TRT expands international digital services

29 April 2024

TRT expands international digital services

Launch of TRT Español in Istanbul attended by guests from across Latin America and Spain

The Turkish Television and Radio Corporation has launched its latest digital platform, TRT Español, at a ceremony attended by guests from across Latin America and around the world.

TRT Español aims to cover news in the Spanish-speaking world and tell exciting human interest stories that resonate with audiences from around the world in an independent and impartial way.

Guests, including ambassadors from Latin American nations together with international media, attended the platform’s inaugural ceremony.

TRT World’s television anchor, Maria Ramos, opened the event with fellow journalist Alican Ayanlar, outlining her enthusiasm for the new initiative in Spanish, which is spoken in 20 countries.

Under the slogan ‘donde las personas important’ or ‘The Place Where People Matter’, TRT Español will provide compelling stories from Türkiye, Latin America, Spain, and across the globe.

As Ramos and Ayanlar spoke during the event, the TRT Español website went live. Ramos, an anchor with Hispanic heritage, underscored the cultural richness of the Spanish-speaking world and the bonds and shared values between the people of Türkyie and the Hispanic world.

Türkiye’s Communications Director, Fahrettin Altun (pictured), also took to the stage to outline his hopes for the new platform to promote rights and justice.

He pledged that Turkish media will “continue fighting against oppression and give a voice to those who are oppressed.”

Mariela Sagel, Panama’s ambassador to Türkiye, said that she has waited for TRT Español’s launch for over a year since meeting TRT Director-General Mehmet Zahid Sobaci in Ankara last year.

Freddy Molina, Venezuela’s ambassador to Türkiye, stressed TRT Español’s importance as an alternative to other news sources as the media landscape has a “very Westernised vision of the news.”

TRT Español can serve as a bridge between “the West and the East”, he said.

Elvis Alam, the ambassador of the Dominican Republic in Türkiye, said the new platform would help bring Turkish people closer to his own countrymen, referring to TRT Español as “a way to have a direct exchange in our own language.”

“You will know us better, and we will also know you better.”

Rti Forum heads to berlin

24 April 2024

Rti Forum heads to berlin

Radio Taiwan International (Rti) is a public broadcaster that ensures stories and perspectives from Taiwan are heard globally, providing the timeliest and the most trustworthy information about the country in 20 different languages. Since 2022, Rti has been staging the Taiwan Forum where the core spirit of discussions has been the concept of: “We Share the Same Responsibilities.” The forum has travelled to London and Bangkok in the previous years. On May 7, 2024, Rti is taking Taiwan Forum to Berlin, Germany, with a focus on “Taiwan Strategies at a Time of Global Upheaval.”

In 2024, more than 70 countries around the world will hold general elections following the conclusion of Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections in January, with the new government set to take office in May. Elections for the European Parliament take place in June 2024, the US Presidential election in November, while the reelection of Russian President Vladimir Putin could lead to changes or developments in the Russia-Ukraine war launched by Moscow in February 2022. How the outcomes of these elections impact geopolitics and the global economy will attract much attention?

On this occasion, the Rti forum not only invites experts who are familiar with Taiwan’s international relations and economic development to discuss the hard issues: 1) Turning the Page: 2024 a Year of General Elections and a New International Environment, with a focus on how the strategies of Taiwan’s government are responding to global changes and how the international community is accommodating Taiwan in its global agenda. In addition, our second session looks at how soft power has become a major alternative for the country as it seeks to connect with other societies and foster understanding between diverse communities around the world. 2) Aural Power: Amplifying Taiwan on the International Stage will take you on a journey of sound and music to explore how the diversity and vitality of modern Taiwan are delivered to people around the world.

Register for this half-day event at https://forms.gle/rmAQKaAYF1j359gB7

More information at https://berlinforum.rti.org.tw/en/

CNA debuts on Freeview UK

24 April 2024

CNA debuts on Freeview UK

Singapore-based news and current affairs channel CNA is now available in the United Kingdom on Freeview UK, the country’s largest TV platform.

The CNA free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel offers viewers not just the latest news from Asia, but also award-winning documentaries and current affairs programmes with an Asian perspective. Some of the content viewers can look forward to include:

Daily news updates from the Asian region on Asia Tonight and an in-depth look into developments from Greater China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula on East Asia Tonight
Acclaimed investigative documentary series uncovering hard truths from Asia Undercover Asia;
Four-part series The New Silk Road, recognised at the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, examiningChina’s ambitious plan to create new trading routes; and
Historical travelogue, and Gold winner at the World Media Festivals, Mark of Empire, which looks into how four Southeast Asian empires – Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Indonesia, have made their mark on the world.

Mediacorp Editor-in-Chief Walter Fernandez said, “CNA has been reporting on global developments through an Asian lens since it was launched 25 years ago. With its extensive network of correspondents, CNA has evolved from a regional news brand to a global brand. Today, CNA is one of the most sought out sources of news as well as high-quality documentaries about Asia. In fact, in the past decade, CNA has won more than 500 international awards, largely for its engaging documentaries. We are pleased to introduce the CNA brand and our in-depth coverage of Asia to viewers across the United Kingdom, as part of our concerted efforts to grow our global audience.”

“I am delighted to introduce CNA to our audience,” expressed Tanya Kronfli, Channelbox‘s Head of Business Development. “Our mission extends beyond mere entertainment; it is about fostering a deeper understanding of Asia through authentic narratives and firsthand perspectives. Through this alliance, we aspire to enhance our viewers’ appreciation and comprehension of Asia’s complexities.”

BBC World Service Director to step down

19 April 2024

BBC World Service Director to step down

Liliane Landor, Senior Controller of BBC News International Services and BBC World Service Director, has decided to leave the BBC later this year.

BBC Director-General Tim Davie says: “The whole of the BBC owes Liliane a huge debt of gratitude. She is an exceptional journalist and editor. The BBC World Service is one of the jewels in the BBC’s crown, and has flourished under her leadership.

“Liliane has been a formidable champion of the BBC’s international services, and an inspirational leader to so many BBC News staff. I’m extremely sorry Liliane has decided to leave us, and wish her the very best for the future.”

BBC News CEO Deborah Turness says: “In a polarised world where truth is under attack, Liliane has led our BBC World Service teams with real courage. She has been a global ambassador for our powerful and important journalism, and has worked with great skill to modernise World Service output to reach digital audiences. Liliane is a person of great integrity and I will miss her wisdom very much. ”

Liliane Landor says: “Serving as Director of the BBC World Service has been an immense privilege. To have been entrusted with leading a global service relied upon by hundreds of millions worldwide is humbling and the greatest honour of my professional life.

“With media freedom under threat, the World Service is a force for good and the BBC needs to look after it.”

Liliane Landor rejoined the BBC in 2021, after a role as Head of Foreign News at Channel 4 News.

Liliane built a major part of her journalistic career at the BBC, where she began at the French Service.

She went on to manage, present, and edit key areas of the BBC World Service, including a role as head of News and Current Affairs in English, before becoming Controller of Languages, where she was editorially responsible for all non-English language services on radio, TV and online. She left this role in 2016.

Liliane also founded the BBC’s staff network, Global Women in News, which remains high-profile and active, and launched the popular 100 Women project in 2014, being named on the list herself in 2016.

Liliane will leave the BBC in July.

CNA’S 25th Anniversary: Mediacorp’s News Network Announces plans to scale up

25 March 2024

CNA’S 25th Anniversary: Mediacorp’s News Network Announces plans to scale up

Expansion strategy outlined at CNA’s Silver Jubilee includes the introduction of new editions in North America, UK and Indonesia, as well as plans for an increased presence in China

Mediacorp’s news and current affairs brand CNA will focus on reaching new audiences in regional and international markets like Indonesia, East Asia, US, and the UK, while continuing to serve Singaporeans by delivering trusted news and quality stories across its multiple platforms.

These plans were announced at CNA’s 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner, held on 19 March at Capella Singapore with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as Guest-of-Honour.

Addressing a celebratory gathering of 300 guests, Mediacorp Chairman Niam Chiang Meng affirmed CNA’s commitment to continue evolving to meet the demands of a changing global mediascape: “We aim to be present at every touchpoint in people’s lives, engaging them through a combination of our own platforms and third-party platforms. This multiplatform approach is anchored on our understanding of how people consume content today – across platforms and devices, languages, and genres.”

Since its launch in Singapore in March 1999, CNA has grown from a local news channel to a network consumed around the world, reaching more than 94 million homes and hotel rooms in Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Digitally, CNA content is consumed by an average of more than 10 million unique visitors every month [1]. On YouTube, CNA has a combined four million subscribers and over 27 million views per month for its CNA and CNA Insider channels. Its strong presence on YouTube has introduced the brand to a growing international audience, with the US being one of the top three markets in terms of watch time for its content [2]. The brand has also earned recognition on the global stage, having garnered more than 500 international awards and accolades in the past decade. Please refer to the Annex for a list of key milestones since CNA’s establishment in 1999.

Fresh initiatives to expand audiences and enhance offerings

With an eye towards fostering further growth, CNA has embarked on developments aimed at building its existing base, meeting new needs, and engaging untapped audiences beyond Singapore:

Making inroads in the US, Canada, and the UK: The CNA brand will be introduced in North America, Canada, and the United Kingdom across a combination of platforms: television streaming services, YouTube, and a curated edition of the CNA website. The roll out will be conducted in phases over this year. This undertaking will cater to people in these regions who are looking for breaking news and insightful documentaries about Asia – in particular China, Japan, and Korea.

Strengthening depth of coverage on China: As part of its expansion strategy and to deepen its on-ground understanding and reporting of China-related news, CNA plans to augment its mix of TV and digital bureaus, with plans to open a new bureau in Shenzhen, and potentially station more correspondents at its Beijing and Shanghai bureaus.

Introducing East Asia Tonight: Audiences can also look forward to a new one-hour bulletin, East Asia Tonight. Airing on CNA every weekday at 6pm from April. Through a combination of ground reporting of the latest developments, original in-depth features and expert analysis, CNA will seek to help audiences around the world to better “Understand Asia”.

Adopting AI to debut a Bahasa Indonesia website: Tapping on a large audience profile closer to home, CNA has launched cna.id, a website in Bahasa Indonesia. To achieve this milestone, CNA’s first digital foray beyond English, CNA signed a research collaboration agreement with Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) to build an English-to-Bahasa Indonesia AI translation tool. A dedicated team of Bahasa Indonesia editors then checks these translated as well as original news reports and features before publishing them.

Providing more engaging content experiences: Continuing to harness AI, CNA has introduced AI-generated summaries (FAST) for articles on the CNA app. Launched on 18 March, the FAST feature uses AI large language models to extract key sentences from stories. These are vetted by the CNA editorial team before publication, providing time-pressed readers with an option to sample content quickly and efficiently when on the go. This feature will be launched on the website soon.

Earlier this year, CNA also introduced a text-to-speech conversion to enable readers to listen to digital stories; and improved its personalised experiences with MyFeed, a feature which allows readers to select and receive more stories on topics of interest to them.

Mediacorp Editor-in-Chief & Chief Sustainability Officer Walter Fernandez said: “CNA’s Silver Jubilee marks a significant milestone in our journey as CNA goes global.”

Added Mr Fernandez: “In the past decade, CNA has won more than 500 international awards for its outstanding content; CNA was named ‘Channel of the Year’ by the London-based Association for International Broadcasting in November 2020; and two years later CNA was named the global winner of the ‘Best News Website or Mobile Service’ by the World Association of News Publishers. Building on this track record of high-quality content and engaging programming, CNA has set its sights on being the global news source to ‘Understand Asia’. The next leg of CNA’s growth will focus on expanding our coverage and sharpening the nuance of our reporting about China; while growing our global audience particularly in North America and Europe.”

[1] Source: Adobe Analytics, April 2023 – February 2024
[2] Source: YouTube Studio

Voice of America names new Director of Studio and Production Operations

25 March 2024

Voice of America names new Director of Studio and Production Operations

With more than 35 years of experience, Frantz is a seasoned television broadcast operations and engineering leader. He has a strong background in production, technology, infrastructure and management. His global production experience was particularly of interest to VOA, given its global reach.

“Broadcasting more than 2,000 hours of content each week to Voice of America’s worldwide audience, our Studio and Production Operations group is literally the backbone of our network,” said Acting VOA Director John Lippman. “I look forward to working with Rich in this critical role.”

Before joining VOA, Frantz was Vice President of Engineering and Operations for the remote production company F&F Productions. His other roles have included Vice President of Global Service Delivery for SES S.A., the Luxembourg-based satellite telecommunications company; head of Global Sports and Events at the media service company MX1; and Director of Operations and Engineering for both NBC/Comcast Sports and the Comcast Network. Frantz is a U.S. Navy veteran and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.