Cheryl Lai appointed chairperson of RTI

9 February 2022

Cheryl Lai appointed chairperson of RTI

Distinguished media executive Cheryl Lai has been appointed as the new chairperson of Radio Taiwan International (RTI), Taiwan’s national broadcaster. RTI announced the appointment on Wednesday after a meeting of the board of directors and other senior figures.

Lai is a senior media executive who has held many important roles in Taiwan’s media and cultural sectors. She previously served as RTI’s president from 2003 to 2006. Lai was the Editor-in-Chief of the Central News Agency, the Director of the Cultural Division of the Taipei Representative Office in the UK, and the Editor of the Thinking Taiwan Forum. She is also a consultant to The Cultural Taiwan Foundation.

Culture Minister Lee Yung-te says he believes Lai’s leadership will enable RTI to continue to play a key role in Taiwan’s connection to the world and to allow Taiwan’s voice to be heard in the global community.

RTI is the only broadcaster that provides print, audio, and video news and features about Taiwan in 14 languages. Its programs have won many top awards at Taiwan’s Golden Bell Awards, the New York Festivals Radio Awards and the UK’s Association for International Broadcasting. The station also works with the Voice of America and the BBC in their programming.

Lee is also thanking the outgoing board of directors and supervisors for their contribution. He says that the new board has many outstanding executives who can lend their expertise in broadcasting, culture, finance and public affairs to bring RTI to new heights.

Australian government to end ABC funding freeze

9 February 2022

Australian government to end ABC funding freeze

Australia’s federal government has announced that it is ending a freeze on funding of the ABC.

From July 2022, the ABC will receive almost A$3.3 billion (US$2.37 billion) over three years. SBS – the country’s second national broadcaster – will receive more than A$950 million over the same period.

ABC Chair Ita Buttrose said: “I am delighted with the Government’s decision to commit $3.3 billion over the next three years to the ABC.

“It will allow the national broadcaster to continue doing what it does best – provide information and entertainment to Australians wherever they live.”

ABC Managing Director David Anderson commented: “On behalf of the ABC, I welcome the funding certainty this announcement brings to the national broadcaster for the next three years.

“The $3.3 billion over the next triennium, announced by the Minister Paul Fletcher, sees the resumption of indexation, the continuation of the Enhanced Newsgathering (ENG) program that provides vital services across the country, and ongoing support for audio description services for blind or visually impaired audiences.

“ENG funding has delivered more tailored news to local communities and has seen the ABC invest more in specialist resources that provide vital context and analysis about issues that matter to all Australians.

“Importantly, this announcement also guarantees the ability of the ABC to continue to reinvest funds from the recently concluded Google and Facebook deals into rural and regional services.

“As the ABC’s Managing Director, I have consistently made the case for the resumption of indexation on the ABC’s base funding and the continued support for ENG program.

“The triennial funding announcement is an important recognition that the ABC is needed now more than ever, and this funding is required so it can continue to fulfil its vital role in our democratic society.

“I would like to thank the Minister, Paul Fletcher, and the Government for recognising the enduring value of the ABC as we mark 90years of serving Australians.”

RT issues statement on broadcasting in Germany

9 February 2022

RT issues statement on broadcasting in Germany

RT’s Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Anna Belkina, has issued a statement on broadcasting in Germany

“It is ironic that just the idea of a new TV news channel with a different voice appearing in Germany has made the local authorities, including the regulator MABB, so nervous and desperate, as to abandon their much-touted principles such as freedom of speech. Today, by once more threatening an independent production company that has nothing to do with RT DE’s entirely lawful and legitimate license to broadcast in Germany and other European countries, it was demonstrated that rules and regulations – including European conventions – and even the semblance of all logic, have been thrown out the window. By claiming that we are not responsible for our broadcasts here in Moscow MABB is ignoring facts, and painting a false reality to suit a clearly politically motivated threat.”

“We will not be removing our feeds or channels voluntarily, and encourage all platforms not to be bullied by MABB’s illegitimate demands. MABB’s actions have no basis in law, and are a clear attempt to overreach and impede the German people’s free access to information, protected under the ECTT (European Convention on Transfrontier Television). Any efforts by MABB to impede RT DE’s fully legitimate and properly obtained rights to broadcast will be met with legal challenge in all applicable jurisdictions, including Germany.”

Arqiva tops the Independent Teleport Operator rankings 2021

7 February 2022

Arqiva tops the Independent Teleport Operator rankings 2021

Arqiva ranked as No.1 in the World Teleport Association Independent Top 10 teleport operators

The annual rankings of companies by revenue and revenue growth are compiled by surveying teleport operators around the world as well as referencing the published results of publicly-held companies.

The Independent Top 10 ranks teleport operators based on revenue from all sources. The list focuses on the independent operators at the core of the business, excluding companies whose primary business is ownership and operation of a satellite fleet or terrestrial network.

Arqiva also ranked 6th in the Global Top 20 list. The Global Top 20 ranks companies based on revenues from all customised communications sources and includes operators of teleports and satellite fleets.

https://www.worldteleport.org/news/594359/World-Teleport-Association-Publishes-Top-Operator-Rankings-for-2021.htm

“It’s great news to be listed and ranked as No.1 in the World Teleport Association Independent Top 10 teleport operators,” said Lesley Wilson, Head of Satellite Gateway & Data Services at Arqiva. “The WTA promote excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations – with our growing LEO gateway capability, we are proud to be amongst the most innovative operators of teleports.”

Germany and Russia go head to head over broadcasters

3 February 2022

Germany and Russia go head to head over broadcasters

Germany and Russia have traded blows over the two countries’ international broadcasters.

On Wednesday 2 February 2022, the German Commission on Licensing and Supervision (ZAK) decreed that RT must cease broadcasting German-language programmes saying it “does not have the necessary broadcasting licence”.

RT DE – the Berlin-based German-language division of RT (formerly Russia Today) acquired a licence from the Serbian media regulator on 17 December 2021. Both Germany and Serbia are signatories to the European Convention on Transfrontier Television. Licences granted by one ECTT member state provide the legal grounds for transmission and reception of a licensed service in another ECTT-ratified state. However, Germany says that since the programmes are produced in Germany and not Serbia, the licence does not provide the right for the channel to be received in the country. RT has said that it will challenge this in the German courts.

The following day, 3 February, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation issued a statement announcing that it is closing the operations of Germany’s international broadcaster DW in the country (headquarters in Bonn pictured).

The statement reads:

“As part of the response measures announced on February 2 in response to the unfriendly actions of the Federal Republic of Germany to ban satellite and other broadcasting of the German-language television channel RT DE, the Russian side intends to implement the first stage of response measures:

– closure of the correspondent office of the German television and radio company Deutsche Welle in the Russian Federation;

– cancellation of accreditation of all employees of the Russian Bureau of Deutsche Welle;

– termination of satellite and other broadcasting of the Deutsche Welle television and radio company on the territory of the Russian Federation;

– initiation by the competent authorities of the Russian Federation of the procedure for considering the issue of recognising Deutsche Welle as a foreign mass media outlet acting as a foreign agent;

– launching the process of forming a list of representatives of state and public structures of Germany involved in restricting the broadcasting of RT DE and otherwise putting pressure on the Russian media operator, who will be banned from entering the territory of the Russian Federation. The list is not expected to be published.

Information on the next steps in the response will be published in a timely manner.”

DW has issued a press statement about the Russian move. It quotes DW Director-General Peter Limbourg as saying: “The measures by the authorities in Russia are completely incomprehensible and a total overreaction,

“We have been made into a kind of pawn, which the media must often endure in autocracies. We formally protest against this absurd reaction by the Russian government and we will take legal action against the announced measures. Until we are officially presented with the measures, we will continue reporting from our office in Moscow. Even if we ultimately do have to close it, our reporting about Russia will remain unchanged. In fact, we would increase our coverage.”

According to the press statement, Deutsche Welle has held a broadcast license in Russia since 2005 for its DW English and DW German TV channels. The current licenses issued by Russia’s media authorities are valid until 2025 for DW English and until 2027 for DW German.

DW English is broadcast in Russia via the ASTRA-5B satellite. DW German is broadcast using the ASTRA-4A satellite. In line with the binding conditions of the license, the DW German TV channel has a window for Russian-language programming in its schedule. This programming consists of DW magazines adapted into Russian (a total of 18 hours per week: 2 hours per day, Mon.-Fri. and 4 hours per day, Sat.-Sun.). Several cable TV distributors in Russia also run the Russian-language programming of DW German. They are Rostelecom, Tricolor, Beeline, ER-Telecom, MTS and NetByNet.

Picture: The Foreign Ministry in Moscow

France 24 – February 2022 highlights

2 February 2022

France 24 – February 2022 highlights

Coming up on France 24 during February

REVISITED – Brexit

If you were to pick one subject that has dominated UK’s political debate since the end of the Second World War it would have to be the UK’s place in what is nowadays the European Union. It is a subject that has engaged and enraged politicians and the population for years – a real opinion divider, with passionate arguments from those wanting to be fully part of the European project – and those who want nothing to do with it. For nearly 25 years, the UK remained – a somewhat awkward partner – opting out of key legislation. At home the battle raged, especially within the Conservative party – until in 2016 Prime Minister David Cameron made a crucial announcement of a referendum on Britain’s membership. Cameron resigned and Theresa May, then Boris Johnson, delivered Brexit. But as the arguments between the UK and the European Union notably over issues like Northern Ireland and fishing continue, how is the UK actually faring, and where is public opinion today? Clovis Casali revisits Brexit Britain.

Sunday 6 February at 1910 GMT

DOWN TO EARTH – DNA: New home for the world’s data?

Are we on the brink of a data storage crisis? As the world produces an ever-growing amount of digital information, we are running out of space to store it, with far-reaching consequences for the environment. DNA is now being billed as a promising solution. Researchers say all the data in the world could fit in just 100 grams of DNA, the equivalent of a chocolate bar.

Saturday 5 February at 1720 GMT

DOWN TO EARTH – Skiing: Nearing the End?

Across the Alps, climate change could make skiing a relic of the past. With warm winters and snow shortages threatening an entire industry, ski resorts are left grappling with how to adapt. In this episode of “Down to Earth”, we meet those working to keep mountain tourism alive, with or without the snow. In the Jura Mountain range, the resort town of Métabief is bidding farewell to skiing in the mid-term, as they transition into a four-season tourism model. In one of France’s oldest ski stations, slopes are being relocated uphill, while others continue to rely on artificial snow machines.

Saturday 19 February at 1720 GMT

REPORTERS PLUS – Stalemate in Palestine

On 24 June 2021, Palestinian activist Nizar Banat died after his arrest by Palestinian security forces at his home. The political opponent was a fierce critic of the Palestinian authority. His death had an immediate effect: thousands were out in the streets to protest and to blame Mahmoud Abbas. The 86 year old leader is clinging to power, having just cancelled the first elections in 16 years. France 24’s reporters meet the Palestinians who openly denounce their leadership and who feel abandoned. Many consider there is no more hope, as they suffer, in their words, “a double occupation, that of Israel and that of the Palestinian Authority”.

Saturday 12 February at 1910 GMT

THE 51 PERCENT – Six months after the fall of Kabul: what is the situation for Afghan women?

To mark six months since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, “The 51 Percent” takes a look at the situation of women who remained in the conflict-ridden country. While the Taliban attempt to present a more moderate approach to the world, girls’ education is still not accessible for all; some women’s rights activists have disappeared while many working women have found themselves out of a job. With guest Shaharzad Akbar, President of the Independent Commission for Human Rights in Afghanistan, now living in exile.

Friday 11 February at 1545 GMT

Key stories in France 24 news bulletins during February

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4 – WORLD CANCER DAY

On World Cancer Day, France 24’s four channels offer viewers reports, magazines and interviews.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4 – MEETING BETWEEN VLADIMIR PUTIN ET XI JINPING

France 24’s correspondents in Beijing offer viewers special coverage of the meeting between the two Heads of states with reports and analysis in news bulletins.

FEBRUARY 5 AND 6 – AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT

On the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa on February 5 and 6, France 24’s correspondents report in news bulletins to share the highlights of this event.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6 – INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ZERO TOLERANCE FOR FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

On the international day of zero tolerance for female genital mutilation, France 24’s four channels take a look this dangerous practice around the world and bring viewers interviews and reports in news bulletins.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 6 – FIRST ROUND OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN COSTA RICA

France 24 covers the presidential election in Costa Rica and bring viewers reports and interviews.

FEBRUARY 7 AND 8 – MEDITERRANEAN FORUM

For the Mediterranean forum in Marseille, France 24 broadcasts Emmanuel Macron’s speech live.

FEBRUARY 17 AND 18 – EUROPEAN UNION-AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT

The leaders of the EU and the AU as well as of their respective member states will meet for the sixth European Union – African Union summit in Brussels. The summit will present a unique opportunity to lay the foundations for a renewed and deeper AU-EU partnership with the highest political involvement and based on trust and a clear understanding of mutual interests. France 24’s special correspondents report on the event, a highlight of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and offer viewers special editions dedicated to the summit.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 – THE 47TH CÉSAR AWARDS CEREMONY

France 24 covers the 47^th César Awards ceremony that honours the best French films of 2021. The channel’s culture editors report live in the news bulletins on the highlights of the ceremony.