BBC World Service to launch new offer in Polish

22 May 2025

BBC World Service to launch new offer in Polish

BBC World Service is expanding its trusted news offer with the launch of a pilot Polish-language news website, BBC News Polska – bbc.com/polska, and its content on social channels.

Going live from Tuesday 24 June 2025, the website bbc.com/polska will deliver independent and impartial news in text and video for Polish-speaking audiences.

The new language offer will help counter a wave of disinformation in the region and provide news and analysis on areas audiences are seeking information on, including the ongoing wars and conflicts, health, climate change, and the cost of living. BBC News Polska content will be available via its social-media channels on Facebook and Instagram.

The pilot language initiative will come from existing budgets and will be reviewed throughout its first year of operation. The BBC World Service’s ability to respond to changing audience demands, launch further pilots and adapt to global challenges relies on the need for a long-term sustainable funding model.

BBC News Polska will be the first new language offer from the BBC World Service produced with the help of AI translation technology.

BBC News Polska will work innovatively to harness existing translation and transcription tools to bring the best of the BBC’s journalism to new audiences. The translation of BBC reporting will always have human editorial oversight and, where used, will be clearly labelled.

The curated content will complement regional angles and analysis produced by the team of Polish-speaking journalists. The platforms will also host content from BBC presenters Kasia Madera and Tomasz Schafernaker.

The launch of BBC News Polska sees the BBC World Service working in a new way with a small, efficient team delivering both the AI-assisted translation of curated BBC reporting and original journalism.

BBC News Polska will operate as a pilot. The BBC World Service has bold plans to pilot more non-English-language content where there is a demand for independent, impartial news as press freedom reduces globally and disinformation is rife.

Global Director and Deputy CEO, BBC News, Jonathan Munro, says:

“Today, as we face a storm of disinformation and ever-growing attacks on media freedom, democracy and regional security, BBC News Polska is a major step towards serving more audiences around the world with content they can trust. This is part of a strategy that would see the BBC’s global reach grow and advance the case for democratic values. But to do this, the BBC World Service would need a long-term sustainable funding arrangement to build on these foundations and to secure our global public service journalism for the future.”

Deputy Global Director, BBC News, Fiona Crack, adds:

“Launching BBC News Polska, we are bringing together the most effective practices of working responsibly and innovatively with AI to reach Polish-speakers with the best of the BBC’s global and regional journalism. Following successful trials and advances in translation services, we are able to launch a new offer alongside original stories and fresh angles from our excellent Polish-speaking team. We look forward to building an audience for whom this content will serve as a welcome and required source of trusted news and information.”

The BBC is the most recognised international news brand in Poland (source: BBC Impact and Influence 2025 study), reaching around 5.1m people every week in the country – around a fifth of the country’s adult population – with the BBC News TV channel, the BBC Studios global digital news platform BBC.com, as well as BBC World Service’s content in English and other languages.

BBC News Polska is the BBC’s first new language offer from the BBC since BBC News Serbian was announced in March 2017.

[Source: BBC]

MBC GROUP and Diriyah Company sign land transfer agreement for new MBC headquarters in Diriyah

8 May 2025

MBC GROUP and Diriyah Company sign land transfer agreement for new MBC headquarters in Diriyah

MBC GROUP (“MBC” or the “Company” or the “Group” | Tadawul: 4072), a leading media and entertainment conglomerate in the Middle East and North Africa (“MENA”) region, announces the signing of a land transfer agreement with Diriyah Company to develop the Company’s brand-new headquarters in Diriyah, The City of Earth, and the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The collaborative partnership is to develop the new MBC headquarters, which will serve as a cutting-edge hub for content production, media innovation, and world-class entertainment experiences. The new facility will house MBC offices, advanced filming studios, and an immersive visitor experience centre. This move reflects the importance of Diriyah as a prime destination for top-tier institutions, positioning MBC at the heart of Diriyah’s vibrant business and cultural scene, fifteen minutes from downtown Riyadh. Moreover, the partnership highlights both companies’ commitment to Vision 2030, reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a premier media and cultural destination.

With a commitment to serving audiences worldwide, MBC GROUP is home to a plethora of iconic brands. Today, the Group operates over 13 free-to-air (FTA) TV channels, three radio stations, SHAHID – the leading Arabic streaming platform in the MENA region – alongside MBC Studios, a regional production powerhouse, and MBC Academy, a talent and educational platform.

Diriyah Company is responsible for developing the Diriyah giga-project, an integrated urban development project that will, once completed, provide homes for nearly 100,000 residents, office space for tens of thousands of professionals in the technology, media, arts and education sectors, create an estimated 178,000 jobs, attract 50 million annual visits, and contribute USD $18.6 billion (SAR 70 billion) directly to Saudi Arabia’s GDP. Diriyah, The City of Earth, covers an area of 14 square kilometers and will feature world-class assets including the Royal Diriyah Opera House and the 20,000 seat Diriyah Arena, leading global hotel and resort brands, more than 150 restaurants, retail districts and multiple educational institutions, positioning it as one of the world’s greatest gathering places and lifestyle destinations.

Commenting on the announcement, His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia and Secretary General of Diriyah Company, said “This partnership is a powerful statement of intent. As Diriyah emerges as a cultural and creative capital for the world, welcoming MBC Group at its heart signals a bold new chapter. Together, we are shaping a future where Saudi Arabia is not only a destination, but a dynamic source of inspiration, storytelling, and global exchange — a place where the world comes to experience the Kingdom, and where the Kingdom reaches out to the world.”

Waleed bin Ibrahim AlIbrahim, Chairman of MBC GROUP, commented: “Establishing our new headquarters in Diriyah is part of our commitment to Vision 2030. This step not only expands our regional presence, but also supports the Kingdom’s vision to strengthen the media and entertainment sector, foster innovation, and drive progress in the creative industries—especially as the growing demand for high-quality, original Arabic content continues to be a key driver in the development of the media industry across the Middle East and North Africa region. He added: “Through initiatives such as the launch of MBC’s new studios in Al-Narjis last year, and the establishment of the group’s new headquarters in Diriyah, we remain focused on supporting the development and production of local content, investing in local talent, and advancing the media and entertainment landscape at the heart of the Kingdom—enriching the region’s creative scene and elevating it to a global level.”

Mike Sneesby, CEO of MBC GROUP, said: “This partnership marks a significant milestone for MBC GROUP, aligning closely with our long-term vision and growth strategy. Diriyah is rapidly becoming a global hub for culture, creativity, and entertainment, and we are proud to be part of this exciting development. Our goal is to create a space where world-class content, creativity, and talent can thrive. We will continue to produce content that resonates with audiences worldwide, while highlighting the Middle East’s rich history and culture, with Saudi Arabia at its core.”

Diriyah Company Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo, said: “We are enormously proud to welcome MBC as our first flagship tenant in the Media and Innovation District launched earlier this year at MIPIM in Cannes. This district will include innovative office space for thousands of professionals in a variety of sectors across the media, technology and the arts industries, as well as residential and hotels offerings found nowhere else but in Diriyah.”

The designated land plot is expected to host MBC’s fully integrated media complex. The plots will be developed by Diriyah Company under a comprehensive Development Works Agreement, which will be formalized between the two companies.

In 2022, MBC inaugurated its headquarters in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter. In 2024, as part of its commitment to supporting local content production, it opened world-class facilities in Al Narjis, launching the first studio in Q3 2024. The Group employs over 2,000 people.

[Source: MBC press release]

NHK WORLD-JAPAN programme focus in May: Osaka

2 May 2025

NHK WORLD-JAPAN programme focus in May: Osaka

Osaka Area:
Vibrancy Past and Present

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Dining with the Chef – Cook Around Japan – Osaka: A Birthplace of Flavor ep.1 May 20 Tue. ep.2 May 27 Tue. 1:30/6:30/12:30/17:30/22:30 (UTC) In a country renowned for its food, Osaka is particularly noted for its culinary offerings. Join chef Saito Tatsuo as he explores flavors that originated in his hometown.
NHK NEWSLINE Daily / broadcast on the hour NHK NEWSLINE delivers the latest from Japan, Asia, and the rest of the world. Our wide network of correspondents covers breaking news and developing stories, offering a perspective from this corner of the globe. And our team of trusted anchors ties it all together to give you a picture of what’s happening now, and what’s ahead.
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Sam Barnett Stepping Down as CEO of MBC GROUP, Mike Sneesby Named Successor

9 April 2025

Sam Barnett Stepping Down as CEO of MBC GROUP, Mike Sneesby Named Successor

Central European Media Enterprises (“CME”) is pleased to announce that Sam Barnett, a seasoned broadcasting professional, has been appointed as CME’s Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2025.

“I’m very happy to welcome Sam to CME. After conducting a thorough succession process, we are confident that Sam’s global expertise and leadership experience make him the right person to lead CME in the future,” said Didier Stoessel, PPF Chief Investment Officer and CME’s current CEO, responsible for the Czech and Romanian markets.

In his new role, Mr. Barnett will succeed Mr. Stoessel, freeing Mr. Stoessel to focus solely on his duties as Chief Investment Officer of PPF, which also includes overseeing PPF’s media investments. Mr. Stoessel has held these dual roles at PPF and CME since 2022.

Since its acquisition by PPF four years ago, CME has undergone significant transformation as it moved from a linear-focused broadcaster to a linear and digital media group. The extraordinary growth of the Czech-Slovak subscriber base of the Voyo streaming service, from 30,000 to 950,000, the launch of Oneplay, an integrated over-the-top video streaming and live television platform, and the ongoing audience leadership of CME’s television channels across most of its markets underline the strength of CME’s business.

“I look forward to Sam and CME’s senior management continuing to lead the company to even greater successes, seizing the new opportunities in the company’s ongoing digital transition across our markets,” added Mr. Stoessel.

The new OTT platform Oneplay of CME’s Czech broadcaster Nova and PPF’s telecom operator O2 Czech Republic exemplifies the profound digital transformation of CME.

Sam Barnett commented on his appointment: “For over three decades, CME has always performed at the top of its game as the leading television entertainment and news source across multiple markets. The ongoing digitalization, forcing an evolution of viewing habits, is an opportunity that CME has seized. I look forward to building on this strategic advantage, maintaining CME’s pole position as the go-to source of video content in Central and Southeastern Europe.”

Mr. Barnett, a British and French citizen, will join PPF after more than two decades in senior management roles, including CEO at MBC Group, the leading media company in the Middle East with a daily audience of 140 million viewers. Earlier this year, as CEO of MBC, Sam oversaw the broadcaster’s successful initial public offering of its shares on the Saudi Exchange. Having lived and worked in many countries, from his native U.K. to New Zealand to Kenya and Dubai, Mr. Barnett brings truly global experience, as befits CME’s international business.

Before his career in broadcasting, Mr. Barnett worked in management consulting with PwC and Arthur Anderson. He holds a degree in economics from Cambridge University and an MBA from INSEAD. Mr. Barnett will relocate to Prague, where CME is headquartered, at the start of his tenure.

[Source: MBC press release;

Photo: new CEO Mike Sneesby]

NHK WORLD-JAPAN programme focus in March

3 March 2025

NHK WORLD-JAPAN programme focus in March

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Trails to Oishii Tokyo: Winter delicacies in Hokuriku Mar 29 Sat. 1:10/7:10/13:10/19:10 (UTC) The Sea of Japan keeps the Hokuriku region supplied with flavorful food. Come travel through the region’s three prefectures to find winter’s finest delicacies.
Oscar Nominee for Best Documentary Short Film Feb 28 Fri. 4:30/8:30/16:30/23:30 (UTC) Instruments of a Beating Heart First graders in a Tokyo public elementary school are presented with a challenge for the final semester: performing “Ode to Joy” at the ceremony for the new incoming first graders. Ayame, who often struggles to keep up with the group, is determined to play a major part — the big drum. We follow Ayame as she experiences shattering blows and joyous victories in the audition process. But to rehearse for the big performance, Ayame must quickly learn to deal with newfound pressure and responsibility. When it comes time to perform in the packed auditorium, will she prevail? Instruments of a Beating Heart intimately examines the Japanese educational system’s tenuous balance between self-sacrifice and human growth as it teaches the next generation to become part of Japanese society.
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