Channelbox brings new Africa channels to UK’s Freeview digital terrestrial TV

3 October 2024

Channelbox brings new Africa channels to UK’s Freeview digital terrestrial TV

In celebration of Black History Month Channelbox launched two new channels from Africa: Nigbati and 4ACETV on Freeview UK channel 271.

Symbolically debuting in October, Black History Month, 4ACETV embraces the rich contributions of Black artists and musicians, celebrating their influence across genres like Afrobeat, Grime, and RNB. This launch not only highlights diverse musical expressions but also serves as a reminder of the vital role that Black culture plays in shaping the global music landscape.

Nigbati TV is a dedicated 24-hour entertainment channel celebrating the culture, tradition, and language of the Yoruba people. Nigbati TV aims to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Yoruba culture both within and beyond the Yoruba-speaking community, serving as a vital platform for cultural preservation and promotion.

Together, these channels will showcase the richness of Black stories, traditions, and artistry, fostering a broader appreciation of vibrant narratives within the community and beyond.

Channelbox, a prominent player in the UK broadcasting landscape, is committed to delivering a broad range of high-quality, diverse content to viewers nationwide. Available on Freeview channel 271, Freely 561 and through Channelbox’s mobile applications, the platform offers over 70 TV channels and supports FAST channel monetization, enhancing its appeal to both viewers and advertisers.

Tanya Kronfli, Head of Business Development at Channelbox, commented, “We are excited to welcome Nigbati TV and 4ACETV to our platform. This additions not only broadens our content offering but also aligns with our mission to deliver diverse and engaging programming that resonates with our audience.”

Solomon Islanders get extra radio coverage, including ABC Radio Australia

3 October 2024

Solomon Islanders get extra radio coverage, including ABC Radio Australia

People in the provincial capital of Malaita Province, Auki in Solomon Islands and surrounding communities will now be able to hear the national service of the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation on its FM 96.3 frequency on their transistor radios, inside their vehicles and on their mobile phones.

This follows the installation of an FM 96.3 transmitter on a Solomon Telekom transmission tower in Auki during the past several days.

At the same time, listeners in Auki and surrounding communities will also hear the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio Australia service on FM 107.

“This great milestone has been achieved as SIBC celebrated its 72nd anniversary of broadcasting in this country early this week. Our listeners in Auki and surrounding communities will now listen to programmes from the national service in Honiara through livestream with much clearer digital audio,” says an excited SIBC Chief Executive Officer, Mr Johnson Honimae.

“This is another step forward in the implementation of the Unity FM service that has been part of the strategy of the Corporation in the past several years. This adds on to the FM 96.3 in Honiara and in Gizo in the Western Province.”

Mr Honimae adds, “SIBC would not have achieved the FM service in Auki without the great support of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation through the supply of equipment and engineers supported by SIBC’s own engineers who set up the two FM transmitters in the past several days.”

The project is a great achievement for the two public service broadcasters under a current three-year Memorandum of Understanding. As part of the relationship SIBC and ABC share among other things, technical expertise, including SIBC infrastructure to enable ABC to broadcast in Solomon Islands. ABC and SIBC broadcast technicians work closely together.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “We are delighted that our two teams were able to come together to execute this exciting new development in FM transmission, connecting communities across Auki and the Malaita Province. The collaboration between our technical teams encapsulates the true spirit of our longstanding friendship and partnership with SIBC. We congratulate them on the tremendous milestone of their 72nd anniversary and look forward to future opportunities to support one another’s work as public broadcasters.”

Both public service broadcasters also participate in content exchanges in areas such as news and current affairs, sport, music, lifestyle and general interest content. Staff exchanges are also possible under the SIBC-ABC MoU.

SIBC is now in discussions with the Malaita Provincial Government for a piece of land for the establishment of an FM studio in Auki to produce programs focused on Malaita Province. Auki FM 96.3 will currently broadcast programs from the SIBC National Service in Honiara.

Listeners to SIBC in Malaita Province can also receive the National Service on AM 1035khz and SW 5020 khz and online: sibconline.com.sb.

ABC and RNZ sign MoU

18 September 2024

ABC and RNZ sign MoU

Radio New Zealand (RNZ) and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, outlining a new framework for co-productions, sharing of content domestically and on each other’s international channels.

In a visit to RNZ offices in Wellington, ABC Managing Director David Anderson, ABCStrategy Director Mark Tapley and ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman met with RNZ Chief Executive Paul Thompson for the official signing of the new partnership.

Under the key tenets of the MOU, the ABC and RNZ will develop a productive and meaningful working relationship through collaborative projects and content sharing activity to serve audiences both domestically and across the Pacific.

The framework of the new agreement also identifies how both public broadcasters, through their regional broadcast efforts, will aim to promote access to high quality news, combat misinformation and provide content and services that inform, educate and entertain audiences.

Collaboration under the MOU has already begun with daily news sharing and content exchange between the ABC and RNZ News teams, as well as a radio and podcast co-production that will launch later this year.

RNZ Chief Executive and Editor in Chief Paul Thompson said the new partnership builds on the existing relationship: “We have so much in common with the ABC in terms of our shared opportunities and challenges as public media organisations, and this MOU allows us to learn from each other, to share content and even to consider how we might work together on co-productions.”

“The MOU also recognises the shared role we have in the Pacific to work collaboratively alongside local media partners to promote high-quality news and current affairs.”

ABC Managing Director David Anderson said: “As a fellow public broadcaster and close neighbour, the ABC has a deep history of working side-by-side with RNZ in fulfilling our responsibilities to serve our respective nations. We welcome this opportunity to explore new areas for collaboration and content exchange across our services and offerings.”

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman commented: “We are delighted to be formalising our partnership with RNZ; the MOU signifies an exciting and important next step in strengthening our friendship. By working together across new initiatives and projects, this agreement will support our shared commitment to continue delivering high-quality news, diverse regional storytelling and informative and entertaining content to audiences across the region.”

Pacific culture captured in new ABC’s Canvas of Oceans

16 September 2024

Pacific culture captured in new ABC’s Canvas of Oceans

From the team behind The Pacific, join presenters Alice Lolohea and Johnson Raela in Hawai’i as they explore the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) with Canvas of Oceans – a story of preservation and celebration of Pacific identity.

Watch a preview of Canvas of Oceans.

HOW TO WATCH:

Canvas of Oceans will premiere on ABC Australia, Sunday 15 September at 3:00pm Papua New Guinea (PNG) time, 4:00pm in Solomon Islands (SBT), 5:00pm in Fiji (FJT), 6:00pm in Tonga (T0T), 6:00pm in Samoa (WST) and 3:00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

Held every four years, the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) is the largest celebration of indigenous Pacific cultures. In June 2024, Hawai’i hosted the 13th FestPAC with over 2,500 delegates from 25 Pacific nations and territories coming together to share and celebrate their cultural connections.

Canvas of Oceans follows hosts of ABC Australia’s The Pacific, Alice Lolohea and Johnson Raela, as they travel to Hawai’i to document the vibrant and diverse cultural exchanges of FestPAC. From musical and dance performances to traditional and contemporary arts interspersed with moving conversations, the documentary captures the essence of FestPAC. By speaking with artists and cultural practitioners, Canvas of Oceans tells a story of celebration, preservation and the challenges faced by many Pacific communities grappling with the after-effects of colonisation as they strive to protect their cultural identity.

Canvas of Oceans also shares the deeply personal journeys experienced by presenters Lolohea and Raela as they uncover profound connections between their own cultural heritage and lives and celebrate the rich tapestry of Pacific cultures.

Presenter Alice Lolohea said: “Immersing ourselves in the culture and history of the wider Pacific brought me to tears. Witnessing the beautiful exchange of knowledge, traditional practices and aloha between Indigenous people of the Moana is an experience a textbook will never do justice.”

Johnson Raela added: “We already know Pacific arts is vibrant and entertaining, but we also know there’s a lot of deep hurt and loss of culture due to colonisation that artists and creatives from across the region are reclaiming – it’s these voices that we’ve tried to capture in this film.”

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “Canvas of Oceans is a beautifully crafted documentary, shot and produced by the talented team behind The Pacific. ABC Australia audiences can anticipate a moving and informative program, celebrating Pacific culture and storytelling from FestPAC.”

Consent Management Platform for FAST and AVoD services on free-to-air TV platforms

10 September 2024

Consent Management Platform for FAST and AVoD services on free-to-air TV platforms

Synapse TV announced their approved status as the latest Consent Management Platform to join IAB Europe’s Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF).

As a result, the Synapse CMP may be used to collect consent on any FAST TV services on Freeview, Freely and other free-to-air platforms. TCF compliance now allows viewers to enjoy their favourite content while ensuring their privacy preferences are maintained. The CMP is compatible with most connected TVs to hit the market over the last decade. This includes but is not limited to TVs branded Freeview (modern HbbTV and legacy MHEG), Samsung TV+, LG, Roku, Freely, etc.

The TCF, which was launched in April 2018, is a cross-industry voluntary standard that relies on standardisation to facilitate compliance with certain provisions of the ePrivacy Directive and the GDPR. It is developed by IAB Europe in collaboration with organisations and professionals in the online industry. It is intended to enable publishers, technology partners and content owners to work together and provide users with a standardised experience when they make privacy choices.

Together with its content partner Global Distribution Services Synapse TV are delivering over a hundred FAST and linear TV channels to Freeview and Freely including Al Jazeera, France24, NHK World, Channelbox, ROK, Filmstream and many others.

“Our priority has always been to deliver a seamless and enjoyable viewing experience for all CTV users whilst respecting their privacy rights”, said Chris Wass, director of Synapse TV. “The addition of a TCF compliant CMP targeting free-to-air UK TV platforms ensures this respect whilst also maximising the programmatic opportunity for our customers.”

“The CMP is user-friendly and aligns with industry standards to provide a secure and transparent experience. Together with Synapse TV we will continue to adapt to any future regulatory changes to ensure that ourservices remains safe and compliant”, said Tanya Kronfli, director of Global Distribution Services, Synapse TV’s content partner.

ABC signs MOU with Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI)

28 August 2024

ABC signs MOU with Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI)

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Indonesia’s public radio broadcaster Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI).

RRI President Director Hendrasmo and ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman signed the new agreement at the ABC offices in Sydney. A delegation of senior leadership from RRI and ABC International were in attendance to welcome the partnership.

The establishment of the MOU identifies the shared commitments of the ABC and RRI as public broadcasters in serving their national audiences with informative, educational and entertaining content and services.

The key tenets of the agreement endorse the strengthening of the relationship between the ABC and RRI through content sharing across programming, training of teams and personnel, media capacity building and the exchange of technical information.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “We are proud to be partnering with RRI in this next chapter with future opportunities for collaborative endeavours through content and information exchange. This MOU expresses our mutual commitments as public broadcasters and the shared understanding of how we can best fulfil our obligations to our audiences across the region.”

President Director of RRI Hendrasmo said: “In this era of disruption, the key word is collaboration. We want to strengthen our institution, both in terms of content and human resources. This is one of the reasons why we are collaborating with the ABC. Moreover, developing human resources is our current priority, as we aim to remain strong and resilient in facing the era of change that is causing the media to experience difficult times.”