The Channel | 2002 | September

9 / 28

the channel | 9
South Africa to bring ‘true African story’ to the
world
The South African Broadcasting Corporation has announced that it is to launch a
newAfrica digital satellite channel that will take Africa news and views to Africa and
the world. The new channel, SABCAfrica, will incorporate the present SABCAfrica
and Africa-to-Africa (A2A) on the M-Net DSTV suite of channels, and is part of the
Corporation’s plans to entrench its position through consolidation and reinvestment
in its Africa and international broadcast services.
The SABC said that, in time, SABC Africa will become a fully Africa-based
international television broadcast network that will give the world Africa news, seen
through the eyes of and told by Africans.
“This continent’s events and issues have, for too long, been communicated by non-
Africans,” says Mathata Tsedu, Acting Chief Executive of SABC News. “Africa, and
the rest of the world, rely chiefly on British, European and American broadcast
networks for news about Africa. SABCAfrica will give the continent, and the world,
a channel where Africans will tell the true African story.”
SABC said that it planned to launch SABCAfrica in early October. The channel will
broadcast approximately 70 percent news, views and current affairs and 30 percent
Africa-produced entertainment, drama and magazine programmes. Whilst SABC
Africa will continue to use SABC-generated news and current affairs material, the
broadcaster will also enter into partnerships with other African national broadcasters
to form a network of contributing offices and bureaus that will provide SABC Africa
with news content. There are plans, too, to establish SABC news bureaus on the
continent and in key diplomatic centres elsewhere.
Pakistan to go international?
AIB correspondent Sarwar Rao in Islamabad reports that the Pakistan Electronic
Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has invited applications for the granting of a
licence to establish and operate at satellite television broadcast station, on an
international scale from Pakistan. Application forms and related documents can be
obtained from PEMRA’s General Manager via e-mail at .
DVB, news discussions for Dublin
Following the success of the 2001 and 2002 Conferences, the Montreux-based
International Academy of Broadcasting is to host DVB World 2003 on behalf of the
collaborative DVB Project.
The Conference will present the latest developments in digital
broadcasting at a time when networks throughout the world
are adopting the technology of the future. Speakers will
include those immediately involved in the work of the various
modules of the DVB – the people at the coalface of the new
developments, as well as those who facilitated and pioneered
the implementation – representatives of manufacturing and broadcasting organisations
throughout the world.
The event takes place in Dublin, Ireland, on 5 and 6 March 2003. More information
at .
Meanwhile, preparations continue for the annual News World conference in Dublin
taking place at the Burlington Hotel between 19 and 21 November. Focusing on the
relationships between the media, government and democracy, speakers from across
the news industry will share their concerns and hopes for the global news media.
More than 500 delegates and speakers are expected to attend this annual meeting and
the Association for International Broadcasting is one of the conference’s partner
organisations.
Global Brief
The latest news from the international broadcasting industry
VoA foreign bureaus may close
Bob Reilly, the Voice of America chief
appointed by the Bush administration, is
considering closing five VoA overseas
bureaus in Brussels, Geneva, Hong Kong,
Mexico City and Tokyo to reduce overheads,
The Washington Times web site reported on
9 August.
The report said there has been an outcry
from VOA staff, who say the cuts are to fund
a new station targeted at Iran. Such changes
would require congressional approval, the
web site added.
(BBC Monitoring)
Merlin monitors satellite launch
VT Merlin Communications played a role in
the launch and early orbit phase of the first
‘Meteosat Second Generation’ (MSG1)
satellite launched on an Ariane 5 rocket on
August 28th from Kourou, French Guiana.
AIB Member VT Merlin has a contract with
the European Space Agency (ESA) to operate
and maintain their satellite tracking station
on the European Spaceport in Kourou,
French Guiana. The VT Merlin team tracked
the satellite during its launch and early orbit
phase, relaying commands to the satellite
and providing ground controllers with vital
data about the satellite and its instruments.
The MSG program is a partnership between
ESA and Eumetsat, the organisation that
maintains and operates the European system
of meteorological satellites. ESA is
responsible for designing and developing
the first satellite and procuring a further
two on behalf of Eumetsat. Eumetsat is
responsible for defining the payload based
on user needs, procuring the ground
segment and launchers, as well as operating
the system.
Russian TVC channel to start broadcasting
in USA
Russia’s Center TV channel plans to start
broadcasting in the US in September. Center
TV has already launched pilot broadcasting
in the city of New York.
The company also plans to launch its TVC
International project in the autumn, for the
citizens of Europe, US, and Israel, as well
as the CIS and Baltic countries.
(BBC Monitoring)
DW-TV becomes a digital player
Deutsche Welle will be delivering its TV and
radio programmes to cable headends and
rebroadcasting stations in North and Central
America in digital, through a digital C-band
channel on AMC-1 from mid-September.
DW’s Director General, Erik Bettermann,
says: “The move completes DW’s digital
transition which began with the launch of
PAS-9 in 1997 as well as the launch earlier
this year of our new digital subscription
channel German TV. With this change to
digital on AMC-1, DW-TV is now truly a
digital player in North America”.