24 August 2003
The first session looked at content. International broadcasters spend heavily on technology for production and distribution, but should they look more carefully at the content of their transmissions?
David Lowen, former Managing Director of Euronews, spoke of the role of news in cross-border broadcasting; international programming specialist Valerie Geller described how to create compelling content; and the conference heard about the business of running specialist niche channels, such as the newly-created best-of channel German TV. The session concluded with a consideration of rights and regulations, including the issue of piracy. Simon Twiston-Davies of CASBAA was a speaker in this section.
Two key sessions at the AIB conference followed – What Cost War? looking at how in the Iraq war broadcasters took decisions on resource allocation and the human issues of safety in the field; and International Public Diplomacy, the Media and the People, studying the relationship between governments who fund international broadcasting as part of their public diplomacy strategies and the editors who would rather remain independent, and the likely reaction of audiences to new services planned by the USA and France. Speakers included ITNs Michael Jermey, Brian Conniff of the US Broadcasting Board of Governors, Ahmad Fawzi of the UN and Ian Ritchie of news agency APTN.
24 August 2003
The AIB will be opening its first international office in September 2003.
Announcing the move at the AIB Global Media Business Conference in London, AIB Director of Communications Kerry Stevenson said “This is an important development for the AIB. With more members on board and a wealth of developments in the Asia Pacific region, it is vital that the Association has an increased presence in the region.”
Kerry Stevenson will be opening the new AIB office in Sydney in early September. The head office of the organisation remains in London.
24 August 2003
What role will pay television play in the conversion of Europe television homes to digital? Which distribution platforms will dominate? How will each platform’s subscriber base grow in the five years to 2006? What role will digital terrestrial play in the pay television market? In which European market will pay television be most significant? How important are video-capable technologies like ADSL and Cable Internet?
Get the answers to all those questions and many, many more. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the pay TV markets in Western Europe and in key Eastern European territories. Detailed forecasts by delivery platform (including video-capable technologies like ADSL and cable modems) provides a detailed insight into the future of pay TV and the speed of conversion of the paying subscriber base from analogue to digital.
This essential guide will prove an invaluable resource for cable, satellite and telecoms operators; set-top box and hardware manufacturers; business analysts and strategists and TV content and multimedia providers. European Digital Pay Television Platforms: Market assessment and forecast to 2006 is the essential guide to the future of pay television in Europe.
Dr Guy Bisson, one of the authors of the report comments: “In many European countries, it will have to be accepted that free-to-air platforms offer the only route to full digital conversion. The UK is proving to be a test ground for such a service, but in countries such as Germany and the Netherlands, without a business model that will allow digital free-to-view services to work, the time frame to reach analogue switch off will remain a very long one.”
Dr Guy Bisson spoke at a panel session titled ‘Serving Niches, or is this the new order?’ at the Association for International Broadcasting – Global Media Business Conference 2003.
To receive your copy in print at £1245 or electronic at £2490+ VAT visit http://orders.screendigest.com/R.DIGTV_03_03 or e-mail beata.coluk@screendigest.com with details of you delivery address and payments.
24 August 2003
The BBC is recruiting a new Head for its Russian-language service.
The BBC’s Russian Service broadcasts to a sophisticated and highly competitive market, with more than four million listeners in Russia and the former Soviet Union and an important online presence at BBCRussian.com The service has an established reputation among audiences but faces challenges both in radio and online.
Providing editorial, managerial and strategic leadership you’ll be responsible for leading and inspiring a diverse team of journalists and support staff in the UK and overseas. Commissioning radio and online output and maintaining a network of reporters, you’ll plan coverage, manage resources, and train, motivate and develop staff. Inspiring editorial creativity and driving changes in technology, content and management structures that exploit emerging opportunities in Russia will be central to your role.
With experience of editorial leadership across a range of output you’ll have an extensive managerial track record that includes change management, recruitment, leadership and development. Your thorough knowledge of international current affairs, especially in the target area, should be complemented by an understanding of media markets, and the ability to negotiate within them with business and resource planning skills. Educated to degree level, you’ll have a good working knowledge of Russian together with the ability to contribute to the wider strategic goals of the World Service and Global News Division.
23 August 2003
Egypt’s public TV channel ESC has already been attacked for anti-semitism in the programme Horseman without a Horse, which is a serial inspired by The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
The Higher Audiovisual Council (CSA) of France signed a convention some years ago which enables the Egyptian channel to broadcast via satellite in France and in other European Union countries. The watchdog now complains: Despite its fictional nature, this serial could constitute an offence of incitement to racial hatred and would be liable to disturb public order.”
The watchdog adds that at the end of July it sent a letter to the Egyptian authorities in charge of the channel and decided to hear the channel’s representative in France. This hearing will take place at the end of the summer break. The case was put to the CSA in November and December 2002 by several organizations, including the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, private individuals and a deputy.
