Nigel Milan, managing director of Australia’s multicultural broadcaster, SBS, is stepping down after eight years at its head.
Milan, whose term officially ends in 2006, is leaving to pursue other interests. Shaun Brown, head of television, is acting managing director while the recruitment process for a permanent MD gets underway.
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Max Uechtritz, Director of News and Current Affairs at Australia’s Nine Network, has resigned from his post.
Uechtritz’s resignation comes after the departure of deputy chairman David Gyngell and the appointment of Sam Chisholm as Executive Director of Television at Nine’s parent company, PBL.
Uechtritz joined Nine 13 months ago, after 18 years at the ABC, most recently as the Corporations Director of News and Current Affairs. Citing personal reasons for his departure, Uechtritz’s next career move is unknown at present.
VT Group, through its VT Communications subsidiary, has reached agreement to continue distributing and transmitting BBC World Service radio programming for a further five years to 2012. This is valued at approximately £150 million.
The initial contract was originally let to Merlin Communications upon privatisation in 1997. VT Group acquired Merlin in 2001, creating the VT Communications Division.
BBC World Service radio programmes are transmitted through 10 transmission sites in the UK and throughout the world, which are operated and maintained by VT Communications. The service is transmitted in 43 languages to around 150 million weekly listeners throughout the world with the English and Arabic services broadcast 24 hours a day.
VT Group Chief Executive Paul Lester commented: The continuance of the contract will underpin our communications business for several years to come and reflects the high standards of service provided since privatisation. In addition, we are excited to be supporting the World Service as it faces a period of unprecedented technological change, through its increasing move into the digital era.
Nigel Chapman Director at BBC World Service said: Our relationship has continued to develop very positively since the acquisition of Merlin by VT. We face an exciting but challenging future and we are delighted to be working with VT Communications as our partner.
GlobeCast announced on 28 June the addition of a new transponder to its capacity on the Eurobird satellite over the United Kingdom and Ireland. Joining the companys three other digital DTH platforms on Eurobird, this new capacity, available this July, will provide broadcasters with much needed access to the over 7.6 million subscribers to the Sky Digital bouquet, and will also reach a potential 3.7 million cable subscriber homes.
The addition of this transponder to GlobeCasts offer is the companys response to a spike in demand by broadcasters needing to target the British satellite television market. The capacity was purchased from leading DTH services company ASTRA, and will fill an existing need in addition to allowing the launch of new services in the region notably in the domain of HDTV.
GlobeCast offers a large range of services associated with its Eurobird platforms originating from its London Technical Operations Centre. These services include multiplexing, uplink, satellite capacity, BSkyB EPG access (Electronic Programme Guide) as well as the possibility of interactive broadcasts and GlobeCasts proprietary content management solutions.
GlobeCasts platforms on Eurobird are accessible to radio and television broadcasters on five continents via the companys proprietary ATM fibre network, which interconnects 15 teleports and Technical Operations Centres worldwide, allowing for reception across Europe and the rest of the world by both Direct-to-Home and cable subscribers.
Newcomers to GlobeCasts platform on Eurobird will join nearly thirty major television broadcasters on the platform including EuroNews, Abu Dhabi TV, Extreme Sports, Hollywood TV and Chinese broadcaster CCTV 9.