.
Meanwhile, Merlin has signed up US religious broadcaster Family Radio as a major
short wave transmission company. Merlin will transmit Family Radio programming
from sites in Britain, on Ascension Island, in the United Arab Emirates and South
Africa to provide coverage inAfrica, Russia, India and the Middle East. Programming
is delivered from Family Radio studios via FTP and fixed circuits. Family Radio did
make use of the WSHB shortwave station at Cypress Creek in South Carolina, USA.
However, this facility is now up for sale.
Threat to CNN Israeli distribution
CNN International may face removal from Israeli cable systems in November,
according to a variety of reports from the country in August. The cable companies
blame their financial situation, saying that they can no longer afford to carry the
channel after the current carriage contracts expire. Observers suggest, however, that
the situation boils down to CNN’s coverage of the Middle East situation, and in
particular a comment made earlier in the year by Ted Turner, CNN’s founder, that
Israel is engaged in terrorism. Although Turner subsequently apologised, CNN is
reported to have been deluged with complaints.
Global Brief
The latest news from the international broadcasting industry
World Radio Network extends in Africa
Radio Choice, Zambia’s newest independent
radio station has chosen AIB member World
Radio Network to provide its overnight
sustaining service.
Radio Choice is airing the London-based
repackager of international radio from
midnight to 5am, seven days a week on
107.8 FM. Programmes now available to
listeners across Lusaka, the Zambian capital,
come from Radio Netherlands, Radio
Sweden, Radio Australia, National Public
Radio, Public Radio International, Radio
Polonia and United Nations Radio.
Other African broadcasters using WRN
include South Africa’s nationwide SAfm,
Bush Radio in Cape Town, South Africa,
UNAM Radio in Windhoek, Namibia and
Malawi’s fm 101 POWER.
WorldSpace technology for Kenya
educational broadcasts
The Kenya Institute of Education is to
broadcast educational programmes to all
schools in East Africa via WorldSpace, the
satellite radio company.
Through a 24-hour dedicated channel, KIE
hopes to initially reach 30,000 schools in
Kenya before expanding its coverage to the
Comesa region.
The initial capital outlay of 540m Kenyan
shillings (6.92m US dollars) for the project
has been scaled down to 60m Kenyan
shillings million (769,000 dollars). The
revision follows the purchase by Afrispace
Kenya Ltd, WorldSpace’s local subsidiary, of
new low cost receivers from India that can
run on solar panels or an ordinary car
battery. WorldSpace will donate about half
of the 30,000 receivers.
Senate confirms Broadcasting Board of
Governors chairman
The US Senate has confirmed Kenneth Y.
Tomlinson as the third chairman of the
Broadcasting Board of Governors, which
supervises all US government-supported,
non-military international broadcasting.
Tomlinson will succeed Marc B. Nathanson,
who has served as a member of the Board
since it was established in 1995 and as its
chairman since October 1999.
Tomlinson has more than 35 years of
journalistic experience. In 1982, he was
appointed director of the Voice of America,
where he served until 1984. Tomlinson
moved to Reader’s Digest where he was first
managing editor, beocming editor-in-chief
in 1989.
Tomlinson is the co-author of P.O.W., a
history of American prisoners of war in
Vietnam.
The Broadcasting Board of Governors is a
nine-member, presidentially appointed body
which supervises all US government-
supported international broadcasting,
including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
and VOA, Radio Free Asia, Radio and TV
Marti, and Worldnet Television.