1 April 2005
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty today introduced a new company logo — a silver torch with burnt-orange flame, symbolizing its modern, universal engagement in the fight for democracy. The new logo was unveiled to employees during a ceremony in Prague. During the ceremony, RFE/RL President Thomas A. Dine explained the rationale that guided the companys year-long efforts to replace the blue and silver Freedom Bell that had been RFE/RL’s mark for more than half a century: “Today’s markets require a new and fresh identifying symbol, appealing to new and younger publics.” Dine also stated that “The flaming torch symbolizes the light of truth and information in our multimedia array of information products — on radio, television, the Internet, cell phones and in print media.”
The logo comes in several color combinations of background, lettering and image — all silver on orange, silver and orange on white, all orange on silver, all black on white. It was created by the New York City-based design firm Chermayeff & Geismar, which has designed logos for several U.S. government agencies, as well as multinational conglomerates. Each of RFE/RL’s 27 broadcast languages, for the first time, has a separate logo in the service’s own language and script — Radio Azattyk for Kyrgyzstan, Radio Svoboda for Russia, Radio Europa Libera for Romania, etc. Dine said all printed and online publications, promotion items, television programs, and advertising will be in the language of the broadcast: “This lends new power and coherence to our brand name in the increasingly competitive markets where we operate.”
Dine concluded his remarks by noting that “symbols and metaphors change, but RFE/RL’s mission of spreading democracy and freedom does not. The power of free thought was a potent antidote to communism and such light in a dark world is a dynamic and inspiring countermeasure in today’s world of Islamic jihadists and authoritarian dictators… Let RFE/RL’s logo of a flaming torch illuminate democracy’s spirit and strength in the 21st century.”
For more information on the new logo and the history of the old Freedom Bell, visit RFE/RL’s special website: http://www.rferl.org/about/organization/newlogo.asp
1 April 2005
AAJ TV employs over 350 staff and has fully equipped bureaux in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. AAJ TV is the only digital satellite channel to have an earth station in Pakistan that broadcasts directly to the AsiaSat satellite with a footprint of over 60 countries. Having an earth station provides for exceptional flexibility and control in responding to local and international events.
AAJ TV caters for all tastes by providing three well defined programming blocks of news, current affairs and entertainment. Building on the news reporting experience of the Business Recorder, AAJ TV provides round the clock news coverage from around the world in collaboration with partner news sources in more than 100 countries. On the entertainment front, industry veterans are heading the teams and using one of the best equipped production facilities in the country to create ground breaking programmes.
CITCGI is working with Aaj TV for distribution in the UK on Eurobird or Hot bird. CITCGI will be working with Samacom or another earth station.
1 April 2005
Radio Netherlands is currently constructing three mobile radio stations which will be shipped to Aceh at the end of the month. These will enable three RN partner stations in Banda Aceh, Meulobah and the island of Nias to resume their broadcasts by late April. These radio stations were completely obliterated by the December tsunami. The mobile radio stations have been named “Queen Beatrix”, “Princess Máxima” and “Princess Catherina-Amalia”.
Radio Netherlands is helping with the long-term reconstruction of these partner stations, but this is a slow process. General Director Jan Hoek says: “It is really important that the radio stations in Aceh are back on the air as soon as possible. Radio is a vitally important means of communication in Aceh and a major source of information for listeners. That’s why we started constructing these mobile radio stations a couple of weeks ago”.
“Once they are back on the air, they will also be broadcasting material from our Indonesian service and letting many people in the region hear independent journalism once again.” Radio Netherlands’ Indonesian programmes can be heard in Indonesia on short wave, satellite, internet and via our partner stations.
Radio Netherlands is also giving a modest degree of financial support to the staff of the partner stations who survived the disaster. In future we would like to provide training courses for new and existing employees of our partner stations, since many of their people did not survive.
The mobile radio station or “Radio Station in a Box” was created in collaboration with BFN and StudioBouw VOF. The mobile radio stations are being lent to our partner stations in Aceh. Once they are able to start using their own facilities again, Radio Netherlands will deploy the mobile stations in other parts of the world and for other purposes – for instance, for training purposes or in connection with other natural disasters.
1 April 2005
Quantel today unveiled Picturebox sQ a brand new addition to the world-leading sQ server range that provides an integrated approach to the creation, playout and management of graphics. Picturebox sQ is the perfect partner for Paintbox. In keeping with the modern approach to graphics, Picturebox sQ plays out moving sequences in the form of clips as well as stills. Picturebox sQ is also HD upgradeable, making it a totally futureproof investment for broadcasters looking to solve all of their long-term graphics playout and management needs.
The management facilities of Picturebox sQ bring a new dimension to the editorial control of graphics creation and playout. On the same network as both Paintbox and Picturebox sQ, there can be a number of independent viewing and editing stations. In this way creative, content and legal approvals can all be achieved on-line, playlists can be updated and new graphics added while the system is literally on-air.
To the on-air operator the QPlay panel will feel instantly and reassuringly familiar, based as it is on the much loved, highly ergonomic control panel from the original Quantel Picturebox that found so much favour with thousands of broadcasters worldwide. However the new software behind the new panel provides even more flexibility for the input, output and rundown processes.
The addition of an optional slo-mo lever also makes Picturebox sQ a natural fit for live events, as does its compact size. In addition, the speed and positive simplicity of the picture management provides the confidence so essential in live applications.
The brain of the system is an IGA (Integrated Graphics Architecture) computer that manages the database. The new IGA marries seamlessly with the ISA (Integrated Server Architecture) computer in sQ server systems, ensuring total transparency of data between the graphics server and the broadcasters main production system. Quantels unique Frame Magic technology ensures optimum performance and storage utilisation.
We have drawn on all our many years experience in the field of close-to-air graphics creation and playout to ensure that the reliability, performance and facilities of the new Picturebox sQ are ideally matched to the needs of todays broadcasters workflow and efficiency requirements, says Quantel Marketing Manager – Graphics, John Woodhouse. As a result, Picturebox sQ feels instinctively absolutely right for the modern broadcast environment.
22 March 2005
The AIB is pleased to announce its first Awards programme – the AIB International Broadcasting Awards 2005.
The AIB International Broadcasting Awards are open to any organisation involved in cross-border broadcasting with three distinct categories covering television, radio and technology:
Category One Best radio documentary or current affairs programme for an international audience (30 or less)
Category Two Best childrens or youth TV programme for an international audience (30 or less)
Category Three Most innovative use of technology in international broadcasting
Entries for the awards must be submitted by 21 March 2005.
The 2005 AIB International Broadcasting Awards will be presented during the Gala Evening at the AIB Global Media Business Conference taking place in Montreal, Canada, on 6th and 7th June.
Complete information and details of the entry procedure can be downloaded here.
Download the official entry form here.
