9 September 2003
The IBC International Honour For Excellence has been awarded to top Hollywood director and screenwriter James Cameron.
An international jury bestowed the honour in recognition of Mr Cameron’s continuing enthusiasm for embracing technological innovation to engage his audience in a range of exciting, moving and informative productions.
On receiving the award James Cameron said “Thank you for presenting me with this very cool and completely unexpected award. I’m told that IBC attracts more than 40,000 attendees from more than 20 countries… people who are involved in the creation and delivery of entertainment… so it’s a pleasure to be honoured by my fellow professionals from around the globe. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage their good work in developing and applying new media technologies that create such exciting opportunities for producers and directors everywhere.
If youre going to the RAI, dont forget to visit the AIB stand 9.545. Our top management will be on hand to welcome you and tell you how the AIB is promoting and aiding the development of international broadcasting.
9 September 2003
In addition to the just-announced digital extension in Ireland, one year after the launch of its French language version on cable in Quebec, EuroNews is joining the Canadian digital satellite platform BellExpress Vu. BellExpress Vu, with 1.3 million subscribers throughout the country, is now broadcasting EuroNews in English and French.
Euronews offers Canadian viewers international news from a European perspective. The channel now broadcasts in 7 languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Russian), through cable, digital platforms and terrestrial TV in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia,North and Latin America. BellExpress Vu is Canada’s leader in digital home entertainment and broadcasts more than 300 digital video and audio channels.
9 September 2003
The organizers of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games have signed an outline agreement for the establishment of the Beijing Olympic Broadcasting Co. Ltd (BOB) with the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS).
The agreement, a crucial document for the successful broadcasting of the Olympic Games in Beijing, was signed by Hein Verbruggen, chairman of OBS and Liu Jingmin, executive vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee (BOCOG).
The Beijing Olympic Broadcasting Co. will be in charge of producing the international television and radio signals for the Olympic Games, building and operating the International Broadcasting Centre and necessary facilities and equipment at other venues.
Meanwhile Beijing took another step towards modernity as three digital television channels started trial operations. China anticipates 30 million digital subscribers by 2005, with digital predominating by 2010, and analogue being switched off in 2015.
9 September 2003
The latest edition of the AIB’s quarterly magazine, The Channel, is now available.
Running to 48 pages, the magazine has a focus on the Asia region. In-depth articles on international broadcasting across the region, from newsgathering to profiles of the stations targeting the region, together with all the latest news from the industry worldwide provide the best intelligence on international television and radio.
Download a sample of part of the magazine (in PDF format) by clicking on the cover image to the left.
To subscribe to this industry-leading magazine, click on the Book Shop to the left.
8 September 2003
We reported earlier that a ban had been placed on popular Urdu-language programming from India being shown on Pakistani cable.
Now, with the border dispute with India still festering, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has entered the fray. Chairman Mian Javed claims that there might be some exceptions but that the majority of people in Pakistan support a ban on display of Indian television channels through cable networks.
The authority has finalised a list of television channels for distribution through the cable system. Those channels that are not part of the eligible list are banned in Pakistan, said Mr Javed. The grounds for banning appear to be copyright and cultural issues, a code of ethics, and public needs. Indian entertainment, said Mr Javed, is much more liberal and according to Pakistani views creates cultural distortions.
8 September 2003
As predicted in a previous ABI news item, News Corp has sold its entire 8.1 per cent stake in Sky Perfect Communications Inc, a Japanese satellite broadcasting firm, to three Japanese companies – Fuji Television, Sony Broadcast Media and Itochu Corp, the three largest shareholders in Sky Perfect. Their equity stake increased to 12.7 per cent each with the purchase of Sky Perfect shares held by a News Corp subsidiary.
SkyPerfecTV has made losses for the past seven years. Japan’s 20 per cent cap on foreign investment in broadcasters is also a deterrent.
Even so the sale may damage Murdochs attempt to be a player in one of the biggest broadcasting markets. But News Corp has probably not given up on the important Japanese broadcasting market.
Meanwhile comes the news that Fox International Channels will launch in the UK in 2004. The new channel will compete with Sky One. Jason Thorp has been appointed vice-president.
