22 June 2003
Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel has launched a mobile news service in English and Arabic, enabling subscribers to keep themselves updated on the latest top of the hour news from around the world.
In the first phase, the service will be available to subscribers all over the Middle East and North Africa. In the second phase, it will be expanded to Europe and Asia. Muhammad al-Ubaydli, general manager of Al-Majaz IT Company, which is providing the technology, said that subscribers can enlist for the service via the Al-Jazeera web site, through pre-paid cards or through the customer assistance facilities of all major telecommunications companies in the region covered. In Qatar, for example, the service could be subscribed to through Qtel.
16 June 2003
In cooperation with the aid organisation Cap Anamur, Germany’s international television and radio broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, has launched a global campaign for donations. The goal is to fund 100 classrooms in Afghanistan.
DW Director General Erik Bettermann and Cap Anamur head Elias Bierdel presented the joint initiative at a meeting in Berlin on 13 June. Bettermann said “Rebuilding the educational system – in particular promoting the education and training of girls and young women – is extremely important for the country’s reconstruction. Funds are urgently needed for this, especially outside of Kabul.”
The reconstruction of Afghanistan continues to be at the top of the agenda for the international community. Germany is especially dedicated to this cause and Deutsche Welle is providing extensive media aid. “This fund drive intensifies Deutsche Welle’s existing commitment to Afghanistan. We hope to mobilize our listeners, viewers and Internet users around the world and with their help contribute to improving education,” according to the DW Director General. Cap Anamur is a recognized partner for this on location.
Since late autumn 2001, Cap Anamur has been building schools and creating classrooms in Afghanistan’s northern provinces. So far, more than 200 classrooms have been constructed, equipped and turned over to the local authorities. “However, the need is far from fulfilled,” said Bettermann.
16 June 2003
ND SatCom AG of Germany, a leading global supplier of satellite based broadband VSAT, broadcast and
military communication network solutions – and a member of the AIB – has announced the opening of its
Middle Eastern Branch in Abu Dhabi.
The office will serve ND SatCom clients and strengthen activities in the Middle East.
Mr. Ulrich Kiebler, President Middle East will head the new ND SatCom
subsidiary in Abu Dhabi, that includes highly experienced sales and
engineering support. ND SatCom decided to increase its presence in the
Middle East due to the areas huge potential for satellite
communications solutions especially in the field of broadcast and in
vertical markets such as the oil and gas industry and also
governmental networks. The geography as well as the strong business
orientation require flexible, reliable and innovative solutions.
“The official opening of ND SatComs’ Abu Dhabi office represents our
commitment to become the leading provider for global satellite network
solutions in the Middle East,” commented Ulrich Kiebler, President
Middle East. “By augmenting our activities in the U.A.E. we believe
that we are positioning ourselves perfectly for expansion into more
areas in the emerging Middle Eastern Region.”
16 June 2003
BBC Ventures Group’s businesses are working closely together to develop BBC Sport’s coverage of the Wimbledon Championships – an event which continues to be one of the biggest highlights of the sporting calendar. BBC Outside Broadcasts, which oversees the OB for the event, will be working closely with its sister companies BBC Broadcast, BBC Vecta and BBC Technology to combine technological and creative input to enhance the production team’s workflow and maximise the viewers’ experience.
At the tournament, BBC Outside Broadcasts will integrate an EVS Live Slo-Mo Machine network for the first time giving the production team the flexibility to grab images and compile highlights packages faster than ever. As well as being able to access and edit live material simultaneously, the on-site crew will be able to play back slo-mos as soon as the action happens without the need to wait for tapes. The digital non-linear editing network consists of 13 x 6 Channel EVS XT machines providing storage of up to 6,000 clips, 8 x supermotion camera replays, 20 further record sources for slo-mo and match turnaround. In addition, this year BBC Outside Broadcasts has increased the number of cameras in Court One to enhance the coverage of the all the matches.
As part of the outside broadcast, WiScape, a business unit of BBC Vecta, will be providing Digital Radio Cameras (DRC) which will broadcast shots from around the venue simultaneously with Sue Barker’s slots throughout Wimbledon. This means that for the first time viewers will be able to feel part of and closer to the action, really soaking up the atmosphere between matches as the cameras sit within the crowds at Henman Hill and between courts. It will also be used during the presentation ceremonies – capuring the excitement of the winners close up.
In addition, BBC Broadcast and BBC Technology will be further enhancing the viewing experience of the tournament by providing streaming of live matches on the BBC Wimbledon website and offering access to the viewer to watch play on all courts through the interactive TV service.
12 June 2003
Dutch television news programme Nova broadcast throughout the Netherlands on Wednesday 11 June caused uproar at the Hilversum headquarters of Radio Netherlands.
A statement issued by Radio Netherlands said that the station’s management reacted angrily to the item in the Dutch current affairs TV programme Nova. The item was based on a leaked copy of the McKinsey report into the efficiency of public broadcasting that was jointly commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Culture and the broadcasters themselves. Nova seized on one section of the report, suggesting drastic budget cuts of up to 83% for Radio Netherlands. Under this scenario, everything except the station’s broadcasts to the Netherlands Antilles and Surinam would be scrapped. The programme interviewed a representative of the Dutch Association of Journalists, who said this would effectively mean the end of Radio Netherlands.
In a press statement, Radio Netherlands management pointed out that the purpose of the report was to identify different scenarios where cost savings could be made, of which the example quoted by Nova was just one. They point out that Radio Netherlands, on its own intiative, has already embarked on a major reorganisation based on budget cuts already planned for the next few years. Decisions on the mission of Radio Netherlands are made by politicians in The Hague, not by other public broadcasters or McKinsey.
RN management also said that a motion was to have been put to the lower house of the Dutch parliament last year, specifically ruling out further cuts to Radio Netherlands within the overall budget for public broadcasting. The fall of the government prevented that motion from being discussed or voted upon, but Radio Netherlands has been told that a similar motion could still be on the cards. In a personal message to staff, Radio Netherlands Director General Lodewijk Bouwens said that he is no more pessimistic about the future of Radio Netherlands than he was before the Nova broadcast.
Radio Netherlands’ Financial Director Jan Hoek and Editor-in-chief Freek Eland addressed a meeting of staff about the Nova broadcast this afternoon. In answer to a question about why the programme did not contain any official reaction from Radio Netherlands, it was explained that Nova had contacted a number of individuals at Radio Netherlands prior to the programme, but had given the impression that it would be a general item dealing with cuts across the whole of public broadcasting. Given that the McKinsey report has not been officially published, the consensus was that Radio Netherlands should wait until it is in the public domain before commenting. The fact the the item actually broadcast was only about Radio Netherlands came as a surprise.
9 June 2003
VT Merlin Communications, a member of the AIB, will participate in the world’s first, daily
Digital Radio Mondiale* (DRM*) broadcasts on June 16th, 2003.
VT Merlin will be providing the DRM transmission platform for a number of international broadcasters, including BBC World Service, Wales Radio International and Christian Vision as part of DRM’s Inaugural Broadcasts event in Geneva during the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC 2003).
VT Merlin has two high
power short wave transmitters converted to DRM capability, which will deliver digital AM transmissions for Geneva and Western Europe. In addition, they will also be using their new DRM capable high power medium wave transmitter at their MF site in Orfordness, Suffolk, UK to carry BBC World Service DRM programming. The precise moment of the world’s first DRM broadcasts will be marked at a spectacular reception at Geneva’s Château de Penthes.
Peter Gordon, VT Merlin’s Programme Manager, Digitalisation said: “As a founder member of the DRM consortium, VT Merlin is very proud to be playing a high profile role in these inaugural DRM broadcasts. It marks the beginning of what we expect to be a revolutionary new technology for AM broadcasting. VT Merlin has made significant investment in its DRM platform and we look forward to demonstrating the full range of DRM’s capabilities in Geneva, including AM transmissions in near FM quality.”
