7 August 2004
CNBC Europe, a joint venture of NBC Universal and Dow Jones & Company and the leading pan-European financial and business television network, has appointed Mick Buckley President and Managing Director. Effective immediately, Buckley will be responsible for all aspects of operations and strategic initiatives including increasing distribution, expanding locally produced European programming, extending live coverage from the leading European financial centers and developing additional local-language affiliates. Buckley replaces Rick Cotton, who recently was named Executive Vice President and General Counsel of NBC Universal.
“As one of the most experienced executives in pan-European television, Mick brings proven leadership skills to the helm and I’m delighted that he is taking on this role,” said Pamela Thomas-Graham, President and Chief Executive Officer, CNBC. “Through Mick’s contributions, we have made significant progress commercially over the past year, and I look forward to him taking the channel to greater heights going forward.”
Thomas-Graham added: “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Rick Cotton for his tremendous contribution to CNBC Europe. Under his leadership, the network has dramatically upgraded its on-air presentation, expanded its reach across Europe to 85 million homes, developed programming partnerships with TV channels in Germany, Italy, Turkey, Russia and the Middle East, and built CNBC Europe’s brand recognition throughout the European business and financial communities.”
In this new capacity, Buckley will report to the CNBC International board, which is made up of its 50/50 joint-venture partners, NBC Universal and Dow Jones. Buckley has been with CNBC Europe since March 2003, serving as the network’s Executive Vice President and Commercial Director. During this time, the network has increased its revenue by 30%. In addition, Buckley has worked to increase brand awareness and has been successful in bringing many international brands to the channel for the first time. He also has put in place a strong commercial team across both advertising sales and distribution.
Before joining CNBC Europe, Buckley worked at Turner Broadcasting Systems Europe, where he held a number of senior distribution and sales roles, eventually becoming Executive Vice President of News Networks and UK Managing Director. Buckley started his career in television working for ITV, where he worked for both Carlton Television and Television South West.
5 August 2004
Al-Jazeera Sports has installed Chyrons state-of-the-art digital telestration tool, CODI-Strator. The installation was carried out by Chyron partner, Pro Media International Ltd UK.
The CODI-Strator enabled the Arabic sports network to introduce a new and exciting dimension to its Euro 2004 transmissions. Throughout the tournament, Al-Jazeera Sports commentators provided live, animated digital telestration using Chyron’s CODI-Strator at the beginning and end of each match, as well as during the half time interval. Al-Jazeera Sports is now using the CODI-Strator for the Asia Cup in China, which, like Euro 2004, is a major football tournament involving teams from 16 countries, divided into four groups.
CODI-Strator allows sports presenters’ instant interaction with the video source using a simple touch screen method. When highlights of the game are replayed in slow motion or freeze-framed for analysis, the presenter can sketch graphics directly on to the screen, identifying players and game plan strategies enriching the viewing experience.
David Ward, VP & general manager, Chyron EAME commented, “We are delighted to be working with Al-Jazeera Sports. CODI-Strator has become an invaluable part of the sports broadcasting experience and we were particularly impressed by the speed at which Al-Jazeera’s presenters became familiar with the system, creating some very sophisticated broadcasts.”
5 August 2004
The BBC has joined forces with Cosmote, Greeces leading telecommunications company, and the Greek media group, Imako Media S. A. to launch its international news content and breaking news alerts on the new i-mode platform for mobile phones in Greece. Starting in August, the BBC news headlines and summaries, in Greek and English, along with breaking news alerts in English will be displayed on an i-mode platform hosted by the Greek mobile operator, Cosmote and provided by Imako Media S.A.
The BBC content has been made available to the i-mode subscribers in Greece following an agreement with Imako Media S.A. The BBC site is added to the list of sites in i-modes News/Weather category provided in Greece exclusively by Cosmote.
Head of BBC World Service Business Development Miles Palmer welcomed the development as a step forward toward an even more innovative and comprehensive Internet mobile service for Greece: The BBC has a lot to offer to mobile phone subscribers in Greece. Through i-mode we will be able to provide them with breaking news alerts and distinctive, authoritative, reliable and impartial news and current affairs content, updated every five minutes, 24 hours a day, in Greek and English.
5 August 2004
PanAmSat Corporation has appointed Mike Antonovich as executive vice president of global sales and marketing. In this role, Mr. Antonovich will continue to lead the company’s global sales and marketing programme which includes: programme distribution, broadcast contribution, telecommunications and networking services.
Since joining PanAmSat in 1989 as a manager of broadcast services, Mr. Antonovich has served in a wide variety of senior leadership positions including in North American sales, Pacific Ocean Region sales, global sales and most recently, assumed the responsibility of leading the Company’s marketing initiatives worldwide, serving as senior vice president of global sales and marketing.
Prior to his tenure with PanAmSat, Mr. Antonovich worked for Group W Satellite Communications and the ESPN sports network in a variety of production, post-production and operations positions. His experience in the broadcast and satellite industries spans over 25 years.
5 August 2004
Germanys international broadcaster Deutsche Welle announced in July that the Canadian Radio and TV Commission (CRTC) has approved DWs application for a licence to transmit GERMAN TV in Canada. GERMAN TV is currently negotiating with several Canadian cable and satellite providers to bring the best of public service TV to German-speaking households in Canada. GERMAN TV is a joint initiative of ARD, ZDF and DW. At present, the 24 hour programme is available in the US, Chile, Mexico and Brasil.
5 August 2004
Citing the “promising initiatives” of U.S. international broadcasting in the Arab world, Iran and Afghanistan, the bi-partisan panel investigating the September 11, 2001 attacks called for increased funding for those efforts. “The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has asked for much larger resources,” the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States said in its report. “It should get them.”
On page 377 of its report, the 9/11 commission made the following recommendation: “Recognizing that Arab and Muslim audiences rely on satellite television and radio, the government has begun some promising initiatives in television and radio broadcasting to the Arab world, Iran, and Afghanistan. These efforts are beginning to reach large audiences.”
Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, chairman of the BBG, the independent federal agency that oversees all U.S. international broadcasting, said of the report’s recommendations, “We believe that the people of the Middle East and elsewhere are best served by providing them the truth. That’s what our broadcasting does.”
Currently, the BBG’s annual budget of more than $550 million goes to broadcasts around the world through various entities, including the Voice of America (VOA); Alhurra television and Radio Sawa, Arabic-language broadcasts; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Radio Free Asia (RFA.)
Since 9/11, the BBG has taken steps to dramatically increase its broadcasting to key areas.
The Middle East: Alhurra, a new satellite television channel launched in February 2004, is aimed at Arabic-speaking viewers in 22 countries across the Middle East. Radio Sawa, a 24/7 station, has garnered large audiences of young people in the region with its mix of news, information and Western and Arabic music.
Iran: Radio Farda, a youth-oriented, 24/7 radio, covers news about Iran, along with entertainment and features. It is a joint project of VOA and RFE/RL. VOA-TV launched a successful, daily, Persian-language show, News and Views, broadcast to audiences by satellite. Additionally, VOA has a Persian service and two other weekly television shows.
Afghanistan: Audiences in that country are able to listen to a 24-hour stream of news, information and other programs in Dari and Pashto. These are run by the VOA and Radio Free Afghanistan, which is part of RFE/RL. Additionally, the BBG arranged for two medium-wave transmitters to be installed in Kabul – one for the BBG, the other for Afghanistan to help bolster its media.
Pakistan: The VOA recently expanded its Urdu service to 12 hours daily to reach more Urdu-speaking listeners in Pakistan and parts of India.
