23 November 2017
Walesi, the Fijian Government’s Digital Television infrastructure management company, has signed a multi-year agreement with Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) that will for the first time expand free-to-air television throughout Fiji. The agreement covers C-band capacity on the EUTELSAT 172B satellite to complement terrestrial coverage of the Walesi digital television platform.
Eutelsat’s new, all-electric satellite, now in full commercial service, will allow Walesi to provide digital free-to-air television via a Direct-to-Home (DTH) platform that will serve even the most remote, deep rural, and maritime areas of Fiji located beyond range of terrestrial networks. The platform will initially provide access to six digital free-to-air channels – with capacity to further expand – that will be accessible via a set-top box. Walesi will announce details regarding the DTH roll-out and Government-subsidised boxes in the coming weeks.
“This universal satellite coverage will be transformational for Fiji in three ways: it will provide better access to information to all Fijians, especially those in remote, deep rural, and maritime communities; it will further Fiji’s standing as an international telecommunications hub for the entire Pacific region; and it will fortify the climate resilience of our infrastructure,” said Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Fijian Attorney-General and Minister for Communications. “This is just the beginning; going forward, our partnership with Eutelsat will allow the Government to fulfil our vision of providing video, data, and voice access to every community in Fiji.”
Michel Azibert, Eutelsat’s Chief Commercial and Development Officer, added: “This agreement reflects not only the value of our new EUTELSAT 172B satellite in complex geographies such as Fiji, but also the immediate impact of satellite broadcasting for nationwide coverage of digital TV. We are delighted to be working with Walesi to promote access to free-to-air television for all and to be part of the effort to bridge the digital divide.”
About Walesi
Walesi is a 100% government owned digital television infrastructure management company. Tasked with providing a nationwide digital television platform and associated infrastructure, Walesi is installing over 17 major communications and broadcast sites around Fiji which will be managed on a neutral host model. These major sites will be complemented by micro sites in remote and maritime regions that will be supported by bidirectional satellite capacity to expand data, video, and voice connectivity to previously unserved communities.
About Eutelsat Communications
Founded in 1977, Eutelsat Communications is one of the world’s leading satellite operators. With a global fleet of satellites and associated ground infrastructure, Eutelsat enables clients across Video, Data, Government, Fixed and Mobile Broadband markets to communicate effectively to their customers, irrespective of their location. Over 6,700 television channels operated by leading media groups are broadcast by Eutelsat to one billion viewers equipped for DTH reception or connected to terrestrial networks. Headquartered in Paris, with offices and teleports around the globe, Eutelsat assembles 1,000 men and women from 32 countries who are dedicated to delivering the highest quality of service.
(Source: Eutelsat press release)
21 November 2017
Around 19m homes to receive British classics on Freeview following Arqiva Mux move
Arqiva, the leading UK communications infrastructure and media services company, has today announced that British vintage film channel, Talking Pictures TV, is moving to one of its main standard definition (SD) multiplexes at the end of November – expanding the channel’s reach to around 19 million homes across the UK.
To date, Talking Pictures TV – which launched on Arqiva’s T2 HD multiplex in September 2015 – has been available in SD to Freeview HD customers, and viewers on Sky, Freesat, YouView and Virgin Media. The move, which will take effect on Thursday 30 November, will extend coverage across the country.
Sarah Cronin-Stanley, Director at Talking Pictures TV, commented: “Talking Pictures TV offers TV viewers the opportunity to watch nostalgic films from the 1930s onwards for free. Since we first launched two years ago we’ve built a diverse audience of millions of loyal viewers across multiple platforms, covering the length and breadth of Britain – all sharing our passion for this golden era of film! We’re delighted that, by moving multiplexes, we’ll be able to reach an even broader audience, and hope others may discover a new interest in classic films through discovering our content.”
Mike Finchen, Director, Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) at Arqiva, commented: “During the length of our partnership with Talking Pictures TV, it’s been great to see the rapid growth its business has experienced; it has gone from strength to strength, and the move to our SD Mux will ensure it continues on this trajectory.
“With 91% of the UK population watching traditional forms of television at least once a week[1], DTT and the Freeview platform present broadcasters of all shapes and sizes – especially independent providers like Talking Pictures TV – with the perfect opportunity to air programming to an audience who already know and love their content, and to expand their footprint among devoted TV viewers.”
Subject to retuning their TV and/or set-top box, viewers should be able to view Talking Pictures TV 24 hours a day on Freeview Channel 81 with effect from the afternoon of Thursday 30 November, 2017. For help on how to retune, visit Freeview.co.uk/support or Freeview channel 100.
(Source: Arqiva press release)
[1] Digital UK, Switched on: a guide to UK television, 2017/18
21 November 2017
To conclude its coverage of the COP23, Euronews in partnership with the European Forest Institute, presents a 360 report on the deadly forest fires in Portugal.
For the first time, Euronews one of the most innovative media for immersive journalism, also produces the video in 360 audio, a cutting-edge technology and only a handful of media companies in the world are capable of using it.
The first international newsroom to fully incorporate 360-degree video news into its regular production workflow in 2016, Euronews innovates once again while drawing attention to one of the deadliest tragedies in the country’s history.
Euronews’ special envoy to Portugal, Joanna Gill, travelled the parts of the country which suffered during the blazes throughout the Summer and Autumn. In 2017, wildfires in Portugal burnt up to 560,000 hectares of forest. This represents 60% of Europe’s total, for a country that represents just over 2% of its landmass. The wildfires, now recognised as the worst natural disaster this year in Europe, have killed more than 100 people in four months.
Available on Euronews’ digital platforms, the immersive experience allows Euronews’ audience to witness first-hand the devastation, meet the communities affected and hear from first responders and experts.
This video will also immerse the audience, thanks to a cutting-edge 360 audio mix, a technology which combines ambisonic recording and spatialized audio. Added to the 360 video, this 360 audio strongly increases the audience’s sense of immersion and presence. Euronews is among the first news media companies to publish immersive content with this technology.
The European Forest Institute is proud to have collaborated with Euronews on the 360 video on wildfires. EFI’s mission is to connect journalism and science communities around the topic of climate change.
Joining forces with Euronews is part of EFI’s new science-media initiative, The Lookout Station. The story on Portugal is the very first effort of the initiative, which will involve a number of media houses and provide scientific expertise to support digital storytelling on climate change. Pilot for the initiative, Lookout360° Climate Change Immersive Story Initiative, was recently launched. Euronews is the groundbreaker for the initiative, and sets the bar high.
| |
Thomas Seymat, VR & immersive journalism editor, Euronews |
“The fires in Portugal have been one of the major European stories in 2017, affecting thousands, and forcing us to look at the potential impacts of climate change on our continent. We wanted to take our audience on the ground to help understand the situation better. Our innovative use of 360 audio reaffirms Euronews position as a leading immersive journalism producer in Europe.
| |
Marc Palahí, Director, European Forest Institute
|
“At EFI we take a scientific look at the root causes behind the fires. The effects of global warming, together with the expansion of unmanaged forest land due to depopulation of rural areas, create the perfect storm for catastrophic forest fires. The focus must be shifted from fire suppression to prevention and forest management that enhances the resilience of forests to global change. Developing a sustainable forest bioeconomy is crucial for such transformation.”
(Source: Euronews press release)
17 November 2017
- TRT World Wins Outstanding Documentary Production at BroadcastPro Middle East Awards, held in partnership with The Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU).
- BroadcastPro Middle East Awards cover a broad range of categories to reward excellence in various fields across the broadcast workflow, from production to post-production to traditional broadcast and new media platforms.
- The winners are chosen by a panel of judges from across the MENA with varying technical skills within broadcast to ensure it is fully competent to judge the nominations.
TRT World’s Off the Grid has been awarded the prestigious outstanding Documentary Production of 2017 at BroadcastPro Middle East Awards.
Ibrahim Eren , Director General and Chairman of TRT said: “We are delighted to be recognized with this award. At TRT World, our voice is “humanitarian”, we put the people at the heart of our stories. I also would like to thank BroadcastPro Middle East for awarding our Jarablus documentary, and bringing the endless sufferings of Syrian people to the attention of industry professionals once again.”
The award was presented to Alexandra Pauliat, Executive Producer of Off the Grid, during the seventh edition of the ASBU BroadcastPro Selevision Summit and Awards on November 14, 2017 in Dubai.
“We’ve been trying to tell compelling human stories with high production value in our documentary series. We are happy to receive this award but more importantly we are happy to be the voice of Syrian people who have been going through tremendous suffering for the past few years” she said.
Off the Grid focuses on compelling human stories from across the globe. It is about individuals whose lives have been affected by unforeseen events but who decide to reshape their destinies.
TRT World’s Off the Grid: Jarablus, rising from the ashes
“They hung me up and beat me until I was unconscious. The treatment went on for three months, constant beatings. People were beheaded, there was blood flowing everywhere”, Fawaz al Jasim, recalls the horrors of life in a Daesh prison.
TRT World went to the Syrian city of Jarablus, that is being rebuilt a year after Turkish-backed forces liberated it from Daesh militants. People spoke of public executions, arbitrary arrests and torture on a daily basis.
After two years of living under the yolk of Daesh, life is beginning to return to normal. Women can come out of their homes, children can play on the streets and shops have reopened.
“I hope our children can complete their education and enjoy their childhood and lives. That they can have better lives than ours,” says Iman Alhaj who fled to Jarablus to escape the relentless bombardment of Syrian regime jets in Aleppo.
Team
Alexandra Pauliat (Executive Producer)
Mouhssine Ennaimi (Director/Producer)
Semir SejFovic (Pictures)
Alican Ayanlar(Correspondent)
To watch the award winning short production visit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrtQR39Tib8
About TRT World
TRT World is a platform of news outlets that inspires change within the world through its diverse reporting. It is headquartered in and broadcasting from the crossroads of East and West- Istanbul, Turkey. In addition, it has three more broadcast centers located in London, Washington DC and Singapore and an extensive global bureau network covering major regions and hot spots. Strategically designed to maximize its global reach, it is broadly available in all major English-speaking territories and can be accessed via traditional media, including free-to-air, cable and satellite, and other digital platforms, including mobiles, desktops and social media. A distinctive voice to the global news landscape, this is TRT World.
Address: Ahmet Adnan Saygun cad. No:83, 34340, Ulus, İstanbul, Turkey
Phone: +90 212 326 30 00
Contact: marcom@trtworld.com
14 November 2017
Eutelsat takes the pulse of TV trends in Middle East and North Africa with the latest edition of its TV Observatory:
- Satellite surges 7% in one year to reach new milestone of 59 million homes, or 94% of total TV homes
- Eutelsat/Nilesat 7/8° West neighbourhood first choice for multi-channel viewing: offering broadcasters access to 56.2 million homes, up 6% in 12 months
- HD up 34% at 7/8° West with a penetration rate of 15%; 66% of homes watching channels from 7/8° West now HD-equipped
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) today presented the results of its industry-benchmark survey on TV trends across the Middle East and North Africa at the ASBU BroadcastPro Selevision Summit in Dubai.
Satellite: the preferred digital video infrastructure across Middle East and North Africa
Satellite TV reception in the MENA region has continued to increase its market-share compared to terrestrial and IPTV, and now reaches into 59 million homes. This represents 94% of the 62.2 million TV homes in 14 Arab-speaking countries, up from 92% only 12 months ago.
Eutelsat 7/8° West neighbourhood: first choice for multi-channel viewing
Eutelsat’s 7/8° West neighbourhood has further reinforced its pole position, with reach into 56.2 million homes in 14 Arab countries,up 3.1 million homes in only one year. The attraction of 7/8° West for 95% of the satellite homes in the region is driven by an exceptional line-up of over 1,200 Arabic and international channels, with a high diversity of free-to-air content and exclusivity (55% of exclusive channels). This latest audience growth also reflects the expanding offer of High Definition content at 7/8° West, up 34% in 12 months to 179 channels (15% of channels).
10 million new HD-equipped homes in 12 months
The pace of adoption of HD is accelerating in the MENA region, with HD-equipped homes now reaching 28.2 million, up from 17.7 million in 12 months and representing 46% of TV homes. This percentage is even more significant at the Eutelsat/Nilesat 7/8° West neighbourhood where 66% of homes own HD displays.
Michel Azibert, Eutelsat Chief Commercial and Development Officer, commented on the figures: “Our 2017 survey confirms the dominance of satellite as the preferred digital infrastructure across the Middle East and North Africa and highlights key trends, notably the increasing significance of High Definition broadcasting. It also confirms the 7/8 ° West neighbourhood as the prime gateway for broadcasters, reaching into over 56 million homes from Morocco to the Gulf States. In addition to this capability, our complementary HOTBIRD neighbourhood broadcasts almost 80 Arabic channels, making it a compelling neighbourhood for reaching into millions of homes across Europe as well as in the Middle East and North Africa.”
(Source : Eutelsat press release)
14 November 2017
Photo credit – Elshad Asafov – Atlas Engineering
The BBC’s service in Azerbaijani, BBC Azərbaycanca, has expanded its reach with the launch of a dedicated channel on WhatsApp. The Xəbərin olsun! (Be in the know!) account is open to Azerbaijani-speakers, wherever they are, from 14 November 2017.
To join the group, users need to add +447548711235 to their WhatsApp contacts list and send a message simply saying “BBC”. The BBC will then contact them with the terms and conditions of using the channel.
Around 60% of the traffic to the website bbcazeri.com comes from social media. BBC Azərbaycanca Editor, Konul Khalilova, comments: “Via this new chatapp channel we will deliver news stories that inspire and engage our audience. We already see a growing following on Instagram – a platform of choice for young women – and our engagement rate on Facebook is also quite high. We will do our best to make our new channel a popular addition to Azerbaijani-speakers’ social-media habits.”
BBC Azərbaycanca connects with its social-media audiences on Facebook (with weekly Facebook Lives), Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Bringing the BBC’s coverage of global and regional events and developments, the service puts the developments in Azerbaijan and the wider region in the global perspective and offers a special focus on international developments which affect Azerbaijan and the region.
BBC Azərbaycanca is part of the BBC World Service.
(Source: BBC press release)
