17 March 2009
Thanks to new distribution agreements, euronews is now available in three new countries in Asia and Oceania
In the Philippines, Skycable, launched euronews on its digital cable network on February 27th 2009. euronews is now received in 170,000 new homes including Manila. Filipino subscribers have access to euronews in English through the digital basic offer.
This agreement with Skycable is the first in this country, which has a potential of more than 9 million TV homes.
euronews has also made its first step into Indonesia via Telkomvision which distributes the channel to its subscribers since March 5th. euronews in English was added to the offer in Bali and Jakarta. In the next months, euronews will develop its distribution this country, one of the most important in the region with a potential of more than 31 million TV homes.
In Papua New Guinea, euronews was launched on the Hitron network in their digital package.
With these three new agreements, euronews strengthens its presence in the region. euronews is available free to air throughout Asia and Oceania, via the AsiaSat2 satellite.
The channel is currently distributed by Asiatic operators in Hong Kong, Japan, Pakistan, Singapore and Vietnam, and in Oceania by operators in Australia, New Zealand and in New Caledonia.
With the new carriage agreements in the Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, euronews now reaches nearly four million homes in Asia and Oceania.
16 March 2009
GlobeCast will be highlighting its developments in the content management space with a demonstration of its range of services along the broadcast value chain at stand C5537. The France Telecom company, which has recently expanded its worldwide fiber and satellite network as well as added new offerings to its content management range, will also be highlighting the strength of combining local expertise with a global satellite and fiber network for delivering international content.
Media Sharing and Delivery demonstration
GlobeCast will partner with recently acquired subsidiary NETIA to demonstrate the progression of content from contribution to playout and delivery using a broad selection of products and services. GlobeCasts Content Exchange, Netias Hypercast Warehouse as well as GlobeCasts playout and delivery services will be in the spotlight at stand C55237. The demonstration highlights GlobeCasts position as an integrator of broadcast technology and a leading service provider. Customers will experience some of these services firsthand from the unique perspective of both the producer and broadcaster, from selection, sharing and indexing content, all the way through to simulated playout and delivery.
International content and DTH platforms make their mark
International content takes the spotlight again at NAB, with a showcase of WorldTVs broad range of international channels. Representatives from WorldTV, which has recently expanded its offering to include rights management for international content coming into the US, will be on hand to discuss opportunities for broadcasters looking to reach ethnic communities throughout the continent.
Blue chip broadcasters and smaller channels alike will be interested in discovering GlobeCasts newest DTH satellite platforms on ASIASAT 3S for Middle East, East Asia and Pacific region and Astra 4A (Sirius 4) for delivery to sub-Saharan Africa. GlobeCast has also expanded its next-generation global fiber ring with the imminent launch of a link to Jordan Media City (JMC) in Amman. These latest additions to the network are part of GlobeCasts ongoing expansion of its fiber and satellite connectivity.
GlobeCast gears up for 2010
GlobeCasts sports contribution team will also be on hand to discuss upcoming sporting events such as the South African World Cup, Vancouver Winter Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, all taking place around the world in 2010. Services are planned for both rightsholders and non-rightsholders to bring these special events from the stadiums to the rest of the world. GlobeCasts IP contribution tool, Content Exchange, which has recently become available to MAC users, will also be available for demonstration as part of the media sharing and delivery demonstration outlined above.
16 March 2009
C-nario, a global provider of digital signage software products and solutions, and Vizrt, a developer of real-time 3D graphics solutions and video assets management for the broadcast industry, today announced a strategic partnership.
This partnership extends C-narios digital signage platform with unprecedented 3D, live and video capabilities. Every single display managed by C-narios extensive content creation, management, control and monitoring solution can now be turned into a full 3D interactive kiosk. With Vizrts technology, each display can be addressed individually to maximize the impact of the message. Live content and specific announcements can be displayed as full 3D graphics.
Joining forces with C-nario boldly expands the use of our technology into new horizons. Our core technology is already adopted worldwide to cover elections, news and sports events. Whenever interactive graphics, video content and live data meet we are always there, says François Laborie, Executive VP Marketing at Vizrt. With the recent evolutions of the digital signage market, it was only a matter of time before a key player decided to offer a higher level experience to its customers. C-nario has a perfect platform to address digital signage networks and we have the ideal solution to display content in a unique and unprecedented manner. C-nario has always charted the new territory and is regarded as an innovator in this market, and we are happy that they chose Vizrt to complete their extensive offering.
We were looking for a solution that could give us great 3D graphics and we found it in Vizrts revolutionary technology. Vizrt brings a wealth of expertise in real-time 3D graphics and a reputation as a supplier of advanced technology that is both reliable and practical. Vizrts technology also enhances the integration of the broadcast world with digital signage and offers content creators the opportunity to create high impact displays, said Yael Elstein, C-narios Vice President Marketing. We identified the need for Vizrts unique technology in digital signage environments, based on input from our customers. This partnership confirms our commitment to deliver the most advanced digital signage solutions to our customers. Vizrts technology, combined with our solutions, will give our customers a very powerful and cost-effective platform, enabling them to gain and maintain a competitive advantage.
The Viz Multi Platform Suite technology uses Vizrts Viz Engine render technology to render and composite video, sound, graphics and text directly on the end-user device. This makes it possible to deliver specific and personalized 3D real-time graphics and video content that perfectly matches the client platform specifications. The user benefits from high video quality, along with the highest quality graphics and text for better readability. This technology is now integrated as an optional plug-in component for C-nario Products towards the global Digital Signage markets.
C-nario is setting the standard in digital signage, through innovative and comprehensive software platforms that manage and control digital signage networks, from single screen to multi-display. Highly engaging displays can be created in multi-layers anywhere, at any time, in any format, in any resolution, on any number of screens, all from standard PCs and networks. C-narios portfolio of digital signage solutions includes C-nario Messenger a digital signage display, distribution and management platform; C-nario Advertiser a revenue generating, distribution and ad management system; C-nario Entertainer a platform for fully managing and operating complex high-quality video, audio and data-based displays; and C-Sign a digital signage solution for small and medium businesses (SMBs).
14 March 2009
Pakistan’s GEO TV appears to have been banned – for the second time in around a year. The ban was imposed by President Asif Ali Zardari and seems to have been behind the reason for the resignation on Friday 13 March of Pakistan’s Information Minister, Sherry Rehman.
“Closing down TV news media is not in the interests of Pakistan’s citizens,” said Simon Spanswick, AIB CEO, speaking from Doha where the Al Jazeera Forum is taking place. “We have seen repeated attempts by Pakistan’s government to intimidate the country’s news media, and this is something that must stop. Free media is essential for any country, including Pakistan.”
12 March 2009
AIB says broadcasters are ready for partnerships to make mobile TV a quality experience
If there is one mobile communications event that showcases mobile’s staggering growth, it is Mobile World Congress. Over the past few days in Barcelona, the industry explored ways of sustaining this growth even in difficult times. With 4 billion connections to date and 6bn expected by 2013, content is playing an increasingly important role.
So why is there a visible disconnect between mobile operators and broadcasters who can supply content? Chairing the session on synergies between broadcasting and mobile, Simon Spanswick, CEO of the Association for International Broadcasting (AIB), said “With one or two notable exceptions, broadcasters are having trouble engaging with the right people in mobile operators to discuss potential partnerships that will bring quality content to subscribers.”
During the MWC session chaired by Spanswick which brought together Richard Titus from the BBC, Stanislas Leridon of France 24, Michel Mol of Netherlands Public Broadcasting, Sean Kane of Bebo and Jonathan Marks of Critical Distance – , one panellist talked of how his national TV channel had to “name and shame” a mobile operator that had declined to make the broadcaster’s Olympic coverage for mobiles available. Only when the broadcaster explained on air why the content would not be available to some subscribers did the mobile operator rethink and join the ranks of other operators who carried the broadcaster’s material. In the end, the mobile operator’s subscribers overwhelmingly supported the content, vindicating the decisions taken by both the broadcaster and the operator.
Spanswick says that what is needed is dialogue as it’s a win-win situation for mobile operators and content producers alike. “Broadcasters are ready to make mobile TV a reality by producing content specifically tailored for the mobile handset and want to work in partnership with mobile operators. It’s time for people in the two industries to start talking to each other to make mobile TV a success.”
See also
www.aibceo.blogspot.com.
