1 September 2016
Michael Peters, CEO of Euronews Group, has appointed François Schmitt as the group’s Chief Operating Officer, with a seat on the Executive Committee.
As part of its NEXT strategy, Euronews has set up a new department charged with the operational management of broadcast and digital products.
Michael Peters has handed this operational remit to François Schmitt, who now oversees a number of units. The experience he acquired at the Eurosport group as Technical Director (1995-2001), then as Deputy CEO in charge of products, TV and digital content (2001-2015), will contribute to the Euronews group’s successful development.
François Schmitt joined Euronews SA in February as a consultant to help design the NEXT project.
“We are now entering the operational design phase of our NEXT project. NEXT will revolutionise the organisation and workflows of our various media i.e Euronews and Africanews, with the aim of delivering the group’s digital transformation and revamping our editorial offering.
To support our editorial teams, I am assigning François Schmitt to head a new department that operationally manage our linear and digital products.
His sharp and cross-functional vision is an asset that will help us deploy our new organisation by leveraging the many talents of our teams.”
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“Being part of this defining adventure, which will shape the group’s future, is a fascinating challenge. The objective now is to organise the group’s digital transformation so that every product is fully aligned with users’ new modes of consuming news, wherever they are in the world.
The group-wide project for Euronews and Africanews is an ambitious one. And in a world where the media are wondering about their future, heading up the Operations Department is also an exciting stage in my career.” |
(Source: Euronews press release)
24 August 2016
Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), operator of the world’s first Globalized Network, powered by its leading satellite backbone, today announced the successful launch of the Intelsat 36 satellite. Intelsat 36 was launched from French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 launch vehicle. Liftoff occurred at 6:16 p.m. EDT. The satellite separated from the rocket’s lower stage at 6:57 p.m. EDT, and the Intelsat launch team has confirmed signal acquisition.
Built for Intelsat by Space Systems/Loral (SSL), Intelsat 36 is designed to enhance Intelsat’s media neighborhoods serving Africa and the Indian Ocean regions. The Ku-band payload was built to support MultiChoice, the leading direct-to-home platform in South Africa. The C-band payload provides in-orbit resilience for Intelsat’s leading video content distribution neighborhood at 68.5° E. Intelsat 36 will be collocated with Intelsat 20.
“Intelsat 36 is a testament to our dedication to working closely with our customers in Africa to support critical growing infrastructure needs in the region,” said Stephen Spengler, Chief Executive Officer, Intelsat.
“Having consistent and affordable access to informative and entertaining content is vital to a community and its citizens. Intelsat 36 will enable MultiChoice to extend high definition channels throughout the region via one of Africa’s premier video neighborhoods. We are proud to once again partner with MultiChoice as they continue to deliver high quality and compelling educational and entertainment services to their customers throughout sub-Saharan Africa.”
Intelsat 36 is the 58th Intelsat satellite launched by Arianespace.
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23 August 2016
Exclusive occasional use partnership will deliver content to rights takers across the globe
Arqiva, the communications infrastructure and media services company, has today announced a new partnership with multi-platform media company Red Bull Media House to distribute live video sports content to international broadcasters.
As part of an exclusive multi-year occasional use (OU) partnership, Arqiva will be responsible for distributing the content, and delivering it globally through Arqiva’s teleports to the rights takers.
Since its launch in 2007, Red Bull Media House has established a reputation as an innovator, creating premium content for both special interest and broader audiences across TV, mobile, digital, audio and print.
Red Bull hosts a range of sports events across the globe, including the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series and the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. Though the exact schedule has yet to be confirmed, one of the key sports Arqiva will handle as part of the contract is the second season of its Beach Volleyball coverage.
David Crawford, Managing Director of Satellite & Media at Arqiva commented: “It is always great to gain a new media partner, but the fact that we’ll be working alongside a global company that is pushing the boundaries in terms of sports content distribution is hugely exciting.
“Arqiva continues to expand its presence across the globe, and the partnership with Red Bull Media House to distribute content to international broadcasters highlights the outstanding, trusted reputation we are developing across multiple markets.”
(Source: Arqiva press release)
12 August 2016
Regional broadcaster Channel NewsAsia unveils a one-hour special documentary dealing with the difficult issue of race in Singapore. A first on national television, Regardless of Race… examines where multiracial Singapore really stands on race relations and aims to answer some tough questions – Why are people afraid to talk about race? Do parents tell their children that racism is bad? How colour-blind are Singaporeans?
Dr Janil Puthucheary, Chairperson of OnePeople.sg, the organisation that advocates multiracialism and racial harmony in Singapore, goes on a journey to find answers to these questions. From taxi drivers to primary school children, he speaks to Singaporeans from all walks of life to find out what people are not willing to say about race.
Among the profiles are one of Singapore’s S League teams, former Nominated Member of Parliament Mr Zulkifli Baharudin, consulting editor of The Middle Ground Ms Bertha Henson, Vice Dean & Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Dr Kenneth Paul Tan, and Singaporean entertainer, Kumar.
Some highlights of the programme include a social experiment exploring the presence of a privilege gap between majority and minority racial groups, as well as new statistical findings from a large nation-wide survey done in collaboration with the Institute of Policy Studies.
Ms Sharon Hun, Senior Executive Producer of Current Affairs, says, “Having just celebrated 50 years of independence, we wanted to explore a topic that might confront Singapore as we move into the next 50 years. We have never dealt with race relations as a topic on national television, but we believe that it is the right time to examine who we really are as a people. We didn’t want it to be purely anecdotal, but based on a comprehensive nation-wide survey on race relations. We also asked people from all walks of life and of all ages, to find out if it is time we talk more about race.”
Special Screening
A special screening of Regardless of Race… was organised for some 100 invited guests and members of the media before its telecast on Channel NewsAsia.
The screening was followed by a short dialogue with Dr Janil Puthucheary.
Regardless of Race… will telecast on Channel NewsAsia on Monday, 15 August 2016 at 8pm (Sin/HK/MNL time). It will also be available as video-on-demand on www.channelnewsasia.com/tv and www.toggle.sg a week from its telecast.
(Source: Channel NewsAsia press release)
12 August 2016
Medical Frontiers Special: Search for Japanese Superfoods
Sep 2 Fri 23:10/ Sat 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC) <49 min.>
Japan is a world leader in health care. This program explores cutting-edge Japanese medical technologies and tips for a healthy lifestyle. On this special edition, we take a journey to uncover the secrets of seafood and green tea – both Japanese “superfoods.” We’ll also share effective and delicious ways to maximize their potential.
70 Years of Wandering: Storytelling Artist Koryu
Sep 16 Fri 23:10/ Sat 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC) <49 min.>
Having lived for 89 years, Minatoya Koryu has plenty of tales to tell. She has performed as a storyteller for 70 years, 50 of those on the road. The art of Rokyoku storytelling – performing stories sung along with the melody of a shamisen – was all but forgotten during Japan’s high economic growth era. Now, it’s being rediscovered. The program shows the relationship between Koryu and her young disciple Koyuki, bringing the appeal of the tradition to a new generation.
At Home with Venetia in Kyoto Summer 2016
Sep 23 Fri 23:10/ Sat 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC) <49 min.>
British-born Venetia moved to Japan some 45 years ago. Twenty of those years have been spent in Kyoto’s Ohara area, where she leads an eco-friendly life. The aroma of herbs fills the air in summer. In the program, she tends the plants in her “Mediterranean garden” and makes her own hand cream. She also travels north to Hokkaido, meeting Ainu people, whose traditions emphasize coexistence with nature. A Hokkaido gardener introduces her to a “dream garden” amidst a vast landscape.
(Source: NHK WORLD TV)
