9 November 2009
For the 9th annual Transat Jacques Vabre, a transatlantic sailing competition, GlobeCast has equipped French multihull yacht Crêpes Whaou with its GlobeCast Content Exchange solution. The trimaran leaves Le Havre, France on 8 November destined for Puerto Limon, Costa Rica by early December.
At any time during the four week crossing, the yachts two skippers can send video reports to their sponsor, Crêpes Whaou, via webcam with GlobeCast Content Exchange, using an on board satellite connection. The solution will also allow the shipmates to chat in real time with their sponsor and teammates on land so the whole team can enjoy a live experience of the most exciting moments of the race.
For this operation, GlobeCast, partnered with IEC Telecom a distributor for Inmarsats FleetBroadband solution, which allows for simultaneous voice and data transmission with a compact antenna.
The user-friendly nature of the equipment makes it easy for the client to assimilate the system in order to send video files without an audiovisual specialist onboard. GlobeCast Content Exchange is a reliable solution that guarantees its users optimal performance no matter what the environment air, land or sea.
9 November 2009
Support services company VT Group has secured a contract to broadcast 20 hours a day of analogue and digital output from the Polish state broadcaster Polskie Radio using its network of European and global transmission sites.
VT will deliver the programming on short wave to listeners in Europe and Israel. Broadcasts by Polskie Radio’s External Service, Polands international radio service, will be delivered in Polish, English, German, Hebrew, Russian, Belorussian and Ukrainian.
Programming, originating in Warsaw, will be brought into VTs Media Management Centre in London for scheduling and distribution to various transmission sites using VTs Global Media Network – a combination of fibre connectivity and satellite delivery. The majority of transmission will go out from VTs site at Woofferton in Shropshire, supported by other sites including Rampisham and Skelton, and partner sites in Dhabiyya in the United Arab Emirates and at Moosbrun in Austria.
Most of the programming will be analogue but there is also provision for 1.5 hours a day of digital output using DRM digital short wave.
VTs John Prior, General Manager Broadcast and Security, commented: We are delighted to be appointed as Polskie Radios exclusive short wave transmission partner supplementing their existing output by satellite and internet. The move demonstrates a continued commitment to short wave from a major European broadcaster.
The four-year contract with Polskie Radio, which started in late October, is worth some £1.5 million and means VT now has nearly 40 customers for its transmission services. Polskie Radios daily output will place it in the companys top ten broadcast customers.
9 November 2009
RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd, a rapidly growing provider of comprehensive content management and global distribution services to the television and radio broadcasting industries, announced today that it has been chosen by KidsCo, a joint venture channel owned by leading media companies NBC Universal, Corus Entertainment Inc. (Nelvana) and Cookie Jar Group, to provide playout to Australia.
RRsat will be providing comprehensive playout and uplink services, as well as distributing the channel to the Foxtel DBS platform in Australia via the Asiasat 5 satellite. KidsCo also has the option to leverage RRsats Global Network to provide additional playout to Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia in the future.
Mr. Paul Robinson, Managing Director of KidsCo commented: KidsCo needed an innovative flexible partner for playout to Australia and we chose RRsat because they proved themselves to be very customer focused and dedicated to finding high quality business solutions.
“We are very excited that KidsCo has chosen RRsat as part of its international expansion strategy, targeting prime new geographies, reaching millions of new households and potential viewers, commented Mr. Lior Rival, Vice President, Sales and Marketing of RRsat. We look forward to further expanding the channels coverage in the future, taking it to new regions and countries in Europe, Middle East, Asia and South America, further leveraging the advanced RRsat Global Network. (Source: RRsat press release)
5 November 2009
Monday 2 November
The AIB phone system failed on, Monday 2 November, at around 1200 GMT. It remained out of action for the rest of the day and so calls could not be received.
The phone lines are now operational and we’re open for business again! Our main switchboard number is +44 20 7993 2557, or within the UK 020 7993 2557.
We apologise for the inconvenience this phone outage may have caused but it was outside the control of the AIB.
3 November 2009
Andrea Catherwood, formerly senior foreign correspondent and presenter with ITN, has joined the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION network as a London-based anchor. The BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® network is Europes most-watched business channel daily, and the largest business network in the region with distribution to more than 140 million households across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Brian Martinez, BLOOMBERG TELEVISION head for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said, We are extremely excited that Bloomberg has attained the widest reach of any business network in the region, and we are delighted to welcome Andrea to the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION family. Andreas network news experience and extensive background in global reporting make her a great addition to our exceptional team.
Catherwood joins a growing roster of exceptional global anchors and reporters at the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION network, including such talent as Francine Lacqua, Linzie Janis and Rishaad Salamat in Europe; Betty Liu, Erik Schatzker and Deirdre Bolton in the U.S. and Bernie Lo in Asia. Anchor Margaret Brennan, formerly a retail reporter for CNBC, joined the network during June.
Steve Clark, former Controller of Factual Programs at ITV, Head of News at Al Jazeera English and Director of News and Programs at MBC, has joined the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION network as Head of Production and Programming. Malcolm Fried, former BLOOMBERG NEWS® Executive Editor in London and Amsterdam Bureau Chief, has joined the network as Managing Editor.
Bloombergs growing team will deliver news to the widest business television audience across the region. During 2009, the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION network increased its English-language television distribution across Europe, Africa and the Middle East to more than 140 million households, from 28 million in 2008.
Further expanding its reach, the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION network announced significant brand collaborations this year in India and Turkey, two of the worlds fastest growing and most dynamic economies. Last month, the Bloomberg UTV channel was launched in association with UTV in India. Later this year, BloombergHT (Haberturk) will debut in Turkey in association with Ciner Media.
In addition to its broad scope, the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION network has more daily viewers than any other business and financial channel in Europe, according to the recently announced 2009 European Media & Marketing survey (“EMS”). The survey reveals that the network delivers 36% more affluent European viewers than its closest rival, and continues to have the most loyal audience.
“This is an exciting time for BLOOMBERG TELEVISION in Europe, said Martinez. We are incredibly proud of our achievements, especially as our growth has occurred in what has been a difficult year for many media organizations. We have made remarkable gains in distribution, and our collaboration with regional television partners has expanded our scope in the growing economies of Turkey and India.
Capping these developments, the network introduces a new look and feel to its London newsroom and studio this month, using advanced technology and graphics.
Martinez said, The BLOOMBERG TELEVISION new look reflects the quality of our information in a dynamic, interactive setting. Our new studios use advanced technology to engage viewers in a conversation about the business and economic developments that affect their lives every day. We have made bold decisions during this difficult period, making innovations in our look and feel, in our expansion and in how we deliver critical information, at a time when our viewers need it most. We will continue to build on this momentum.”
