France licences Chinese international channel CGTN

France licences Chinese international channel CGTN

4 March 2021

France licences Chinese international channel CGTN

/Flickr:Fred RomeroFrench media regulator, the Conseil Supérieure de l’Audiovisuel [CSA], has granted a licence to international channel CGTN.

In February 2021, UK regulator Ofcom stripped the Chinese international channel of its UK broadcasting licence after an investigation that revealed that the channel is under the control of the Chinese government. Direct government control of a broadcaster is not permitted under UK law. As a result of the licence revocation, CGTN went off the air in the UK and a number of other countries in Europe.

CGTN applied to the CSA under the Europe-wide legislation that allows a channel that is uplinked from a European state to apply for a licence in that territory. CGTN is uplinked to the Eutelsat fleet. Eutelsat is domiciled in France.

In a statement the CSA said that CGTN will be subject to a French law enacted in 1986 that says that broadcasters must prevent incitement to hatred and violence. In addition they must guarantee respect for human dignity, as well as remaining impartial. The regulator has said that it will monitor CGTN closely to ensure that the channel complies with these legal requirements.

The announcement came on the day that the President Director-General of France Médias Monde – the holding company of France’s international TV and radio services – was interviewed on France Inter. During the interview, Marie-Christine Saragosse talked about the increasing activity of China in international broadcasting and the need for France to have its voice clearly heard.

Image: Tour Mirabeau in Paris where the CSA is based/Flickr: Fred Romero

NHK WORLD TV programme highlights for March

NHK WORLD TV programme highlights for March

4 March 2021

NHK WORLD TV programme highlights for March

Ken Watanabe: The decade since the Great East Japan Earthquake

March 6th

1:10 / 7:10 / 13:10 / 19:10

 

Actor Ken Watanabe started going to meet victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake two months after its occurrence in 2011. Since then, he has listened to the stories of more than 20,000 people. Watanabe has used his stature to bring international attention to the disaster. He also has drawn on personal funds to open a café in Kesennuma. The program returns to four communities seriously affected by the quake—Katsurao (Fukushima), Kesennuma (Miyagi), Rikuzentakata (Iwate), and Kamaishi (Iwate)—and revisits some of Watanabe’s encounters over the past decade.

Kiyo in Kyoto: from the Maiko House

March 24th

23:30 / 5:30 / 12:30 / 17:30

Teenage Kiyo and her childhood friend Sumire have come to Kyoto far away from their hometown, dreaming to become maiko (professional female entertainers especially skilled in traditional performing arts such as dance and music).However, after an unexpected turn of events, Kiyo starts working as a live-in cook at a place called “Maiko House”, where maiko live together like a family. Sumire, on the other hand, strives toward her promising future as “the one-in-a-century maiko”. Their story unfolds in Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district called Kagai.You will enjoy its gorgeous atmosphere and behind-the-scenes anecdotes as wonderful meals prepared by Kiyo and her kitchen episodes will warm your heart. Stay tuned for this touching story of two childhood friends encouraging each other to grow up together!

The Tale of Granny Mochi: Kuwata Misao

March 14th

1:10 / 7:10 / 13:10 / 19:10

The Tsugaru peninsula lies on the northern part of Japan’s main island, and is home to some of the country’s most untamed landscapes. For more than 30 years, 93-year-old Kuwata Misao has made over 50,000 Sasa-mochi rice cakes every year here, all on her own. She goes into the wilderness to find bamboo leaves, and grows her own azuki beans to ensure the perfect ingredients for her delicious mochi. What is the meaning of work? Of life? Of happiness? Granny Mochi’s quiet, delightful tale warms the heart.

[Source: NHK WORLD TV]

USAGM condemneds Russian court’s decision to fine RFE/RL

USAGM condemneds Russian court’s decision to fine RFE/RL

4 March 2021

USAGM condemneds Russian court’s decision to fine RFE/RL

The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) today condemned a Russian court’s decision to levy steep fines against Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).

“USAGM is very disappointed with the court’s decision, which can only be interpreted as an assault on media freedom and the free flow of information to Russia’s citizens. I have every confidence in RFE/RL as they continue to provide audiences in Russia with access to truthful, impactful reporting,” said USAGM Acting Chief Executive Officer Kelu Chao.

Russia’s revised “foreign agent” law requires designated news organizations in Russia that receive foreign funding to prominently label all content, including social media, as foreign agent-produced. Most of the organizations so designated by the Russian Ministry of Justice are USAGM public service media outlets, predominantly associated with RFE/RL. The law, originally passed in 2012 and amended in 2020 to include individual journalists, also imposes regular financial reporting requirements on these outlets. Given that USAGM’s legislatively mandated firewall prohibits its networks from accepting editorial direction from the U.S. government, RFE/RL has refused to label its content in such a wholly inaccurate manner.

In filing more than 250 violations of “foreign agent” regulations, the Kremlin has specifically targeted nine of RFE/RL’s reporting projects: Radio Liberty, its main service for Russia; the Current Time TV and digital network serving a global Russian-speaking audience; the regional reporting projects North.Realities, Siberia.Realities, Caucasus.Realities, Idel.Realities, and Crimea.Realities; the Tatar-Bashkir Service; and the fact-checking website Factograph.info. Additionally, in late December, the Kremlin named three RFE/RL freelance reporters as individual “foreign agent” journalists.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said Russia should repeal the foreign agent law and “ensure that the country’s regulator is not used to censure journalists and harass and threaten media organizations.” Amnesty International said Russia’s foreign agent law “further erodes freedom of expression and association” in that country.

[Source: USAGM press release; Image: P Photo/Pavel Golovkin/Associated Press/Alamy Stock Photo]

Bangladesh #trending launches from BBC on Channel i

Bangladesh #trending launches from BBC on Channel i

4 March 2021

Bangladesh #trending launches from BBC on Channel i

Bangladesh #trending, is a new programme from BBC News Bangla on Channel i, that aims to tap into social-media conversations among young audiences to engage them in discussion of viral and trending topics. Presented by the BBC’s Faisal Titumir, the weekly programme will explore trending topics from different angles as well as fact-checking the rumours that often go viral on social media.

BBC News Bangla editor, Sabir Mustafa, comments: “As Bangladeshi youth increasingly get their news from social media, we realised a need for a programme tailored for these younger audiences – to inform them about the trends and to explore together the truths and the untruths. There will be no topics that are out of reach or are taboo for Bangladesh #trending.”

With what the BBC describes as its slick story-telling, informal chats with young contributors, eye-catching graphics, social-media posts and topical interviews, Bangladesh #trending breaks new ground on the Bangladeshi TV scene. It also further diversifies the BBC News Bangla TV content broadcast by Channel i which broadcasts the current affairs programme, BBC Probaho, and the BBC’s technology programme, Click.  

Director and Head of News of Channel i, Shykh Seraj, says: “Channel i has been partnering with BBC for quite a long time, now presenting so many different programmes for the audience. The Bangladesh #trending initiative is going to be a landmark hashtag for people countrywide, and stories will spread even faster as the key topics will come out from the social-media trends that went viral. We will get to discover citizen journalism in the most exciting manner.”

Designed for young audiences, the dynamic show engages social-media activists from across the Bangladeshi socio-economic spectrum in lively debates, providing them with a platform to share their take on trending issues.

In each edition of Bangladesh #trending Faisal Titumir will moderate between two panellists from the programme’s pool of young social-media activists, to explore the week’s trending issues. Audiences will connect with the programme via Facebook and Twitter.

Faisal Titumir is known to those who watch BBC programmes on Channel i or via the BBC News Bangla website or YouTube channel, as the presenter and producer of the BBC’s weekly technology programme, Click. The BBC News Bangla radio listeners know him as a co-presenter of the Social-media Chit-Chat and the weekly sports round-up. 

Faisal, who has a major social-media following of his own, says: “Whether they connect with us by social-media posts or by talking directly on our programme, I want to make sure young audiences always see Bangladesh #trending as their platform where we get together to chat, informally and freely, about the week’s trending topics that have touched us.”

Aired by Channel i at 9.35pm Bangladesh time on Mondays – replacing the Monday edition of BBC Probaho – Bangladesh #trending is also streamed via the website bbc.com/bangla and is available on demand via the BBC News Bangla YouTube channel. 

BBC News Bangla reaches a weekly audience of 12.6m people (BBC Global Audience Measure 2020) across platforms.  Its radio programmes, produced in London and Dhaka, air on the state FM network, Bangladesh Betar, as well as on shortwave and via bbc.com/bangla. 

Shahid VIP streaming offer for Ramadan

Shahid VIP streaming offer for Ramadan

3 March 2021

Shahid VIP streaming offer for Ramadan

Shahid VIP – the premium, subscription-based service of Shahid, the world’s leading Arabic streaming platform – announces the rollout of its exclusive and special programming for Ramadan 2021.

Under the slogan of “Ramadan Ma’ana”, or “Ramadan with Us” in English, Shahid VIP is the go-to platform for the month, as it is to feature the biggest acting, performing, and presenting stars from the Gulf and the rest of the Middle East and North Africa region through a variety of genres. They include drama to comedy; action, thrillers and suspense; lifestyle and social content; TV game shows and competitions; general entertainment, and more.

In fact, it is the first time that more than 40 new Arabic titles will be shown on a single platform during the holy month – all of which can be viewed without ad breaks. Titles range from “exclusive-to-Shahid VIP” programmes, to special “before TV” previews, meaning a programme’s episode will be available to watch on Shahid VIP before any other TV channel or platform.

CONTENT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY – ANYTIME & ANYWHERE

With Shahid VIP, users are able to watch what they want, when they want – from any screen they prefer, whether TV, smartphone or computer. It offers a fully portable entertainment experience for the whole family no matter where they are.

With special child-friendly Ramadan content also coming up, parents can take comfort in knowing that younger viewers get to watch content made just for them.

RAMADAN 2021: FIRST LOOK

With more titles and information to be announced in the coming weeks, here’s an exclusive first-look at what’s coming up on Shahid VIP:

  • From the Gulf: Titles featuring Nasser Al-Qasabi, Hayat Al-Fahd, Huda Hussein, Elham Alfadalah, Faisal Al-Issa… and many more.
  • From Egypt: Titles featuring Yehia El-Fakharany, Mohamed Ramadan, Ahmed El Sakka, Amir Karara, Ahmed Mekki, Yasser Galal, Amr Youssef, Mohamed Emam, Ghada Abdel Razek, Yasmine Abdel Aziz, Hend Sabry, Amina Khalil… and many more.
  • From the rest of the region, including the Maghreb and Levant: Titles featuring Qusai Khouli, Nadine Nassib Njeim, Salloum Haddad, Bassam Kousa, Mohamed Khouyi… and many more.

 

Part of MBC GROUP, Shahid is home to highly rated original productions from the Arab world, a wide range of exclusive movies and premieres, as well as the top watched live Arab TV channels.

MBC GROUP is the largest and leading media company in the MENA.

[Source: Shahid]

RFI condemns attack on journalist’s home

RFI condemns attack on journalist’s home

26 February 2021

RFI condemns attack on journalist’s home

Radio France International (RFI) has condemned an arson attack that targeted several houses in Niger’s capital, Niamey, including that of its correspondent, Moussa Kaka.

“RFI notes that this attack comes four days after the second round of the presidential election and that Moussa Kaka was targeted as a journalist.

“This is a very serious attack on the freedom of the press. RFI gives its full support to its correspondent, condemns this act and will continue to defend the freedom to inform,” the Paris-headquartered broadcaster said in a statement. 

Moussa Kaka has been the target of attacks in the past, and has been imprisoned by the authorities in Niger for allegedly having ties with Tuareg rebels and plotting against the government.