16 January 2007
The latest baby of Skype’s founders, The Venice Project, has been rebranded Joost. The peer-to-peer video network has acquired its new Dutch-sounding name as part of the company’s intention to “become synonymous
with the best of TV and the best of the Web”.
Presently beta-testing (the AIB is one of those test beds), Joost will have a new release in the next few weeks. We’re already impressed with the quality of the video delivered to an AIB computer, and we believe that this could mark the start of the future of web-delivered video content in a secure, DRM-compliant way.
12 January 2007
WRN, the UK-based radio and television transmission company, and WorldSpace Satellite Radio, one of the world leaders in satellite-based digital radio services, have signed a facilities hosting agreement in which WorldSpace’s London broadcast operation will move to the headquarters of WRN.
WRN is expanding its Master Control Room to house WorldSpace’s satellite radio broadcast operations equipment and will provide access to studio facilities and office space for its technical staff. WorldSpace’s London team is expected to move to the WRN facilities in March 2007.
“We are pleased with the availability of capacity in WRN’s state-of-the-art operations facility and look forward to building on our long-standing relationship,” said Randall Scott, Vice President, Production Engineering and Operations for WorldSpace Satellite Radio.
Gary Edgerton, WRN’s Managing Director, said: “WRN is delighted to offer WorldSpace Satellite Radio a new home in London and this agreement builds on the synergies between our two organisations.”
8 January 2007
Mo & Me, the internationally acclaimed, multi-award-winning
documentary about renowned Kenyan photojournalist, Mohamed Mo Amin, has been released
for worldwide purchase via the films official website: www.moandme.net
The eagerly anticipated direct distribution deal is the result of a joint venture agreement between
Mo & Me producer, Camerapix Ltd and media and entertainment management group, Quantock.
With just a few clicks of a computer mouse, customers around the world are now able to acquire
Mo & Me from the comfort of their homes. Additionally, the DVDs accompanying book, The
Man Who Moved the World, can also be purchased via the website.
Speaking from Camerapix headquarters, chairman and CEO, Salim Amin said: I am delighted
that Mo & Me is now available globally to individual customers. There has been huge publicity
from the documentarys numerous awards and this has led to tremendous buying interest from
those who have already seen the film as well as those who have only heard about it.
Mr. Amin added that there was a delay in launching the websites shopping module due to
extensive testing to ensure a problem-free online environment for buyers: At one point, we were
aiming for a pre-Christmas release. However, we decided in the end to spend some more time
fine-tuning our infrastructure and logistics in order to enhance our customers electronic
shopping experience.
Directed by Roger Mills (Himalaya, Around the World in 80 Days) and Murad Rayani
(Refusing To Die) and narrated by Salim Amin, Mo & Me offers a raw, soulful and, at times,
humourous recollection of the man whose camera lenses captured much of 20th century African
history. Mo & Me was co-produced by Camerapix of Kenya and the Aljazeera Channel of Qatar.
Plaudits received by the documentary during the 2006 festival season include:
Calgary International Film Festival (Best International Documentary)
Kenya International Film Festival (Best Documentary)
Zanzibar International Film Festival (Chairpersons Award)
13th New York International Independent Film &Video Festival (Grand Jury Prize for Best
Documentary Feature)
39th US International Film and Video Festival (Silver Screen Award)
This year, Mo & Me will be in competition at the Mumbai International F.I.C.T.S. Festival (18th-
21st January) and the Pan-African Film Festival in Los Angeles (8th -19th February)
5 January 2007
The Association for International Broadcasting announced the winners of its second annual global awards at a glamorous gala event in London on 22 November, 2006. Attended by senior executives, producers and journalists from TV and radio channels from five continents, the AIB Awards event rewarded the very best programmes and channels for international audiences across television and radio.
The Awards event was hosted by Barbara Serra, one of the London anchors of newly-launched Al Jazeera English and more than 100 guests celebrated the success of their colleagues from around the world.
There were nine categories in the 2006 AIB Awards, covering television, radio and technology; over 100 entries were received from international broadcasters in 20 countries, as well as a number of innovative technology suppliers who support international TV and radio stations.
The Award winners were:
Best coverage of a single news event radio
BBC World Service for South Asian Earthquake
described by the judges as most impressive in every respect
Best coverage of a single news event television
Sky News for London bombings
good content with excellent context for cross-border
viewers
Best magazine or documentary programme television
Al Jazeera Channel for Prisoner 345
content, suitability for international audience and
production values all very high
Best magazine or documentary programme radio
BBC World Service for Assignment Return to Sarajevo
stunningly vivid, extraordinarily powerful, impeccably
produced
Most innovative use of technology
Link Research for Link HD
the future for news and sports coverage
International channel of the year – television
BBC World
excellent coverage of stories, high presentation values
International station of the year – radio
SW Radio Africa
brave, an excellent independent alternative to Zimbabwes
state media
International presenter of the year – television
Simon Hobbs of CNBC Europe
polished, passionate, enthused
International presenter of the year – radio
Doug Bernard of Voice of Americas Talk to America
intelligent presentation and questioning, very polished,
with a smile in his voice
The AIB Awards were judged by international panels drawn from the broadcasting
industry ensuring peer review of programming as well as radio and TV
critics, representing the audiences perspective. Completely non-commercial, the
AIB Awards are the only celebration of success that exclusively focuses on
international, cross-border broadcasting.
The AIB Awards provide a fantastic opportunity for the Association to provide a
platform not only to celebrate success but also to share ideas, said Simon
Spanswick, AIB chief executive. The international broadcasting industry is
often more innovative and fleet of foot than its domestic counterparts, and the
Awards demonstrate the breadth of superb content thats on offer to viewers and
listeners throughout the world. We were delighted with the range and quality of
the entries which made judging extremely tough. Our judges are to be
congratulated on all their work, as are the winners and finalists tonight.
The AIB International Broadcasting Awards 2007 will be announced in January.
5 January 2007
Harris Corporation is to supply Berin-based A-Medialynx GmbH, a specialist production facility and satellite services provider, with a Harris Platinum router for the playout of services in Germany.
A-Medialynx manages the transmission of numerous signals including those from television stations such as MTV, VIVA, VIVA Plus and Nick Germany. The Platinum router will serve as the core component of the signal distribution workflow at A-Medialynx, routing all satellite transmission signals live and distributing them to the additional satellite uplinks. Sold by TERACUE AG, Harris Broadcast Communications Division’s German representative, the new 512×512 Platinum router is slated to go into operation at A-Medialynx in February 2007.
“We purchased the Platinum router because we needed a robust routing matrix that could manage not only the current channel requirements of our customers, but also could provide them with options for future growth as their businesses need it,” said Helmut Audrit, chief executive officer of A-Medialynx. “Our existing 128×128 router, which is from another vendor, cannot be upgraded to meet our customers’ needs for more channel playout capabilities in 2007. With the Platinum router’s powerful capabilities and compact form factor, we can now meet these additional requirements within our available space.”
5 January 2007
Middle East pay-TV platform Orbit has gained exclusive distribution rights for EuroNews in 12 countries including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait in addition to non-exclusive rights across 13 other countries including the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Cyprus.
Launched in 1993, EuroNews – based in Lyon, France – covers world news from a European perspective. The channel was launched to all Orbit subscribers in English and in French during December. Viewers can select the language of their choice by pressing the language button on the remote control.
This exclusive deal adds to what Orbit describes as its “unmatched portfolio of information and news channels”.
Philippe Cayla, Chairman and CEO of EuroNews said, “The Middle East is a very significant market in terms of our international growth. I am pleased to have concluded an agreement with Orbit, an important platform in the region, EuroNews will be joining their offer which gives viewers the best in Arabic and Western programming. Our mission is to bring European viewers balanced coverage on world events and Middle East news and this is an integral part of EuroNews’ international agenda.
“Since the channel has become widely available worldwide it has been met with interest and EuroNews has proved that it is a leading news channel covering world news with a guarantee of independent, impartial reporting thus successfully avoiding taking a particular national viewpoint something that is clearly important to viewers across the globe .”
Samir Abdulhadi, President and CEO of Orbit Communications Company stated, “With enormous universal interest in news, information and political affairs EuroNews will have a strong appeal among Orbit’s audiences across the Middle East. EuroNews is one of the leading channels in the news category and we are pleased to sign this agreement which will enable us to deliver European news to our valued subscribers.
