6 July 2009
Al Jazeera English, the world’s first global 24-hour English-language world news channel based in the Middle East, is today launching AJE Live, a software application which gives viewers access to the channel live on their Apple iPhones and iPods anywhere in the world.
AJE Live provides unlimited viewing of the Al Jazeera English channel on both Wi-Fi and 3G networks. The application, developed with online TV specialist Livestation, is available for an introductory one-off fee of $2.99 on all Apple App Stores, which are accessible via iPhone and iPod touch devices or via iTunes.
Phil Lawrie, Director of Global Distribution at Al Jazeera Network comments: “The Web 2.0 generation is online 24/7 and demands to be constantly updated on global news as it happens. AJE Live is now part of the iPhone apps phenomenon, and is giving users instant access to an exciting brand of journalism when they want it, where they want it. Al Jazeera English is already firmly established as one of the most viewed news channels on YouTube and now AJE Live is keeping the station at the fore of the digital revolution.
Matteo Berlucchi, CEO of Livestation adds: “The fresh perspective on international news and current affairs offered by Al Jazeera English is an ideal match for the generation of iPhone users who want alternative news online. This is demonstrated by the success of Al Jazeera on the Livestation online service and by the high levels of web traffic generated by the iPhone and iPod Touch devices. I am confident iPhone users will welcome the ability to watch Al Jazeera on the move or at home through this high quality application”.
3 July 2009
1Cast, the revolutionary broadcast platform that delivers up-to-the-minute news video to subscribers’ smartphones and the web, today announced that Al Jazeera English, the first English-speaking global news channel headquartered in the Middle East, is now available via the 1Cast service.
Al Jazeera English delivers a fresh perspective on world news to over 150 million households worldwide. The channel has a unique editorial mission to balance the current global information flow by giving voice to stories that often are under-reported, promoting debate, and challenging established perceptions. Presenters including Sir David Frost, Riz Khan and Rageh Omaar keep viewers up-to-date from Broadcast Centres in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC, and from 69 bureaus on all continents.
Its a fascinating development that will allow audiences to view our news broadcasts – which often originate in places such as the streets of Pakistan or Baghdad – on a smart phone or via the web just seconds later in America, said Phil Lawrie, Al Jazeera Networks Director of Global Distribution. Our new partnership with 1Cast expands on our commitment to give global citizens access to world news delivered from a refreshing, alternative perspective via multiple technologies, both traditional and new.”
We are very pleased to offer our subscribers and viewers the exceptional perspective and coverage that Al Jazeera English delivers across the world, said Anthony Bontrager, President of 1Cast. Al Jazeera English joins a roster of some of the most respected news leaders in the world who are using 1Cast to extend their audience reach through our unique platform.
1Cast is a digital newsstand that gives viewers more control over the content they consume. Viewers simply select the topics they care about most, and 1Cast delivers up-to-the minute newscasts of video clips from leading news sources, including the Associated Press, BBC World News, Bloomberg, CBC, Reuters, CNBC, Barrons.com, Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal, AllThingsD and now Al Jazeera English.
News content from 1Cast is consumed on-the-go, via iPhone, iPod Touch, Android mobile phone or on the web, and is updated continually throughout the day. Users can also share their personalised newscasts with friends via email or on platforms such as blogs, social networking sites and other web portals using the 1Cast embeddable video player.
3 July 2009
BBC News reports: A parliamentary committee has proposed a five-strong board to head the South African Broadcasting Corporation, a day after the previous board was sacked.
Parliament voted to dissolve the board after months of infighting and alleged mismanagement – the public broadcaster is 740m rand ($94m; £58m) in debt. The communications committee has now chosen five people for an interim board which MPs will vote on next week. Critics have long said the broadcaster was a mouthpiece for the government. They accused former President Thabo Mbeki of filling the previous board with his own followers. Opposition parties said the new board would have to be politically impartial if the beleaguered broadcaster’s reputation is to be restored. The BBC’s Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg says four of the members of the proposed interim board are seen as relatively neutral. But the committee could not agree on the fifth nominee – Phil Mtimkulu, a political science lecturer who was nominated by the governing Africa National Congress (ANC).
They were eventually forced into a vote, and approved his nomination by eight votes to four. The SABC has been saddled with debt since the mid-1990s, with some board members and senior managers accused of abusing their position to enrich themselves. The board and managers have also openly rowed over major decisions and blamed each other for the corporation’s difficulties. By the time the National Assembly decided to dissolve the board, most of them had already quit.
3 July 2009
Three new music channels were launched by ABC-Australia today as its radio services went digital in the state capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
ABC Radio director Kate Dundas said the new channels – ABC Dig Music, ABC Jazz and ABC Country – were being added to the ABC’s current line-up of five radio channels.
The existing channels would continue to be broadcast in analogue as well as on the new digital platform.
“The thing that’s important to remember is that all our current services stay on analogue, so no one needs to go out and have a complete switch-over like television will be in a few years,” she said in a statement directed to the ABC’s listeners, but adding that they would need to buy a digital radio to receive the digital services.
Ms Dundas said the ABC had plans to extend the new services to other capital cities and regional areas.
