14 May 2012
Vizrt Ltd., a leading provider of content production tools for the digital media industry,
announced today that the Company has signed a deal worth in excess of USD 360,000 for the implementation of Broadcast Graphics products with a Television Network in the EMEA region.
The deal is with a long-term customer who has now purchased additional hardware and software to upgrade existing systems and expand on-air capacity. Viz Content Pilot, Vizrt’s content and control application, was purchased as a character generator (CG) in several of the network’s control rooms, adding to the current number of Viz Content Pilot systems already installed. Additional Viz Engines, Vizrt’s powerful real time 3D rendering platform, were also purchased as part of this deal.
About Vizrt:
Vizrt provides real-time 3D graphics and asset management tools for the broadcast industry – from award-winning animations & maps to online publishing tools. Vizrt’s products are used by the world’s leading broadcasters and publishing houses, including: CNN, CBS, Fox, the BBC, BSkyB, ITN, ZDF, Star TV, Network 18, TV Today, CCTV, NHK, The Globe and Mail, Times Online, The Telegraph, and Welt Online. Furthermore, many world-class production houses and corporate institutions such as the Stock Exchanges in New York and London use Vizrt systems.
14 May 2012
The Roosevelt Foundation, a private establishment dedicated to the ideals and achievements of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, has presented Al Jazeera Media Network with its 2012 Freedom of Speech and Expression Award.
The Foundation recognised Al Jazeera Media Network for “its longstanding efforts to provide independent, impartial news for an international audience and to offer a voice to a diversity of perspectives from under-reported regions”.
Ahmed bin Jassim Al-Thani, Director General of Al Jazeera Media Network, accepted the award at a ceremony on May 12, 2012 in Nieuwe Kerk in Middelburg, Netherlands in the presence of Queen Beatrix. He said:
“It is with immense pride and sincere humility that I accept the Freedom of Speech and Expression Award on behalf of Al Jazeera Media Network.
“Al Jazeera launched in 1996 as the first independent Arabic news channel in the world, with a vision to provide unbiased news coverage in a region where independent and balanced reporting did not exist.
“From the beginning, Al Jazeera led the way in putting the human being at the heart of its news agenda – with the opinion and the other opinion as the foundation of our journalistic values.
“Now, with the largest news network of bureaux across the globe, we stand tall as an international media network – with journalists, channels, and initiatives that transcend boundaries and challenge conventional wisdom.
“At the heart of Al Jazeera’s strength is our employees. They are our biggest asset. The courage of our people who risk their lives on a daily basis serves as an example of true heroism and courage.
Previous winners of Freedoms Medals have included Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, J. William Fulbright, Arthur Miller, The Most Rev’d Desmond Tutu, Terry Waite, Vaclav Havel, Mary Robinson.
Since 1982, the centenary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s birth, the Roosevelt Institute and the Roosevelt Stichting have awarded Four Freedoms medals each year to individuals who exemplify the vision of the Four Freedoms that President Roosevelt outlined in his famous January 6, 1941 speech. The laureates are chosen, based on their lifetime commitment to these ideals, which President Roosevelt, described as essential conditions of human liberty.
A full text of Al Jazeera Media Network’s acceptance speech can be viewed below or here: http://www.aljazeera.com/pressoffice/2012/05/20125121725384344.html
11 May 2012
KBS N, a cable channel operated by KBS, launched a children’s channel on 5 May (Korea’s children’s day).
KBS Kids is targeting a young audience aged from two to twelve, and is aiming to provide content that is educational as well as entertaining. The channel’s line-up includes KBS produced programmes such as ‘Flying Tent’, ‘Playground ZZAM’ and ‘Hutos’ in addition to internationally successful ‘Large Family’ from the BBC and ‘Early Bloomers’ from BabyFrist TV, a US Children’s channel.
Another programming feature of the new channel is the kindergarten zone, a set of programmes broadcast at regular intervals, in which parents and children share the viewing experience.
KBS Kids said that it would be a channel that parents want to recommend for children to watch. KBS Kids will add more variety to KBS N, which already runs four sub channels – KBS Drama, KBS Sports, KBS Prime and KBS Joy.
11 May 2012
As part of celebrations to mark 50 years of BBC Scotland Television, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla toured the Pacific Quay media centre in Glasgow on Thursday 10 May, meeting staff and on-air presenters. However the highlight of the visit was an unexpected invitation to present the weather forecast.Talking to the BBC’s in-house magazine Ariel, weather forecaster Christopher Blanchett said he and his colleagues only found out on Tuesday 8 May that the royal couple would tour the studio.
“We were told it might be wise to have some weather graphics on standby in case they wanted to have a look and we also decided to write an autocue script. We don’t normally use a script in weather – we just do it off the top of our heads,” Blanchett added. But newsreader Sally Magnusson asked the royal visitors, known in Scotland as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, if they would like to have a go at reading the weather before the lunchtime bulletin went on air.
Blanchett said: “Prince Charles seemed extremely happy about doing it so he just stepped in. I showed him where to stand, explained about looking down the camera and how to hold the clicker, and he was utterly charming.”
Together with fellow forecasters Gillian Smart and Stav Danaos, Blanchett inserted special references to the royal residences in Scotland. You can see the results in this video.
9 May 2012
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic, welcomed today a new defamation bill announced by the Queen in the UK Parliament, saying it would augment media freedom in the UK and in other OSCE participating States.
“It is important that the bill aims to address ‘libel tourism’,” said Mijatovic. “This will put an end to ‘jurisdiction shopping’, whereby powerful and wealthy individuals from other countries attempt to stifle criticism at home using plaintiff-friendly British courts.”
The bill to be considered by parliament would also defend media in cases of “responsible publication on matters of public interest” and provide greater protection to websites hosting user-generated content.
The Representative has consistently supported the reform of defamation legislation in the United Kingdom, including the decriminalization of defamation in 2009, and advocated for civil libel reform. The Representative wrote to the Minister of State for Justice in May 2011 supporting this draft legislation.
“I expect the bill to be tabled soon and hope that it will be further improved to address the remaining concerns expressed by civil society organizations, such as the need for a strong test of harm and for restricting the ability of corporations to use libel laws to limit criticism,” said Mijatovic.
www.osce.org
8 May 2012
UK based talkSPORT, the world’s biggest sport radio station, has announced plans for its expansion into Asia at Radio Asia 2012 in Jakarta. talkSPORT director of strategy Jimmy Buckland said that the station team is aiming to work collaboratively with Asia’s leading radio broadcasters to deliver the brand to sports fanatics across the continent.
The announcement follows talkSPORT’s recent agreement to become the official Global Audio Partner of the Barclays Premier League for the next four football seasons (2012/13 – 2015/16). The deal grants talkSPORT an exclusive package of audio rights outside Europe for the next four seasons, with internet users across Asia gaining access to an innovative new service from August 2012, offering commentary on all 380 Barclays Premier League games in English, Spanish and Mandarin.
talkSPORT said it wants to work with local partners to launch its new 24 hour sports FM radio services in key markets which include Jakarta, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand initially, followed by India and the Philippines, with further services becoming available in markets in China and India.
According to research, 56 per cent of the population of Indonesia express an interest in the Barclays Premier League, with 70 per cent expressing an interest in badminton, yet the country currently lacks a dedicated sports station. A similar picture emerges elsewhere in Asia.
Launched in 2000, talkSPORT is the world’s largest dedicated sports radio station with an audience of more than 3.2 million adults in the UK and was named UK Radio Station of the Year at the 2011 Sony Radio Academy Awards. talkSPORT is part of UTV Media plc, which is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading media groups which also publishes Sport, the most widely read! print and digital sports publication in the UK.
Jimmy Buckland, director of strategy, talkSPORT said: “Asia’s passion for sport and dynamic radio industry makes it the perfect market to replicate talkSPORT’s success in the UK. We are excited about the opportunity to work with partners in Indonesia and across Asia to realize this ambition and look forward to announcing our first new FM radio service showcasing the best of local and international sport.”
Scott Taunton, chief executive, talkSPORT said: “Our expansion into Asia builds on the significant progress the station has made in the UK in establishing itself as the world’s largest sports radio station. Our recent agreement with the Barclays Premier League to become its global audio partner provides the perfect platform for this next stage in our development as we seek to forge a range of exciting partnerships with some of Asia’s leading radio broadcasters.”
