31 August 2017
In September, the programme of NHK WORLD TV comprises the following hightlights:
Orda Cave
A 300-million-year mystery of creation
Sep 9 Sat 15:10/ 21:10/ Sun 3:10/ 9:10 (UTC) <49 min.>
Nestled at the foot of Russia’s Ural Mountains, Orda Cave is said to be the site of the world’s most beautiful view. For the first time in history, the view has been recorded with a 4K camera, providing entrée to an underground world. The cave’s transparent water and white gypsum minerals lie beneath a field of snow. A specialist explains the mystery behind the cave’s origin, a tale of land and climate change that reaches back 300 million years.
Zhangjiajie’s Miracle Stone Forest
Bird’s-eye view of a Chinese World Heritage Site
Sep 16 Sat 23:10/ Sun 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC) <49 min.>
Thousands of 200-meter-high rock pillars jut out from Zhangjiajie’s Stone Forest. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is known as the inspiration for the world of the movie Avatar. Much of the area is not open to the public, but NHK obtained permission to document its unparalleled beauty using a 4K drone camera. Close-up images of the pillars, along with a perspective on the lives of the inhabitants, reveal the magic of this secluded treasure.
A Tale of Love and Honor
Life in Gion
Sep 23 Sat 15:10/ 21:10/ Sun 3:10/ 9:10 (UTC) <49 min.>
The doors to the 200-year-old Tomiyo tea house open to our cameras to provide a glimpse of the lives of geisha, or geiko as they are known in Kyoto. 77-year-old Kimi is Tomiyo’s eighth generation okami proprietress. She faces the difficult decision of when to pass on her responsibilities to her 45-year-old daughter, who also has outside interests. Tradition and modernity converge in this candid portrait of a rarefied world.
CYCLE AROUND JAPAN
A Summer Journey in Southern Hokkaido
Sep 30 Sat 0:10/ 6:10/ 12:10/ 18:10 (UTC) <49 min. 30 sec.>
This is a 500-kilometer bike ride through the grand scenery of Japan’s northernmost prefecture. The city of Hakodate offers a mix of cultural influences from East and West. Down the road, a port city keeps busy in summertime with kombu kelp drying. The trip includes stops at a dairy farm and a watermelon patch, evidence of the close connection between the people and the land.
29 August 2017
Euronews, in partnership with German regional media outlets and with the support of the Google News Lab, launches a series of 9 portraits of German people in 360° videos, produced in the weeks before the German federal election.
Following its innovative coverage of the French presidential election earlier this year, Euronews launches its immersive coverage of the German campaign with a series of portraits of voters produced using VR360 technology.
The unique project created by Euronews, one of the world’s pioneers in the production of immersive video reports, is backed again by the Google News Lab.
It is being produced in collaboration with the newsrooms of German regional media outlets – such as Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, Passauer Neue Presse, Berliner Zeitung, Weser-Kurier, Schleswig-Holsteinischer Zeitungsverlag, isso., Südwest Presse, Schwäbische Zeitung. With-in depth regional knowledge, they will provide crucial insights into the geographic and sociological diversity at the local level, reflecting the German electorate.
Germany has consistently made headlines over the past year, whether for its role in Greek debt crisis, controversy over its immigrant policy or its targeting by terrorists. Chancellor Angela Merkel, in a post-Brexit post-Trump world, has at times seemed embattled, under fire from both the left and the right wing. She remains popular, but social-democrats hope to dethrone “the most powerful woman in the world” after almost 12 years in office.
To report on this fascinating situation, immersive journalism provides a fresh perspective on election cycle and a way to better listen to and understand the issues affecting the German electorate. This storytelling format also empowers German voters to have a say, express their hopes and worries in the run-up to this election.
Before the election day on September 24, Euronews’ journalists Carolin Küter and Lena Roche and partner journalists set out to meet the people of Germany, whether they intend to vote or not.
The series of nine 360° episodes is being produced in six languages: German, English, French, Turkish, Arabic and Russian.
After the vote, a tenth episode will gather the voters’ reactions in an interactive virtual-reality environment produced in partnership with German start-up Vragments.
|
Thomas Seymat, VR & immersive journalism editor, Euronews |
“We are very excited to be using immersive journalism to our international audience on the ground in Germany ahead of this very important vote for the country, and for the European Union. With our extensive 360° video experience, and with the hard work of our German colleagues, we are looking forward to bring local German voices to the global stage.”
|
Isabelle Sonnenfeld, Head of Google News Lab (DACH region) |
“During the French presidential election we already observed the positive impact these 360° stories had. Each episode gave voice to a voter and his or her personal perspectives. 360° video on YouTube in combination with cardboard offers a unique experience as it creates empathy with the person, the personal story and the environment. We are proud to support this second immersive storytelling project produced by Euronews in the run up to the German election. It combines collaboration with experimentation which lies at the heart of what the Google News Lab thrives for.”
|
Joachim Dreykluft, Head of Digital, Schleswig-Holsteinischer Zeitungsverlag |
“Elections are a celebration of democracy. And as with all great celebrations, we need things that bring us together, in substance and emotion. 360° videos are a wonderful way for us to combine both at shz.de. They convey relevant content. And they create a proximity and immediacy to people and their environment as no other form of representation.”
Germany 2017 in 360°
The series is simultaneously broadcast by Euronews and the media partners. Starting on August 28, they will be available on euronews.com in the respective languages, Euronews’ YouTube channels and its apps. If you have a Cardboard or VR headset at hand you will get a fully immersive experience.
(Source: Euronews press release)
24 August 2017
The statement reads: “Today the Cambodian government has launched what appears to be a campaign against key FM radio stations that carry Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts. These FM stations are a critical means for the Cambodian people to access accurate and independent news about Cambodia and the world. Reports indicate that at least one station has been intimidated into indefinitely ceasing broadcast of any RFA and VOA content, and another station has been completely shut down.”
“As networks supported by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, RFA and VOA work tirelessly to provide top-notch investigative journalism and reporting to audiences in Cambodia. This disturbing development is part of a pattern of intimidation and harassment of independent news sources that coincides with the run up to the 2018 elections. We call on the Cambodian government to reverse this decision to muzzle objective sources of news and to allow all impacted stations to resume normal operations immediately.”
(Source: BBG press release)
10 July 2017
Africanews is a leading multilingual, pan-African news outlet. Africanews is available in sub-Saharan Africa via its complete offer (TV + digital: website, social media, mobile applications).
Now available on the App Store, Africanews app offers free access to all iPhone and iPad users to catch up all the news published on africanews.com, all programmes as well as Live TV.
The first Africanews app allows to follow pan-African and international news anywhere and at any time.
Africanews app is available for free on the App Store, both English and French languages.
To download the application, click here
Africanews application for iOS devices also offers:
- Push notifications for Breaking News
- Africanews Live to watch the channel 24/7
- Constantly updated timeline so you don’t miss any event
- The editor’s choice for global news
- Highlighted videos with thematic playlists
- A rich content (media content with pictures, tweets and videos, live blogging)
- Special features (Widget iOS, Data Savings feature to save your Data package, Offline mode feature)
Michael Peters, CEO of Euronews and President of Africanews says: “Since its launch, we have positioned Africanews as a news platform dedicated to the challenges and opportunities of a Digital Africa. Today, I’m delighted to announce the launch of the app for Apple devices. The iOS app complements our bilingual digital services, with our website, our YouTube channels, and our Facebook and Twitter accounts. Besides the app enables news from a sub-Saharan perspective to spread even more around the world, we have also designed Africanews app specifically for our African audience who can choose the means through which they want to be informed, from Breaking News push notifications to TV in live streaming.”
(Source: Euronews press release)
10 July 2017
Arabsat announced the launch of its Free-To-Air DVB-S2 platform which carries exclusively many premium and widely viewed HD international channels, broadcast as Free-to-Air across the Middle East, North Africa & Europe via Arabsat BADR-4 which can be received with minimum dish size. Viewers across the Middle East, North Africa & Europe will continue to receive an extensive offering of prime Free-To-Air international and regional HD channels on Arabsat hotspot at 26⁰ East.
Khalid Balkheyour, Arabsat President & CEO said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of Arabsat brand new added-value DVB-S2 video offering to our clients and audience. This service is especially significant and valuable for our worldwide top brands of satellite TV channels, of which delivers cost-effective transmission platform, in parallel with developing the performance of our broadcasting product. Arabsat viewers can enjoy the modern television broadcasting events, with our portfolio of first class exclusive channels, such as; BBC World News HD, France 24 Arabic HD, TV5 Monde Style HD, and other high definition exclusive channels showing excellent quality of picture and sound, to ensure best Free-To-Air viewing experience at homes.”
(Source: Arabsat press release)
