27 June 2017
In a new Alhurra documentary series, ISIS defectors provide first-hand accounts that reveal the extremist group’s entrenched culture of deception, intimidation, cruelty, drugs, and sexual abuse. The series, Exiting ISIS, debuts this Saturday, July 1, at 20:00 GMT.
Through rare interviews, the 13-part series tells the stories of former ISIS members who provide unique insights into life in the Islamic State. They show ISIS’s hypocrisy as it captivates its followers with the promise of a global Muslim caliphate. Exiting ISIS documents why ISIS militants joined the armed group and ultimately decided to escape. Defectors provide revelatory details about how foreign fighters were recruited; how they travelled to Iraq and Syria to join the fight; how women were forced to torture other woman who have transgressed by singing, listening to music, dressing with insufficient modesty, or leaving their homes without a male escort.
In each episode, Exiting ISIS provides insightful testimonials of deserters denouncing ISIS’s lies, its false promises, its cult of violence and death, and its widespread corruption and inequality. They believe that, in doing so, they will reveal the truth about ISIS and discourage future potential recruits from joining.
“It is essential that the defectors be able to share with our audience their first-hand accounts of the ordeals they have endured living under ISIS and the horrors they witnessed,” stated MBN President Brian Conniff. MBN manages and oversees Alhurra Television. “This series communicates the fear and terror felt by those trapped under ISIS rule.”
The first episode of Exiting ISIS profiles a 22-year-old Iraqi from Hawija, known as Mohammed. He details how intimidation forced him into ISIS. Once he joined the group, his conscience was shocked by the injustice and the manipulation of Islamic teachings by ISIS to advance their corrupt agenda and soon wanted to leave. He shares the fear that he felt when he tried to run away and how he was forced to remain in the group to protect his family from retaliation. Mohammed stresses that ISIS works to obscure these bitter realities and that the group is far removed from true Islamic teachings.
Exiting ISIS will also be streamed on Facebook Live when it debuts on Alhurra.
(Source: Alhurra press release)
27 June 2017
The BBC Pashto flagship TV programme, BBC Naray Da Wakht (BBC World Right Now), is launching a weekly arts supplement. From Saturday 1 July 2017, the weekly slot, Hunary Shabay (Art Moments), will focus on art and literary news from Afghanistan, Pakistan and from around the world.
BBC Pashto TV Editor, Emal Pasarly, commented: “The region has a vibrant and amazingly diverse cultural scene, and there is a need for an art news programme on TV in Afghanistan and Pakistan to reflect it – and also to bring the world’s cultural news that resonates with our audience. We hope Hunary Shabay will be a welcome addition to the prime-time weekend TV schedule, bringing reports, interviews and commentary from Afghanistan, Pakistan and the rest of the world on everything art. Bollywood or Hollywood, traditional music or pop, books, theatre, exhibitions – you name it, we will bring our viewers the latest from the world of arts.”
Hunary Shabay will be part of the Saturday edition of the daily TV news programme, BBC Naray Da Wakht. On Sundays the programme features the economy and business edition, Da Eqtesad La Narray; on Thursdays – the phone-in edition, Staso Ghag (Have Your Say), while the Friday sports supplement, Lobay, brings sports news.
BBC Naray Da Wakht is broadcast live from London in prime time on the Shamshad TV network in Afghanistan (18.00 local time) and Mashriq TV in Pakistan (18.30 local time). The programme is also available on demand via the BBC Pashto channel on YouTube and the website bbcpashto.com.
BBC Pashto content – on radio, TV, online and on social media – reaches around 7m people in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the rest of the world every week*. The BBC Pashto Facebook has more than 2.8m followers (June 2017), engaging 400,000** people every week. BBC Pashto also connects with its audiences via Twitter, Google+, YouTube, Instagram and SoundCloud.
BBC Pashto is part of the BBC World Service.
(Source : BBC press release)
14 June 2017
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has announced that Ambassador Alberto M. Fernandez will join the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. (MBN) as its new president on July 17, 2017. In this role, he will oversee MBN’s multimedia operations in the U.S. and across the Middle East, including its digital properties, Alhurra Television networks and Radio Sawa.
MBN is a private, not for profit, multimedia corporation funded by the BBG that provides news and information to the 22 Arabic speaking countries across the Middle East and North Africa. With a weekly audience of more than 27.5 million people, MBN supports democratic values by expanding the spectrum of ideas in the region and producing accurate, professional and independent news and information on all media platforms; and is a trailblazer in audience engagement.
Brian Conniff, BBG veteran and current MBN President, is leaving the company after 11 years. Under his leadership, MBN has grown to be a forward-looking, flexible organisation responding to the region’s evolving media environment and challenges. “It has been a pleasure to work with the professionals of MBN,” said Conniff. “This transition comes at a time of strategic importance as the organisation continues to focus its content and seek new ways to increase its impact. I am confident that Ambassador Fernandez will advance MBN’s important work and continue to increase its impact.”
In response to Conniff’s announcement, John Lansing, CEO and Director of the BBG said, “Brian has played a significant role in BBG’s growth throughout the years, and his expertise and counsel has been invaluable to me. He is an extraordinary leader and has worked very closely with other network leadership to streamline our collective and individual efforts, and to develop creative programming that demonstrates real impact. Ambassador Fernandez is inheriting a first class team with a portfolio of major initiatives.”
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Ambassador Fernandez, a fluent Arabic speaker, will join BBG from the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), where he served as Vice President from 2015 to 2017. During his Foreign Service career, he was widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and impactful US Foreign Service voices in the Arabic-language media. Ambassador Fernandez held numerous roles at the U.S. Department of State, including the Department’s Coordinator for the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Chief of Mission in Sudan, Director for Near East Public Diplomacy and Director for Iraq Public Diplomacy. He was a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor and was a recipient of a 2008 Presidential Meritorious Service Award, the 2006 Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Public Diplomacy, and a 2003 Superior Honor Award for his work in Afghanistan, among other awards. He also served as a Foreign Service Officer in Iraq, Kuwait, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and the United Arab Emirates, and as USIA desk officer for Egypt, Yemen, and Sudan.
Ambassador Fernandez is a graduate of the University of Arizona and the Defense Language Institute. Ambassador Fernandez has also lectured and debated on U.S. foreign policy in numerous public venues, and has published in several publications, including Brookings Institution publications, the Foreign Service Journal, Journal of International Security Affairs, Soundings: An Interdisciplinary Journal, Cipher Brief, Providence, the Harvard Review of Latin America, Middle East Quarterly and the Journal of the Assyrian Academic Society (JAAS). He is also a Non-Resident Fellow in Middle East Media and Politics at the TRENDS Foundation in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Kenneth Weinstein, Chairman of the Board for the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, conveyed the Board’s support for the selection, “Ambassador Fernandez shares our values and focus on long-term growth,” he said. “He has the perfect combination of skill, experience, and regional expertise that we need to continue driving forward at MBN. We are pleased that he accepted this challenge and look forward to working with him. The Board and I are also very grateful to Brian Conniff for his passion and leadership, and thank him for his accomplishments over many years of dedicated service to the agency.”
“I am truly honored and humbled to join the Broadcasting Board of Governors as the President of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks,” said Fernandez. “I am delighted to have an opportunity to contribute to the impact the BBG’s networks have on millions of lives around the world. MBN is a media leader in the region, and I look forward to joining with its dedicated and accomplished staff to continue its growth momentum in new and creative ways.”
Source: MBN press release
12 June 2017
The Association for International Broadcasting has been visiting parts of Asia, meeting Member organisations and exploring potential new relationships with organisations across the region.
The AIB’s chief executive Simon Spanswick took part in the Asia Media Summit organised by the Asia Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) in Qingdao, China. Attended by more than 400 delegates from over 40 countries, the Summit addressed the issues surrounding the role of media in global development and sustainability. The AIB CEO met Mme Liu Yandong, Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China, alongside Ministers from Russia, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Samoa, Myanmar and Malaysia and the heads of the AIBD and ABU as well as senior officials of the United Nations and a number of its agencies.
Following the Asia Media Summit, Spanswick travelled to Seoul where he met executives of the Korean Broadcasting System, an AIB Member. Discussions centred on the work of the AIB and how KBS – as a Member of the Association – benefits from the activities the organisation carries out on behalf of its Members. There were also conversations about the future of the media and how public broadcasters like KBS can maintain their relevance to audiences – particularly the youth – as consumption patterns change.
2 June 2017
With this latest contract, Arianespace now has three further satellites to launch for Eutelsat
Following the launch earlier today of the EUTELSAT 172B satellite, Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL) announces a new launch services contract with Arianespace.
The Arianespace order book now includes three future launches for Eutelsat in addition to the 32 Eutelsat satellites already launched by the European launch services provider over more than 30 years for one of the world’s leading satellite operators.
Of the three satellites to be launched, EUTELSAT 7C (built by SSL) will be orbited in 2018, followed in 2019 by Eutelsat Quantum built by Airbus and the high throughput satellite built by Thales.
Commenting on this latest contract, Rodolphe Belmer, Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat, said: “Following today’s historic Ariane launch of Europe’s first high-power all-electric satellite, we are proud to once again team up with Arianespace, a long-standing partner and a leader in Europe’s vibrant space industry. The technological diversity of the three new satellites entrusted to Arianespace is a compelling reflection of our commitment to innovation for the greater benefit of our customers, and to maintaining our competitiveness.”
Stéphane Israël, Chief Executive Officer of Arianespace, added: “This latest contract bolsters Eutelsat’s position as a benchmark customer of Europe’s heavy launcher, since Ariane 5 will launch three satellites for the European operator in 2018 and 2019. Our hope is that Ariane 6 will subsequently take over so that we can help Eutelsat meet its objectives even more efficiently.”
(Source: Eutelsat press release)
31 May 2017
NBC News and Euronews today announced the closing of a transaction in which NBC News is making a significant financial investment in Euronews. NBC News is acquiring 25% of the company, with the funding going to support expanded news coverage and programming across Europe.
Media Globe Networks will continue to be the majority shareholder in Euronews, and the existing public shareholders will remain in the company and continue to ensure its European focus and sensibility. The company’s TV and digital platforms will ultimately be co-branded EuronewsNBC.
Euronews is a widely recognized brand in Europe with nearly 500 journalists, reaching 434 million homes across 158 countries, in 12 languages, on television and on digital platforms.
Andrew Lack, Chairman of NBC News and MSNBC said “If we had started with a blank slate we still could not have designed a better partner for NBC News as we look to strengthen our global reach. Euronews has unmatched scale as well as the unique ability to offer international coverage rooted in a local sensibility in every country and language it spans.”
Michael Peters, CEO of Euronews said: “The expertise of NBC News combined with the uniqueness of Euronews’ European DNA, will allow us to fully realise our ‘All Views’ editorial philosophy. This unrivalled collaboration reflects our shared commitment to unbiased reporting. It also strengthens Euronews’ mission to empower people around the world with independent information they can trust. In the competitive international news market, Euronews aims to be the go-to media outlet for expertise on European affairs. This is a new age for Euronews and we are pleased to partner with the outstanding NBC News team.”
Deborah Turness (pictured), President of NBC News International, will lead the NBC side of the collaboration, providing editorial and programming leadership as well as strategic guidance. She will work in partnership with Peters.
“Euronews is a unique news organization, with unparalleled reach in 12 languages,” Turness said. “Together NBC News and Euronews will strengthen and deepen the commitment to European journalism and the ‘All Views’ brand. We will create compelling programming and content that will give voice to the people, the views and the diversity of Europe. It’s an immensely exciting time to be investing in Europe’s story.”
The coming together of the two big brands will see Euronews access NBC’s newsgathering, digital content and programming expertise. Likewise, Euronews will provide news content and resources from Europe for use on NBC News and MSNBC programs and platforms.
(Source: Euronews press release)
