AIB publishes industry briefing to 27,000+ readers worldwide

1 December 2020

AIB publishes industry briefing to 27,000+ readers worldwide

The AIB has published its latest industry briefing, helping media leaders around the world keep up-to-date on key developments and trends.

This edition includes analysis of Disney’s pivot to streaming that’s taking over as the company’s greatest revenue stream; winners of the AIBs – our annual competition for journalism and factual productions; new channel launches, and more.

The AIB media industry briefing reaches the in boxes of thousands of media leaders, executives, editors, journalists, producers and analysts. For information on how to use the AIB industry briefing to support your brand, talk to the AIB Secretariat today.

In the meantime, read the briefing here: http://cfb.d5c.myftpupload.com/NL/AIB-Nx-brief-011220.html

Disney’s pivot to streaming is wake-up call to industry

1 December 2020

Disney’s pivot to streaming is wake-up call to industry

Writing in The Conversation, Cambridge Judge Business School Visiting Fellow Hamza Mudassir (pictured) says that the 97 year-old media conglomerate Disney” is now more like Netflix than ever before.”

According to Mudassir, Disney will be reducing its focus from theme parks, cruises, cinema releases and cable TV. Instead, the Disney+ streaming service is the only clear winner among its portfolio of services.

Mudassir says: “A better funded Disney+ that is willing to stream highly anticipated theatrical releases on day one will also sharply impact the ability of cinema chains to bounce back whenever the pandemic subsides.”

The academic issues a warning to traditional media houses: “Traditional cable and linear TV companies will likely feel more pressure from a faster-growing Disney+. This is because more streaming subscriptions can drive an increased number of cancelled cable TV packages as well as disinterested advertisers, who will continue to reduce their advertising spend on linear TV thanks to lower viewership and engagement.”

Read the full article here

TRT WORLD expands global reach via Azerbaijan’s Azerspace-1 satellite

18 November 2020

TRT WORLD expands global reach via Azerbaijan’s Azerspace-1 satellite

The Turkish public broadcaster TRT’s international news platform TRT WORLD is now available on Azercosmos Azerspace-1 satellite located at 46.0 °E. Azercosmos which operates Azerspace-1, Azerspace-2 and Azersky satellites provides video and data services and solutions to its customers across more than 50 countries in Central Asia, Europe, Africa and Middle East. Through this partnership, both companies aim at better serving global viewers who look for a reliable source of information.

Founded in 2015 with studios in Istanbul, London and Washington D.C., TRT WORLD broadcasts in English language to communicate a Turkish perspective on current affairs to global audience. As the international face of Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) – a European Broadcasting Union founding member – TRT WORLD hopes to encourage dialogue between viewers by offering a different viewpoint on current affairs.

Furkan Han, TRT WORLD’s Head of Global Digital & Satellite Distribution & Partnership, stated that “We are glad to launch TRT WORLD on Azerspace-1 46.0°E satellite. TRT WORLD’s satellite expansion in strategic regions is quite important for us. This partnership with Azercosmos will bring TRT WORLD’s rich and humanitarian content to more viewers in the region.”

“Working with the TRT WORLD has become a well-established practice, and we are looking forward to our continued good cooperation. Thanks to the TRT WORLD, our firm and principled position on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan has steadily communicated to the global community. Our fruitful cooperation enables us to attract potential new customers and further expand our services,” said Yolchu Hasanov, Head of Azerspace Commercial Team at Azercosmos.

[Source: TRT WORLD press release]

Winners of the AIBs 2020 announced

18 November 2020

Winners of the AIBs 2020 announced

Two-part programme showcases all finalists and reveals winners of the AIBs 2020

The Association for International Broadcasting has revealed the winners of its international competition for journalism and factual productions across TV, radio and digital platforms.

Over two programmes, clips from all shortlisted entries were showcased to a global audience. The programmes were hosted by Kim Vinnell, presenter on Al Jazeera English.

“We wanted to make sure that the work that entrants entrusted us with was showcased as effectively as we do in our traditional live event,” says Clare Dance, producer and coordinator of the AIBs. “We had to overcome many challenges as with finalists from all over the world, we could not possibly expect nominees to stay up all night to take part. Instead, we devised questions to all 120+ finalists asking about particular aspects of their production or journalism. Then we used these ‘as live’ in our show. None of the entrants knew in advance whether they’d won, as we were determined to keep the sense of anticipation alive.”

The two programmes – which can be seen on the AIBs website (www.theaibs.tv) – followed the format that the competition has established over the past 16 years. They included signature segments, including the “in conversation” element.

Winners include:

AFP

Al Jazeera Digital

Al Jazeera English

BBC Northern Ireland

BBC Radio 4

BBC World Service

Channel 4

CNA, MediaCorp

CNN

Deutsche Welle

ITN Productions

New Normal Culture

Perfect Storm Productions

Sky News StoryCast

TBI Media

Tortoise Media

VRT

Wild Pacific Media

Full information on all winners and highly commended nominees is in the AIBs Winners and Finalists book, available online.

The two-part programme can be seen at theaibs.tv.

The AIBs 2020 event partner is Al Jazeera Media Network.

The sponsor of the Natural World and Science & Technology Awards is Radio Taiwan International.

CNA MediaCorp named AIB Channel of the Year

17 November 2020

CNA MediaCorp named AIB Channel of the Year

Singapore-based pan-regional broadcaster praised for clear and coherent news editorial values

CNA from Singapore’s MediaCorp has received the prestigious accolade of Channel of the Year at the AIBs 2020, the international competition for journalism and factual productions.

Announced during an online TV show screened globally, the award recognises CNA’s the varied range of content that the channel delivers to its audiences as well as its clear cultural identity at the heart of Asia.

“It is great to see CNA named the AIB Channel of the Year,” says Simon Spanswick, Chief Executive of the Association for International Broadcasting. “Our international panel of judges were impressed by many aspects of CNA’s work. They noted the meaningful engagement with multiple social media platforms and the compelling on-air presenting team across the channel’s output. The recognition by CNA’s peers in media companies worldwide is significant and well-deserved.”

Each year the AIB Channel of the Year award attracts nominations from broadcasters in all parts of the world. This is the first time that a channel based in Asia has been the recipient of this important award.

CNA news anchor and senior producer Dawn Tan told the AIBs awards show audience that for the past two decades, the channel has worked to represent the cultural, ethnic, historical and political diversity that Asia enjoys. You can watch Dawn Tan’s interview in the AIBs awards programme at www.theaibs.tv.

Previous recipients of the AIB Channel of the Year award include Bloomberg Television, Al Jazeera Children’s Channel and CNN International.

BBC Africa Eye investigation receives AIB Impact Award

17 November 2020

BBC Africa Eye investigation receives AIB Impact Award

Undercover reporting by 12 female journalists captures shocking sexual harassment in West African universities

The Association for International Broadcasting has given its Impact Award to BBC Africa Eye for its year-long investigation – Sex for Grades – which triggered a rapid high-level reaction to the epidemic of sexual harassment of women students in top universities in Nigeria and in Ghana.

The investigation, which involved highly risky secret filming by 12 young women journalists, provided prima facie evidence of sexual misconduct that led to the suspension of a number of senior lecturers at the University of Lagos and the University of Ghana.

The undercover reporters exposed the existence of a so-called “Cold Room” within the senior staff club at the University of Lagos where women students were allegedly groomed and groped by academic staff.

The AIB Impact Award – sponsored by Al Jazeera Media Network – was presented to Lagos-based BBC journalist Kiki Mordi and BBC World Service producer Charlie Northcott as part of the AIBs 2020.

“This was a remarkable investigation with real-life consequences for those abusing their positions of power in West African universities,” says Simon Spanswick, Chief Executive of the Association for International Broadcasting. “BBC Africa Eye gathered irrefutable evidence that led to the creation of a Sexual Offenders Register in Nigeria and has also brought criminalisation of sexual harassment by university lecturers closer to being placed on Nigeria’s statute books. The AIB Impact Award is well-deserved and the AIB sends its congratulations to the BBC Africa Eye team for its bravery, determination and perseverance in telling this story.”

The AIB Impact Award is given to programmes or series that have delivered a significant, measurable impact. Sex for Grades exceeded all the requirements for consideration for the AIB Impact Award in 2020.

The coronavirus pandemic prevented the holding of the traditional live awards event in London. Instead, the AIBs were presented during a two-part TV programme hosted by Kim Vinnell, presenter on Al Jazeera English.

These are available to view at www.theaibs.tv, including, in part two, an interview with Sex for Grades journalist Kiki Mordi [on screen, from Lagos] and BBC World Service producer Charlie Northcott.