4 October 2005
Japanese internet tycoon Takafumi Horie said his firm, Livedoor, which offers a portal site much like Yahoo along with other internet services, has signed a deal with Qatar-based Al Jazeera to distribute its news online in Japanese. Livedoor will translate several English-language articles by Al Jazeera into Japanese each day but has no plans to provide the broadcaster’s video footage. The contract with Al Jazeera is Horie’s latest effort to bolster Livedoor’s news-providing services and attract more people to his website.
The UK’s Media Guardian reported that veteran broadcaster Sir David Frost is understood to have been signed up by Al Jazeera for its new English-language service. Sir David retired from the BBC in May after presenting a Sunday morning current affairs programme for many years.
4 October 2005
Arqiva is to sign a five-year deal to deliver direct-to-home (DTH) services to CNBC Europe. The Satellite Media Solutions division is to supply backhaul connectivity from CNBC Europes Fleet Place offices, satellite uplink and space segment. CNBC Europe goes live with the new system on 30 September.
Arqiva is a trusted provider for CNBC Europes delivery of news content DTH in the UK and also to link with various cable head-ends across Europe, says John Turner, CNBC Europes director of operations. CNBC Europe already uses the companys services for Occasional Distribution to the Sirius satellite and European VSAT networks links and I am keen to develop the relationship for as long as possible.
John Bozza, Arqivas head of broadcast sales, adds: Our precise understanding not only of CNBC Europes business requirements, but also its product offering, makes Arqiva the ideal satellite media partner.
Arqiva Satellite Media Solutions has operational bases in London, Gerrards Cross, Winchester, Feltham and Bedford. A diverse range of international customers trust Arqiva Satellite Media Solutions to develop and deliver high quality and flexible solutions that include permanent and occasional broadcast services as well as IP, voice, data and digital media networks.
28 September 2005
Inmedia is to rebrand as Arqiva, following its acquisition in July by Arqiva (formerly ntl Broadcast). Inmedia is being merged with Arqivas Satellite and Playout unit to form the Satellite Media Solutions division of the company. The new division will continue to provide broadcast and media solutions including permanent and occasional broadcast services as well as IP, voice, data and digital media networks.
The combined infrastructure of Arqiva is truly impressive and is ideally positioned to serve organisations around the world with innovative solutions for improved business, says Nick Thompson, managing director of Arqiva, Satellite Broadcast Solutions. As a leading UK broadcast solutions company, Arqiva now comprises four teleports with more than 70 major uplinks, plus studios, post production and playout facilities.
Arqiva Satellite Media Solutions has operational bases in London, Gerrards Cross, Winchester, Feltham and Bedford. A diverse range of international customers trust Arqiva Satellite Media Solutions to develop and deliver high quality and flexible solutions that include permanent and occasional broadcast services as well as IP, voice, data and digital media networks.
27 September 2005
Effective from 30 October, German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle is introducing basic changes to its German programming of DW-RADIO, including two-hour programming blocks, a new programme schedule, more topical information, increased regionalisation and greater flexibility.
Deutsche Welle and Abu Dhabi TV are extending their partnership: on 28 September the first edition of their co-produced talk show “Meet Europe is broadcast, with twelve more editions planned. The cooperation between DW and Abu Dhabi TV also encompasses exchange of staff, technical services and images.
On 3 October Deutsche Welle starts a programme slot for Belarus: the 15 minute long magazine will report on events and developments in the region, with the aim to foster democracy and freedom of the media. The programme slot is subsidised by the European Commission. Initially broadcasts are in Russian.
27 September 2005
SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company has gained the Polish public TV broadcaster TVP (Telewizja Polska SA) as a new customer on its ASTRA Satellite System. According to a new long-term contract, TVP will broadcast its five existing TV channels in digital via ASTRA 19.2° East starting October 1st, 2005. Furthermore, TVP is preparing to launch on ASTRA a new digital bouquet of thematic channels in 2006. TVP is one of the biggest public TV broadcasters in Central and Eastern Europe and commands a total market share of 52% of the TV audience in Poland.
The TVP offer on ASTRA will comprise TVP1, TVP2, TVP3 Regionalna, TVP Kultura and TV Polonia. TVP will use the ASTRA transponder No. 59 (10861.75 MHz, horizontal-polarization, 22 Msymb/s, FEC: 5/6) at the orbital position of 19.2° East.
Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA, said: “With this breakthrough agreement, SES ASTRA will engage in a significant activity in the all important Polish TV market. We are very proud that TVP selected ASTRA for the satellite distribution of its digital programs and the roll-out of its digital bouquet. Partnering with TVP is a milestone in the development of our position in the Central and Eastern European markets.”
Piotr Gawel, Vice President Marketing and Sales of TVP, said: “The progress of digital TV will allow us to overcome the capacity restrictions of terrestrial TV and significantly enhance our offer to viewers. It will allow us to enter exciting new fields like thematic channels and interactive services. With SES ASTRA as our new satellite service provider, we are delighted to provide the highest quality transmission to our customers and viewers.”
The collaboration between SES ASTRA and TVP has been announced today at a joint press conference in Warsaw.
