2 March 2010
Support services provider VT Group has expanded its network of short wave transmission customers with a contract to broadcast programming from the Australian Broadcasting Corporations International radio and online service, Radio Australia.
VT, which has over 40 customers for its broadcast services, will output ten hours a day of Radio Australia programming to audiences in South East Asia. The content will be in English, Indonesian, Chinese and Burmese.
VT has a worldwide network of transmitter sites and the programming will be broadcast from locations in the United Arab Emirates and Palau in the Pacific Ocean. The programming will be downlinked from Radio Australias satellite channels to VTs central London Media Management Centre for scheduling and frequency management. VT will then utilise its Global Media Network to backhaul the programmes to the two transmitter sites.
The contract will be for a year and follows VTs recent success in adding the Polish state broadcaster Polskie Radio to its global transmission customer base.
VTs John Prior, General Manager Broadcast and Security, said: Having previously transmitted Radio Australia programming until 2006, we are delighted that they have re-joined the network of broadcasters using VTs facilities. It extends our broadcast service customer base and we hope to increase our partnership with Radio Australia further within the scope of the contract.
Radio Australia comprises eight languages and focuses uniquely on Asia and the Pacific. It is the international radio and online service of the Australian national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
2 March 2010
More than 20 reporters from every country in Central America attended a two-day Voice of America (VOA) training session on critical health issues related to influenza and natural disasters.
Organized by VOA’s Office of Development in Panama City, Panama, the Feb. 24-25 training exercises included roundtable discussions, analysis and knowledge-sharing by panelists from several International Organizations including the Pan American Health Organization, (PAHO), the United States Agency for International Development and Disaster Assistance (USAID), the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture (FAO), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA/APHIS), among others.
Topics discussed included the creation of simple and direct messages in cases of critical health emergencies under a possible pandemic and during a natural disaster.
The main focus of the influenza crisis addressed how to inform the population on prevention, containment and information dissemination in the event of a crisis caused by the H1N1 or H5N1 virus. The unique challenges of reaching populations during crises caused by natural disasters (lack of clean water, food and medications) were also covered.
One of the mandates of the Voice of America is to provide training in critical journalism skills around the world, particularly in issues pertaining to health.
2 March 2010
Berlinale Forum 2010 honored AISHEEN STILL ALIVE IN GAZA produced by Al Jazeera Childrens Channel (JCC), co-produced and directed by Nicolas Wadimoff. The documentary was awarded the Forum prize of the Ecumenical Jury; in their decision, the jury members emphasized the films open and unbiased view of the perseverance of a people – like a dandelion breaking through the asphalt.
In a special ceremony for independent juries awards held today – Saturday, Fayçal Hassairi, Executive producer at JCC and Nicolas Wadimoff, Director of AISHEEN, received the award on behalf of Al Jazeera Childrens Channel.
The Ecumenical Jury awards its prizes to one film in each category of the festival: the main competition, the Forum and the Panorama. The films are selected based on their success in portraying actions and human experiences in the most respectful approach to human dignity and universal values.
In commenting on this accomplishment, Malika Alouane, Director of Channels Programming at Al Jazeera Childrens Channel said: The prize that AISHEEN Still Alive in Gaza received in Berlinale 2010 is a testimony to our strong production vision in adopting issues of concern to humankind; it also delivers JCCs mission in overcoming the challenges and bridging the gaps between people.
We proudly dedicate this prize to Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, for her continuous support to the Channel since its launch in 2005, she added.
Alouane emphasized that being awarded the prize of the Ecumenical Jury in such a prestigious and internationally renowned festival proves that AISHEEN Still Alive in Gaza succeeded in depicting the daily life of the people of Gaza post the Israeli attack in late 2008 in an honest and objective manner.
I am deeply moved by this award and would like to dedicate it to all the people in Gaza who helped make this movie a reality by allowing us into their lives, said Nicolas Wadimoff, director of AISHEEN; I hope that their courage and dignity will touch hearts everywhere as they have touched mine, he concluded.
AISHEEN Still Alive in Gaza had witnessed an unprecedented success during the five screening sessions – tickets were sold out and some watched it standing or sitting on the cinema hall stairs.
The Ecumenical Jury for the Berlinale 2010 consists of six members from all churches of Germany, NGOs, academics, and Cinema & TV content makers.
(Source: JCC press release)
2 March 2010
GlobeCast teams are on site in Vancouver to provide service including playout, live positions and HD/SD delivery to clients from around the globe at what promise to be very exciting Winter Games.
GlobeCast is providing:
o Fiber backhaul from Vancouver to Los Angeles for a major American DBS satellite operator
o Playout services on site as well as global satellite turnaround for Chinese broadcaster Beijing TV
Several other international broadcasters have ordered significant service for the length of the games, and GlobeCast is receiving walk-in requests for ad-hoc playout and delivery from Vancouver.
GlobeCasts broadcast center is located at The Waterfall Building, 5 minutes from downtown Vancouver, in a very accessible area with striking views and no accreditation or media passes required.
Broadcasters requiring service are requested to call GlobeCasts 24/7 Bookings Hotline at 1-877-Globecast or +1 310 845 3939
2 March 2010
Radio Netherlands Worldwide is sending a complete mobile radio station to the disaster area in Haiti. The Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA), a global umbrella organisation of broadcasters and a partner of RNW, will take delivery of the radio station. The CBA was approached for help by Caribbean contacts and will send the equipment to the CECOSIDA radio station in Port-au-Prince.
As the Dutch international public broadcaster, RNW regards it as part of its remit to provide a country which has been so badly hit by disaster with technical services support.
RNW General Director Jan Hoek: There are virtually no radio stations still operating in Port-au-Prince. People there are cut off from every form of information. By providing the CBA with the requisite broadcasting equipment RNW is helping to facilitate the search for family members and inform people where they can get free medical care, water and food.
Radio in a box
The mobile radio station, also known as the radio in a box, was specially constructed for use in countries where radio transmitters have been partially or completely destroyed by a disaster. The radio station, less than a cubic metre in size, is equipped with an FM transmitter, a mixing console, microphones, a CD player and a laptop computer. Once the transmitters in Haiti are largely operational again the mobile station will be returned to the Netherlands.
Indonesia
Following the earthquake in Padang, Indonesia, in September last year, we sent a ‘radio in a box’ to Sumatra. RNWs partner stations were highly successful using it to get the flow of information started again. At present the radio transmitter there is being used for post disaster information provision, such as trauma healing for children.
Apart from providing a mobile radio station, RNWs transmitter in Bonaire is being used to broadcast Creole radio programmes from the Voice of America.
