2 March 2017
Arabsat, a leading satellite services provider in the Arab world, has been selected by global media solutions provider Globecast to broadcast TRT World, the international news platform of Turkey, in high definition over the MENA region on Arabsat’s Badr-6 satellite at 26°E. Globecast is the worldwide distributor of the TRT news platform.
Building on its existing relationship with Arabsat, Globecast is supplying global packaged services to TRT World for this project. The company is providing connectivity through its fully redundant fibre network and its Paris NOC, which enables the uplinking of the channel to Arabsat’s Badr-6 satellite.
“This new HD channel will further grow our HD neighbourhood and reinforce our HD dominance in MENA. We are grateful to once again be working with our long-term partner Globecast for the distribution of a premium channel, which will undoubtedly attract a wide range of viewers,” said Khalid Balkheyour, President & CEO of Arabsat.
The cooperation means TRT World will be available to viewers in the Middle East and North Africa.
“We’re delighted to once again be teaming with Arabsat, our trusted partner in the Arab region, for this important project. We’re seeing a lot of growth in the 26° neighbourhood lately, especially in terms of exclusive content. This region is perfectly suited to our customer, TRT World,” commented Philippe Bernard, Globecast Group CEO.
(Source: Arabsat press release)
28 February 2017
From Monday 6 March, the Revolution-100 season of content on BBC Russian will connect audiences with the events of 1917 that led to the seizure of power by Bolsheviks and the birth of the Soviet Russia.
BBC Russian takes a new look at the crucial episodes between the two Russian revolutions – in February and October 1917 – often challenging conventional knowledge. Through documentaries, animation, infographics, picture galleries and stories on bbcrussian.com, TV, and via digital and mobile platforms, BBC Russian connects the events of 1917 with the world of today.
Between March and November 2017, Revolution-100 will feature a wide range of content including:
- A four-part video series, The Train from Zurich to the Revolution, tracing Lenin’s train journey from Zurich to Petrograd, which put him in the centre of the struggle for power in the Russian capital. Starring the popular Russian actor, Mikhail Yefremov, the documentary asks why Germany had facilitated that momentous journey.
- A special video feature filmed at the Russian Duma, re-enacting the drama of the political struggle of 100 years ago. The country’s budding legislative organ of the time – set up to establish democratic governance in Russia – was soon obliterated by the Bolsheviks.
- Research into the economic situation in the country as the February Revolution was largely triggered by bread riots and strikes in Petrograd – asking what an average worker could buy and if hunger was really widespread.
- Research into the social layout of the country whose monarch abdicated after centuries of absolute rule.
- Letters from the frontline: a personalised look at the role of the First World War in the disaffection that brought the soldiers – and their families – into the ranks of the protesters.
- Faces of the revolution: portraits of seven key members of the Provisional Government – Mikhail Rodzyanko, Alexandr Protopopov, Pavel Milyukov, Vasiliy Shulgin, Prince Georgiy Lvov, Generals Nikolai Ruzsky and Mikhail Alekseev.
- The world press reaction to the revolution as it unfolded.
- The story of three brothers from Nizhniy Novgorod, whose different political choices and resulting lives reflect the trials and tribulations of 20th century Russians.
Throughout the season, BBC Russian will report the centenary of the Russian revolution as it is reflected in Britain’s cultural scene.
BBC Russian brings global stories to the Russian-speaking audience and puts Russian and regional stories in a global context. The website bbcrussian.com offers a rich content of international and national news and analysis, video news bulletins and pieces, live and on-demand audio, interactivity and reports. BBC Russian connects with its audiences via Facebook, VKontakte, Instagram, Twitter, Telegram, YouTube and Google+. BBC Russian TV news bulletins broadcast on Dozhd TV in Russia Monday to Friday and are available on bbcrussian.com. Twice a week, BBC Russian delivers news updates on the Russian TV channel, RBK.
27 February 2017
Latest Africascope results confirm Africanews’ strong reputation in French-speaking Africa with 6.3 million people aware of the news channel across seven countries surveyed*, and boasting a healthy weekly audience of 2 million viewers.
Africanews is a leading multilingual, Pan-African news outlet. Africanews is available in sub-Saharan Africa via its complete offering (TV + digital: website, social media,mobile applications).
According to the latest Africascope 2016 survey, conducted by Kantar TNS in seven French-speaking African countries, Africanews has created an awareness of 38%, which represents 6.3 million people aware of Africanews. Less than one year after launching the channel it has also earned a weekly audience of 2 million viewers.
Africascope survey results show Africanews’ audience is young and more affluent than the average of the target population. The majority of its audience are men who account for 64% of Africanews’ weekly viewership.
Africascope also highlights the strength of TV in all countries surveyed, with an average 90% of people aged 15 and over watching television daily, which amounts to 15.1 million viewers.
Africanews, the key Pan-African media in Gabon, Cameroon and The Democratic Republic of Congo
Less than a few months after launching, Africanews is already exceptionally well-known in Gabon, where 2 out of every 3 respondents are aware of Africanews (65%).
Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo have also proven receptive to the new Africanews TV channel, where awareness levels for 2016 stand at 42% and 41% respectively.
Elsewhere across French-speaking Africa, the channel is known by 1 in 3 respondents, with 37% in Ivory Coast and 30% in both Senegal and Burkina Faso stating their awareness of the news channel.
Michael Peters, CEO of Euronews and President of Africanews said: “On January 6th, Africanews celebrated the first anniversary of its digital launch. The increase of the channel’s awareness ratings in just one year is a strong and deep source of motivation for our team in Pointe-Noire and its network of correspondents that extends throughout the world. These results confirms the relevance of our vision and our strategic project, an editorial choice made in Africa by Africans, with factual information dedicated to Africans.
These audience’s results confirm the growing ascendancy of the news outlet in Sub-Saharan Africa which also witnesses an ever-increasing number of leading advertisers and partners which choose Africanews as a channel for their communications.”
KANTAR TNS and its Africascope media survey
Kantar TNS has been measuring the audiences of national and international television channels and radio stations since 2008. Africascope is the essential survey for measuring audience and awareness, and for understanding target groups’ profiles and consumer habits.
Africascope is conducted in the capitals of seven countries in French-speaking Africa, on a sample of nearly 16,000 people aged 15 and over, representative of the survey areas population of 16.8 million people. The surveys were carried out face-to-face in interviewees’ homes, using the quota method (gender, age, education and profession of the respondent).
* Countries surveyed: Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou), Cameroon (Douala and Yaoundé), Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa), Gabon (Libreville), Ivory Coast (Abidjan), Mali (Bamako) and Senegal (Dakar).
(Source: Euronews press release)
20 February 2017
Ooredoo and MBC GROUP hosted a star-studded event at the Museum of Islamic Art last night to launch the exclusive new MBC+ Ooredoo Channel for Ooredoo TV subscribers.
The event was attended by Ooredoo Qatar CEO Waleed Al Sayed, MBC GROUP CEO Sam Barnett and a host of MBC talent including: “Sabah Al Khair Ya Arab” star Khaled Al Shaer, reporter and broadcaster Ali Al Ghofaily, journalist Ola Al-Fares, as well as presenter Ghada Mussali from MBC1 and presenter Mariam Said from ET Bil Arabi.
The MBC+ Ooredoo Channel launch is part of a multi-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Ooredoo and MBC GROUP signed last year, which gave Ooredoo exclusive rights to some of the GROUP’s most popular High Definition (HD) channels in Qatar.
With this latest partnership, Ooredoo TV customers will now be able to exclusively enjoy a brand new channel and that will include a selection of MBC’s best Arabic content.
MBC+ Ooredoo Channel is available on channel 180 now and content will include: Tabakh Al Sultan, Scoop, Dahsha, El Hokm, El Hob Al Halal and much more.
Talking at the event, Waleed Al Sayed, Ooredoo Qatar Chief Executive Officer, said: “Since its launch Ooredoo TV has offered the latest and best content, whether live, On Demand or on the go via the Ooredoo TV App. This is the latest step in our vision of offering leading local and international content to Qatar and we hope you enjoy the wide range of programmes we have selected especially for Ooredoo TV customers in HD.”
MBC Group CEO, Sam Barnett said: “It’s a privilege to be partnering with such an innovative telecommunications company.
The speed and sophistication of the network provided by Ooreedoo means that viewers in Qatar are able to experience audiovisual content at industry leading levels of quality”.
Barnett further added: “It was only a few months ago when we announced our intention to work together, and now today our combined teams are ready to launch both MBC+ Ooreedoo and our premium Video On Demand service SHAHID PLUS”.
To ensure that Ooredoo’s entertainment portfolio stays ahead of the growing switch to digital content, Ooredoo and MBC GROUP have recently announced that all Ooredoo customers can now exclusively enjoy MBC’s SHAHID PLUS online service in Qatar. They can catch-up with the latest & the exclusive shows, award-winning content among many dramas and movies with no ads.
With MBC’s SHAHID PLUS service, Ooredoo customers enjoy MBC’s premium VOD service and enjoy its strong content offering (exclusive Arabic series, shows and the latest Arabic movies) on-the-go in an uninterrupted experience with no ads.
Existing Mozaic TV customers who want to upgrade to Ooredoo TV to take advantage of the MBC+ Ooredoo Channel can simply visit any Ooredoo retail shop to register and collect a free Ooredoo TV play device.
Ooredoo TV offers features such as 4K resolution, time shift, Android apps, parental control, thousands of hours of on-demand content and much more at no extra cost. Ooredoo TV is available from Ooredoo Shops, Starlink, TechnoBlue and Jumbo outlets. The service has no upfront charges, no equipment costs and no ongoing contracts.
Visit ooredoo.qa/portal/OoredooQatar/ooredoo-tv_2 for more.
About Ooredoo
Ooredoo is Qatar’s leading communications company, delivering mobile, fixed, broadband internet and corporate managed services tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses. As a community-focused company, Ooredoo is guided by its vision of enriching people’s lives and its belief that it can stimulate human growth by leveraging communications to help people achieve their full potential.
(Source: MBC press release)
20 February 2017
- HD pace accelerates across Eutelsat video neighbourhoods
- 240 new channels in 2016 represents ↗30% growth
High Definition TV continues to gain ground across the broadcast satellites operated by Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL) with the 240 HD channels launched in 2016 equalling the total number launched during the previous two years.
The symbolic landmark of 1,000 channels was crossed this month with the launch at Eutelsat’s HOTBIRD neighbourhood of CGTN HD, the news and current affairs channel of China’s CCTV media organisation, marking its first foray into HDTV in Europe.
Eutelsat’s key video neighbourhoods all saw HD growth in 2016, with three distinguished for exclusive content and market leadership.
Accelerating HD growth at the HOTBIRD neighbourhood
The upwards curve of HD take-up was particularly strong at Eutelsat’s flagship HOTBIRD position where HD channels increased by 25% to 250, now accounting for almost one in four channels in the HOTBIRD line-up. This dynamic is driven by three key trends:
- Progressive HD adoption by public broadcasters including RAI that has transitioned nine channels to HD and CCTV that launched three channels
- New premium pay-TV content in flagship platforms including Sky Italia, Polsat, nc+ and Nova
- A wave of new free-to-air channels that include Euronews HD and Al Jazeera English
Eutelsat 7/8° West position sets the trend in Middle East, North Africa and features exclusive HD channels
With almost 150 HD channels (up 40% in one year), of which 100 are exclusive, the 7/8° West position hosted by Eutelsat and Nilesat satellites leads the transition to HD in the Middle East and North Africa. Free-to-air channels in HD now outnumber pay, with strong brands launched exclusively at this neighbourhood including five channels launched by Kuwait TV and Echourouk News HD, the 24/7 Algerian news channel.
Eutelsat 36° East neighbourhood hits new high spot in Russia and Africa
Eutelsat satellites at 36° East that serve Russian and African markets clocked 14 additional HD channels over the last 12 months, rising to 114 HD channels. Russia’s leading NTV+ and Tricolor platforms each broadcast around 40 channels, to which can be added 32 HD channels broadcast to homes in Siberia from 56° East. In Africa, MultiChoice Africa and Zap are in the vanguard of HD, broadcasting 16 and 17 channels respectively and underscoring the trend towards higher resolution in Africa’s TV market.
Michel Azibert, Commercial and Development Director at Eutelsat, said: “2016 marked a tipping point for High Definition TV across our portfolio of video neighbourhoods, culminating in a new landmarkof 1,000 channels, many of which are exclusive to Eutelsat. We are fully equipped to accommodate this accelerating pace and to work closely with broadcasters as they transition to an enhanced viewing experience.”
(Source: Eutelsat press release)
