4 March 2010
GlobeCasts newly launched Content Acquisition and Distribution division has signed a VOD distribution deal with ZN Animation, one of Chinas biggest animation producers, as well as general and popular entertainment content from Shanghai Media Groups subsidiary, WingsMedia.
Under the deal, GlobeCast – the content management and delivery company and division of France Telecom, will help this top-notch content reach VOD viewers on DTH and pay-TV bouquets throughout Europe.
The contract was signed with Zhejiang Zhongnan Group Animation Video Co., Ltd. (ZN Animation) as represented by their worldwide distributor, CHINAnimax Pte Ltd in Singapore, and Shanghai Media Groups subsidiary WingsMedia.
ZN Animations popular programmes include Chinese animation hits such as RUBI, an educational and entertaining pre-school program, and Zheng Hes Voyages to the West Seas, the adventures of the great explorer, Admiral Zheng He, which won the 2009 Accolade Award of Excellence/TV/Animation and was nominated for Best Animation by The Asian TV Awards 2009.
WingsMedia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chinas one of the biggest media groups, Shanghai Media Group (SMG). Among its hit shows are talkshow ChenChen All Star and hugely popular dramas such as Love Affairs and Burning Roses.
4 March 2010
For NAB 2010, Pharos will be demonstrating the latest version of its widely adopted Mediator broadcast workflow management platform which now includes its Playtime automation options within a highly integrated solution aimed at improving operational efficiency and driving down costs.
For its ninth year attending the event in Las Vegas, Pharos will show full integration of Playtime into Mediator 4, providing a functionally advanced broadcast automation system that helps broadcasters and service providers publish content for both traditional channels and new media. Mediator 4 now has the ability to separately manage presentation requirements and content independently based on schedule priority and media management workflows.
Additional enhancements to Mediator 4 include an advanced metadata system allowing information to be added as new delivery platforms such as On Demand, .com, podcasting and mobile are launched. Combined with detailed workflow analytics, ongoing system optimization and maintenance can finally keep pace with a constantly evolving business environment.
Over the course of NAB 2010, senior Pharos team members will be available to answer questions and conduct real-time demos exemplifying how its technology has helped international clients across 40 countries including HBO, MTV, Turner CNN, BBC World Service and Ascent Media.
As Glen Sakata, Senior VP, Pharos Americas; explains, The close integration between media asset management, workflow, playout and automation within our Mediator 4 platform is helping to reduce the complexity and costs associated with the repetition of the same tasks across multiple systems.
Pharos Mediator is built around the Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) concept to aid speedy implementation and to provide flexibility for future products and services. Key elements such as the Mediator interface, device control, workflow and messaging are designed based on the best tools for the job and include Oracle, Java, Flash and key industry standards such as MXF and BXF.
Using a Service Oriented Architecture we provide a platform that is able to grow and adapt as our clients explore new business models, processes, delivery methods and content types. This agility is vital in a production and broadcast environment that is evolving rapidly and a key differentiator that defines Pharos as a true innovator within our industry. Sakata adds.
4 March 2010
Only better content will persuade listeners to buy digital radio receivers, the RadioAsia conference in New Delhi heard today.
The real challenge for the broadcaster is to motivate the listeners to replace their analogue receivers with digital receivers, R Narasimha Swamy of Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd (BECIL) said.
This can happen only if the created content be more imaginative, innovative and attractive.
On the third and final day of the conference, participants heard how digital radio technology was penetrating the Asia-Pacific region.
The Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said there were now more than 55 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB+) services on air in Australias five largest cities, covering nearly 60 percent of the population.
She said DAB+ radios could now be obtained at more than 600 retail shops.
The other technical standard gaining ground in the Asia-Pacific region is Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM). The DRM consortium was founded in 1998 as a non-commercial entity promoting the adoption of the DRM standard around 100 members including broadcasters and manufacturers.
The conference heard that All India Radio was carrying out DRM shortwave transmissions from Khampur in Delhi on an experimental basis.
RadioAsia was jointly organised by the ABU, the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) and Singapore Exhibition Services.
2 March 2010
Support services provider VT Group has expanded its network of short wave transmission customers with a contract to broadcast programming from the Australian Broadcasting Corporations International radio and online service, Radio Australia.
VT, which has over 40 customers for its broadcast services, will output ten hours a day of Radio Australia programming to audiences in South East Asia. The content will be in English, Indonesian, Chinese and Burmese.
VT has a worldwide network of transmitter sites and the programming will be broadcast from locations in the United Arab Emirates and Palau in the Pacific Ocean. The programming will be downlinked from Radio Australias satellite channels to VTs central London Media Management Centre for scheduling and frequency management. VT will then utilise its Global Media Network to backhaul the programmes to the two transmitter sites.
The contract will be for a year and follows VTs recent success in adding the Polish state broadcaster Polskie Radio to its global transmission customer base.
VTs John Prior, General Manager Broadcast and Security, said: Having previously transmitted Radio Australia programming until 2006, we are delighted that they have re-joined the network of broadcasters using VTs facilities. It extends our broadcast service customer base and we hope to increase our partnership with Radio Australia further within the scope of the contract.
Radio Australia comprises eight languages and focuses uniquely on Asia and the Pacific. It is the international radio and online service of the Australian national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
2 March 2010
More than 20 reporters from every country in Central America attended a two-day Voice of America (VOA) training session on critical health issues related to influenza and natural disasters.
Organized by VOA’s Office of Development in Panama City, Panama, the Feb. 24-25 training exercises included roundtable discussions, analysis and knowledge-sharing by panelists from several International Organizations including the Pan American Health Organization, (PAHO), the United States Agency for International Development and Disaster Assistance (USAID), the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture (FAO), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA/APHIS), among others.
Topics discussed included the creation of simple and direct messages in cases of critical health emergencies under a possible pandemic and during a natural disaster.
The main focus of the influenza crisis addressed how to inform the population on prevention, containment and information dissemination in the event of a crisis caused by the H1N1 or H5N1 virus. The unique challenges of reaching populations during crises caused by natural disasters (lack of clean water, food and medications) were also covered.
One of the mandates of the Voice of America is to provide training in critical journalism skills around the world, particularly in issues pertaining to health.
2 March 2010
Berlinale Forum 2010 honored AISHEEN STILL ALIVE IN GAZA produced by Al Jazeera Childrens Channel (JCC), co-produced and directed by Nicolas Wadimoff. The documentary was awarded the Forum prize of the Ecumenical Jury; in their decision, the jury members emphasized the films open and unbiased view of the perseverance of a people – like a dandelion breaking through the asphalt.
In a special ceremony for independent juries awards held today – Saturday, Fayçal Hassairi, Executive producer at JCC and Nicolas Wadimoff, Director of AISHEEN, received the award on behalf of Al Jazeera Childrens Channel.
The Ecumenical Jury awards its prizes to one film in each category of the festival: the main competition, the Forum and the Panorama. The films are selected based on their success in portraying actions and human experiences in the most respectful approach to human dignity and universal values.
In commenting on this accomplishment, Malika Alouane, Director of Channels Programming at Al Jazeera Childrens Channel said: The prize that AISHEEN Still Alive in Gaza received in Berlinale 2010 is a testimony to our strong production vision in adopting issues of concern to humankind; it also delivers JCCs mission in overcoming the challenges and bridging the gaps between people.
We proudly dedicate this prize to Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, for her continuous support to the Channel since its launch in 2005, she added.
Alouane emphasized that being awarded the prize of the Ecumenical Jury in such a prestigious and internationally renowned festival proves that AISHEEN Still Alive in Gaza succeeded in depicting the daily life of the people of Gaza post the Israeli attack in late 2008 in an honest and objective manner.
I am deeply moved by this award and would like to dedicate it to all the people in Gaza who helped make this movie a reality by allowing us into their lives, said Nicolas Wadimoff, director of AISHEEN; I hope that their courage and dignity will touch hearts everywhere as they have touched mine, he concluded.
AISHEEN Still Alive in Gaza had witnessed an unprecedented success during the five screening sessions – tickets were sold out and some watched it standing or sitting on the cinema hall stairs.
The Ecumenical Jury for the Berlinale 2010 consists of six members from all churches of Germany, NGOs, academics, and Cinema & TV content makers.
(Source: JCC press release)
