American RFE/RL Reporter Alsu Kurmasheva Released from Russian Custody

1 August 2024

American RFE/RL Reporter Alsu Kurmasheva Released from Russian Custody

After more than nine months in prison, American RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva has been released as part of a large-scale prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia. The deal included Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained by the Kremlin for 16 months.

RFE/RL President & CEO Stephen Capus said: “We welcome news of Alsu’s release and are grateful to the American government and all who worked tirelessly to end her unjust treatment by Russia.

Alsu was targetted because she was an American journalist who was simply trying to take care of a family member inside Russia. She did nothing wrong and certainly did not deserve the unjust treatment and forced separation from her loving family members and colleagues.

Alsu’s release makes us even more determined to secure the freedom of three other RFE/RL journalists, cruelly imprisoned in Belarus and Russian-occupied Crimea. We will not rest until all our unjustly detained journalists are home safe. Journalism is not a crime.

Welcome home, Alsu.”

Pavel Butorin, Alsu’s husband and Director of RFE/RL’s Current Time television, said: “Today, my daughters and I are witnessing a historic act of resolve and compassion by the U.S. government and its allies, demonstrating that the free world values human life and family above all else, even when it means exchanging real criminals and spies to save wrongfully detained Americans.

After over a year of separation and more than nine months of brutal detention, Alsu will finally be free. Thanks to the unwavering efforts of the U.S. government and our tireless advocacy work, she will soon reunite with her family.

For more than nine months, Alsu was denied basic human dignity. She was locked up in horrific prison conditions, denied phone calls with her children or U.S. consular visits, and deprived of proper medical care. She was convicted in a secret trial for a crime she did not commit, held in jail solely because she is an American and an American journalist.”

Alsu Kurmasheva is a journalist with RFE/RL’s Tatar-Bashkir Service who was detained in Kazan, Russia, on October 18, 2023. Alsu holds U.S. and Russian citizenship and lives in Prague, Czech Republic, with her husband and two daughters.

Alsu travelled to Russia on May 20, 2023, to care for her elderly, ailing mother. She was temporarily detained while waiting for her return flight on June 2, 2023. Authorities at Kazan airport confiscated her US and Russian passports, preventing her from leaving the country. She was subsequently fined 10,000 rubles (US$103) for failure to register her US passport with Russian authorities.

Before she could pay this fine, she was detained again on October 18, 2023, for failing to declare herself a “foreign agent.” On December 11, 2023, Russian authorities launched a third investigation against Alsu for “spreading false information” about Russia’s military.

Following a rapid and secret trial, Kurmasheva was convicted of “spreading false information” about Russia’s military on July 19, 2024, and sentenced to six and a half years in prison.

Image: RFE/RL

RNZ fires-up new transmitter to cover the Pacific

1 August 2024

RNZ fires-up new transmitter to cover the Pacific

RNZ went live on 1 August with its new RNZ Pacific shortwave transmitter.

The commissioning of the transmitter was officiated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Rt Hon Winston Peters, at RNZ House in Wellington.

In a NZ$4.4-million-dollar project, RNZ has installed a new Swiss-made Ampegon shortwave transmitter, capable of both digital and analogue signal, to replace its old transmitter.

Chief Executive and Editor-in-Chief Paul Thompson said it’s a significant infrastructure upgrade and secures the future of the RNZ shortwave service into the wider Pacific.

RNZ Pacific broadcasts into the wider Pacific on shortwave 24 hours a day, broadcasting in English and Pacific languages, in collaboration with 22 broadcasting partners across the region.

“The attraction of the shortwave service is that it delivers our unique voice and content to all parts of the Pacific via a signal which can carry over great distances, and achieve good audiences,” said Thompson.

“RNZ Pacific is an essential source of information, especially so during the cyclone season or during a crisis such as the Tonga eruptions,” he said.

RNZ’s Transmission Engineer Specialist Steve White said the project to replace the 34-year-old transmitter at the Rangitaiki broadcast site near Taupō had gone smoothly – being on budget and achieved without disruption to service. “We have appreciated the close working relationship with Ampegon for the new transmitter installation,” he said.

RNZ Pacific Manager Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor said for the past 75 years RNZ had been broadcasting into the Pacific via the shortwave service. “This marks the next chapter in our proud legacy of sharing all of our unique stories across the Pacific,” she said.

RNZ’s Charter includes the provision of an international service to the South Pacific in both English and Pacific languages. As part of Budget 2022, the Government announced NZ$4.4m dollars capital funding for a new transmitter.

RNZ Pacific broadcasts into the wider Pacific on shortwave 24 hours a day, collaborating with 22 broadcasting partners across the region. Its current primary transmitter is nearing end of life, and its other transmitter has in effect already been retired.

Image: RNZ

Channelbox brings Punjabi movie and comedy channels to UK’s Freeview

31 July 2024

Channelbox brings Punjabi movie and comedy channels to UK’s Freeview

Pitaara Movies and Pitaara Comedy have officially made their debut on Freeview UK via Channelbox on Freeview channel 271, marking a significant milestone in their broadcasting journey.

Pitaara Movies is world’s first Punjabi movies channel dedicatedly promoting Punjabi cinema & the entertainment industry. Pitaara has got something to offer for every section of the audience. Not just movies, Pitaara is a complete package of entertainment with music, and celebrity chit-chat shows featuring all the who’s who of the Punjabi entertainment industry. Pitaara has the biggest catalogue of Punjabi films making it the go-to channel for the lovers of Punjabi cinema.

Pitaara Comedy complements this with its humorous and engaging programming, promising laughter and enjoyment.

“We are thrilled to offer a complete package of entertainment and a vibrant showcase of the Punjabi entertainment industry’s finest. This expansion underscores our commitment to delivering diverse and compelling content to audiences across the UK”, said Tanya Kronfli, Channelbox’s Head of Business Development.

“We are excited to announce the launch of Pitaara Movies and Pitaara Comedy on Freeview UK via Channelbox. This expansion allows us to share our vibrant cultural and comedic programming with a broader audience. It represents a significant milestone in our dedication to providing high-quality content that celebrates Punjabi cinema, entertainment, music, and laughter,” said Mr. Mahesh Sharma, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances at Pitaara.

Channelbox is a multi-channel platform available on Freeview channel 271 and via mobile applications. Channelbox supports FAST and linear channels and offers over 70 TV channels to the Freeview audience.

ABC welcomes the launch of the Australian Government’s Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy

16 July 2024

ABC welcomes the launch of the Australian Government’s Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Managing Director David Anderson has welcomed the launch of the Australian Government’s Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy (IPBS) which calls out ABC International as a leading implementation partner.

Pre-empting the release of the strategy, the Federal Government provided an additional $32 million over four years in the October 2022 budget for ABC International to expand content production, transmission, and media assistance across the Indo-Pacific region. In the May 2023 budget, the Government announced a further $8.5 million over four years for regional transmission and distribution.

The ABC has invested this new funding to support the key pillars of the IPBS by boosting the availability of Australian content, deepening media connections and strengthening the resilience of media outlets in the region. The ABC’s work in this area continues to support mutual understanding of Australia and our region.

ABC Managing Director David Anderson welcomed the Government’s release of the much-anticipated strategy and said the ABC is “well-placed to deliver on its key pillars.”

“No other Australian media organisation has the regional knowledge, relationships, distribution networks and platforms, and the development expertise necessary to fully deliver the IPBS’ aims that are in the national interest,” Mr Anderson said.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “The additional funding provided by the Federal Government under the IPBS is already being invested across the Indo-Pacific region by ABC International in a range of key areas including enhanced distribution networks, premium bespoke content for international audiences and high-impact media development programs.”

To date, the ABC has made significant progress on many deliverables outlined in the IPBS. Examples include:

ENHANCED DISTRIBUTION

Over the past year, ABC International has launched new ABC Radio Australia 24-hour FM services in six strategic locations including Palau, Nauru, Tuvalu, Pohnpei (Federated States of Micronesia), Kokopo (Papua New Guinea) and Gizo (Solomon Islands) and will deliver new services in a further six locations in the second half of 2024.

In October 2023, ABC International divided the previously single ABC Australia broadcast service into two separate schedules: one for the Pacific region and one for Asia, allowing the ABC to better serve audiences with content and time slots tailored to the respective regions.

BESPOKE CONTENT

In June 2023, ABC Radio Australia launched a new schedule, tripling its Pacific-focused content with bespoke programs including morning show Nesia Daily, sport show Nesian Footy, music shows In the Fale and On the Record, a special series of the popular podcast Days Like These and Stories from The Pacific, drawing audiences into the lives of Pacific Islanders who have seen and done amazing things.

In the past 12 months, ABC International has delivered extensive multi-platform coverage across ABC Australia, ABC Radio Australia, ABC Pacific and ABC Asia of major elections in India, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands, and coverage of regional events such as the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara and the 2024 Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture in Hawai’i.

Additionally, ABC Australia has broadcast two special election series this year – Indonesia Decides and India Votes 2024 – which were produced by ABC News’ Asia Pacific Newsroom for international audiences, delving into voter concerns and key political figures and providing insights beyond the headlines.

Also, this year, ABC Australia launched Kids Club, a brand-new lineup of kids’ programming specially curated for Pacific audiences, on its Pacific service.

In April 2023, ABC Australia launched a flagship pan-Pacific current affairs program, The Pacific, which covers the major news events in the region through the year and looks at the rich culture and history of the region. The program is supported by a network of experienced local journalists across the Pacific region.

Over the past 12 months, ABC Australia has delivered programming targeting Indo-Pacific audiences, including special editions of ABC favourites Gardening Australia, Foreign Correspondent, Compass, Backroads and Landline as well as documentaries The Cloud Under the Sea on undersea telecommunications cables, Price of Progress: Indonesia’s Nickel Rush, Running Dry on water scarcity in Asia, and the two-part series Project Wild.

MEDIA DEVELOPMENT

Over the past 12 months, ABC International Development (ABCID), has launched the Indonesia Media Development Program focusing on digital storytelling, safety and resilience.

ABCID has also launched the Timor-Leste Media Development Program to strengthen Timor-Leste’s media landscape. This program provides support to the media sector through technical and craft skills training. This support includes collaborating with the Timor-Leste Press Council and supporting the public broadcaster, Rádio e Televisão de Timor-Leste (RTTL), with the launch of a weekly English language news program.

ABCID has developed the Media Education for Development and Information Access (MEDIA) platform, an invite-only online learning resource which offers modules on journalism, capacity-building courses and resources to individuals and partners across the Indo-Pacific, to complement in-person training and mentoring.

The Government strategy document is available at: https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/indo-pacific-broadcasting-strategy.pdf

New Director of BBC World Service announced

8 July 2024

New Director of BBC World Service announced

Jonathan Munro will take up the post of BBC News Global Director from September. In this new role, spanning international services, he will be Director of the BBC World Service, oversee BBC Monitoring and remain Deputy CEO of BBC News and Current Affairs.

Jonathan says: “I am thrilled and daunted in equal measure to be taking on the enormous responsibilities of leading the BBC World Service, along with other international activities for our global audiences.

“As I’ve travelled around the world with the BBC over the last decade or so, everywhere I have been I’ve been told of the enduring value of impartial news, in English and our more than 40 other languages. The need for independent news is growing, not shrinking, and the BBC’s role in pursuing truth and enriching knowledge has never been more important.

“The BBC teams I have met across the world are dedicated, professional and talented. I can’t wait to start working with them all.”

Deborah Turness says: “I know at first hand the qualities Jonathan will bring to this vital role – his leadership, his expertise, and above all, his journalistic integrity.

“The BBC is a truly global broadcaster and the World Service is a priceless asset – the world’s most trusted international news provider. In a world of disinformation and diminishing freedom of speech, it is more needed than ever, and I’m delighted Jonathan will be taking its helm, and that of all BBC News’ international services.”

Biography

Jonathan is currently Director of Journalism and Deputy CEO of BBC News.

He joined the BBC in 2014 and has led BBC News coverage through every major story over the last decade, from Brexit to UK general elections and recent political upheaval, the Israel/Gaza and Ukraine conflicts and the death of HM The Queen. He recently led the complex transformation of the BBC’s business in India, putting in place a new structure and operating model.

For most of 2022, Jonathan acted as Interim Director of BBC News. During this period, he sat on the BBC Board and the Director General’s Executive Committee.

Jonathan is a Trustee of BBC Children in Need, and led a flagship project focusing on mental health support for children and young people across the UK.

He was previously at ITN for 26 years, joining as an editorial trainee and going on to work as a correspondent in the UK, Europe and around the world. Jonathan covered the Balkans war, both Gulf wars and the Beijing and London Olympics. He has worked extensively in the United States, Russia and Africa, and was Europe Correspondent for three years and Political News Editor for two.

Jonathan received an RTS Judges’ Award for negotiating the UK’s first televised Prime Ministerial debates in 2010.

Image: BBC

Trace UK launches on Freeview UK via Channelbox

2 July 2024

Trace UK launches on Freeview UK via Channelbox

Trace UK, a leading music and entertainment channel headquartered in London, renowned for its diverse content spanning music, culture, and lifestyle, launched on Channelbox available on Freeview 271. This is in addition to other Trace channels such asTrace Urban, Trace Latina and Trace Brazuca.

Channelbox is a multi-channel platform available on connected Freeview channel 271 and Channelbox mobile applications. Channelbox supports FAST channels monetisation and offers over 70 TV channels to the Freeview audience is delighted to welcome Trace UK into its lineup.

Tanya Kronfli, head of business development at Channelbox, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “We are thrilled to add Trace UK to our platform. Channelbox is committed to delivering diverse and engaging content to our viewers, and Trace UK’s unique programming aligns perfectly with our mission.”

Trace UK also shared their excitement about the expansion: “Bringing Trace UK to Freeview viewers via Channelbox marks a significant milestone in our growth strategy. We look forward to enriching the UK audience with our vibrant mix of music and entertainment content,” said Nathan Becker, Trace TV distribution director.

Trace UK on Channelbox via Freeview UK is now available for viewers across the country to enjoy.