23 May 2006
In a ceremony recognizing the contribution of the Czech Republic to the ongoing operations of RFE/RL, Inc., Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda presented a check for nearly 1.2 million dollars to the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), to augment the costs of relocating the RFE/RL broadcast center outside the city center of Prague.
“It is our moral and political duty to support Radio Free Europe,” Svoboda said. RFE/RL “has played an irreplaceable role in the life of my country, by transmitting the values of democracy, human rights and good governance. This is a small contribution that represents a permanent commitment, a political commitment of my country to support RFE/RL, because the fight for democracy is a never ending story.” The foreign minister noted in his remarks that hosting RFE/RL is one way the Czech Republic is supporting the war against terrorism, and promoting democracy and democratic values in the world.
BBG Chairman Kenneth Tomlinson, along with BBG Governor Steven Simmons, accepted the contribution on behalf of the United States and RFE/RL. Both Tomlinson and Simmons paid tribute to the Czech government for its support of the radios. “In this ceremony today, we have a new generation of leaders to whom we are going to pay tribute in saving Radio Free Europe,” Tomlinson said, “and Mister Minister, you’re at the top of the list.” Tomlinson stressed the importance of RFE/RL’s role in promoting freedom and democracy, saying “Today, let’s pause to celebrate what these radios are really about: casting the light of truth where there’s darkness; reporting the stories of truth to closed societies; providing information so that people in authoritarian societies can make up their own minds and act accordingly.” Simmons noted that “this is a great day for RFE/RL, but it is also a great day for Czech-U.S. relations and symbolic of the commitment both of our countries have to our mission.”
Undersecretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, representing the U.S. Secretary of State, pointed out the value of the relationship between RFE/RL and the Czech Republic, calling it “a unique and invaluable contribution to promoting liberty and freedom of speech around the globe. Since the collapse of communism in Eastern and Central Europe nearly 17 years ago, the relationship between the U.S. and Czech Republic has really undergone a very dramatic evolution to one of alliance and economic partnership.”
RFE/RL’s relocation will improve security of the station and its surroundings, according to Simmons. Construction of the new building will begin later this year. “With the Bush Administration and Congress and the cooperation of the Czech government, we have gained a new facility that will allow us to call Prague our home for years to come,” Simmons said.
16 May 2006
In May and June 2006, the Broadcast Integration Roadshow will be traveling to 16 European cities with a total of 26 presentations. These presentations will be focusing on the integration of broadcasting solutions for TV and post production.
They will comprise Partner Days, i.e. presentations for partners and system integrators of Apple and NorCom, and Tech Forums targeted at TV and radio broadcasters as well as media companies.
With NorCom Apple News Production System, NorCom Information Technology AG is the worlds first company to offer an all-in Apple-based TV and media production solution from the ingest to the playout phase together with archiving including video, audio, graphics and automation.
The NorCom Apple Content Production System is an end-to-end solution for TV and radio broadcasters, agencies and post-production specialists. Now everyone from graphic designers to journalists involved in the production of multimedia content, such as news and sports coverage, can benefit from a single integrated user interface.
The NorCom Apple Content Production System offers a homogenous solution for the MAC OS but can also be deployed in hybrid environments. As a result, the NorCom Apple Content Production System constitutes a cost-optimized solution with a price of around 60% below comparable alternatives.
Early registration is advised on account of limited capacity. This can be done at NorComs website at www.norcom.de, where further information is also available.
15 May 2006
The Broadcasting Board of Governors has announced that Jan Brambilla will succeed Brian Conniff as the Executive Director of the BBG, effective June 5, 2006. Brian is leaving the BBG to accept appointment as President of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. (MBN).
As Executive Director, Jan will advise the Chairman and the Governors on developments in international broadcasting and serve as the day-to-day liaison with the IBB and the Agencys grantees to ensure that broadcasting activities accurately and effectively reflect the vision and priorities of the Board.
With more than 32 years of Federal service, Jan has served in senior executive positions since 1987 when she was appointed Director of Human Resources for the Voice of America, and subsequently for the U.S. Information Agency. In 1999, she joined the Department of State and served as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy where she handled financial and human resources. In January 2005, Jan rejoined the BBG as Chief of Staff to the IBB Director.
The BBG Board is also pleased to announce that George Moore has been selected to serve in a newly created position as IBB Deputy Director, also effective June 5, 2006. George will have the same responsibilities as those previously delegated to the IBB Director, pending appointment of a presidential nominee to that
statutory position.
George Moore has more than 35 years experience in broadcast and
telecommunications engineering, and has served for the past six years as Director of Engineering and Technical Services. During his 20-year Foreign Service career with US international broadcasting, he has served in senior management positions in two complex facilities (Munich and Morocco), and more recently in positions of growing responsibility in Washington.
The appointments will ensure continuity and strong, seasoned leadership in the Agencys top management, as well as at MBN, which the board believes is crucial for international broadcasting in the years ahead. The Board congratulates each of these outstanding agency officers, and looks forward to the continuation of their excellent service in support of the mission and goals of U.S. international broadcasting.
15 May 2006
In observance of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, RFE/RL held a roundtable discussion in which three experts gave their assessments of the media in post-Soviet countries. All three agreed that press freedom in this region, with only a few exceptions, has declined in the past year.
Chris Walker, Director of Studies at Freedom House, noted that “independent media [in the former USSR] is under assault.” Press freedoms in this region, in general, have eroded, Walker said, citing the results of a recently-released Freedom House survey that found the media in 10 of 12 countries of the former USSR to be “not free.” Five of these saw further erosions of press freedom in 2005 — and only two, Georgia and Ukraine, improved enough to be categorized as “partly free,” according to the annual “Freedom of the Press” study. Walker called for “keeping lifelines open,” to help journalists who are “under siege” in these countries.
RFE/RL analyst Daniel Kimmage said that the key problem in Central Asia is “distribution and access to information” by non-state media. According to Kimmage, the worst media environments are found in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, where the government controls all local media. The situation is only slightly better in the remaining three countries. In Kazakhstan, independent media exists, but has little penetration outside the capital. In Tajikistan a small group of independent newspapers exists, but the state controls all television broadcasts. In the wake of the Tulip Revolution, Kyrgyzstan’s media experienced a degree of liberalization, Kimmage said, but such freedoms have since eroded.
Robert Orttung, Associate Research Professor at the Transnational Crime and Corruption Center at American University, said that “broadcast media at the national level in Russia shows increasing state control.” Using the state energy monopoly Gazprom, Orttung said, the Russia government is increasingly taking ownership of media outlets. News and information programs have been replaced with entertainment, and Orttung noted that an “informal self-censorship” now exists — “journalists know what the lines are.” Three state-controlled television networks supply the news to 79 percent of the Russian population, according to Orttung, who noted that “A weekly meeting in Moscow provides guidance” to the networks in their coverage and that the “Chechen war is the most sensitive [topic].” The press and radio enjoy “some independence,” said Orttung, who added that there is still a “variety of coverage” by media at the regional level — a situation Orttung expects will change as Russia’s 2007-2008 election cycles approach.
Each of the speakers noted the growing influence of the Internet throughout the post-Sovieet countries. In Russia, “with ten percent of the population on-line,” blogging has opened up new avenues for civic participation at a local level, according to Orttung. Despite the fact that Internet usage remains relatively low, particularly in Central Asia, Kimmage says that the Internet is the “primary alternative media for Central Asia.”
15 May 2006
Worldspace, Inc., one of the world leaders in satellite-based digital radio services, today reported its financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006.
Worldspace finished the first quarter of 2006 with 153,437 subscribers. The Company added 38,131 subscribers in the first quarter of 2006, an increase of 109% over the 18,233 subscribers added in same quarter of 2005. In India, the Company had 111,723 subscribers at the end of the first quarter of 2006, up 50% from 74,574 at the end of the fourth quarter of 2005 and a five-fold increase from 21,730 at the end of the first quarter of 2005.
At the end of the first quarter of 2006, Worldspace had rolled out its satellite radio services in ten cities in India — Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, and Kolkata, India’s second largest city, which was launched in February 2006.
WorldSpace’s market distribution is now available to a population of nearly 63 million, including nearly 35 million people in the three market segments targeted by the Company.
“We are continuing to focus very closely on driving subscriber growth, especially in India, as we expand our services to more cities, ensure the availability of our products at more retailers and upgrade our content and products,” said Noah Samara, chairman and chief executive officer, Worldspace. “We are launching more cities and creating innovative special promotions that are driving strong revenue growth. We are confident that we have taken the necessary steps in terms of management changes, enhanced visibility, expanded marketing alliances and improved products that will enable us both to grow and retain subscribers to our ever-expanding unique and exciting content.”
Separately, Worldspace announced today the appointments of Gregory B. Armstrong and Alexander Brown as co-Chief Operating Officers of the Company.
