RT celebrates 15th anniversary

10 December 2020

RT celebrates 15th anniversary

On December 10, 2005, RT went on air for the first time from its Moscow studio; today, RT broadcasts from multiple continents in six languages across TV and online platforms. Over the last 15 years RT has become one of the most-watched international TV news networks in the world, a nine-time Emmy/International Emmy finalist for news, and one of the most discussed and influential news media organisations worldwide.

RT airs award-winning programming helmed by television legend Larry King, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges, ex-Ecuadoran president Rafael Correa, former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond and ex-UK MP George Galloway, the “most dangerous financial journalist” Max Keiser, former head of French External Intelligence Alain Juillet and many other internationally acclaimed personalities. The network counts ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria Karin Kneissl and Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek among its regular online contributors.

According to the international research company Ipsos, 100 million people across 47 countries watch RT on TV every week. RT was the world’s first TV news network to reach 10 billion views on YouTube, beating the BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, Euronews, and FOX News to the milestone.

Following its English-language debut in 2005, RT launched a round-the-clock Arabic channel in 2007 and a Spanish-language service in 2009. In 2010 RT opened its first satellite studio, in Washington, DC, and launched a separate channel, RT America, to focus on the US issues. RT UK began broadcasting from London in 2014 and RT France, from Paris, in 2017. Today the RT network also includes documentary channel RTDoc in English and Russian, a digital platform RT DE in German, and a multi-media sister news agency Ruptly, based in Berlin. The original, flagship English-language channel is now known as RT International and broadcasts 24/7 to more than 100 countries around the world.

RT is the winner of the Monte Carlo TV Festival Awards for best 24-hour newscast, and a nine-time Emmys finalist. The network has been nominated for International News & Current Affairs Emmy for its reportage on the crash-landing of the Superjet 100 at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport (2020), the breaking news of the massive fire in the Russian city of Kemerovo (2019), the coverage of the humanitarian crisis in the Iraqi city of Mosul (2018), the 70th session of the UN General Assembly (2016), Guantanamo Bay inmates’ hunger strike (2014), the Occupy Wall Street protests (2012) and US President Barack Obama’s first visit to Moscow (2010). RT America’s ‘Boom Bust’ financial show was a Daytime Emmy finalist for Outstanding Main Title and Graphic Design for a Live Action Program in 2020, while Pulitzer-prize laureate Chris Hedges, host of ‘On Contact with Chris Hedges,’ secured RT America its first Daytime Emmy nomination in 2017, as an Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host. Over the years, the network has collected hundreds of international news, media, television, and creative awards.

Source: RT press release

Photo: Jürg Vollmer / Maiakinfo

AIB lodges protest with Uganda over CBC/Radio-Canada expulsions

4 December 2020

AIB lodges protest with Uganda over CBC/Radio-Canada expulsions

Expulsion of CBC/Radio-Canada journalists by Uganda authorities against principles of media freedom

The Association for International Broadcasting has lodged a formal protest with the Ugandan High Commissions in Canada and the UK following the expulsion of three journalists by the Ugandan authorities.

Margaret Evans, Jean-Francois Bisson and Lily Martin had been granted visas and media accreditation by the Uganda government and were working on stories in Kampala when they were told to leave the country.

According to government spokesman Ofwono Opondo, the three journalists had failed to apply for a “journalist visa” – something that does not exist in Uganda. The correct procedure is to obtain an “ordinary visa” and then be accredited by the Uganda Media Centre – a government entity. The CBC/Radio-Canada team had followed these rules.

“It is lamentable that the Ugandan government chose to expel the CBC/Radio-Canada crew,” said Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the Association for International Broadcasting. “What is even more disturbing is that the Ugandan authorities appear to be spreading misinformation suggesting that the team did not follow the correct procedures to obtain authorisation to carry out journalistic work in the country. We expect the Ugandan authorities to issue an apology and to work to uphold media freedom in the country over the coming weeks and months.”

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.