9 May 2016
CNN International Commercial today announced a historic news affiliate and consultation agreement between Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc., the distributor of CNN International in the Asia Pacific region, and Shwe Than Lwin Media Co., Ltd., (known as ‘SkyNet Myanmar’) to help the company launch the country’s first 24-hour local language news network, Channel One.
As part of this multi-year agreement, SkyNet will receive detailed consultation and comprehensive training from CNN on all aspects of launching a news channel, including newsgathering and production, digital and technical operations, program development and best-practice management. Once Channel One launches, SkyNet will continue to receive on-going training from CNN at CNN’s Asia headquarters in Hong Kong, its global U.S. headquarters in Atlanta, and on-site in Yangon.
As part of the agreement, Channel One will also broadcast CNN content and programming in local Burmese language, another first for the country. The alliance also includes supporting SkyNet in its development of a complementary Channel One news website.
Vice President, Content Sales and Partnerships, CNN International Commercial, Greg Beitchman: “Myanmar is such an exciting market for growth and we couldn’t be happier to align with SkyNet in its efforts to lead the transformation of the media landscape in the country. Launching the first local 24 hour news channel is a significant milestone and it’s our privilege to be affiliated with an organization that aspires to CNN’s vision and values. A comprehensive and tailored training program will be put together to ensure the channel offers the best in class in news content in Myanmar.”
Chairman, Shwe Than Lwin Media Co., U Kyaw Win: “CNN has been synonymous with 24 hour news for more than three decades. As the world’s leader in news, there is absolutely no one better to learn from. Through this strategic affiliation with CNN we are giving Channel One the very best chance to succeed by delivering a first-class service that gives the people of Myanmar the best of local and international news.”
The alliance between CNN International and SkyNet Myanmar is part of a strategic effort by CNN International Commercial’s Content Sales and Partnerships Group to support the development of high quality journalism, and grow the reach of CNN’s content by working with other leading media organisations. (Source: CNN)
28 April 2016
France 24’s community of some 13.5 million Facebook subscribers will now be able to access “instant articles” in English, in French, and also – world premiere – in Arabic.
Thus, France 24 offers its growing Facebook audience a new browsing experience in three languages as well as fast, easy access to the news.
These new formats can be accessed on Facebook applications for iOS and Android. They are designed and optimized for consuming news on the move. As “instant articles” are actually hosted directly on Facebook, text and video content loads ten times faster.
In concrete terms, when Facebook users click on one of the articles identified by a lightning bolt icon, they remain in the Facebook environment and the France 24 article opens seamlessly in their application, with no load time.
This Facebook feature, first developed in English and French, is now available in Arabic, allowing France 24 to offer its 5 million Arabic-speaking Facebook subscribers more comfortable content consumption.
Watch the video ► http://f24.my/245rIyY
(Source: France 24 press release)
26 April 2016
RT took home the People’s Voice Award Webby – the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet – in an open online vote. Webby Awards online voters chose RT social media platforms over those of the BBC News, ABC News, NBC Nightly News and the New York Times.
RT won in the Social / News & Information category for its overall social media presence, as represented by a series of digital projects including platforms on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Soundcloud and Coub, as well as the RT Play Facebook portal, which offers a selection of infotainment videos with infographics elements.
“To be nominated in the first place means we’re doing things right. To win the People’s Voice award – and to win it by a landslide – means our online community is truly engaged,” says Kirill Karnovich-Valua, head of RT’s Online Projects. “And we thank every person who voted and brought us this victory! We will continue to focus on product quality, innovation and bringing our audiences the news and perspectives they would not otherwise get elsewhere.”
RT is the most watched news TV news network on YouTube, with 3.3 billion views across its channels. RT offers interactive media content accessible via its enhanced RT News mobile app, the RT Plugin community app incorporating an enhanced social network for viewers, and the Periscope live video streaming app. Additionally, RT is one of the first TV news outlets globally to have started news content production in the 360-degree, panoramic (VR) video format and the first among TV news channels to live-stream news on YouTube in this format as well.
“We have an incredibly talented social media team which gets the full credit for the victory,” commented Ivor Crotty, head of RT’s Social Media group. “Our team is multi-task-oriented, and social media is their environment: they are as comfortable with Twitter and YouTube as they are with 360 vids, GIFs, VR and many other trends and formats. Now we know that RT’s social media strategy is recognized at the very top, Webby level. So, hats off to the team.”
The Webby Awards, “the Internet’s highest honor,” according to The New York Times, annually recognizes the world’s best digital projects: websites, videos, mobile apps and social media campaigns. The jury includes 1,000+ professionals of the Web and media markets, including Twitter founder Biz Stone, Huffington Post co-founder and editor-in-chief Arianna Huffington, and actor and director Kevin Spacey. The list of winners over the years includes projects like YouTube, Google, BBC, CNN and Facebook. (Source: RT press release)
21 April 2016
France 24 has extended its distribution across the Netherlands by concluding two agreements with cable operators Ziggo and DELTA.
Thanks to a new agreement with Ziggo, France 24 French version is now available via the new application “TV Française”. The application is available for all subscribers equipped with the operator’s Horizon Box, which represents some 800.000 households of the total Ziggo park of 4 million and “TV Française” is intended to become available to all Horizon Go subscribers at a later date.
On DELTA, France 24 French language channel was launched on March 23rd as part of the optional Buitenlandpakket (“Foreign package”). Available on channel 525, France 24 is potentially available to Delta’s 135.000 households in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands.
France 24 is also available 24/7 in the Netherlands on various platforms and notably on Canal Digitaal in English (channel n° 85), French (n° 239) and in Arabic (n°262).
For more real-time information on France 24’s distribution worldwide, go to ► http://f24.my/ijOOim
(Source: France 24 press release)
20 April 2016
NHK WORLD TV, a 24-hr English language channel, continues to reach out to new subscribers in ASEAN with its IPTV launch on 17 March 2016 on Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (AIS), the largest mobile phone network provider in Thailand.
This launch sees NHK WORLD TV’s extensive programs being made available in HD to AIS Fibre broadband subscribers on its TV platform, AIS PLAYBOX, as well as its mobile application, AIS PLAY, running on both Android and iOS systems.
“Thailand, being a vibrant and robust ASEAN country, is an important market for us. We are confident Thai viewers will continue to find our news coverage objective and accurate, and our lifestyle programs entertaining and enlightening,” said Yoshihiko Shimizu, President and CEO, Japan International Broadcasting.
Operating from Japan, NHK WORLD TV is a 24-hour English language television service for international viewers; providing the latest Asia-centered informative and entertainment programs. NHK WORLD TV is available to 290 million households in 150 countries and regions. It is accessible via free mobile app, online live-streaming and video-on-demand on its website.
About Japan International Broadcasting, Inc. Japan International Broadcasting Inc. (JIB), a subsidiary of NHK, is responsible for the worldwide distribution of NHK WORLD TV as well as the Japanese language channel NHK WORLD PREMIUM. Currently, the two channels are broadcast around the world on three international plus domestic satellites in their respective markets and reach households, hotels and others via DTH, cable, IPTV and terrestrial broadcast. (Source: NHK World TV press release)
