AIB News Feed

Celebro Media launches first full 4K/UHD studio facilities in North America

6 February 2018

Celebro Media today announces the launch of its new Washington DC live broadcast studio with stunning views of the White House. The multi million-dollar build will be the first US studio to be fully 4K/UHD functioning with pioneering IP technology and multi-camera capabilities.

In the run-up to the 2018 mid-term elections and all year round, news broadcasters will be able to hire the Celebro Media studio on an ad hoc basis with premium views of United States’ most influential building. It will also offer news broadcasters the flexibility to create a last-minute pop-up studio during breaking US Government, or national, stories.

“The White House will play an important part in many upcoming news stories in 2018. This investment is giving broadcasters the chance to hire a flexible production space with premium views in a purpose-built facility that no one else can offer,” comments Wesley Dodd, CEO of Celebro Media. “Celebro’s global reach now means that we can offer broadcasters the chance to link to other studios including our central London location to create more diverse content.”

Stephen Gaisford, Director of US Operations at Celebro Media said, “Using the right technology to future-proof our current studios and upcoming facilities enables us to easily be on-hand for breaking stories and host 24 hours news channels. This studio is just the start of Celebro’s rapid expansion in the US market and we look forward to housing some of the world’s biggest news channels.”

The studio will be fitted with NewTek’s IP Series, a software-driven, modular video production system with virtually limitless access to video sources and video mixing options. It has been designed for the latest IP video-production techniques while also being fully backwards compatible. This makes the new studio and facilities suitable for all formats and transmission protocols. Being a fully customisable IP workflow solution, the IP Series makes the studio highly flexible and able to handle the most demanding production needs.

Rotolight’s new Anova PRO 2 LED lights will supply all lighting, and Riedel will supply all real-time signal distribution, communications and data transport solutions.

To find out more information about Celebro Media’s new Washington DC studio, please visit: http://celebrostudios.co.uk/

About Celebro Media

Celebro Media boasts global fully robotic live television studios in 4K and HD, plus outside broadcasting (OB) facilities in UK, US and Russia. It provides clients with high-quality flexible services that allow content and messages to reach the broadest possible audience and achieve targets.

Celebro Media’s highly experienced team also provides consultancy on IPTV, broadcast strategy, commercialisation, editorial and technical services, public relations and research, as well as access to transmission networks and a diverse catalogue of media content.

Major clients include BBC World Service, MTV, Discovery Channel, TRT World and Reuters. Celebro Media has also produced branded content for Coca-Cola, M&S and Reebok.

[Source: Celebro press release]

Euronews Group and Al Jazeera Media Network sign agreement to scale the distribution of AJ+ globally

6 February 2018

Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN) appoints Euronews Group as its content and brand syndication agent to represent Al Jazeera’s digital flagship brand AJ+ at a worldwide scale.

Euronews Group is now in charge of marketing and promoting AJ+ digital channels to third party clients and specifically to its well established worldwide network of content and syndication partners.

Since 2014, AJ+ is available on its own social networks and through its mobile app in English, Arabic, Spanish and soon in French. Euronews has proposed its expertise to AJMN to develop the online infotainment brand. Euronews will make AJ+ content available on new media partners’ digital products and will propose creating new programmes tailored to specific markets and partners.

Michael Peters, CEO, Euronews

“We are proud to have been chosen by AJMN to participate to AJ+ future development, which has gained worldwide recognition among young people at a very fast pace since its launch.

Our experience in marketing content licence agreements in coordination with a fantastic product such as AJ+ provides a solid platform for the success of this collaboration. This partnership is an exciting milestone for both our companies in terms of global commercial roll-out and paves the road for potential additional collaboration with AJMN in the future.”

Dr. Yaser Bishr, Executive Director of Digital, Aljazeera Media Network

“Al Jazeera has made great strides over the last few years to organically target younger segments of audience through its digital native AJ+. The growth has been organically fuelled through social media, but it is time to consider strategic partnerships for direct scaling of our message. We are very pleased to partner with Euronews to explore untapped distribution opportunities through their impressive & multicultural network within Europe and globally. This collaboration cannot come at a better time as we flourish AJ+ into a diverse audience centric digital network with the recent launch of its French and 4^th language edition.”

Abdulla Alnajjar, Executive Director, Global Brand and Communications

“I am delighted by this strategic engagement with Euronews, which will further extend the reach of the AJ+ brand to new markets and diverse audiences across the globe. This marks the beginning of a strategic commercial relationship between our organisations and I look forward to continuing this fruitful collaboration into the future.”

[Source: Euronews press release]

Deutsche Welle launches DW Freedom

1 February 2018

65 years ago, DW was founded to offer multilingual news to foreign audiences abroad and to promote democratic values. In our anniversary year, we are launching DW Freedom, an initiative encouraging freedom of speech.

Deutsche Welle launches DW Freedom

“Freedom of speech and media freedom are the foundations of our daily work,” said DW Director General Peter Limbourg. “It is the right of journalists to do their job. Like it is the right of artists to express themselves. As it should be the right of everybody on this planet to speak their minds freely, without fear of harassment or arrest.”

Highlighting the topics of free speech

DW Freedom is an online and social media platform which highlights the topics of free speech and media freedom around the world. On the website dw.com/freedom, on Twitter (@dw_freedom), and Facebook (DW Freedom) users will find reports by and interviews with activists, academics, artists, cartoonists, hackers, and authors from all corners of the world. Digital privacy, secure communication and data protection, critical topics for journalists and free speech advocates, will also be discussed. User can engage in dialogue on social media and contact the DW editors directly.

Publishing and explaining content from all DW editorial teams and DW Akademie projects, DW Freedom strives to heighten DW’s coverage of complex issues surrounding free speech and media freedom. It sheds a light on – sometimes forgotten – crises, victims of human rights violations and initiatives striving to improve the current situation and fosters a greater debate on these issues.

Ines Pohl Kommentarbild App (DW/P. Böll)

DW Editor-in-chief Ines Pohl: ”Our journalists report on human rights in 30 languages. We believe that freedom is the ultimate human right, whether it concerns freedom of speech, of the media, of assembly or freedom of religion. So all of us at DW are supporting this important project whole-heartedly.”

In addition to providing news and information, Deutsche Welle also supports freedom of expression and media freedom through DW Akademie’s activities in 50 countries around the world.

DW Freedom of Speech Award

In 2015, Germany’s international broadcaster launched the DW Freedom of Speech Award to honor those engaged in a daily fight for free expression. The first winner was – still imprisoned – Saudi blogger Raif Badawi. In 2016 Sedat Ergin, former editor-in-chief of the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet, received the award, and last year, DW recognized the US-American White House Correspondents’ Association.

From now on, DW Freedom will help promote the stories behind these free speech heroes.

(Source: DW press release)

How do you engage your audience, no matter where they are? Vizrt leads the way at NAB 2018

31 January 2018

The leader in visual storytelling tools will show how media companies can share their stories on-air, online, and to OTT platforms with efficient workflows for journalists and content owners.

Broadcasters, newspapers, and new media companies must reach the next generation of media consumers no matter where they watch content. Vizrt’s market-defining visual storytelling tools are the perfect way to create mesmerizing live productions for any platform. Visit us at NAB 2018, stand SL2416 to see the future of production that will engage your audience and have them keep coming back for more.

Going on-air, online, OTT, and in the cloud

Vizrt’s story creation, media asset management (MAM) and live production tools allow you to share your content everywhere so you can always reach your audience. Vizrt’s all-in-one live production system is easy to use and requires only a single operator to drive a live production that can be streamed on-air, online, and to OTT platforms. At NAB 2018, we will also demonstrate the latest version of Viz Story with a cloud-based workflow for journalists to search, edit, and publish media anywhere.

Telling stories with video walls and AR graphics

Tell the complex stories of the day clearly using video walls and AR (augmented reality) graphics. Vizrt’s live production tools make it easy to control all the screens in the studio and drive AR graphics that engage audiences.

The Big AR Show is back with an all new 2018 edition! The can’t miss show of NAB 2018, takes live studio production a huge leap forward with next-generation AR storytelling.

Vizrt will also have a major announcement that will prepare the next generation of designers to change the face of global media design. More information coming soon!

Engaging sports fans and monetizing your content

Captivate sports fans with high-quality and informative analysis that allows you to create more content with your sports rights. New for NAB 2018 Vizrt will demonstrate sports analysis system integrated with Viz Libero AR in the studio, giving presenters a new way to talk about the action on the field. Vizrt’s sports production tools also provide new revenue streams for media companies by creating regionalized and targeted ads on the field with AR graphics, and with virtual field-side advertising replacements.

Visit us to engage your audience with the future of media production at NAB 2018, stand SL2416.

About Vizrt:

Vizrt is a worldwide market leader in the areas of real-time 3D graphics, studio automation, sports analysis and asset management tools for the media and entertainment industry. This includes interactive and virtual solutions, animations, maps, weather, social media, video editing, compositing, and multiplatform VOD and live playout tools. Vizrt has customers in more than 100 countries worldwide including CNN, CBS, Fox, BBC, BSkyB, Sky Sports, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, Al Jazeera, NDR, ITN, ZDF, VICE, The Washington Post, TF1, CCTV, NHK and the list keeps growing. Vizrt has nearly 600 employees and operates in 40 offices worldwide. Vizrt is a privately owned company by Nordic Capital Fund VIII. For further information please refer to www.vizrt.com

Pay and equality at the BBC

30 January 2018

THE BBC ISSUED THE FOLLOWING PRESS RELEASE ON 30 JANUARY 2018:

Today the BBC has published a review of on-air pay carried out by PwC, and set out a five-point plan to help create a fairer and more equal BBC.

The review, which covers correspondents, presenters and on-air editors in news and news-related areas, found no evidence of gender bias in pay decision-making, but identified a number of issues in relation to pay which have resulted in anomalies that need addressing, including:

Too many pay decisions being made at local levels because of the absence of clear pay frameworks.
A lack of clarity and openness about the basis for pay decisions because of the absence of pay ranges for on-air roles.
A slower rate of pay progression for both men and women over the past decade because of a period of significant pay restraint.

PwC makes a number of recommendations including a clear pay framework, narrower pay ranges, simpler contracts and allowances and improved transparency. The BBC wants a fair, equal and transparent pay framework for the future, so we will now consult our presenters on this to help ensure we get it right.

On-Air Review
BBC Management Response

The plan unveiled by the BBC today means:

Substantial pay cuts for some men and increases for some male and female presenters – prominent men in BBC News have already accepted pay cuts. We have already addressed close to half of the 230 cases raised of pay unfairness and equality by women and men – on and off air. We aim to conclude the rest by the summer.
A new on-air framework for determining the pay of people on air – an equal, fair and transparent structure for the future. We will have narrower pay bands because they have become too wide; cut the number of contracts and allowances to be simpler and fairer; and have clear criteria for how pay reflects skills, experience and audience impact. We will fully consult on this to make sure we get it right.
Greater pay transparency – we aim to be the most transparent organisation when it comes to pay. When our reforms are complete, everyone will be able to see the pay range for virtually every job in the BBC. Where there are more than 20 people in a job, staff will also be able to see where everyone else is positioned. We will do more to explain the pay of each presenter paid over £150,000, especially where they do more than one role.
Review of career progression and working practices for women – we will look at what more we can do to make the BBC a better place for women to work. We already, for example, allow and encourage job shares and other flexible forms of working. We will review what we do to ensure we have the best in class processes and opportunities. We want to help more women progress more quickly at the BBC.
We will also accelerate our work to achieve 50:50 representation across the BBC by 2020. Through the year we will continue to make changes to our on-air line-ups at a faster rate.

The BBC is committed to equal pay and will not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, disability, social background or any other characteristic. But, as in any organisation, that does not mean everyone is paid the same. People bring different skills and experience, and take on different responsibilities or risks. But we must apply those factors fairly, transparently and without discrimination.

Director-General Tony Hall says: “The BBC believes in equality. No one should be paid differently because of their gender. The BBC has a special role representing Britain. That is why we need to be and want to be an exemplar on gender pay, and equal pay.

“Today’s report does not find evidence of gender bias in decision-making, but it shows that we have real and important issues to tackle, particularly in some areas of news and current affairs, and I’m determined to get it right. The plans we’re setting out today go further and are more important steps in modernising the BBC and making it fairer.

“We’ve already made an important start. We’re addressing unfairness in individuals’ pay and want to close the gender pay gap and have women in half of our on-air roles by 2020. Those are big, bold commitments I’m really serious about.

“We are clear we’re going to tackle this and change for the better, and I hope other organisations take the same approach. The BBC can and must lead the way. I am determined that we will.”

The report by PwC covers around 800 on-air roles. It makes a series of recommendations, which form the basis of a proposed new pay framework.

PwC’s recommendations are: proposing a grading structure for the on-air group; using narrow pay ranges; addressing outliers both above and below the pay ranges; publishing pay ranges; reviewing the current approach to contracting; simplifying allowances; creating an on-air talent team to help manage the governance for this population; conducting regular reviews; reporting regularly; and continuing to improve diverse representation.

In October we published an equal pay audit of around 18,000 staff which concluded there was no systemic discrimination against women at the BBC. We also published our audited gender pay gap report, which shows the gender pay gap is 9.3 percent against a national average of 18.1 percent.

At the same time we set out a range of actions we were taking including access for staff to specialist advice if people have questions about pay, ensuring managers review pay in their team every six months to ensure fairness, and ending single-sex panels for job interviews, as well as striving for diverse shortlists for jobs.

Notes to Editors

The PwC review covers around 800 individuals consisting of Presenters, On-Air Editors and Correspondents. These individuals work within one of the following areas: Network News, Radio Continuous Programmes, Nations, English Regions, World Service or Sport. The review is published here
The BBC’s response is available here
The BBC has already published an equal pay audit of the majority of its workforce here. Our gender pay gap report is also available here

Below is the BBC’s performance against a range of gender and diversity targets:

48% of staff are women (2020 target 50%)
42% of leadership are women (2020 target 50%)
Target for 50:50 gender split in lead roles on air across all genres by 2020.
14.5% of staff are BAME (2020 target 15%)
10.3% leadership are BAME (2020 target 15%)
Target for 15% BAME on screen, on air and in lead roles across all genres by 2020.
10.2% staff are disabled (target 8%)
9.6% leadership are disabled (target 8%)
Target for 8% disabled people on screen and on-air including some lead roles by 2020.
Tony Hall has also committed to closing the gender pay gap by 2020.

(Source: BBC press release)

Al Hadath journalists bring their vision to air with Viz Story

30 January 2018

Journalists at Al Hadath and sister news channel, Al Arabiya, are using Viz Story to create their on-air new stories without the need of craft editors.

Al Hadath, a 24-hour news channel that is part of Dubai-based MBC, faces the same challenges as most modern news channels: How do you efficiently create video stories to cover world news with a minimal staff? Al Hadath’s solution was to bring Vizrt’s Viz Story into the newsroom as a fast and simple tool for journalists to create and edit their own stories.

“I know what I want for my story, and with Viz Story, I can take control of the package creation without having to explain my vision to someone else,” said Badih Younes, senior journalist, Al Arabiya & Al Hadath News. “Viz Story allows us to produce our stories in a shorter time and more accurate way.”

Viz Story is a story creation tool which allows journalists to easily edit videos, add branded graphics, and quickly distribute the finished stories to any location including video servers, VOD platforms and social media.

Part of the unique Viz Story workflow at Al Hadath and sister network Al Arabiya, is an integration with Reuters for gathering images and stories. Both networks have the Reuters wire service integrated with their Viz One media asset management (MAM) system. The integration, made possible by Viz One’s open API, allows Viz Story users to browse the latest Reuters images, with robust metadata, and drag the images into their timeline for editing, all from the web browser.

“Finding media is very easy with the Reuters integration,” said Fadi Radi, senior manager of on air graphics. “We have the latest pictures, up to the minute, and each picture includes metadata about the story. We get around 2500 to 4000 images per day. All a journalist has to do is open Viz Story in their browser, check out images to see what is going in the world, and quickly build the story.”

Video content from an Avid archive is imported into Viz One, giving journalists full access to the in-house video library from Viz Story, where they can add any number of graphics templates.

“The most exciting part is that the journalists also have access to any of Vizrt’s graphics templates from within their browser. So, not only are they editing video, they are adding custom graphics to the story, making the stories uniquely Al Hadath,” added Fadi Radi.

Finished stories are rendered to a target folder in the video format needed to automatically be ingested into the channel’s on-air video playout server.

“The newsroom is always a fast-paced environment and Viz Story helps save time since we don’t have to go to other departments to do the work. Everything is on our desktop and is easy to use”, said Aroub Abdelhaq, writer/reporter, Al Arabiya & Al Hadath News.

“It’s amazing how people (journalists, reporters, editorial teams, and social media producers) are interacting with Viz Story and its integration with Viz One. It’s been the biggest revolution in our workflow since we started using Vizrt, and its going viral within the organization,” concluded Fadi Radi.

About Vizrt:

View and download the video here

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