10 November 2017
Three years ago, Celebro opened a 2,000 square foot studio close to Oxford Circus in central London. The concept was simple: to offer state-of-the-art, multi-camera news studios with the kind of automation that international broadcasters have come to expect.
Today the company has 12,000 square feet at its London complex (with more space coming on-line in 2018) and operates a number of 24/7 channels, providing a full-service solution that includes newsrooms, OBs, playout and uplinks. Celebro has a wide client base that includes traditional broadcasters such as BBC, ITV and Viacom, news agencies including Reuters and internet companies such as Yahoo! The company has also helped launch international global news channels like Iran International, provided an international bureau for TRT World and provided services for a host of other international broadcasters across Europe, the Americas and Australasia.
Celebro is now expanding operations around the world. Celebro’s Moscow studio opened in 2015 to service broadcasts for MTV. The office has recently moved to central Moscow where it offers an enviable view of Red Square. Celebro’s Head of Production, Andrew Lebentz, explains that the move is timed ahead of a busy news cycle in Russia. “The eyes of the world will be focussed on Russia in 2018. March sees fresh Presidential Elections and of course the football World Cup kicks off in the summer. We already have a renewed interest in Moscow live positions as a result of the questions over Russian involvement in Syria and the US elections. Our new facility boasts unrivalled views of Red Square and has the capacity to run six simultaneous transmissions.”
Today Celebro is about to begin the process of taking its concept global. Celebro’s chief executive, Wesley Dodd, has announced that the company is building new studio locations in Washington DC and Los Angeles. “We wanted to take the same concepts that have helped in our success in the UK and offer our international clients the same level of service in the US. Our facility will offer more than 4,500 square foot near the Capitol with an eye-catching backdrop.”
The main studio will offer a fully-automated five-camera news centre along with a state-of-the-art newsroom with MOS integrated systems, VizRT graphics systems and a combination of desktop and craft editing. They will also offer three stunning rooftop positions of Capitol Hill, the beating heart of US politics.
The Washington studio is due to open in spring 2018 and a facility in Los Angeles is due to come on-line even sooner. The new studio, near the legendary junction of Sunset and Vine, has a spectacular view of the Hollywood sign and again offers a multi-camera automated news facility for those clients who want more than a straightforward ‘down-the-line.’
But Celebro’s ambitions do not end there. Over the past year Celebro have been building an IP based OB company that has responded to some of the year’s biggest news stories: the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London; the UK General Election; Catalonia’s independence vote; and the Manchester bombing.
Celebro’s Chairwoman, Maxine Mawhinney, is a former BBC News Channel anchor and explains the concept. “My years in rolling news means I understand how important it is to get reporters live on air and from the scene as fast as possible. Celebro Live is quick and easy to deploy and offers all the stability of a satellite truck but without the enormous cost. Also our ‘Celebro Minis’ are easier to take to the heart of the story, and have a much smaller carbon footprint.”
Over the next two years Celebro plans to add 30 new cities to its network infrastructure through a combination of new studios and Celebro Live facilities. To do so, Celebro has attracted venture capital funding in the UK and the US which is already helping the company to reach new markets.
You can see an interview with Wesley Dodd in the AIB’s In Conversation series here
1 November 2017
Winners of the 2017 AIBs – full list and details of the winners and finalists in the 2017 AIBs – The AIB this evening announced the winners and finalists of the 20 categories in the 2017 AIBs – the international awards for factual content organised by the Association for International Broadcasting. Now in their 13th year, the AIBs celebrate success and outstanding achievement. They are firmly established as an important and well-respected annual competition for broadcasters and producers the world over. The international judging panel comprises over 50 media professionals from all sectors of the industry. Celebro Media, Signiant and .RADIO are the sponsors of this year’s AIBs. The full list and details of the winners and finalists is to be found in Winners of the 2017 AIBs.
27 October 2017
The Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. (MBN) is delighted to announce Mr. Nart Bouran will be joining MBN as its new Senior Vice President for News, Programming and Transformation in early 2018. In this new role, Mr. Bouran will direct global programming operations for all MBN television, radio and digital properties. He will lead development and execution of MBN’s program strategy across all MBN platforms, including Alhurra, Alhurra Iraq, Radio Sawa, Raise Your Voice, Maghreb Voices, and new initiatives.
Mr. Bouran is a seasoned journalist with vast experience in Middle East media. Most recently, Mr. Bouran served as CEO and Head of News for Sky News Arabia, a leading 24-hour regional Arabic news channel that he built and developed since its launch in 2012. He has also served as Director of Television for the Reuters News Agency, Director General of the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation, and Director of News Centre for Abu Dhabi TV. A graduate of Syracuse University, Mr. Bouran began his career as a journalist in 1990, covering the first Gulf War from Baghdad just months into his first job.
MBN President Amb. Alberto Fernandez noted that “anyone who knows Middle East media knows that Nart Bouran is one of the very best in the industry and MBN is pleased to add him as a key part of MBN’s transformation in a strategic and extremely competitive part of the world.”
The Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. (MBN) is the non-profit news organization that is financed by the U.S. Government through a grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an independent federal agency.
Through television, radio, and multiple online platforms, MBN provides an undistorted line of communication to engage with the people of the Middle East and deliver accurate and objective information about America, America’s policies and people. MBN presents in-depth discussions on issues that are often not fully addressed in the Arabic-language media, such as human rights and freedom of speech and religion.
(Source: MBN press release)
26 October 2017
Factual TV, radio and online programme producers from Australia, Qatar, the USA, Turkey, the UK and France are coming together to share knowledge and ideas at the second #iamabroadcaster The AIBs Masterclass in London on 2 November.
Finalists in the 13th AIBs – the annual international competition for factual productions – are taking time out of their schedules to meet colleagues and others with an interest in factual programme-making at the informal, interactive half-day event.
“We are privileged that each year, the world’s top producers share their work with the Association for International Broadcasting in our awards,” says Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the AIB. “We are even more fortunate that many travel to London to share in our celebration of success at our gala awards event. We want to make sure that they get the best possible value from their trip and that’s why we’ve introduced the Masterclass. It’s a way of helping to share experiences and develop new concepts, and anyone is welcome to come to the Masterclass to learn and exchange ideas.”
This year’s Masterclass takes place on Thursday 2 November at the M by Montcalm, City Road, London EC1V 1JH. Panellists taking part come from TRT WORLD, AFP, Al Jazeera, the BBC, Blue Chalk Media, BFBS, Media Stockade, Brinkworth Films and Afshar Films.
The panellists will be discussing their work on investigative documentaries, human interest stories, and branded content, among other areas.
“The #iamabroadcaster Masterclass is a unique event,” says Spanswick. “Rarely do so many factual story-tellers from so many parts of the world come together to discuss their work with their peers and others who are perhaps interested in starting a career in factual television or radio. The Association for International Broadcasting is honoured to be hosting this event and helping to develop new relationships in the factual programme-making industry.”
There will also be a presentation from UK-headquartered Celebro Media about its innovative OB unit in a box.
The half-day Masterclass is free-to-attend for everyone who is taking part in the AIBs awards gala dinner on 1 November. There is a modest fee for others and a specially-reduced rate for those in full-time education.
Full details on the #iamabroadcaster The AIBs Masterclass are available online at http://theaibs.tv.
26 October 2017
The BBC has filed an urgent complaint to David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, on behalf of the staff of its BBC Persian service. The urgent complaint has also been sent to Asma Jahangir, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, who will on Wednesday during her statement to the UN raise her concerns about the harassment of BBC Persian staff and their families.
The appeal comes after the Iranian authorities initiated a criminal investigation into 152 BBC Persian staff, former staff, and contributors, for “conspiracy against national security” in Iran and abroad. A subsequent court order freezes the assets of BBC Persian staff, meaning they cannot inherit family assets and preventing them and their families from selling assets, like property or even cars, in Iran. This is a deprivation of human rights which is against the Iranian constitution.
This is the latest in a sustained campaign of harassment and persecution which is designed to pressure journalists against continuing their work for the BBC. The campaign includes cases of the arbitrary arrest and detention of BBC Persian staff’s families, the confiscation of passports and travel bans on family members leaving Iran to prevent them from seeing their relatives working for the BBC Persian Service, ongoing surveillance and harassment, and the spread of fake and defamatory news stories designed to undermine the reputation of BBC Persian staff and their families.
Tony Hall, Director General of the BBC, said:
“The Iranian government is conducting what appears to be a politically motivated investigation into 152 BBC Persian staff, former staff and contributors, accusing them of conspiracy against national security in Iran. This is an unprecedented collective punishment of journalists who are simply doing their jobs. This is not just a campaign against BBC Persian staff but against fundamental human rights, and the BBC calls on the government of Iran to end this legal action immediately.
“BBC Persian provides independent, fair, and impartial news to a huge number of people in Iran and beyond, thanks to the dedication and professionalism of its staff. I would like to pay tribute to them and their families for their resilience in the face of years of concerted intimidation from the Iranian authorities.
“The BBC, on behalf of its staff, will use all available legal avenues to challenge this order and we call on the international community to use their own influence in Iran to persuade the authorities that this completely unacceptable treatment must end.”
Since the disputed 2009 presidential elections – when the Iranian government accused foreign powers of interference – BBC staff and their parents, siblings and friends have suffered at the hands of the Iranian authorities. Examples include:
- The sister of a journalist was held in Evin prison for 17 days and forced to plead with the journalist via Skype to stop working for the BBC or spy on colleagues
- Many elderly parents have been interrogated, including being questioned late at night
- A child under ten years old was called in for questioning because of their relationship to a staff member
Many BBC Persian staff have not been able to visit their dying parents for fear of imprisonment or being prevented from leaving Iran. Reputations have been attacked in the press and on social media with false and defamatory allegations. Many staff have been subjected to fake news accusing them of sexual impropriety or sexual acts which are illegal in Iran, including those which attract the death penalty.
The BBC’s complaint to the UN cites numerous severe breaches of Iran’s obligations under various international treaties to which it is a signatory.
The Association for International Broadcasting has written to the Iranian Ambassador in London protesting about the attacks on BBC Persian staff.
24 October 2017
The November programme schedule from NHK WORLD TV includes the following highlights:
Kurara
The Dazzling Life of Hokusai’s Daughter
Part 1: Nov 4 Sat 23:10/ Sun 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC) 42 min.
Part 2: Nov 11 Sat 23:10/ Sun 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC) 40 min.
The first historical drama to be aired on NHK WORLD TV tells the story of the remarkable woman who shared the life of the world-famous artist, Hokusai. It was his daughter, O-Ei, a capable and prominent artist in her own right. She is believed to have worked together with her father on his pictures once he reached middle-age. Female artists were rarely recognized in 19th century Japan, but O-Ei continued to produce art despite financial and romantic problems.
Shoot for Appare!
ABU Asia-Pacific Robocon 2017 Tokyo
Nov 11 Sat 4:10/ 11:10/ 16:10/ 22:10 (UTC) 49 min.
Handmade robots from young engineers competed in this year’s “ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest” in Tokyo. NHK World takes you into the heart of the battle to be number one. In the past 15 contests, China and Vietnam have won five times each; Japan only twice. This year, the Tokyo Institute of Technology and the University of Tokyo attempted to bring the title back to Japan after four years. May the best robot win!
Home Sweet Tokyo
Nov 19, 26, Dec 3, 10 Sun 4:10/ 14:10/ 22:10 (UTC) 17 min. x 4 Episodes
An original comic drama, made especially for international viewers. Londoner Bryan Jenkins finds himself on the other side of the world when he and his family relocate to Japan. He puts aside his advertising career to accept the responsibilities of a stay-at-home dad. While his wife works in the city, he struggles to adapt to cultural differences: making Japanese-style school lunches for their daughter and trying to understand his stoic Japanese father-in-law. The series is directed by the widely celebrated Teruyuki Yoshida, the man behind many hit TV shows and movies.
Gata no Kuni Kara
Part 1: Nov 25 Sat 23:20/ Sun 5:20/ 10:20/ 17:20 (UTC) 39 min.
Part 2: Nov 26 Sun 0:10/ 6:10/ 11:10/ 18:10 (UTC) 27 min.
Popular Thai actor Thiti Mahayotaruk lends his talents to this two-part drama about a fictional Thai personality, a Japanese high school girl, and a magical fish. Mirai is the daughter of the owner of a famous hot spring resort in Saga prefecture, but she is more interested in her pet mudskipper than the hospitality business. Samut, the performer, sees her as a way to escape from the pressures of his career while on location. He wants freedom; she craves social media followers. Together, they overcome language differences and other obstacles to make their way toward the Ariake Sea and a resolution to their journey.
(Source: NHK WORLD TV release)
