29 January 2018
Hungary’s first pay TV operator Magyar Telekom adds Euronews Hungarian, the only international news media produced in Hungarian to all its platform’s basic-level offers.
Launched in May 2013, Euronews’ Hungarian service is a 24/7 news outlet dedicated to the Hungarian market, produced from Budapest.
Magyar Telekom, part of Deutsche Telekom Group, has now included Euronews Hungarian to the basic packages on IPTV and cable and to the family package on satellite allowing Euronews to reach more than 860,000 subscribers.
With this new distribution agreement, Euronews Hungarian is now available in 1.2 million homes throughout the country.
Euronews Hungarian
Produced by a team of 31 people including 24 journalists at the Budapest bureau, two at the Euronews HQ in Lyon and three in the Brussels bureau, the 24/7 Hungarian news service will celebrate its fifth anniversary in May 2018.
Attila Kert, a renowned Hungarian journalist with 25 years of experience, is the Director of Euronews Hungary Kft., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Euronews SA.
Euronews Hungarian TV is available across Europe thanks to the Eutelsat Hot Bird 13B satellite. The Hungarian newsroom also provides news and reports for hu.euronews.com, the mobile app, the YouTube channel, and also for its social media accounts: Twitter @euronewshu and Facebook
Since May 2017, as part of the new Euronews strategic plan to adapt itself to the expectations of its multiple local audiences, Euronews Hungarian has started to shape its international news bulletins and to produce specific stories to resonate with the Hungarian audience’s interests. To fully implement the new strategic plan, Euronews’ Hungarian team is set to launch a range of new flagship programmes in the coming years.
(Source: Euronews press release)
24 January 2018
Off-the-shelf solution offers broadcasters a quick and easy way to extend portfolios and break into new markets
Arqiva, the leading UK communications infrastructure and media services company, has today announced the launch of a new Central Processing Platform for channel delivery within the broadcast industry.
Against a backdrop of constant change, insatiable consumer demand and evolving audiences, the scalable platform will effectively bridge the gap between channel or content and provider – handling the content aggregation, technical processing and delivery of new channels in a single place.
For broadcasters looking to offer international content to a local audience, or deliver local content to a wider demographic, Arqiva will acquire and aggregate the target channels into a single feed and process everything in the specific formats to suit their requirements – rather than them having to ‘collect’ all the content themselves.
Alex Pannell, Commercial Director, Satellite & Media at Arqiva, commented: “In today’s data-driven TV market, deep insights offer exciting opportunities to tailor services, packages and content to audience tastes and expectations. But the broadcast industry has to be able to respond quickly and nimbly if it wants to take full advantage of this.
“Through Arqiva’s Central Processing Platform, customers will have access to thousands of channels, from every corner of the globe – all already processed and primed for delivery from one central location – so they can continue to build their business to match evolving demand.”
To find out more about the Arqiva Central Processing Platform, visit: https://www.arqiva.com/overviews/tv/channel-processing/
24 January 2018
For the first time, Euronews’ 360° news content is available on smart TVs across the globe thanks to a partnership with The Dream VR, the world’s first VR and 360° TV platform.
Euronews, the pioneer international newsroom in the production of immersive video reports, partners with The Dream VR, the only technology provider in the world able to broadcast 360º content on connected TVs.
For a potential audience of 300 million Samsung Smart TVs and 50 million Apple TVs in 180 countries, a patented technology allows The Dream VR users to activate Euronews 360º content on Smart TVs using just the remote control arrows.
A selection of Euronews’ best immersive content is already available via a dedicated channel on The Dream VR app and fresh content will be uploaded as it is produced.
Euronews is the first news media to partner with The Dream VR, joining over 150 channels, with content from Disney, Sony, Universal, Univision and leading soccer clubs around the world.
The partnership also includes monetisation of Euronews’ 360º videos via display advertising.
Euronews was the first international newsroom to fully incorporate 360º video news into its production workflow in 2016. Today, this cutting-edge publishing platform reaffirms Euronews’ position as a leading innovator in Europe when it comes to immersive journalism.
The Dream VR team is located in Madrid, Barcelona and Miami. Its VR app has 2 million downloads and is available on every major 360º and VR platform including Samsung Smart TV, Appel TV, iOS, Android, Google Daydream, Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear, HTC Vive, Topying, Pico and coming soon to PSVR.
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Thomas Seymat, VR & immersive journalism editor, Euronews |
“Reaching new audience is the Euronews immersive journalism team’s aim in 2018. We are very pleased to benefit from the innovative and exclusive worldwide solution from The Dream VR to allow smart TV viewers to live a unique experience of international and European news.”
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Albert Palay, CEO THE DREAM VR |
“THE DREAM VR is extremely glad to be able to have Euronews as a partner, the latter being the biggest news player in Europe, with growing potential and influence around the world thanks to their recent partnership with NBC News. This collaboration gives us the chance to have great up-do-date content of general interest, which will attract a varied and high standard public worldwide.”
22 January 2018
Under the theme of ‘SHABAB2030’ (‘Youth 2030’), the latest edition of “MBC AL AMAL” yearly event took place Sunday at the Palazzo Versace in Dubai. The annual awards by MBC Group aim at supporting and promoting sustainable development, creative youth projects and entrepreneurship in the region – as well as enabling students from low-income backgrounds a chance at pursuing higher education.
The 2018 ceremony was attended by notable guests from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), represented by Toby Howard, Head of UNHCR office in the UAE, as well as the World Food Programme (WFP). Several partners, specialists, social activists and other VIP guests were also in attendance.
Hosting leading institutions in the region, entrepreneurs, creative visionaries and small and medium-sized enterprises – all distinguished by their tireless work towards social, humanitarian and youth initiatives – the “MBC AL AMAL” awards included three segments: Part one of the event was dedicated to honouring MBC AL AMAL partners from humanitarian and other non-profit organisations.
This was followed by the announcement of the winners of the ‘SHABAB2030’ project, which aims at encouraging young people all over the Arab world to get involved in creative, innovative and sustainable projects that can change the world for the better. Last but not least, the final segment of the event saw five female students awarded the Soraya Al-Salti University Scholarship. Named after the late Jordanian activist, this scholarship – managed by Newton Education Services – offers a number of fully-funded and partial scholarships for Arab women looking to pursue a master’s degree in various fields, for up to two years. The total value of the grant is $100,000, which was this year distributed equally to the five winners.
CEREMONY AND AWARDS
Sam Barnett, CEO of MBC Group delivered an opening speech welcoming guests and thanking them for being “partners and pioneers of hope”. He stressed the importance of individual and youth initiatives in activating the economic cycle, in addition to the necessity of supporting development projects pertaining to empowering the younger generation and building a better future for them. He also noted the “importance of broadcasting positive spirits, keeping the torch of hope lit despite wars, crises and obstacles to promoting diversity.”
MBC AL AMAL PARTNER WINNERS
- Education for Employment (EFE): Received by Andrew Baird, CEO, EFE Global.
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): Received by Toby Howard, Head of UNHCR office in the UAE.
- Generations for Peace (GFP): Received by Dr. Mohanned Al-Arabiat, GFP Board Member and President.
SHABAB2030 WINNERS
The ten winners were chosen after presenting their projects to a committee of prominent investors and major companies in the region. This pitch, in association with “MBC AL AMAL”, was held with the aim of finding the projects with the most potential to scale.
- Ahmed Al Azzouzi, Toufoula Kids (Tunisia)
This mobile application specialises in Arabic-language educational content aimed at children in pre-school and school.
- Afnan Ali, Eureka (Jordan)
Specialising in tech-education, this academy prepares children to become engineers or tech-entrepreneurs through comprehensive multi-level programmes.
- Ahmed El-Murtada, SIMPAY (Sudan)
A start-up that provides online-market places, crowd-funding sites, and small platform-oriented businesses with applications to seamlessly facilitate easier and faster payment-processing.
- Amira Cheniour, SEABEX (Tunisia)
An agricultural e-monitoring and smart automation system that helps farmers make better use of available resources, such as water and energy, to produce larger quantities that are of better quality.
- Hassan Al-Balawi, Wakecap (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
Focusing on utilising wearable technology products to improve safety and productivity at construction and industry sectors.
- Mostafa Kandil, SWVL (Egypt)
This private alternative to public transportation enables individuals taking a journey in the same direction to share a ride during rush hour for a flat fare. The carpool-style system increases efficiency for all involved.
- Layal Jebran, Moubarmij (Lebanon)
A platform that provides high-quality educational programmes online, focusing on Arabic tutorials in video form.
- Ahmad Al-Hidiq, Salamtak (United Arab Emirates/Palestine)
The code name for an initiative launched under HeyDoc!, this telemedicine platform connects patients with doctors, no matter the location.
- Khaled El-Nems, E-Rain Gate (United Arab Emirates/Egypt)
A venture that controls irrigation systems via small electronic networks. This prevents systems from flooding during heavy rain or storms.
- Hashim Al Zaabi, Wavex (United Arab Emirates)
Combining features that promote renewable and sustainable solutions, this project carries out crowd-funding for renewable projects, as well as energy transactions via blockchain.
SORAYA AL-SALTI UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
- Irene Baghdadi (Egypt): Sustainable Development
- Khadija Radwan (Egypt): Design and Project Management
- Lynn Sharbatly (KSA): Law
- Mayada Sabry (Jordan): Communication Disorders
- Mariam Al-Nahrawi (Egypt): Geological Sciences.
Finally, the event’s entertainment was provided courtesy of the much-loved Palestinian singer, Yacoub Shaheen – best known as the 2017 “Arab Idol” – who presented the choir “Sonbola”, comprised of refugee children with outstanding musical talents.
(Source: MBC press release)
creating the perfect studio for bringing the game to the audience with the greatest flexibility in visual storytelling.