4 May 2004
On 3 May Reporters Without Borders released its 2004 Annual Report – “Freedom of the Press throughout the World” , as well as the list of the 37 predators who committed press freedom violations. More than 130 journalists are currently imprisoned around the world just for doing their job. Forty-two were killed in 2003 in the course of their work or because of their opinions, mainly in Asia and the Middle East (especially the Iraq war). It was the highest number since 1995. 766 others were arrested, at least 1,460 physically attacked or threatened and 501 media censored. The report is on sale for 8 Euros from Reporters Without Borders head office. It can also be downloaded on their website www.rsf.org.
Reporters Without Borders is launching a publicity drive on TV, radio and in the written press to make people aware of its daily battle for press freedom. The TV campaign and the radio spots are featured on their website. The written press campaign will present three situations not seen in France but unfortunately possible in other countries. They contain tough messages saying that journalists are public enemies. Copies of the campaign packs can be ordered from presse@rsf.org or communication@rsf.org.
30 April 2004
After just six weeks on the air, the new U.S.-funded Arabic language TV channel Alhurra (Arabic for “The Free One”) has established itself as an important source of news and information for adults over the age of 15 in major cities across the Middle East, according to recent telephone surveys conducted by Ipsos-Stat, the French research company.
The surveys were conducted in Lebanon (Beirut), Syria (Damascus, & Aleppo), United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), Egypt (Cairo and Alexandria), Kuwait (Kuwait City), Jordan (Amman, Irbid and Zarka) and Saudi Arabia (Riyadh and Jeddah) in early April and show that an average of 29 percent of adults had watched Alhurra in the previous week. Past week viewing in Lebanon was 40 percent; Syria 29 percent; UAE 19 percent; Egypt 18 percent; Kuwait 44 percent; Jordan 37 percent and Saudi Arabia 19 percent. In the surveys, randomly selected adults (15+) who live in houses with telephone and satellite dishes were questioned about their TV viewing.
The survey also reported that in spite of increasing anti-American attitudes and suspicion of the motives of the United States in the region, 53 percent of Alhurra viewers consider its news “very or somewhat reliable.” Reliability figures were 70 percent for Saudi Arabia; 54 percent for Lebanon; 40 percent for Egypt; 44 percent for Jordan; 61 percent for Kuwait; 65 percent for UAE and 37 percent for Syria.
Additionally, the U.S.-funded Radio Sawa has proven once again to be the most successful network of radio stations in the Middle East with 38 percent of adults in five key countries tuning in to Radio Sawa, according to surveys conducted by ACNielsen in February 2004. Radio Sawa provides listeners an upbeat mix of Arabic and Western pop music and comprehensive up-to-the-minute news.
“We are very encouraged by the preliminary results that we just received, but realize that many hurdles still exist. This job will not be easy, but with this research in hand we are much more confident that Alhurra can replicate the success that Radio Sawa has achieved in just two years,” said Norman J. Pattiz, Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governor’s Middle East Committee.
“These preliminary results are a wonderful indication that we are succeeding in the Broadcasting Board of Governors mission to bring reliable and credible news to the people in the Middle East,” stated Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. “We are seeing progress everyday and are in it for the long-term.”
Alhurra, launched on February 14, 2004, is the latest and most technologically advanced television organization to enter the crowded Middle East satellite television market. The satellite channel is a 24-hour news and information network broadcast in Arabic. It and can be seen in 22 countries throughout the region via Arabsat and Nilesat, the same satellites used by all major Arabic channels.
Radio Sawa broadcasts over five hours of news daily and 300 newscasts per week — newscasts whose goal is to present accurate and balanced information about events in the Middle East and the world. News, along with its unique 50/50 mix of the biggest Western and Arabic pop hits, has proven to be popular throughout the region.
Surveys were conducted by Ipsos-Stat during the first two weeks of April. Ipsos-Stat is one of the leading research companies in the Middle East region, covering seven major Arab countries: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, United Arabs Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
The ACNielsen surveys on Radio Sawa were face-to-face interviews conducted in Arabic February 2004, (Qatar July-August 2003). The sample size of 5737 adults, 15 years and older. There is a 2.9 percent margin of error.
30 April 2004
Leading satellite services company GlobeCast announced on 20 April the launch of a new online broadcast playout facility with Miracle, an Arabic language satellite television channel that broadcasts to viewers in the Middle East, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Europe via Hot Bird.
Developed in-house by GlobeCasts system architects, the online hard-drive playout facility will enable Miracle to create and manage its own programming schedules via the internet. Miracle can now send content direct to GlobeCasts secure server and plan playout up to four weeks in advance. This negates the need for traditional satellite backhaul and also reduces man-hours Miracle previously employed to perform the initial playout. With the benefit of an individually tailored interface, Miracle is also able to make last minute alterations to its programming prior to broadcast.
Once content is received and stored on GlobeCasts server, Miracles newly extended 12 hour programming schedule is automatically played out to a multiplex for uplink from GlobeCasts London teleport to Hot Bird 6, to a potential community of 100 million viewers. Miracle is now able to economically send programming blocks from its headquarters in Norway to the GlobeCast multiplex in the UK.
Ranjan Thakre, General Manager, Miracle said: GlobeCasts new internet playout service means we have a cost-effective method of loading programme blocks on to GlobeCasts server well ahead of time, while retaining the flexibility to intervene and modify the blocks via the web, right up to the time of playout. We are very impressed with the user-friendly interface developed by GlobeCast and look forward to expanding the service further, as we explore new opportunities.
Juliet Bayliss, Head of UK Channel Distribution, GlobeCast said: Our new hard-drive playout service entirely compliments GlobeCasts existing full service playout facilities, and will revolutionise broadcasting for smaller channels looking for real cost savings. We are delighted to be launching this service with Miracle and to be supporting the channels continued growth. By developing a fully flexible service in-house we are able to work with broadcasters by developing an internet package that is entirely unique and meets individual requirements. We look forward to offering our playout service to new customers in the near future.
29 April 2004
Global private equity firm The Carlyle Group today acquired Kingston Inmedia, the satellite service provider from Kingston Communications (Hull) plc, the UK alternative carrier, in an all-cash deal of £34 million. Kingston Inmedia delivers enterprise, broadcast and internet solutions to business customers using satellite-based technologies. 2003 revenues were £33.4 million with EBITDA of £5.7 million. Kingston Inmedia has 165 employees.
Kingston Inmedia is led by an excellent and committed management supported by a high quality asset base, strong customer service and a competitive offering. We believe the company will flourish as a private company and we look forward to working with the team, said Bruno Mourgue d’Algue, Associate Director, The Carlyle Group.
Nick Thompson, CEO of Kingston Inmedia, commented, This is a great opportunity for Kingston Inmedia. Carlyles significant international interests will enable us to capitalise on a number of expansion opportunities that were too divergent for our previous owner. With the strong support of Carlyle we hope to grow the company significantly over the next years.
Malcolm Fallen, CEO of Kingston Communications said, I am confident that Kingston Inmedia will thrive under its new ownership and wish the dedicated, talented team who work in the business every success for the future.
The company will continue to trade under the name of Kingston Inmedia in the immediate future.
29 April 2004
The BBC has teamed up with hardware-software provider Solvo International to launch a mobile telephone news service in Russia. BBC Dial-Up News provides mobile phone subscribers in the Moscow region with access to international news, in Russian and English. They simply dial 0613 for instant news updates. Solvo International makes BBC Dial-Up News service available to the users of BeeLine network in the Moscow region.
The deal will also be extended to the subscribers of another major Russian mobile operator, MTS, and if the service proves successful in the Moscow region, both BeeLine and MTS plan to expand it throughout Russia.
The BBC’s news bulletins are updated from London every 30 minutes providing subscribers to the service with the latest information on world events. The BBC Dial-Up News service costs the equivalent of US $0.50 plus VAT per minute.
The Head of BBC Russian Service, Sara Beck, said: “Russia is a very important market for BBC World Service, and we are constantly seeking new ways to serve our Russian-speaking audience better. BBC Dial-Up News is a new service for the community which is rapidly integrating into the world’s socio-economic system, as mobile phones have become an essential tool to many Russians.”
Leonid Arbatman, the President of Solvo International, added: “Listening to the BBC news is a time-tested habit for Russian news seekers. Through Solvo International’s cutting edge technology and market leadership in innovative products and services in Russia, the partnership with the BBC will provide mobile phone subscribers in Russia with a way of keeping abreast with the world events which is unique for this market.”
In addition to the bulletins in Russian and English, BBC Dial-Up News service also offers its Russian-speaking subscribers business news and short English language lessons, A Phrase a Day.
