3 July 2009
Three new music channels were launched by ABC-Australia today as its radio services went digital in the state capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
ABC Radio director Kate Dundas said the new channels – ABC Dig Music, ABC Jazz and ABC Country – were being added to the ABC’s current line-up of five radio channels.
The existing channels would continue to be broadcast in analogue as well as on the new digital platform.
“The thing that’s important to remember is that all our current services stay on analogue, so no one needs to go out and have a complete switch-over like television will be in a few years,” she said in a statement directed to the ABC’s listeners, but adding that they would need to buy a digital radio to receive the digital services.
Ms Dundas said the ABC had plans to extend the new services to other capital cities and regional areas.
3 July 2009
As reported on the ABU web site:
According to AFP, China’s official news agency said today it will begin broadcasting in Europe this week, in the country’s latest bid to project its “soft power” through an overseas media blitz.
The state-run Xinhua news agency’s English-language television service will launch in Europe starting on Wednesday, Xinhua’s deputy editor Wu Jincai said. “The service will be on screens in supermarkets, and in Chinese embassies in Europe too,” he said.
He gave no further details but state media this year launched a global expansion, apparently aimed at shaping the communist-ruled country’s image.
The chief of the Communist Party’s overseas propaganda bureau, Wang Chen, said in January that expanding the global reach of China’s media was an important way to engineer a better image for the country and its government.
“We must… increase our capacity to broadcast, to positively influence international public opinion and establish a good image of our nation,” Xinhua quoted Mr Wang saying at the time.
After setting up French and Spanish channels ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China Central Television (CCTV) has also announced plans for Russian and Arabic channels this year.
3 July 2009
As reported by Tornado Insider:
NXVision, a UK-based provider of place-shifting technology, has secured a follow-on investment. Investors in the 300,000 funding round included Braveheart, Scottish Enterprise, LINC Scotland and the companys management. The funds will help the company boost sales.
NXVision (previously known as Inxstor) has developed technology for the place-shifting market. Place shifting allows users to watch TV in any location on devices other than TV sets. They can access audio and video content from a mobile device by processing images and sound from home video equipment into digital signals and transmitting them to the new viewing location over the home internet connection.
NXVisions first is product is embedded into set top boxes incorporating media processors (STi7109 or equivalent) and runs alongside existing content protection and middleware. It has been evaluated by a number of operators and allowed them to access Freeview and satellite set-top boxes remotely from personal computers, laptops and mobile phones over Internet Protocol through 3G or WiFi networks. The companys technology currently works with Apple iPhone/ iPod Touch, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, LG, Google Android, RIM and Windows Mobile handsets.
Late last year, the company introduced a side-loading product (push TV) which allows programs to be tagged for mobile recording through the electronic program guide. Once recorded the program is transferred either via WiFi or 3G to a selected mobile device for viewing.
3 July 2009
Satellite communications firm TerreStar has successfully launched what is believed to be the world’s largest communications satellite, which will provide mobile broadband coverage across North America.
Launched by Arianespace from Kourou, French Guiana, yesterday, the satellite – called ‘TerreStar-1’ – is the foundation for TerreStar’s satellite communications network targeted at government users, emergency responders, enterprises and those in rural communities without conventional mobile network coverage. The all-IP-based mobile broadband network supports voice, data and video services. “We are creating a new paradigm in mobile broadband network services and devices that will leverage our integrated satellite and terrestrial communications components to enable true ubiquity and reliability – anywhere in the United States and Canada,” said Dennis Matheson, CTO of TerreStar.
TerreStar’s network will operate in two 10MHz blocks of contiguous MSS spectrum in the 2GHz band throughout the US and Canada, and claims to have a spectrum footprint that covers a population of nearly 330 million.
The firm has already launched a handset compatible with the network in collaboration with partner firm, EB (Elektrobit). Launched at the CTIA Wireless trade show in April, the ‘TerreStar smartphone’ claims to be the world’s first quad-band GSM and tri-band WCDMA/HSPA smartphone with integrated all-IP satellite-terrestrial voice and data capabilities. TerreStar has a nationwide roaming agreement in place with AT&T in the US.
3 July 2009
The international arm of NHK, Japans renowned public service broadcaster, has recently contracted for an increased range of services with WRN, the London based broadcasting and transmission company.
Starting from the summer season of 2009, WRN is providing new platforms for Radio Japans Arabic services to be heard in the Middle East via a 1000kW Medium Wave station on 1377kHz AM, and on FM for the Palestinian Territories, parts of Israel and Jordan. This adds to WRNs existing agreement to place NHKs Arabic programming on its own station Sawt Al-Alam (Arabic for Voice of the World) which is an aggregation of programming from leading world broadcasters and is available on the Arabsat, Hot Bird and Nilesat satellite services.
Mr Yuki Sakagami, Associate Director of NHKs International Planning & Broadcasting Department said, Within current media development in the world of international broadcasting, NHK World Radio Japan is now taking the initiative to broadcast its programmes on the most suitable media, including FM and Medium Wave, in each target area, and commencing these new transmission platforms in the Middle East is one such example.
NHKs Russian language programming is now heard on WRNs Russian channel Vsimirniya Radioset (which is Russian for World Radio Network) on both satellite and locally on 738 AM (Medium Wave) in Moscow. Karl Miosga, Chairman of WRN, said Radio Japan adds the new dimension of a Japanese perspective to the programming we offer in Russia and we are delighted they join us as a partner broadcaster with their extremely high quality content.
Meanwhile in South Asia, Radio Japan in Bengali, Hindi and Urdu is now available via one of the shortwave relay facilities offered by WRN. Jeff Cohen, who looks after shortwave transmission at WRN, says, Though use of shortwave has been declining in recent years in western nations it is still essential for reaching Asia and this is attested by the high demand for frequency spectrum in the region.
Atsushi Terauchi, Senior Manager at NHKs International Planning & Broadcasting Department, spoke of the general widening of NHKs use of relay facilities, It is essential that the 18 language services of Radio Japan from NHK World, reach the highest possible audience worldwide. So we constantly review transmission platforms and add new ways that audiences can tune to our programmes.
David Treadway, Managing Director of WRN, expressed his delight at the new business with NHK, We really appreciate the confidence of Japans public broadcaster in WRN shown by this significant increase in the global transmission services we provide.
