23 August 2003
TV audiences in Washington and its suburbs can now watch lots more Russian and CIS television. The MHC networks are now carrying programmes for free from 1800 to midnight local time, on the MHC networks.
The Russo-US project aims to reach TV audiences in Washington and its suburbs, where around 100,000 Russian-speaking people live at present. Some programmes will have English subtitles, which is expected to broaden the TV audiences by approximately 1.5 million people.
President and chief producer of the Russian World Channel, Vladimir Ananich, emphasised that the financial and editorial politics of the new television project were independent of the state.
The Russian World TV channel has also extended its broadcasts on the MHz Networks free channel from one to six hours a day
23 August 2003
Innovative AIB member You/Com is at the technological forefront again. They are to supply at least 10,000 stand-alone Webradios for a group of the sick and elderly who are unable to attend their local church service on Sundays. The Webradio is based on internet technology, but without the need of a PC. It is as simple to operate as an alarm clock and not much larger. The Webradio is the worlds first stand-alone unit, which can be operated from the armchair by remote control and can also be remotely managed over the telephone network.
An Ethernet port is available to connect to a cable modem, ADSL or wifi. A power supply and telephone connection are required to be able to operate the Webradio. A display indicates the source to which one is connected. Independent of location in the world one can listen to the content selected.
And in another shrewd move, You/Com has produced two new standalone MPEG Audio to DVB-convertors, the XTS and XXTS. The XTS is used for the supply of audio programmes to DVB networks (terrestrial, satellite and CATV). The XTS eliminates the need for a codec, thereby cascading and results in improved sound quality and reduced costs.
20 August 2003
Embattled French giant Vivendi is trying to sell off its US media assets, but there seems to be an ever-decreasing number of takers.. Liberty Media, NBC, Viacom, and a consortium led by Edgar Bronfman are still in the running, but maybe another way has to be found, perhaps involving NBC.
Vivendi has set out to dispose of $18.3 billion of assets, and aims to raise $8 billion from sales this year, but may be unable to reach its targets. Some kind of merger with NBC might then be devised.
19 August 2003
Pilat Media Global plc announces a new contract with TV3, New Zealands second largest free-to-air broadcaster, to integrate and streamline its programme content and ad sales using Pilat Medias Integrated Broadcast Management System (IBMS).
TV3 (part of Canadian CanWest group) is a free-to-air national broadcaster that reaches 98% of New Zealands population.
TV3 will utilise IBMS to streamline and integrate its programme content, ad sales and traffic management operations, to progress from process-orientated functions to value-oriented functions, thereby eliminating duplication of data and automating manual processes. Using a wholly integrated approach, more informed business decisions can be made by the sales, programming, promotions, and operations departments. Previously, due to deficiencies in the current systems and processes it was not possible to integrate all of these departments.
19 August 2003
Satellite operator RR Satellite Communications is offering a unique service. Via the RRSat Global Network you can now publicise your satellite reception equipment on DrDish@TV, a show that goes out every two months.
RR Satelllite Communications, who provide uplink, downlink and turnaround services gives worldwide coverage to the Dr Dish show, which it retransmits via a total of 5 satellites. The show, featuring the latest satellite receivers and other information about the latest developments in satellite reception, is repeated daily during a full week. To be seen on the show, you just have to provide videos of your own reception equipment, or any other videos of interesting features about satellite reception.
You can even co-host the show, if you can get to Bonn in Germany, joining Dr Dish himself, aka Christian Mass, editor-in-chief of worldwide Tele-Satellite international magazine. The next Dr Dish show is scheduled for 10 September 2003 on Intelsat 707.
15 August 2003
Radio Australia’s parent body, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, has announced budget cuts of 17m US dollars. The ABC’s managing director, Russell Balding, says the cuts are due to the corporation’s failure to secure additional funding by the Australian government in the last federal budget. The cuts had been forecast some time ago.
In his statement, Mr Balding says the ABC board has approved management proposals for cuts to programmes and non-programme areas. Included is the already announced cut to digital television services. There will be further reduction in television advertising, schools production, live sport and News and Current Affairs budgets in television and radio. It reamins to be seen whether ABC AsiaPacific or Radio Australia will also suffer.
Around 100 positions will be affected, although redundancies will be limited to 20 to 25 jobs, said Russell Balding.
