24 July 2003
Radio Monte Carlo-Middle East, a subsidiary of Radio France Internationale, broadcasting to the Arab world, now has an FM frequency (93.5) in Baghdad. The station has previously broadcast to Iraq only on medium wave.
The Arabic-language French radio, based in Paris and part of the RFI state-owned group, has an editorial team of 35 journalists and 40 correspondents around the world and says it has 15m listeners in the Arab world and in the Arab-speaking communities of the diaspora.
24 July 2003
BBC World, the BBC’s commercially funded 24-hour international news and information channel, is now broadcasting free-to-air across continental Europe on the Astra 1H satellite at 19.2 degrees east. With this new satellite position, BBC World has become available in an additional 2.4 million households across Europe, in particular France, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland.
Jeff Hazell, Director of Distribution, BBC World, said: “We are delighted that BBC World is now being broadcast in digital on Astra 1H. This new orbital location will further strengthen our distribution in Europe, making the channel more accessible to cable and satellite platform operators.”
23 July 2003
AIB member VT Merlin Communications has signed a major £220m contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the Defence High Frequency Communications Service (DHFCS), which will see VT Merlin deliver beyond line of sight high frequency (HF) communication services to the three armed services and other authorised users.
As part of the 15 year contract VT Merlin has taken over the operation, maintenance and support of current HF defence communications facilities in the UK and overseas. In addition to assuming responsibility for the continued operation of this service, VT Merlin will enhance capability, quality and reliability through the rollout of new technology, which will be introduced progressively by 2008.
This new service will enhance the quality and effectiveness of strategic communications, generating savings for the MoD over the existing systems, and will lead to the redeployment of more than 250 military personnel to other, higher priority duties.
23 July 2003
Katsuji Ebisawa has been reappointed as President of NHK for a third term, effective as of July 31st, 2003, for a period of three years.
The Chairman of the Board of Governors, Hiroshi Suda, explained the reason for the reappointment. He said Ebisawas strong leadership is crucial at a time when the broadcasting industry in Japan is going through a challenging period of digitalization. Digital terrestrial broadcasting is to gradually start in Japan from December this year, and Ebisawas efficient management oriented on provision of quality programming is considered a key factor for this realization.
23 July 2003
Following its recent international expansion in the United States, China and the Middle East, AIB member ND SatCom AG, a leading global supplier of satellite based broadband VSAT, broadcast and military has a re-designed and newly structured website at www.ndsatcom.com.
“A substantial amount of functionality and relevant content has been put together in order to increase the internet’s and extranet’s utility to our customers online. We plan to provide a constant stream of current information to ensure that this web site becomes an important online resource in the field of satellite based communication solutions”, says Dr. Karl Classen, CEO of ND SatCom. explaining the concept behind the new site.
ND SatCom’s customers can directly access information that is specific to their needs by easily navigating into the crucial areas of content such as products, solutions and services.
