7 May 2012
On Sunday at 8pm(UAE time)Sky News Arabia, the multi-platform 24-hour Arabic rolling news channel, broadcast for the first time to over 50 million homes across the Middle East and North Africa.
A joint venture between Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation (ADMIC) and BSkyB, the UK’s leading pay television provider, Sky News Arabia will offer a new and fresh approach to news across the Arab world.
A channel committed to providing independent news, whatever the story, Sky News Arabia will offer its audience must-view content from breaking stories to sport, from business to entertainment. The channel is supported by an Editorial Advisory Committee – a first for the region – to ensure Sky News Arabia delivers balanced, accurate and consistent news. Broadcasting from its state of the art head-quarters in Abu Dhabi, the channel promises a ‘new horizon’ in the way it delivers news across multiple platforms.
Servicing the tech-savvy generation, Sky News Arabia also launched its mobile apps – available on iPad, iPhone, Blackberry, and Android devices. Key features include live streaming, news photo galleries, interactive maps as well as the ability to share stories via social media.
The website, www.skynewsarabia .com, which launched in BETA form in February, is now fully completed with features including blogs from presenters and correspondents, live twitter feeds and the ability for users to interact and comment on the topics of the day.
At a launch ceremony hosted by the Chairman of ADMIC and Sky News Arabia, Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, over 400 guests were witness to a live countdown of the launch from the Jumeriah Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi.
Promising objective and impartial news delivery Dr Al Jaber said in his launch speech: “The region demanded an Arab news product which incorporates both the technological developments and the fast changing media consumption habits that are transforming how news is gathered and disseminated.
“Our market research uncovered a strong appetite from Arab audiences for a high calibre, independent news channel which delivers news in real time and across multiple media platforms, be they high definition television sets, the internet, smart phones or tablets.
“This, coupled with the pace of change and development of the global media landscape, reaffirms the need for Sky News Arabia – a channel launched from the heart of the Arab world for the Arab world. I am confident Sky News Arabia will become an icon for objective news reporting,” Al Jaber explained.
He added: “With the vibrant cultural movement in the UAE, Abu Dhabi is attractive for an organization like Sky news Arabia to objectively disseminate news in the Arab World.”
Dignitaries at the launch event were treated to a behind the scenes look at the making of a news channel from the 18-month journey to set up one of the Middle East’s most advanced broadcast centres, to a live studio feed capturing the Sky News Arabia team’s last minute preparations in the countdown to launch.
Commenting on the channel’s launch, Nart Bouran, Head of Sky News Arabia, said: “This is a momentous occasion for Sky News Arabia and, I believe, a leap forward for the news industry in the Arab world. Our 400 strong editorial team will aim to set new standards for regional news through a high quality, engaging news product which informs viewers of events as and when they happen. “
Andrew Griffith, Chief Financial Officer, BSkyB and Sky News Arabia Board Director, explained: “BSkyB is one of the UK’s most innovative and successful companies and Sky News has always been a pioneering part of our business. Our partnership with ADMIC to create a truly independent news offering for the Middle East and North Africa is a project we are fully committed to. It is an investment that both parties are proud to have made and we aim to set a new standard for news delivery in the region.”
The channel will broadcast on Transponder 15 on Arabsat Badr 4, Transponder 14 on Nilesat 201, on du IPTV and e-Life platforms plus in high definition on the OSN pay-TV platform as well as the Abu Dhabi TV Network.
Launch advertisers include Dolphin Energy, Etihad Airways, First Gulf Bank, Nova Chemicals, and Sebsa.
4 May 2012
Channel NewsAsia is now available to even more consumers of premier programmes with today’s launch of its universal iPad and iPhone application (app).
Building on the popularity of its current iPhone app, the new application features a real time news ticker, full screen photo galleries, location-based weather forecasts, polls, multiple personalisation options and social media integration. Users can also interact with the newsroom directly by sharing user-generated content from within the app.
Articles can be downloaded for offline reading and users can build a favourites list, saving articles for up to three days. Scrolling through the TV programme listings and setting reminders for favourite shows allows users to keep in touch with what’s happening on Channel NewsAsia.
Catherine Dickie, Assistant Vice President, Digital Product Development and Marketing, says “This iPad/iPhone app gives consumers a choice to effectively take Channel NewsAsia with you wherever you go.”
Users can download the app at www.channelnewsasia.com/newsapp or www.itunes.com
3 May 2012
Acer, Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Movement, is giving its customers unlimited access to live action from the Olympic Games thanks to a partnership with Official Broadcaster, Eurosport.
Customers who purchase the new Olympic Games Editions of the ICONIA tablets and ASPIRE Notebooks before and during the London 2012 Olympic Games will be given a trial access to the Eurosport Player. The Acer Special Edition computers for the Olympic Games symbolize the partnership of Acer with the Olympic Movement.
The Eurosport Player – which is embedded into the devices – offers access to Eurosport live streaming service. Using their notebook or tablet, Acer customers will benefit from Eurosport round-the-clock coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games, featuring up to 13 hours of live action each day and broadcasted in 20 languages.
As part of this partnership Acer will be featured as a Presenting Partner of all Olympic Games coverage on Eurosport TV and digital media platforms around all Olympic Games programming.
Oliver Ahrens, Acer EMEA President commented: “We are proud to support the London 2012 Olympic Games and we want to give our customers an opportunity to enjoy every minute of the most exciting sports event in the world. Installed on our latest tablets and notebooks, the Eurosport player will provide unlimited sporting actions as we approach the Olympic Games and during all the 17 days of competition. Acer and Eurosport combine technological innovations and premium content to create unforgettable Olympic experience.”
Olivier Fisch, Global Commercial Director, Eurosport Group said: “The London 2012 Olympic Games will be a great sporting spectacle and fans will be keen to watch the action at any time, in any place. This exciting partnership with Acer gives their customers not only world leading technical hardware but with the Eurosport Player already embedded into the devices instant access to the London Olympics, live, wherever they are.”
As exclusive computing equipment partner, Acer is providing the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) with 13,000 computers, 900 servers and more than 350 engineers and technicians to facilitate the smooth delivery of all aspects of the Games across the various venues.
www.eurosport.com
3 May 2012
On World Press Freedom Day, RFE/RL pays video tribute to journalists working in some of the world’s most dangerous and restrictive environments to report news and document censorship, despite a glaring lack of basic media freedoms.
According to Freedom House’s “Freedom of the Press 2012” report, 13 of RFE/RL’s broadcast countries are classified as “Not Free” and another eight as “Partly Free.”
WATCH: RFE/RL marks World Press Freedom Day
Featured in RFE/RL’s video is investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, who has drawn worldwide support from media and human rights organizations after she was targeted in a recent blackmail campaign, believed to be retaliation for her reporting on corruption in Azerbaijan, a country that ranks 172 out of 197 on Freedom House’s list of overall media freedom.
“Khadija’s case reminds us that there is still significant progress to be made on press freedom around the globe,” said RFE/RL President Steve Korn. “From Belarus to Iran, and across Central Asia, Russia, the Caucasus, and Afghanistan and Pakistan, RFE/RL journalists and their colleagues face intimidation or worse on a daily basis.”
Earlier this year, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released the latest edition of its “Enemies of the Internet” report which included RFE/RL target countries Iran, Belarus, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. A recent report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also listed Iran, Belarus, and Uzbekistan among its list of the ten most censored countries in the world.
“Despite being banned and blocked there, hundreds of thousands of Iranians every month find a way to get news and information from RFE/RL’s Radio Farda,” adds Korn. “As our audiences in places like Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus can attest, people who want accurate news and information will find a way to get it, no matter what restrictions are placed on them.”
For more news in all these regions and more, follow RFE/RL online and on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Pinterest.
4 April 2012
GlobeCast has provided videography, production, and creative services for the Men’s Health Urbanathlon 2012, a one-of-a-kind obstacle race organised by SPH Magazines and HiVelocity. Published by SPH Magazines, Men’s Health is Singapore’s leading lifestyle magazine for men.
GlobeCast provided camera coverage for nine urban obstacles over a 14-kilometre course that tested 2,300 participants’ fitness levels to their limit. GlobeCast produced and edited a 90-second race highlight video, which was broadcast on the same day on ESPNews in Asia.
GlobeCast also produced and edited a four-minute official event video, which is currently on the Men’s Health Urbanathlon’s event website and its official YouTube site. GlobeCast also delivered another version that features interviews with the organiser’s sponsors. This latter version showcases the sponsors’ involvement in this event, and it serves as a means of communicating their brand messaging effectively.
“It is an exciting period to be offering our creative services, through which we provide a complete solution for the video needs of this obstacle race. From pre-production planning and scheduling to the actual day of video production, setting up interviews and editing of the event videos, this has been a true showcase of GlobeCast’s expertise and capability in extending our services,” said Wei Khim Cheah, Director of Creative Services.
The videos can be seen on the Men’s Health Singapore Urbanathlon 2012 official website.
In addition to providing creative services in Asia, GlobeCast provides content management and global delivery via satellite and fibre for hundreds of broadcasters worldwide.
