16 October 2014
Yuriy Artemenko at a meeting in Zaporizhia of media representatives (photo courtesy of NRADA)
The Ukrainian media regulator has moved to ban the broadcast of Russian TV channel 365 Days and Belarusian channel Belarus 24.
On October 15, the Ukrainian National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting decided to ban the two channels. 365 Days is a Russian history channel. Belarus 24 is the state television and radio channel of Belarus.
In a briefing in Kiev, National Council head Yuriy Artemenko said the decision was based on both channels’ violating clauses of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television (full text of the Convention). Artemenko said the Council will now turn to the courts, to request an official ban of the channels across Ukraine.
The Council’s Deputy Chairman, Grygoriy Shverk, said court hearings against six Russian TV channels were currently underway in the country.
According to a statement on the Council’s website, the decision to ban Russia’s 365 Days was prompted by a complaint and by monitoring conducted by the Council. The Council specifically cited an episode of the programme History of Russia, XX Century, “On the Threshold of Victory”, broadcast by 365 Days on September 9, which it said presented false information about historical events in Ukraine, incited national hatred and had the potential to harm the development of children and adolescents.
Selective monitoring of Belarusian channel Belarus 24 also revealed anti-Ukrainian propaganda and a distortion of information on political developments in Ukraine, said the Council’s site.
Article 24 of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television provides for the settlement of disputes and alleged violations:
1 When a Party finds a violation of this Convention, it shall communicate to the transmitting Party the alleged violation and the two Parties shall endeavour to overcome the difficulty on the basis of the provisions of Articles 19, 25 and 26.
2 If the alleged violation is of a manifest, serious and grave nature which raises important public issues and concerns Articles 7, paragraphs 1 or 2, 12, 13, paragraph 1, first sentence, 14 or 15, paragraphs 1 or 3, and if it persists within two weeks following the communication, the receiving Party may suspend provisionally the retransmission of the incriminated programme service.
3 In all other cases of alleged violation, with the exception of those provided for in paragraph 4, the receiving Party may suspend provisionally the retransmission of the incriminated programme service eight months following the communication, if the alleged violation persists.
15 October 2014
With Euronews Discover and Euronews Business the Group offers thematic channels to an audience of enthusiasts.
Backed by its editorial department of 400 journalists from 30 different countries, Euronews is enlarging its digital offering by announcing the launch of two all-new channels on YouTube.
Now, not only will online viewers be able to find the latest business news on Euronews Business, they’ll also get analysis, computer graphics and interviews with renowned leaders.
Nature, the animal world, festivals and travel are the focus of the unique window on the world offered by Euronews Discover. Here, all the passion for diverse subjects and points of view of the Euronews editorial department is found in the richness of the themes addressed.
These two channels, which just began broadcasting, join Euronews Knowledge, the very first thematic channel launched in April 2013, dedicated to science, space and technology, which attracted almost 200,000 subscribers in just six months.
Euronews, which introduced its first international channel on YouTube in 2007, is now, with its network of twenty channels, part of the Google Preferred Channel Program in France, a list of the most high-performing channels on YouTube.
20 Euronews channels YouTube including 3 thematics TV
15 October 2014
The Chinese government has blocked access in the country to the BBC’s English-language websites.
The blocking of all BBC English language internet pages would appear to be in response to Hong Kong’s “Occupy Central” civil disobedience movement, protesting for fair representation in Chinese elections. Earlier today, the BBC had published video of Hong Kong police assaulting and arresting a protestor which had been circulating online.
In a statement, BBC Global News director Peter Horrocks said: “The BBC strongly condemns any attempts to restrict free access to news and information and we are protesting to the Chinese authorities. This appears to be deliberate censorship. The BBC provides impartial, trusted news to millions of people around the world, and attempts to censor our news services show just how important it is to get our accurate information to them.”
News of the blocking was first announced today by GreatFire.org, a site which monitors web censorship in China in real time. Access to the BBC websites has previously been allowed in China, although the BBC’s Chinese language website has been blocked since its launch. The BBC reported that the last time the BBC’s English-language site was blocked was during its coverage of activist Chen Guangcheng’s escape from house arrest in April 2012.
Instagram, which had been used by Hong Kong protestors to share images, was blocked in China at the end of September. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are also inaccessible from mainland China.
14 October 2014
FremantleMedia International has concluded an unprecedented multi-year deal with pan-Arab media conglomerate MBC Group that will see both the pan-Arab versions of Idol and Got Talent recommissioned for three further seasons. In addition, MBC Group has also taken the pan-Arab format rights to the Syco TV created hit entertainment format, The X Factor and the globally renowned fashion competition, Project Runway for three seasons each.
Anahita Kheder, SVP, Middle East, Africa and South Eastern Europe, FremantleMedia International said: “We are immensely proud to be the first company to have completed a deal of this magnitude with MBC Group. Together we have already launched the very successful pan-Arab versions of Arabs Got Talent and Arab Idol, both of which were propelled onto the international press stage. The Middle East region has evolved a great deal in recent years with audiences wanting something a little special, and with the introduction of The X Factor and Project Runway, MBC will deliver just that. We are enormously excited to continue our partnership with MBC to introduce more future audience favorites to its enormous Middle Eastern reach.”
Ali Jaber, MBC Group TV Director said: “MBC is always keen on delivering premium content coupled with the best TV productions in the MENA region. With the introduction of global formats, such as Idol and Got Talent, amongst others, a couple of years ago, they soon became top-rated TV shows and have created unprecedented engagement with the audiences on multi-platforms.” Jaber added: “It only makes sense that we renew our contracts with FremantleMedia – thus keeping the momentum of these formats at its peak. We are delighted with this partnership that helps bring the best TV global practices to our region while allowing our own creative teams to excel, deliver and succeed.”
In 2013, Arab Idol attracted global media interest as singer Mohammed Assaf, a former wedding singer from Gaza, was declared the winner of the second season. The MENA region united as Assaf’s finale performance generatedaudience shares over five times higher than the broadcaster average. The Idol format, co-owned by FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, has now been produced in 51 territories worldwide.
Arabs Got Talent’s third season concluded with Syrian dancing troupe, SIMA taking the top spot and once again dominated international headlines. The Arabic version of the format became MBC4’s number one show in both 2012 and 2013 consecutively. Co-owned by Syco Entertainment and FremantleMedia, the global Got Talent phenomenon officially became the Guinness World Records’ Most Successful Reality TV Format Worldwide in April this year and has now been commissioned in 65 territories worldwide.
Internationally renowned singing competition, The X Factor will join MBC’s impressive roster of programmingfor the first time. The pan-Arab version takes the format to 51 territories worldwide. The Syco Entertainment owned and created format is co-produced/licensed by FremantleMedia worldwide. Since the launch of The X Factor UK in 2004 the British-born TV show has been watched by more than 360 million people around the world and can be seen in almost every country on earth. The X Factor format has discovered and launched more international break-out artists than any other singing competition show, with more than 160 million record sales by The X Factor artists globally.
Fashion reality format, Project Runway on MBC is the first pan Arab version of the show and will give talented and fashion hungry designers the chance of a lifetime as they compete against one another through a series of demanding challenges. The winner has their collection shown at a major catwalk show and is featured in a leading fashion magazine. The Weinstein Company owned, Project Runway has become the most successful fashion format worldwide having been produced in 23 territories including the US, Australia, Canada, Latin America and the UK. (Source: MBC press release)
14 October 2014
Vizrt Ltd. announced today a deal worth USD 330,000 for the implementation of broadcast graphics products with a production company in Oceania. The customer provides sports production services for broadcasters in several countries.
The deal includes several Viz Trios, Vizrt’s character generator (CG). Viz Trio will be used for live sports productions as a tool for controlling playlists of graphics. The Viz Trio operator monitors the playlist, creates new playlist items based upon templates, and triggers the playlist items live to air.
Graphics are triggered from Viz Trio and rendered in real-time with Viz Engine, Vizrt’s powerful real-time compositing engine. Vizrt’s reputation in the region for providing the best live production platform provider was the key reason behind the customer’s selection of Viz Engine and related products.
“Vizrt’s strength in Oceania, a major sports market, shows that the Viz Engine and our live graphics productions tools are a perfect match for any broadcaster wanting to make a mark in the sports production industry,” said Martin Burkhalter, Vizrt CEO. (Source: Vizrt press release)
