Latest edition of The Channel published - and we need your help!
The latest edition of the AIB's international media magazine, The Channel, has been published. Print copies have been mailed to our thousands of subscribers around the world and additional copies are available at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona from 24-27 February. The Channel will also be given to delegates at the forthcoming TV Connect and FT Digital Media conferences in London and at other key media events.
Inside you can read our focus articles on children's TV, find out about the redefinition of France Médias Monde and much more.
We are seeking input from our international readership through an online survey. You can take part online with the chance to win a brand new, top-of-the-range Android tablet. Go to the survey here.

PROGRAMMING, PRODUCTION AND MARKETING
Ukraine's foreign language radio services vanish
The focus of the world's news media has been Ukraine over the last few days. Footage from channels' own crews and from international news agencies such as Ruptly and Reuters have brought pictures of the tragic clashes in Independence Square to viewers around the world. Even CCTV News - China's international English-language news channel - covered the pro-democracy demonstrations, and were generally even-handed.
For listeners to Radio Ukraine International, however, keeping in touch with developments wasn't straightforward as English- and German- language services disappeared. RUI has regular daily programmes in English, German and Romanian, all available online and on-demand. However, the English-language programmes disappeared on 21 February and as this briefing goes to press, they remain unheard.

Eurosport launches insiders series
Eurosport is planning to take its sports fan viewers on a global journey of discovery in 2014 through its new Sports Insiders series. Eurosport will be drawing on its unrivalled access to the world of sport to present monthly programmes showing unseen stories from Eurosport’s own pillar sports alongside insights into new environments and experiences. The “Spring Collection” of shows running from March until June will travel first to Gran Canaria in Spain to join the professional Tinkoff-Saxo cycling team during its first preparation camp for the 2014 season. Led by Alberto Contador, the team gave Eurosport unprecedented access to its rider bonding sessions, its strategic planning for the racing season ahead and shows how it creates vital team spirit for the campaign ahead, blending riders of different nationalities, ages, experience and talents.

Internet more important for Russians seeking news
While television remains the most prevalent medium in Russian households, Internet access is rising dramatically nationwide, according to media research data released in February by the Broadcasting Board of Governors. According to the BBG research, Russia’s restrictive media environment is increasingly limiting broadcast avenues for non-state media. Television and radio stations carrying programming deemed “unfavourable” by Russian authorities often find themselves targeted by the Kremlin and pushed off the air. The survey results show that as more Russians get Internet access – seven in 10 have access at home in 2013 – more of them are getting their news online. A majority of Russians (56.4%) said they receive their news from the Internet at least once a week. The Internet outdistances traditional media such as newspapers and magazines (49.8%) and radio (43.8%) as a source for weekly news.
More on this story, and links to the research, here.

DW TV carries Egyptian satirical show
One of the most popular TV series in the Arab world, El Bernameg, ["The Programme"] has been bought by DW -TV's Arabic-language service. Deutsche Welle has obtained the rights to broadcast the award-winning 45-minute show directly following its first broadcast by the MBC Egypt channel . In addition to this, DW has been authorised to rebroadcast each episode a second time, as well as make it available via Livestream and on-demand on its website.

"Basim Yusuf is one of the most renowned critical voices of the Arab world," commented DW director-general Peter Limbourg. "Through DW, his show will now reach people across the Arabic-speaking region. Including it in our programming means taking a clear stance in favour of freedom of the press and opinion, as well as courageous journalism. We are showing the world that we adhere to our values."

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Mobile World Congress | Barcelona, 24-27 February
AIB is a supporting partner for Mobile World Congress, the annual meeting of the world’s mobile industry. We’ll be at the event in Barcelona from 24 to 27 February, reporting for our members on trends and opportunities for media and mobile. The new edition of our international media magazine, The Channel, will be available to the tens of thousands of visitors to this must-attend event. More at mobileworldcongress.com.

FT Digital Media Conference 2014
Behind the Chatter: Monetising Media
26-27 March 2014 | InterContinental London Park Lane, London
www.ft-live.com/digitalmedia
This year's FT Digital Media Conference in March is fast approaching and the AIB are offering a 20% discount to all members who register for this year’s conference on 26-27 March in London.
Speakers include:
Anne Sweeney, Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks; President, Disney/ABC Television Group, Walt Disney
David M. Zaslav, President and CEO, Discovery Communications
Andrew Griffith. Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director, Commercial Businesses and Executive Director, BSkyB
Ralph Rivera, Director of Future Media, BBC
Robert Bakish, President and CEO, Viacom International Media Networks
Jacinto Roca, CEO and Founder, Wuaki.tv
Mark Thompson, President and CEO, The New York Times Company
Maurice Lévy, Chairman and CEO, Publicis Groupe
Dawn Airey, Senior Vice President, EMEA, Yahoo!
Justin Smith, CEO, Bloomberg Media Group

DISTRIBUTION, TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS
Euronews launches smart watch news service
As the world's mobile industry prepares for its annual global gathering in Barcelona, Euronews has launched an innovative service for the fast-emerging wearable technology sector. The global news channel has launched the first news service on Sony's SmartWatch, with Euronews CEO Michael Peters saying that "this is the 'smart' way to expand our reach and our awareness in such a competitive market."
The new product has been developed for the Android platform that the Sony SmartWatch2 harnesses. Euronews sends breaking news alert direct from its newsroom in Lyon, France, to the wrists of SmartWatch users.
More on this story here. Watch for news from Mobile World Congress on the AIB website.

Vizrt scores in Asia
Vizrt has announced a deal worth US$1.8 million for the implementation of broadcast graphics (BG) products with a sports channel in Asia. The channel is a new Vizrt customer, who will use the purchased systems for live in-game graphics and in-studio shows.
“Sports broadcasting is very prominent in Asia, and this deal shows how our offering matches the requirements of this important market,” said Martin Burkhalter, Vizrt CEO. “We are very pleased to have been selected by this ambitious new channel and look forward to growing together with our customer.”
The deal includes multiple Viz Trio systems, Vizrt’s character generator (CG), for building playlists of graphics and playing them back during a live match and during in-studio shows.

SatLink gets more fashion
SatLink Communications has extended its agreement with Fashion TV (FTV) for the global playout, content management and distribution of its HD and SD channels. As a part of the agreement, SatLink will distribute FTV’s content via satellite to Asia on AsiaSat3S, America on IS805 C-Band platform and to Europe on the new Hotbird DVB-S2 platform, which provides cost effective HD contribution to the Cable, Satellite and Pay TV Markets in the region.
The extension of SatLink and FTV’s relationship comes following the successful implementation of FTV’s HD Asian feed by providing playout and uplinking of FTV’s content to the AsiaSat-5 satellite located at 100.5° East to reach out to Asia’s Pay TV platforms across the continent including India, China and Indonesia in July 2013.
Read more on this story here.

PEOPLE
Robert J. Ross, CBS’ SVP of East Coast Operations has been appointed by the NABA Board of Directors as President. Mr. Ross takes over the role from Robert Briskman, Technical Executive for Sirius XM Radio who served as NABA President since 2012.
“Bob has had a tremendous impact on our industry and is well known for making things work and getting the trains to run on time. When we call Bob a “Fixer” it is with great respect and considerable awe. Bob understands the industry issues and I look forward to his leadership along with his NABA Executive team over the next two years.” said Michael McEwen, Director General NABA.

Avi Cohen, CEO of RRsat, has been named as the World Teleport Association's 2014 Teleport Executive of the Year. Cohen will be honoured during WTA’s Teleport Awards for Excellence luncheon on March 11. The Teleport Executive of the Year award is presented to an individual for demonstrated entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation in the development or operation of a teleport-based business.

Ekaterina Pavlova has become the new director-general of the Gazprom-owned Ekho Moskvy radio station.
Pavlova worked as producer and chief editor of the Vesti programme on main state broadcaster VGTRK from 2000 to 2010 and as broadcasting deputy chairman at the Voice of Russia between 2010 and 2013.