9 November 2007
The Voice of America’s Urdu Service has expanded its radio news broadcasts to 12.5 hours daily from five hours in response to the crisis in Pakistan. “The Pakistani government has shut down all independent media inside Pakistan,” said VOA Director Danforth Austin. “We find ourselves, along with the BBC, among the only international broadcasters currently heard inside of Pakistan.”
VOA’s Urdu Service is now broadcasting an all-news format on radio in response to the Pakistani government’s crackdown. VOA’s two television affiliates-GEO TV News and Aaj TV-are off the air inside of Pakistan. However, VOA continues to reach the audience via radio and the Internet.
Today, VOA Urdu added an additional radio broadcast from 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon Pakistan time to supplement its 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Pakistan time live news and current affairs programming.
Some highlights of coverage include live interviews with Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, two former Prime Ministers of Pakistan, who were guests on the VOA Urdu program Roundtable Discussion, as the news blackout was being imposed in Pakistan. VOA Urdu also interviewed many Pakistani opposition figures, including Iftekhar Gilani, spokesperson of Benazir Bhutto’s party, and religious leaders such as Qazi Hussain Ahmad, along with man-on-the-street reaction in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, and Islamabad.
In addition to VOA Urdu, VOA’s six-hour Deewa Radio, live broadcasts in Pashto to the border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan, also switched to an all-news format to cover the crisis. Deewa has also provided extensive coverage inlcuding the U.S. and international reaction and has interviewed a large number of political, religious and tribal leader inside Paksitan who are under house arrest.
9 November 2007
Vizrt Ltd. announces, that Vizrt Ltd. and Escenic AS, Oslo, have today entered into a letter of intent with the intention to combine the two companies to create a strong player in the content management market. The letter of intent states that the board of the two companies shall seek to agree on a merger or acquisition agreement.
Escenic is a leading provider of strategic solutions for Content Management and publishing of content to all forms of digital media. Escenic’s flagship product, Escenic Content Engine, has been chosen to power over 500 websites in 14 countries including leading media, news providers, government and corporate sites. During the first nine months of 2007 Escenic had total sales of NOK 33M (USD 6.1M).
Vizrt announced its financial results for the first nine months of 2007 with record revenue reaching USD 62.4M compared to revenues of USD 44.4M for nine months 2006. Revenue increased by 40%. All major regions attributed to the strong revenue growth.
9 November 2007
The World Teleport Association (WTA), in its Top Teleport rankings, has named GlobeCast the top Independent Teleport Operator for broadcast services (number two of all operators) for the third consecutive year. The WTA has also included GlobeCast on its 2007 Top Twenty list of Global Teleport operators, placing the company just behind satellite fleet operators at number 6.
GlobeCasts leading rank in the WTA report is a reflection of the companys strong position as a global content management and delivery company. In 2007, the company made important investments in its facilities, with new content management and playout facilities in London and Florida.
The Global Top Twenty ranking is based on total revenue from all sources and includes all commercial operators, including independents, satellite carriers, fibre carriers and technology companies. The Independent Top Ten ranking is based on total revenue from all sources but excludes companies whose primary business is satellite fleet operations. According to WTA, innovative independents remain the core of the teleport sector and are frequently pioneers in developing new markets and introducing new applications.
9 November 2007
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 Baby First TV Channel has chosen to expand its contract with RRsat. Baby First TV Channel is a U.S. network dedicated to providing rich, innovative and inspiring content designed to enhance a babys development in a delightful and engaging way.
The Baby First TV Channel will broadcast to Asia over the RRsat Global Network, making the signal available to over 80 million cable households across 33 countries in Asia, using Loral Skynet’s Telstar 10 satellite. The Baby First TV Channel will use the RRsat Global Network for a total end-to-end solution including playout services of several versions across separate time zones and conditional access management.
“Baby First TVs decision to expand its services to the Asian market through RRsat, after its successful launch over Europe and the U.S., once again attests to RRsat’s ability to leverage one channel into multiple regions, through its innovative content management platform. It also serves as testament to the success of our ongoing commitment to customer satisfaction,” commented Lior Rival, VP Sales and Marketing of RRsat. “This is an additional agreement through our recently announced platform with Loral Skynet. Through this platform, Baby First TV Channel will gain access to both the leading Loral Skynet Telstar 10 satellite and RRsat’s comprehensive content management platform, reaching over 80 million cable households throughout Asia.”
Baby First TV Channel is currently available in Europe and North America, over the RRsat global Network, and, as of October, is available also in Asia.
9 November 2007
Starting in 2008 the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum will take place annually in Bonn. The main agenda items will change but the event will always address ways to cope with challenges and developments whose course is largely influenced by media worldwide. The target group is both international and inter-disciplinary. Media representative from around the world, high-profile experts of inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations, politicians, artists, entrepreneurs and scientists will sit around the same table at the
DEUTSCHE WELLE GLOBAL MEDIA FORUM
2-4 JUNE, 2008, BONN / GERMANY
A simple philosophy drives the initiative: Those working on the future have to think in networks – and in global dimensions.
Today many post-conflict countries are faced with completely new challenges. Steps to establish media mustn’t shake the already rocky peace and have to achieve hasty success, while at the same time laying the foundation for fundamental reforms. Precisely these challenges are the focus of the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum. Renowned representatives from the fields of media and politics, culture and economics, development work and science are invited to help shape new solutions for peace and conflict prevention and to turn this conference into an unforgettable exchange of ideas and into an exciting platform for networking and future-oriented problem solving.
Main Topics for the panels:
Worldwide deployment What can and must Europe do to prevent conflicts?
Crisis prevention via media intervention
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – Economic Development, Political Stability and the role of the Media in Asia
How can the Truth Survive? In Africa Journalists are often between the fronts
Reading Between the Lies – Perception and Prejudice in the Middle East
Other subjects include the following:
Improve whats there or build from scratch?
Raison détat versus media freedom
From government-controlled to public broadcasting
Freedom of the media and expression in the socio-cultural context
Journalism training in post-conflict states
This is a conference you cannot afford to miss – so register before 31st of March 2008 to take advantage of the early bird registartion fee.
