The Channel | 2003 | September

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Global Brief
The latest news from the international broadcasting industry
Rebroadcasting benefits major broadcasters
There has been a welter of announcements over the past few months of new FM
outlets for the BBC and RFI. BBC World Service has now started broadcasting on
FM in Dubai, the latest in a network of FM operations in Gulf Co-operation Council
States bringing BBC Arabic to its listeners in high quality sound. The new service
follows the launch in July of BBCArabic’s FM transmission to listeners in the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) capital Abu Dhabi on 90.3 MHz.
Meanwhile Radio France Internationale has opened new FM relay stations in Zambia,
Ecuador and Iraq and has signed a range of contracts for the rebroadcasting of
programmes in South Africa and Latin America.
And in TV, cable is being exploited. BBCWorld is now available in Paraguay via Cable
Vision Comunicaciones (CVC). Through this new agreement, viewers in Asuncion can
now enjoy the channel’s range of news, current affairs and lifestyle programming.
Radio Korea International has joined the programme line-up onWorld Radio Network’s
satellite channels. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, RKI is placing its English, French
German and Russian output on AIB member WRN. Ms Han Hee-Joo, Executive
Director of Radio Korea International said: “Radio Korea International is celebrating
its Golden Jubilee and in commemoration of this very special year, RKI is diversifying
its platforms for the future by launching satellite audio broadcasting in English, French,
German and Russian, via World Radio Network.”
Science channel shuts UK operation
Einstein TV, a digital broadcaster launched in
the UK in 2000, has closed on the Sky platform
inBritain. The science and technology channel,
headed up by former BBC producer and ITV
department head Steven Timmins, is owned
by Einstein Group which has now been placed
in liquidation. However, the channel’s
international operations continue andTimmins
says “negotiations are continuing for further
roll-out of the TV Channel in other European
countries, including France, Spain and
Portugal, as well as in the Middle East and Asia.”
Despite the closure of the full-time UK channel, Einstein TV is still available for
several hours a day on Friendly TV, another Sky Digital channel. Einstein Group
operates Einstein Consulting, which has provided services to UK broadcasters and to
Al-Jazeera TV.
Peace organisations at war
Radio For Peace International (RFPI), which has been operating since 1987 by mutual
agreement on the University for Peace campus in El Rodeo, Costa Rica, has been
served with an eviction notice from the university. The radio station’s access gate was
locked with chains and patrolled by armed guards, and the radio station was advised
to vacate its facilities in two weeks.
According to General Manager James Latham, the unexplained and legally
questionable decision to evict RFPI threatens to silence the voice of peace on
international airwaves. “This is more than an eviction, this is about the right to free
speech,” he said. “What is most shocking and sad is that this action comes from an
international peace organisation.”
University for Peace, a United Nations-mandated university established in 1980, invited
RFPI in 1985 to build and manage its own office and studios on the university’s Costa
Rica campus. Consequently RFPI constructed studios and transmitters, and has been
broadcasting messages of peace and social justice as well as daily United Nations
programming. Latham continued “Instead of focusing on how to eliminate a fellow
peace organisation, we need to channel our energy toward eliminating war, poverty
and hunger.”
Talks have taken place, and more are scheduled, with a cut-off date in October.
National Geographic goes to Holland
Amsterdam’s Digital Media Centre (DMC)
is to provide play-out services for National
Geographic Channel’s Benelux feed
covering a number of European
territories, including The Netherlands,
Belgium, Sweden and Norway.
Jonathan Try, Vice President Broadcast
Operations and Engineering, said: “One of
the many strong suits of the DMC is offering
multi-language solutions and separate feeds
throughout Europe and the Middle East. We
are delighted that National Geographic
Channel has now also appointed us to take
care of their Benelux playout needs, in
addition to their Central European feed.”
Record UK international station audience
BBC World Service now has the highest
ever number of listeners in the UK,
according to the industry-ratings
organisation, RAJAR. New figures show
that 1.5 million people listen to World
Service across Britain, up 100,000 from
the previous quarter’s figures. Alan Booth,
BBC World Service’s Controller, Marketing,
said: “With many more ways to listen,
people are finding it easier to tune into
the World Service and enjoying the
international news and analysis and
landmark programmes they find there.
“These figures show how significant
listening through television and the
internet has become; something that
would have been almost unimaginable a
few years ago. It’s now possible to listen
to the World Service in the UK via Freeview
[digital terrestrial television], on Sky
digital satellite and cable channels, as well
as online and via [DAB] digital radio.”
3i invests in Jutel
European capital investment house, 3i, has
announced a €5m deal to boost Jutel,
the Finnish supplier of radio automation
systems. The new financing will allow Jutel
to accelerate its growth and develop a
more international-looking business.
Established in 1984, the company is best
known for RadioMan, used by broadcasters
worldwide including Swedish Radio, NHK,
YLE, Estonian Radio and ERTU.
“The financial investment by 3i Group will
be directed into marketing and R&D. This
way we can guarantee further growth and
strengthen our position in the market”,
says Jutel’s CEO Reijo Kivelä.
“In addition to finances,” comments
Jutel’s new member of the Board,
Investment Director Jarkko Virtanen from
3i Finland, “we will bring in our
international network of contacts and high
level of business knowledge as added value
to the deal. We believe that now Jutel
has excellent possibilities to grow and
develop into the global leader of the field.”
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