30 May 2017
Long-term agreement sees Arqiva become broadcaster’s exclusive provider of infrastructure and technical services
Arqiva, the leading UK communications infrastructure company, has announced a new long-term partnership with multi-channel broadcaster Information TV to provide new channels to the UK DTH market.
The agreement gives customers of Information TV the advantage of using Arqiva’s infrastructure and technical excellence to provide reliable service, as well as the ability to interconnect to different markets and platforms globally.
With Arqiva signed up to be the exclusive provider of technical services for the broadcaster, Information TV will now have a one-stop shop for all services relating to the DTH market.
Adam Bishop, Director at Information TV, said: “Our customers come to us expecting the delivery of high-quality, reliable services, and having worked with Arqiva for a number of years, we had complete confidence in selecting them as our key supplier.best gaming keyboard
“Thanks to the technical support we will receive from Arqiva, we can balance our ever-expanding operational demands – offering our customers access to top-class broadcast services, while being able to concentrate our time on developing their businesses.”
Alex Pannell, Commercial Director, Satellite & Media, at Arqiva, said: “In this age of VoD and OTT content, broadcasters are increasingly looking at new channels to unlock additional revenue streams.
“Arqiva is constantly adapting its services to market demands, and we are hugely excited to work alongside Information TV over the coming years to provide a platform to ambitious broadcasters and their audiences.”
Information TV’s current roster of channels includes Frontrunner Sports, the only free-to-air sports channel on Sky and Freeview, along with Showcase and Property Show.
(Source: Arqiva press release)
25 May 2017
The BBC is reaching a record weekly audience of 372m around the world, a rise of 7 per cent year on year, new audience figures published on 25 May 2017 reveal.
These figures – the Global Audience Measure (GAM) – show how many individuals the BBC reached weekly with its news and entertainment content in the year 2016/17.
The data show the BBC’s weekly global news audience has risen by 8 per cent to 346m, with TV, audio and social media driving the increase.
The BBC World Service has seen an increase of 9 per cent since last year, taking its total audience to 269m.
Global News Ltd, which comprises BBC World News television and BBC.com, now has an audience of 121m, an increase of 12 per cent, with weekly BBC World News TV viewers rising to 99m.
World Service English has seen another significant rise, with an audience of 75m around the world, a 14 per cent increase. This has been driven both by syndication and by the growth of digital audio, including internet audio and podcasts. The number of listeners accessing World Service English through internet audio has shot up by 147 per cent to 21m.
The GAM figures show the BBC is on track to achieve the target set by the Director General of a 500m weekly audience by 2022, the BBC’s centenary year.
Francesca Unsworth, Director of the BBC World Service Group, says: “In a turbulent year for international news, with mounting concern about fake news and social media filter bubbles, more people than ever before are turning to the BBC for reliable, impartial information they can trust.
“We will shortly launch the first new language services in the biggest expansion of the World Service since the 1940s. Today’s audience figures show the need for the BBC is greater than ever.”
Tim Davie, Director of Global and CEO of BBC Worldwide, says: “It is encouraging to see that BBC branded services continue to be the trusted go-to platforms for audiences across the globe.”
- Facebook is by far the biggest source of the BBC’s social media reach globally, but there are regional variations – in Iran alone BBC reaches 1.4m people on the encrypted messaging app Telegram, from a total BBC audience of 12.6m in that country.
- The top ten markets for the BBC’s international news services are Nigeria (36m), USA (34m), India (28m), Bangladesh (16m), Egypt (15m), Pakistan (13m), Iran (13m), Tanzania (10m), Indonesia (7.6m), and Canada (7.5m), where the BBC significantly boosted its presence last year.
- BBC radio saw a 12 per cent uplift in audience figures in the USA during an eventful election year – taking weekly reach to 14.6m people
24 May 2017
The Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) launched the Maghreb Voices website to inform and engage with the people of the Maghreb region in North Africa. The website targets nearly 100 million people and focuses on issues that resonate with them, such as countering ISIS, the rights of women, human rights, corruption, human trafficking, slavery, minorities’ rights and illegal immigration.
“Maghreb Voices will provide its audience an unmatched opportunity to participate in important discussions and share their ideas, issues and concerns openly and freely,” stated Brian Conniff, President of MBN (pictured right). MBN manages and oversees Maghreb Voices. “Maghreb Voices will meet the tremendous need for an uncensored interactive platform in this underserved part of the world.”
The launch of Maghreb Voices comes after the success of Raise Your Voice-Iraq, which communicates with Iraqis about the future of their country. Similarly, engagement is Maghreb Voices main feature, using Community Managers to facilitate dialogue and interact with its audience. It goes to the streets of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania to interview ordinary citizens and get their views on important topics that matter to them. The website also covers the news of the Maghreb community in the United States, Netherlands, France and Spain.
Maghreb Voices also utilises social media properties to facilitate the two-way conversation. It provides a 24/7 discussion forum for all voices on topics of concern through Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and WhatsApp.
There are several unique sections to Maghreb Voices. One of them is dedicated to defectors’ stories. This section includes interviews and first-hand accounts of people who joined and then left extremist groups such as ISIS after they became disillusioned. Another section of the website invites readers to ask any question they have about the U.S., to be answered by the Maghreb Voices staff, or outside experts. Audiences will also find video content, polls, question of the day, citizen journalist content and articles.
Maghreb Voices incorporates VOA’s Learning English into its website, so that its audience will have access to their videos and English language tools. More information about Maghreb Voices can be found on its website and Facebook page.
Maghreb Voices is operated by the non-profit corporation (MBN). MBN is financed by the U.S. Government through a grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an independent federal agency. The BBG serves as a firewall to protect the professional independence and integrity of the journalists.
(Source: MBN press release)
23 May 2017
Arabsat announced the launch of Euronews new frequency on its wide coverage satellite BADR-4, to join other tier-1 regional & international news channels run on Arabsat BADR-4 News frequency 11996 MHz. Euronews’ original frequency will remain active till the end of May 2017, while Arabsat viewers are informed about the change via Arabsat’s linear and non-linear media distribution network.
“We are delighted with our long partnership with Euronews, one of the most viewed news channels in Europe and look forward to continue to offer their uniquely rich and varied news streams through Arabsat BADR-4 News frequency 11 996 MHz,” says Khalid Balkheyour, Arabsat President & CEO. “This move supports our content strategy to deliver specialized video frequencies reflecting market demand to Arabsat audiences across the MENA & Europe and ensuring the best Free-To-Air viewing experience at home.”
“Arabsat is a long-standing partner for Euronews and we warmly thank all the team that supported the launch of the Euronews English frequency to cover this key region.” says Michael Peters, Euronews CEO (pictured).
“With Arabsat we are guaranteed to reach a wide audience which is, in common with our consumers across EMEA, composed of curious and open-minded leaders, interested by our unique positioning. In addition to providing an expert coverage on European news, our multicultural team of 30 nationalities is also our strength. Indeed, Euronews’ journalists are the best qualified to share and analyse the diverse opinions on global events, rather than imposing a unilateral perspective as so often happens in the current news landscape. In a world of infobesity and polarized opinion, this is the uniqueness of Euronews that I’m sure will meet the interests of the Arabsat audience.”
About Arabsat Euronews new frequency:
Satellite: Arabsat BADR-4 @ 26° East
Coverage: MENA & Europe
Frequency: 11996 MHz
Polarity: Horizontal
Symbol Rate: 27500
FEC: 3/4
Transmission: DVB-S
Modulation: QPSK
Neighbouring News channels: France 24 Arabic, France 24 English, France 24 French, DW Arabia, BBC Arabic, CNBC Arabia, Sky News Arabia, Africa 24 & RTI.
(Source: Euronews + Arabsat press release)
23 May 2017
Germany’s international broadcaster DW demanded the immediate release of its correspondent Antediteste Niragira, arrested by members of the Congolese intelligence service (ANR) while reporting on Burundian refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo .
In a statement issued on 21 May, DW said Congolese authorities were refusing to provide further information on accusations of espionage against Niragira.
‘Baseless accusations’
“The accusation that our correspondent is a spy is outrageous and baseless,” said DW spokesman Christoph Jumpelt. “We demand that the authorities in the DR Congo release Antediteste Niragira immediately and provide for his safe return to Burundi.”
Niragira had been preparing to file a report on Burundian refugees living in desolate conditions in a camp near the town of Kavimvira when he was arrested by ANR members and transferred to a prison in Uvira.
A lawyer commissioned by DW has been able to establish that Niragira has not been physically harmed.
Update – 23 May
Since news of his disappearance came through, DW has been working through all available channels to secure his release. On Tuesday 23 May, it was announced that Antediteste had been released and had returned to Burundi.
22 May 2017
Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), operator of the world’s first Globalized Network and leader in integrated satellite communications, announced that Globecast signed a multi-year agreement with the company to distribute the English version of TRT World in high definition format to cable outlets in Asia and the Americas via the Intelsat 20 and Intelsat 21 satellites using IntelsatOne® terrestrial fiber and teleport services.
Globecast is expanding its longstanding relationship with Intelsat to distribute TRT World content to Asia and Latin America on Intelsat’s highly penetrated video neighborhoods. Intelsat 20, located at 68.5 East degrees, is the leading distribution and Direct-to-Home distribution platform serving Africa and the Indian Ocean region. Intelsat 21, located at 302 degrees East, is one of four satellites comprising Intelsat’s powerful video neighborhoods serving the Latin America region.
“It is our goal to provide our customers with efficient distribution into new growth markets around the world. Intelsat’s globalized network, and its highly penetrated video neighborhoods, provide maximum viewers for our content owners,” said Philippe Bernard, CEO at Globecast.
Deputy Director General of TRT Ibrahim Eren stated that it is important for TRT World to be available on Intelsat 20 and 21. “Intelsat is renowned for its advanced fleet of satellites and overall expertise in the business. Through their help, coupled with sophisticated technology from Globecast, we’re delighted to expand TRT World to millions of viewers across the Americas and Asia.”
“A valued partner, Globecast’s relationship with Intelsat spans many years and many continents,” said Rhys Morgan, Intelsat’s Managing Director, Europe. “We continue to invest in our media neighborhoods to ensure that we can support the growth of customers, such as Globecast and TRT World, who distribute new high definition programming around the world. We welcome TRT World to the Intelsat network and the nearly 5,000 channels we deliver globally.”
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(Source: Intelsat press release)
