AIB gains more new members; steps up regulatory work
AIB is delighted to announce that a number of new members have joined the organisation to take advantage of the comprehensive range of services we offer. Eutelsat, the leading European satellite operator and one of the three top operators in the world for the supply of fixed satellite services, has become a Gold AIB member. The UK's Spectrum Radio Network - providing ethnic radio with access to UK airwaves - has become a Corporate AIB member. So has Voice of Russia, the multimedia broadcaster operating in 38 languages globally. And Antena 3, the leading Romanian news and current affairs TV network has also become a Corporate member.
As AIB's membership grows, so too does the range and quantity of work AIB undertakes for its members. The organisation is stepping up its regulatory work, helping members in their dealings with media regulators and parliamentarians in a number of markets worldwide.
For information on AIB membership, see our website. And see how we support members at board, strategy, distribution, technology, marketing and commercial levels in this summary of our work.

PROGRAMMING AND PRODUCTION
F1 win for Sky Italia
Repeating the success Sky has achieved in the UK with Formula 1 rights - where Sky shows all races live on its pay-TV platform with the BBC screening ten races live and highlights of the rest - Sky Italia has secured F1 rights to all races from 2013. Nine races will be shown live on a free-to-air channel although the decision on which is yet to be taken. RAI currently holds the rights.

North Korea centenary birthday on Channel NewsAsia
As North Korea readied itself for the centenary birthday celebrations of its Founding President and a controversial satellite rocket launch, it invited a record number of foreign journalists to watch the spectacle. Through the surreality of the pomp and pageantry, Pyongyang’s isolation becomes clear. Journalist Ken Teh took Channel NewsAsia viewers on a rare ten-day tour of the hermit kingdom, where he looked behind its image of perfection to see a nation lost in time, and a people whose voices are drowned out by an iron will to conform.
See Ken Teh's interview with Channel NewsAsia's AM Live here.

Antena 3 recognised for journalistic excellence
ATPR, the Association of Television Professionals from Romania has awarded its Marele Premiu Al Juriului, or Grand Jury Prize, to Romania’s news and current affairs channel ANTENA 3 for overall journalistic excellence. Announcing the winner, Mircea Diaconu, the Minister of Culture, said that the jury’s unanimous decision was based on ANTENA 3’s compelling reports, investigations and incisive analysis that made it “the TV station that held our interest all year long.”
In addition to the grand jury prize, ANTENA 3 received awards in four other categories: Grand Jury Prize: ANTENA 3; Jean Louis Calderon Award; Investigative Award; Image Award; Best Reporting Award. Read the full story at http://www.aib.org.uk/antena-3-recognised-by-atpr-for-journalistic-excellence/

RT shortlisted for 2012 Promax/BDA awards
International news network RT has garnered four nominations for the most prestigious award in television design and marketing, the Promax/BDA Global Excellence Awards 2012.
Two of RT’s nominations are for excellence in Promotion Marketing: Noticias No Tienen Fronteras in the News/Information Program Campaign category, and Occupy W@ll Street Application (for Facebook) in the Interactive Media: Online/Interactive Games/Immerging Platforms category.
RT is also a finalist in the Design competition: promotional video for RT Spanish YouTube page is nominated in the Website Promotion – Video-Based category, and RT’s Sport News under Sports: Open/Titles.

AIB recommends...events and more
The Future of Broadcasting, London 27-28 June 2012

The tenth annual Future of Broadcasting conference takes place on 27 and 28 June in London with top speakers from BSkyB, the UK's ITV, Channel 4 and Virgin Media, Zeebox and the UK's Department of Culture Media and Sport. With the broadcasting industry going through an exciting and transformational time – with the development of multiscreen technology and the completion of the digital switchover, TV everywhere is a reality. This brings a number of challenges, as old business models are tested, and a world of opportunities in raising revenue and engaging audiences in a way not previously possible is unveiled.
AIB will be at the event and copies of our international media magazine, The Channel, will be available to all delegates.

Deadline approaching to submit your best
The closing date for this year's AIBs - the international media excellence awards - is approaching. The AIBs celebrate the best in factual programming across TV, radio and online broadcasting, plus on-air talent, sport broadcasting and production technology. Full information on how to enter is at theaibs.tv and the closing date is 2 July.

DISTRIBUTION, TECHNOLOGY, CHANNELS
Eurosport launches Smart TV app
Eurosport has just launched the Eurosport Player application, the sports channel’s online simulcast streaming service on VIERA Connect, Panasonic Smart VIERA’s cloud-based connected TV platform. The launch of the app coincided with the start of Roland Garros, the French Tennis Open Grand Slam enabling fans to select live action from up to seven different courts.
The Smart VIERA app will give its pay subscribers access to live streaming from Eurosport, Eurosport 2 and bonus channel content for other significant sporting events such as snooker, World Superbikes and wintersports, and feature a full seven day EPG schedule.
Read more here

ABU Technical Bureau establishes Strategic Advisory Group
The mid-year meeting of the ABU Technical Bureau took place in Kuala Lumpur in late May where it decided to set up a Strategic Advisory Group on technical issues. The six member group will make recommendations on areas such as human resource development and information transfer, among others.
The meeting, chaired by the Technical Committee Chairman, Mr Yeo Kim Pow of MediaCorp, was attended by 16 members of the Bureau. It addressed the activities carried out by the Technical Department, identified important issues faced by the broadcasters today and discussed possible solutions.

WRN Broadcast opens Broadcast Data Centre
WRN Broadcast has opened a Broadcast Data Centre as part of its state of the art facility in Vauxhall, London. The new, purpose-built data centre was constructed last year following increased interest from existing international broadcast clients, as well as new clients such as Farncombe and IPWorldTV who operate within the wider media industry.
The Broadcast Data Centre offers broadcast companies and related technology and telco businesses the opportunity of secure rack space in London with the added benefit of broadcast expertise being onsite 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.
More on this at http://www.aib.org.uk/wrn-broadcast-opens-broadcast-data-centre-at-london-hq/

FM for Sawa in Libya
The Broadcasting Board of Governors has launched an FM radio transmitter in Tripoli that covers the Libyan capital and its suburbs, home to about two million people. The new transmitter broadcasts a 24/7 stream from Radio Sawa, with a signature mix of more than six hours of daily news combined with popular Arabic and Western music.
“This is a country in turmoil, seeking a foothold in democracy,” said Brian Conniff, president of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, home to Radio Sawa. “We offer a reliable source of news and information essential as the people of Libya strive to shape their future. We are proud to support free media in Libya, most especially during its political transition.”
The BBG, which provides and maintains technology around the world to support its broadcasters, had been working non-stop since mid-2011 to get the new transmitter in place. Compact enough to fit in a refrigerator box, the equipment enables programming on 106.6 FM, an easy-to-find frequency.
“It’s crucial that we reach audiences via the media that they prefer,” said André Mendes, the BBG’s Chief information Officer and Chief Technology Officer. “In this region, at this time, that means FM radio.”

PEOPLE
Grégory Samak has joined the Management Committee of euronews, Europe’s leading international news channel. Samak is in charge of World Broadcasting and Programme Marketing. His task is to give new momentum to the channel, its schedule and programmes on all media, thanks to his extensive experience in television other communication platforms. . One of his first goals will be to showcase to a worldwide audience the high quality of the work done on a daily basis by the 450 journalists from 30 countries who produce the 11 language services of euronews, under the direction of Lucian Sârb.

Rajeev Kaushik has been appointed Director of Sales, Asia for SatLink Communications. Kaushik heads SatLink's new Singapore office which will look after the company's Asian sales and business development activities. Prior to joining SatLink, Rajeev held engineering and management roles within the satellite and VSAT market including SingTel and Intelsat. In his role at SatLink, Rajeev will be responsible for establishing and developing strategic partnerships with leading industry operators and broadcasters within Asia.

Sean Cohan has been promoted to EVP, International, at A+E Networks. Cohan leads A+E Networks' international division, responsible for the brands, content and services outside the USA.
Cohan was previously SVP, International at A+E Networks.