BBC issues statement about Gaza films

20 June 2025

BBC issues statement about Gaza films

BBC statement issued 20 June 2025

BBC News is determined to report all aspects of the conflict in the Middle East impartially and fairly. Over a year ago we commissioned Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, a documentary about the plight of medics in Gaza, from an independent production company, Basement Films.

We paused production of this film in April, having made a decision that we could not broadcast the film while a review into a separate Gaza documentary was ongoing. With both films coming from independent production companies, and both about Gaza, it was right to wait for any relevant findings – and put them into action – before broadcasting the film.

However, we wanted the doctors’ voices to be heard. Our aim was to find a way to air some of the material in our news programmes, in line with our impartiality standards, before the review was published.

For some weeks, the BBC has been working with Basement Films to find a way to tell the stories of these doctors on our platforms.

Yesterday it became apparent that we have reached the end of the road with these discussions. We have come to the conclusion that broadcasting this material risked creating a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect of the BBC. Impartiality is a core principle of BBC News. It is one of the reasons that we are the world’s most trusted broadcaster.

Therefore, we are transferring ownership of the film material to Basement Films.

Contrary to some reports, since we paused production of Gaza: Doctors Under Attack in April, it has not undergone the BBC’s final pre-broadcast sign-off processes. Any film broadcast will not be a BBC film.

The BBC has produced powerful coverage of this conflict. Alongside breaking news and ongoing analysis, we have produced award winning documentaries such as Life and Death in Gaza, and Gaza 101. We have also investigated allegations of abuse of Palestinian prisoners and Israel’s attacks on Gaza’s hospitals. Just today we are running a powerful piece of longform journalism that captures the final two weeks inside a Gaza hospital before it was forced to close.

We want to thank the doctors and contributors and we are sorry we could not tell their stories. The BBC will continue to cover events in Gaza impartially.

AIB dismayed as Togo bans French international media for three months

20 June 2025

AIB dismayed as Togo bans French international media for three months

The Association for International Broadcasting is dismayed by the decision of Togo’s High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC) to suspend the broadcasts of France 24 television and Radio France Internationale in the country for three months.

According to the press reports, HAAC claims that the Paris-headquartered broadcasters have “repeated failures, already reported and formally recalled, in terms of impartiality, rigour and verification of facts”. In 2024, the HAAC put RFI “on notice” for “unfair treatment of information” and “dissemination of false news about the country”.

“This suspension of independent fact-based news organisations deprives citizens of Togo of important information sources,” says AIB Chief Executive Simon Spanswick. “At a time when rumour spreads on social media platforms, the checks and balances provided by international broadcasters such as RFI and France 24 are vital to counter mis- and disinformation. The AIB calls on the HAAC to rescind its reported suspension rapidly and to allow RFI and France 24 to resume broadcasting in Togo.”

Also in June, a correspondent working for France’s TV5 Monde, Flore Monteau, has been arbitrarily detained in Togo. Monteau had been covering anti-government demonstrations in Lomé and was filming the dispersal of protesters by security forces. CPJ says that police seized her equipment and forced her to delete footage of the protests. She was also required to unlock her mobile phone by the police.

Togo, with a population of just under 9 million, is ranked 121^st in the World Press Freedom Index 2025 published by Reporters Without Borders.

Image: HAAC headquarters in Lomé; courtesy Republique Togolaise

As conflict grows, so do audiences to threatened US international broadcasters

18 June 2025

As conflict grows, so do audiences to threatened US international broadcasters

US-funded media organisations Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) are bringing millions of people in Iran and across the Middle East real-time, 24/7 news coverage of the war between Israel and Iran.

As fighting began over the weekend, Iranians surged to RFE/RL’s Persian-language Service, Radio Farda, for responsible news and information. On Friday 13 June, Farda’s extremely popular Instagram profile attracted 62.5 million video views, a spike of 344%, and traffic to its website rose by 77% compared to its 30-day average. Farda is increasing its coverage to include ten-minute audio news bulletins at the top of the hour 24/7 to meet the needs of our audiences.

Even before the war began, more than 6.6 million Iranians, ten percent of the adult population, accessed Farda each week to get news that was not produced by the state-controlled propaganda networks.

Farda also provides the outside world a valuable and unparalleled look inside the Islamic Republic. This report features listeners from Tehran describing the intensity of the Israeli attacks on the country’s nuclear facilities.

Across the Arab Middle East and North Africa, where news is often state-controlled and anti-American, MBN’s Alhurra.com and social media platforms are covering the Israel-Iran hostilities for millions of Arabic speakers. They featured exclusive interviews with high-level figures such as former U.S. State Department Spokesman and Iran expert Alan Eyre and former Israeli National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata.

A segment with Hulata, “Why Israeli Jets Didn’t Use Saudi Airspace,” attracted more than 53,000 views in less than 40 minutes. Another clip, “How Israel Targeted Iranian Leaders Simultaneously,” also garnered strong audience engagement.

This coverage comes as the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) attempts to shutter RFE/RL and MBN by unlawfully cancelling their grant agreements.

As a result, MBN has been forced to terminate 90 percent of its staff and RFE/RL has furloughed some staff and reduced programming. USAGM shut down a transmitter it owns in Kuwait that Farda could use to reach the people of Iran. It has since been reactivated for use by Voice of America (VOA) for only 15 minutes a day after USAGM executives called VOA’s Persian Service back to work on short notice to cover the hostilities and give voice to U.S. officials and experts.

Ilan Berman, a leading Iran analyst who serves on the boards of RFE/RL and MBN (pictured), said:

“This is the most decisive moment in modern Iranian history since the Islamic Republic’s founding in 1979. America needs to seize it to talk directly to the Iranian people – to educate, to inspire and to tell them that a different future could lie ahead. The more we can do that, the better.

“I’m glad RFE/RL and MBN are still functioning, albeit at diminished capacity. The current conflict with the tyrannical rulers of Iran underscores the need for American voices to counter the lies and disinformation of U.S. adversaries. These tools can’t be allowed to disappear.”

Berman was the Trump administration’s transition team leader at USAGM before new leadership arrived earlier this year.

Channelbox brings The Filipino Channel to UK’s Freeview

17 June 2025

Channelbox brings The Filipino Channel to UK’s Freeview

Global Distribution Services is proud to announce the launch of The Filipino Channel (TFC) on Channelbox, now available to UK audiences on Freeview Channel 271.

Operated by ABS-CBN Europe Ltd., TFC is the world’s leading platform for Filipino entertainment and news. This launch marks the first time a dedicated Filipino FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channel is available on Freeview, giving UK-based Filipino communities—and fans of dynamic Asian content—free, easy access to 24/7 all-Filipino programming.

Broadcast through Channelbox’s hybrid-streaming service on Freeview, TFC delivers a vibrant lineup of the Philippines’ most-watched news and current affairs, acclaimed dramas, family comedies, reality and talent shows, talk programs, and lifestyle content—offering a cultural lifeline for the Filipino diaspora and a gateway for global audiences to engage with Philippine culture.

This FAST channel launch is powered by Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI) technology for seamless, buffer-free streaming, and features a fully compliant Consent Management Platform (CMP) to meet UK data protection standards—creating a privacy-first, high-quality viewing experience for audiences and advertisers alike.

Tanya Kronfli, Founder and Director at Global Distribution Services, commented:

“We’re proud to bring TFC to Freeview viewers through Channelbox and celebrate the vibrant stories and voices of the Filipino community. This launch continues our mission to expand meaningful, community-focused content using modern, scalable broadcast solutions.”

Maribel Hernaez, Business Unit Head for Global Content & Distribution Services at ABS-CBN Global

“The Filipino Channel is more than just an entertainment channel —it’s a bridge to home for millions of Filipinos abroad. We’re excited to connect with audiences in the UK and share the very best of Filipino creativity and culture.”

TFC is now live on Channelbox and available to all Freeview UK viewers at Channel 271.

ABC Radio Australia’s Marshall Islands launch completes historic Pacific expansion

17 June 2025

ABC Radio Australia’s Marshall Islands launch completes historic Pacific expansion

ABC Radio Australia’s ambitious two-year FM expansion project in the Pacific has concluded with the recent launch in the Marshall Islands of a new FM transmitter. Residents of Majuro atoll are the latest listeners to join the network, which has doubled and now extends to 25 locations across the region.

The expansion project was funded by the Australian Federal Government’s Indo Pacific Broadcasting Strategy and began in 2023, when ABC Radio Australia established an FM service in Gizo, Solomon Islands. Since then, the ABC has partnered with broadcasters and transmission providers across the region, to develop and launch services in Federated States of Micronesia (Pohnpei), Palau (Koror), Nauru, Kiribati (Tarawa), Tuvalu (Funafuti), Cook Islands (Rarotonga), Auki in the Solomon Islands and three additional Papua New Guinea locations, in East New Britain (Kokopo), Manus Island (Lorengau) and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (Buka).

Alongside its investment in broadcast and delivery infrastructure, ABC Radio Australia has also tripled its Pacific content offering, launching new news, music, sport and cultural programming to better entertain and inform its growing audiences.

ABC Radio Australia celebrated the milestone by co-hosting an event with the Australian Ambassador to the Marshall Islands, Paul Wilson, at his residence in Majuro. The event was attended by representatives of the Marshall Islands Government.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “The completion of the ABC Radio Australia FM transmission expansion project has been a landmark success – allowing the network to significantly grow its reach and listenership across the Pacific. In the 85 years since ABC Radio Australia first broadcast across the region, the network has undergone significant changes with this latest expansion in transmission sites. This represents the next chapter for ABC Radio Australia, providing new audiences with our slate of trusted news and Pacific-focused radio programming.”

ABC Radio Australia Manager Justine Kelly said: “Across the past two years, our ABC Radio Australia teams have been working incredibly hard to deliver this remarkable project. We are proud to be available across even more locations throughout the Pacific as our talented team of presenters and comprehensive suite of shows, share the incredible stories and voices from across the region. We deliver the latest in breaking news, sports coverage, new music and conversations about culture, the environment, health, faith and science.”

WAYS TO LISTEN: Audiences in Majuro can now tune into ABC Radio Australia on 106.7FM. There are multiple ways to listen to ABC Radio Australia across the Pacific – live via internet streaming, through 24-hour FM stations in your area, or by catching up with full episodes on ABC Pacific online.

For all media enquiries, contact: Annalise Ramponi, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, ABC International Ramponi.annalise@abc.net.au

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.

About ABC International Services For 85 years, the ABC has been broadcasting internationally. ABC Australia television has a monthly viewership across the Asia-Pacific of at least 10.5 million* and is available internationally via more than 100 rebroadcast partners. ABC Radio Australia’s FM radio service has a monthly urban listenership of at least 355,500** in the Pacific and Timor-Leste. ABC Pacific, the digital home for bespoke and curated content for Pacific audiences, has approximately 487,500*** followers on ABC Pacific Facebook.

ABC Asia, the digital home for bespoke and curated content for audiences across Asia, has over 5.7 million***followers on ABC Asia Facebook.

*Viewership in Asia measured by Ipsos Affluent Asia data, estimations and extrapolations (May 24), in the Pacific viewership measured by Tebbutt data, estimations and extrapolations (Nov 23). Total audience number is approximate and has not been de-duped. **Based on ABC-commissioned Tebbutt ‘Media Usage in the Pacific Survey’ (Nov 2023) noting listenership figure is estimated based on urban populations of six Pacific countries with the Timor-Leste audience figure extrapolated.

**Figures taken from Khoros Analytics (Sept 24).

e& Egypt and MBC Group Shahid streaming partnership

16 June 2025

e& Egypt and MBC Group Shahid streaming partnership

e& Egypt and Shahid, the flagship streaming platform of MBC Group, have announced an exclusive strategic partnership to deliver Shahid’s content library to e& Egypt customers across the country. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in enriching Egypt’s digital entertainment landscape and strengthening both brands’ presence in the market.

The partnership reflects the shared vision of both companies to offer value-driven, digitally integrated entertainment solutions to a wide segment of Egyptian consumers. It also supports e& Egypt’s digital transformation journey and Shahid’s strategic presence in the Egyptian market.

Under this partnership, e& Egypt customers will enjoy all content on Shahid platform exclusively as part of their bundle with direct integration with various e& Egypt offerings such as Emerald, VDSL, Hekaya, Demagh Tanya, Akwa Coins, and e& Cash.

This collaboration reflects e& Egypt’s direction towards digital transformation, with a strong focus on providing real added value to customers through smart partnerships with leading regional and global brands. It also supports the company’s positioning as a fully integrated technology group offering telecom services alongside the best digital and entertainment provider in the region.

“Through this collaboration, we aim to empower our customers with access to premium Arabic content that aligns with their interests and aspirations, while offering exclusive benefits and a fully integrated entertainment experience,” Samer Mourad, Vice President of Consumer at e& Egypt, said.

He added: “At e& Egypt, we are committed to delivering innovative services that meet the demands of the digital era and reinforce our position as a leading provider of telecommunications and technology solutions in the Egyptian market.”

“We believe that offering real added value to customers through smart partnerships is the optimal way to strengthen our brand. We look forward to continuously developing our services and expanding our offerings to deliver an exceptional digital experience,” he emphasized.

“We’re excited about this strategic partnership which gives us a unique opportunity to reach e& Misr’s Egyptian customers with Shahid’s market-leading streaming entertainment. The Egyptian market remains a strategic area for us, and we look forward to expanding our presence through innovative integration in a wide range of complementary e& telecom and payment services”. Director of Partnerships at Shahid, Scott Weeman said.

It is worth noting that e& Egypt has been a pioneer in telecommunications and IT in Egypt since its establishment in 2006. The company has seen significant growth in the Egyptian market, providing a wide range of services to millions of customers. It remains committed to keeping pace with rapid technological advancements to meet the ever-growing needs of its customers.

Shahid is the first and leading SVOD and AVOD streaming platform in the Arab world by MBC GROUP, offering premium content to Arab families, including binge worthy exclusive Shahid Originals; Shahid Premieres; Arabic movies fresh off the box-office; live TV channels in true HD quality; as well as international offerings, sports, kids offering, Arabic Adaptations, Turkish titles, more than 40 FAST channels, as well as Shahid Shorts – an exclusive hub for trending reels and short videos.

[Source: MBC press release]