25 May 2005
The AIB has announced that it will postpone the fourth annual AIB Global Media Business Conference, scheduled for 6 and 7 June in Montreal, Canada.
“We have taken this decision with extreme regret,” said Simon Spanswick, AIB chief executive. “In spite of an extremely strong agenda with excellent speakers from all over the world combined with the fantastic facilities offered by the CBC, the conference has not attracted sufficient delegates to provide the range of discussion, debate and networking that weve enjoyed at AIB conferences over the past three years.
“As a not-for-profit industry association, the AIB has to ensure that all its activities support and provide value for money to members,” continued Spanswick. “The risks of running a conference that is not fully attended are too great and that is why we decided, in conjunction with AIB member and conference host Radio Canada International, to postpone the 2005 conference.”
The AIB International Broadcasting Awards due to be presented at a gala evening at the headquarters of the Cirque du Soleil will now be rescheduled in a few weeks time.
Meanwhile, the work of the AIB on behalf of its members continues, providing market intelligence, lobbying, representation and marketing support. For example, the AIB is currently working on its response to the UK governments Green Paper on the BBCs Charter Review, incorporating the views of its global membership in a document that will be submitted to the UKs Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 30 May.
21 May 2005
Strong demand for HD programming helped PanAmSat return to profit in Q1. The results are the first since the US satellite operators IPO in March.
The company, which provides links for broadcasters, news organisations and telecoms groups, reported earnings of $1.1 million, compared with a year-earlier loss of $31.9 million. Revenues increased by 1.6 per cent to $208.8 million from $205.4 million, led by the companys fixed satellite services segment. For the year, PanAmSat forecast an increase in revenues of 3 per cent on earnings up 4 per cent.
21 May 2005
RadioScape, the world leader in Software Defined Digital Radio solutions, announced that the results of the trials in Cambridge, UK show that the design of DMB networks, for the carriage of video and multimedia services based on state-of-the-art codes, can proceed using essentially the same rules as for current DAB audio networks.
DMB is viewed by many as the next logical step in the evolution of DAB, said Dr. Les Sabel, RadioScapes VP of Technology. More importantly, it could also represent the next step in the evolution of mobile phones delivering the vision of video and data on the move that 3G promised but cannot deliver in a cost effective and efficient manner. A one-to-many broadcast technology, such as DMB, provides a broadband pipe of multimedia services that the one-to-one approach of 3G can only provide in small numbers and expensively.
There is concern about the viability of an alternative to DMB called DVB-H. This is a modification of Digital Video Broadcast Terrestrial (DVB-T) for handheld devices but has spectrum allocation issues as many countries are currently using these frequencies for analogue television. DMB, on the other hand, is based on proven DAB technology with spectrum, transmission towers and capacity already available for it in most countries. Current discussions indicate that for DVB-H to work effectively in mobile and indoor environments it will need to use transmission parameters similar to DAB. This will eliminate any real capacity advantages and still leave DVB-H with the issue of transmission power equirements due to its larger bandwidth.
Our field trials show that good DMB reception can be achieved with existing DAB transmitters that only use low amounts of power to cover a large footprint, Dr. Sabel explained. I have yet to see any comparative, quantitative evidence for DVB-H but, recent discussions indicate that for DVB-H to achieve the same footprint, network providers will typically require a five times greater density of transmitters. This will make DVB-H very expensive to establish and run — let alone the possibility of public concerns over yet more transmission towers. DMB clearly offers a much better, more cost effective solution for operators that can be implemented now as it based on proven DAB technology as can be evidenced by DMB pioneers in countries such as Korea and China where trial systems are already up and running.
Further details on the DMB trial results can be found on the RadioScape website.
21 May 2005
Internationally-renowned journalist, Riz Khan, is to host the worlds most interactive interview show for Al Jazeera International the new 24-hour, English-language news and current affairs channel set to broadcast globally from early 2006. Khans new show, live daily from Washington DC, will feature world leaders, newsmakers and celebrities in a question and answer format led by viewer participation.
The Managing Director of Al Jazeera International, Nigel Parsons, made the announcement as part of the on-going development of what he called, “The most exciting television news and current affairs project in decades – one which will revolutionise the global news industry by offering viewers across the world a fresh perspective on news.”
Riz Khans show aimed at being the worlds most interactive interview programme will allow viewers to directly talk to newsmakers with their questions. “I think we are at a turning point where viewers across the world are looking for a fresh approach to news and information,” says Khan, “Al Jazeera brings together all the pieces to provide a complete picture on global issues. Im incredibly excited to have this rare chance to build something so new and influential from the ground up.”
After an extensive journalistic career at the BBC, Khan helped to launch BBC World Service Television News in 1991, hosting the very first show as the channel went on air. He was then head-hunted by CNN in 1993, where he became a senior anchor and launched his world renowned, interactive “Q&A” format. “Al Jazeera International is all about revolutionising viewer choice. Ive now got the chance to offer viewers around the globe a much-needed voice on the world stage,” says Khan, “Imagine, a person at any level in society, in almost any country, having the chance to talk directly with a President or a Prime Minister, or even a global celebrity. Its a wonderfully honest and equal opportunity for people something still uncommon in broadcasting.”
Al Jazeera International will launch in early 2006, and is already hiring staff for its broadcast centres. Its senior management team includes internationally-experienced journalists and broadcast professionals who have worked with news organisations including the BBC, CNN, MBC, APTN and a number of top independent channels in a variety of countries. Managing Director, Nigel Parsons, describes Al Jazeera International as uniquely positioned – being the only English language international network inside the Middle East looking out. He adds that while the channel may be headquartered in Doha, Qatar, it is establishing broadcast centres in, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC, with supporting bureaux worldwide, giving it a true global spread with a decentralised news-making process. The channels Director of News, Steve Clark, adds, “Al Jazeera International will be the first English language alternative to Western news media, and will build on the strength of an established global brand with unprecedented access across the Middle East.”
21 May 2005
Two hundred broadcast editors and correspondents from all over Europe gathered in Brussels on 20 April for a two-day consultative conference under the title: Putting Europe in the Picture. It was the first time that senior editors from both public and commercial Television, Radio and Online news outlets have been asked to contribute directly to the development of a new European Commission communication strategy.
The Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström, responsible for Institutional Relations and the Communication Strategy underlined the willingness of the Commission of a better partnership with broadcasters. It may be hard to package Europe in sound-bites and attractive images. Its time to get away from the old approach of putting out the same dull and uniform messages to everyone in Europe. Its time to find out what people actually need to know, and to start giving them the information they need in lively language that makes sense to them, using the media they are familiar with. You the broadcasters are crucial to the success of this strategy.
Mrs. Wallström suggested regular meetings between the broadcasters and the EU institutions to assess the changing needs of both sides and to highlight the best TV concepts dealing with European affairs. She wished to encourage the development of European TV and Radio networks, a concrete co-operation also with regional and local broadcasters as well as use of attractive formats for putting across the message about the Union policies.
Appropriately held at the Maison de la Radio in Brussels, Flagey Centre, the former headquarters of Belgian Radio, the conference theme was to establish how the EU can help broadcasters to report European affairs more effectively. It was conducted in collaboration with the main European broadcasting associations, including the EBU European Broadcasting Union, CIRCOM Europes Association of Regional Television, ACT Association of Commercial Television, AER Association of European Radio, COPEAM Association of Mediterranean Broadcasters, ENEX European News Exchange, and AIB Association for International Broadcasting.
21 May 2005
To mark the French Open at Roland Garros from May 23rd to June 5th, the France Télécom Group is offering “Tennis Everywhere”, a multi-access audiovisual offer that will give the public the opportunity to follow the tournament, live or taped, whatever network they use. For this offer, MaLigne tv and GlobeCast, a subsidiary of France Télécom, have partnered to develop a package of television channels that will allow viewers to watch live broadcast of all matches on the seven main courts at Roland Garros.
With MaLigne tv, tennis fans will be able to watch the matches in digital quality, without interruption or commercial breaks. An optional commentary by France Télévisions sports journalists will be available. There is no additional subscription or surcharge for subscribers to MaLigne tv who have a pay-TV package.
GlobeCast will transmit the programs over fiber optics from the French Open to the MaLigne tv IP video headend. The audiovisual signals will travel through the GlobeCast technical center in Paris where they will be encoded in MPEG2, multiplexed, then encapsulated in an IP flow to create the program package.
In addition to seven television channels, the package will include a mosaic screen to allow simultaneous viewing of the seven programs. MaLigne tv will also offer an exclusive Video on Demand (VoD) service so that viewers can follow the tournament based on their own schedules. They will be able to view matches whenever they like. The day’s tape will be made available just a few hours after the end of the match. Viewers can then watch the parts of the tape they want whenever they choose.
This service, exclusively for MaLigne tv subscribers, will be provided via a fully secure pay-per-view system. And a schedule of legendary matches (a retrospective on the 2004 tournament, the 1983 Noah-Wilander final and more) is available as of May14th. Each match will cost between 1 and 3 euros to view.
