All change at ITV, KBC

8 August 2006

Britain’s commercial terrestrial TV network, ITV plc, is losing its chief executive after several months of speculation about the fate of Charles Allen. Allen has been the subject of much criticism as ITV’s advertising revenues have fallen and the company has been subject to take-over bids – including one failed attempt led by former BBC Director-General and former ITV boss Greg Dyke.

Allen will leave ITV on 1st October, with John Cresswell – currently ITV’s Finance Director – taking on the role of acting CEO while headhunters search for a full-time replacement.

Meanwhile at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation there are significant changes. A new MD has been appointed, brought in from the commercial sector. David Waweru is a former director of marketing at Nation Group, one of the country’s largest multimedia companies with interests in newspapers and broadcasting.

KBC has been under enormous government pressure which led to the effective sacking of reformist MD Wachiru Waruru earlier this year. He was criticised for failing to give sufficient coverage to politicians in KBC news broadcasts.

KBC has also seen the departure of its editor-in-chief, Hiram Mucheke, who has been replaced in an acting capacity by George Gitau.

Qatar takes global channels sky high

8 August 2006

Watching live TV has not been possible on aircraft on a major scale up to now. But Qatar Airways is changing all this with the launch of live TV on five of its fleet of Aribus A330 long-haul aircraft. It’s part of a plan to equip all its aircraft with live in-flight entertainment – by the end of the year, the airline intends to have 14 planes with its new TV system operational.

Independent, personal television viewing allows each passenger to select from a suite of premium European and Arabic-language TV channels. The system’s multi-directional antenna allows passengers to enjoy uninterrupted entertainment as their flights pass from Middle Eastern into European airspace. In the Middle East, passengers have access to AIB Platinum Member Al Jazeera plus BBC World, EuroNews, CNN International, TV5, EuroSport News, MBC and Disney Channel. Within Europe channels available are Al Jazeera, BBC World, EuroNews, CNN International, TV5, EuroSport 2, Future TV and Bloomberg.

AIB Membership continues to grow

8 August 2006

The AIB’s membership continues to grow – the
latest organisations to join are
ABC Radio Australia and Middle East
Broadcasting Networks (which runs Alhurra and Radio Sawa). AIB Members
benefit from an immense range of activities that the organisation provides
throughout the year including, for example, market intelligence briefings,
tender information, networking, lobbying and promotion. Later this month, the
AIB is holding a private dinner in conjunction with AIB Member
Deutsche Welle during the Berlin
MedienForum where AIB Members will be able to meet specially-invited guests from
the media, regulators and the world of politics for off-the-record discussions
and networking. That’s just one of the regional events that the AIB organises to
bring Members together and to provide the opportunity to meet opinion-formers in
the media.

To learn more about the AIB, download our
corporate brochure
here,
and call us to discuss how AIB Membership can benefit you.