21 September 2016
Tata Communications, Official Connectivity Provider of Formula 1®, Formula One Management and Sky have tested in action live Ultra High Definition (UHD) broadcasting at the 2016 FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE AIRLINES SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX. Following this first ever end-to-end broadcast of an F1 race in UHD, Sky will show all races of the 2017 season in UHD.
The successful proof of concept involved the installation of multiple state-of-the-art UHD cameras at the Singapore circuit. The footage from these was mixed in the FOM Broadcast Centre onsite, and the UHD output distributed live to Sky’s HQ in Osterley in the UK using Tata Communications’ Video Connect service. Video Connect enables broadcasters to deliver live video feeds over the world’s largest wholly-owned subsea fibre network, ensuring the highest quality experience for viewers.
“This proof of concept with Sky and Tata Communications demonstrates our ongoing commitment to make F1 the ultimate sports experience by harnessing the power of cutting-edge broadcasting technologies,” says John Morrison, Chief Technical Officer of Formula One Management.
“Delivering the race action seamlessly in UHD from any Grand Prix location to homes requires superfast, reliable connectivity on a global scale,” says Mehul Kapadia, Managing Director of F1 Business at Tata Communications. “And, other game-changing technologies like virtual reality will rely on ubiquitous, superfast connectivity too. As the break-neck speed of technology innovation continues, we’ll work with Formula One Management to enable fans to experience the exhilarating world of F1 in new ways.”
“We pride ourselves on being an extremely forward-thinking F1 broadcaster with a special focus on innovation,” says Keith Lane, Director of Operations at Sky. “UHD offers four times higher resolution than HD, making F1 a more powerful, immersive experience for fans than ever before. The success of this proof of concept in Singapore shows that we’re on track to show every race live in UHD next season using our next-generation Sky Q home entertainment service, and to continue to give our customers the action-packed F1 experiences that they crave.”
The UHD test in Singapore follows a series of other ambitious proof of concepts by Tata Communications and Formula One Management around live Over the Top content delivery and 4K broadcasting.
(Source: Tata Communications press release)
20 September 2016
Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), operator of the world’s first Globalized Network, powered by its leading satellite backbone, announced that TIM, one of the largest mobile communications operators in Brazil, has contracted to incorporate Intelsat EpicNG high-throughput services into its network infrastructure, providing expanded connectivity throughout the country.
Under the multi-year agreement, TIM will become the first mobile network operator in Brazil to incorporate high-throughput satellite (HTS) services into its infrastructure. Intelsat’s first EpicNG satellite, Intelsat 29e, located at 310º East, is a high-performance, high-efficiency satellite that will enable TIM to deliver more throughput across its network, with a backwards-compatible design that allows the use of existing hardware. This means TIM can satisfy its current and future demands while improving its total cost of network ownership.
The exceptional performance brought by Intelsat 29e’s Ku-band spot beams will enable the fast and efficient roll-out of new sites in currently underserved areas and support the deployment of 3G and 4G services. The Intelsat EpicNG solution will augment TIM’s existing C-band network to serve new demand with attractive economics.
“Our goal is to provide more throughput, and achieve high penetration within our service territories. Our Intelsat EpicNG solution allows us to do more than just improve services for our existing mobile customers; we will also be able to deliver connectivity in remote and less-densely-populated regions of Brazil where terrestrial infrastructure is difficult to efficiently deploy,” said Marcelo Duarte, TIM’s Wholesale Director. “Intelsat has been a strong partner in the development of our network infrastructure and our business, and when we looked for means to continue our evolution, Intelsat EpicNG proved to be the only option for satisfying customer needs today as well as for establishing an infrastructure that can efficiently and cost-effectively meet demands in the future.”
“TIM needed a solution that would support its technology roadmap of deploying 3G and 4G, as well as its desire to improve coverage and services in remote areas. The ideal solution would minimize disruption in TIM’s network, enable the use of existing equipment and be rapidly deployable and scalable,” said Carmen Gonzalez-Sanfeliu, Intelsat’s Regional Vice President, Latin America. “The design of Intelsat EpicNG meets these requirements and allows TIM to evolve its network and coverage with the right economics, enabling TIM to reach new markets and develop new applications and services. Many mobile network operators are looking to upgrade their networks and extend their reach, and Intelsat EpicNG is optimized to deliver the improved performance that solves both needs.”
Intelsat 29e is the first Intelsat EpicNG satellite to serve Brazil. In 2017, the company expects to launch two more Intelsat EpicNG satellites that will also provide full coverage of Brazil with additional throughput and resilience, demonstrating Intelsat’s commitment to the region.
Supporting Resources:
(Source: Intelsat press release)
20 September 2016
In September and October, Euronews viewers and users worldwide will be able to discover in 13 languages the attractions of Peru, the third-largest country in South America.
Promperù, the country’s promotion board, has selected Euronews to showcase Peru’s attractions in order to support its export and tourism sectors.
As part of Peru’s international branding campaign targeting investors, business people and travellers around the world, Promperù will benefit from Euronews distribution on TV in 200 countries worldwide, and from its powerful position in Europe, where Euronews has established itself as the leading international news channel.
For a four-week period starting on 19 September 2016, a multi-platform campaign plays out on Euronews, with conventional TV adverts and an extensive digital component.
This package is supplemented by a special series of “Life” magazine, a programme devoted to discovering countries across the world, which will feature original reports.
The “Peru Life” series will be broadcast on Euronews, which is available in more than 200 countries, and digitally on euronews.com, the “Euronews Discover” YouTube channel, and mobile applications.
In parallel, Euronews’ sales department is running a promotional campaign on TV and social media.
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Sabine Troccaz, Sales Director for the Americas |
“”We’re delighted to partner again with Promperu for their 2016 country branding campaign. Part of this multi-platforms campaign that includes an intensive spots campaign, as well as a strong digital component; the Peru life series produced in 13 languages will interest the worldwide business, investor community and travelers. The series will put Peru in the spot light and showcase the main assets of this diverse country that has experienced incredible and sustained economic growth over the past decade”.
Peru Life
Euronews reporter Monica Pinna travelled to Peru and picked three themes to help discover today’s Peru.
Monica introduces us to Peruvian cooking, one of the most richly diverse in the world. She meets leading chefs influenced both by the country’s three climates, which produce extremely varied ingredients, and by Asia and Europe, where many Peruvians have ancestry.
Peru is a renowned producer of coffee and cocoa. Monica meets farmers in the mountains of the Andean Cordillera, who attract exporters with their high-quality crops and whose cooperative ensures that their products are sold through the fair-trade channel.
As for Peru’s history, Monica unveils the secrets of the capital Lima and its cultural treasures, superb monuments, and arts scene.
A keen photographer, Monica Pinna is keeping a travel diary, available on euronews.com in which she shares her favourite finds.
(Source: Euronews press release)
19 September 2016
Euronews harnesses the versatility of Samsung Gear 360 to create 360-degree content for interactive video reporting.
Euronews announced today a project to create virtual reality (VR) news content by leveraging the Samsung Gear 360 to provide viewers an immersive experience.
Fully integrated in the regular workflow of its international newsroom, each week Euronews produces 360-degree news content using the Samsung Gear 360, which launched earlier this year.
As part of this project, supported by funding from the Google Digital News Initiative (DNI) Innovation Fund, Euronews journalists and its network of correspondents are equipped with a Samsung Gear 360 device and trained to maximise opportunities presented by the new platform.
The immersive journalism puts viewers in command by allowing them to choose the angle they want to watch the news – consumers can change the view of the newscast by using a mouse on a PC or by swiping their mobile screen. Original 360-degree content will include reports on current affairs, culture and sports, as well as sponsored content developed in collaboration with advertising partners.
The Samsung Gear 360 is lightweight and easy to use, making it convenient for Euronews reporters to transport while shooting news stories in Europe and around the world. News teams will use the device to capture breaking news and feature stories. The streamlined post-production editing process of content created by the Gear 360 means videos can be published quickly and efficiently for time-sensitive stories.
The interactive videos and images produced in collaboration with Samsung are available on PCs, tablets and mobile devices for consumers’ viewing pleasure – and with virtual reality headsets offering a more advanced viewing experience, there are new opportunities to reach a large audience and promote Euronews’ groundbreaking “All Views” philosophy.
Euronews incorporates the 360-degree news reports into regular workflows and publish content across digital platforms including euronews.com, YouTube, Facebook and VR sites such as Vrideo.
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Olivier de Montchenu, Euronews Sales Managing Director |
“Euronews’ immersive journalism project is a very exciting and promising development that will involve journalists and editors from across the company.
Our goal is to develop a sustainable monetisation model for our digital news ecosystem. Today, we are proud to cooperate with Samsung to enhance the work of our journalists and offer an unrivalled degree of reporting from a consumer media outlet, changing the way people view news forever.
In addition, Euronews brings to Samsung an opportunity to promote its Gear 360 device. As a multilingual media outlet, users will be able to watch 360-degree reports about international current affairs in their own language. We are convinced it is a good opportunity to reach a worldwide audience.”
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Duncan Hooper, Euronews Editor in chief, digital platforms |
“Our goal with our 360 project is to involve journalists from across our operations. The Samsung Gear 360 is intuitive to use and will allow us to create high-quality videos without requiring extensive technical training. Because it is small and lightweight, we can take it with us on any shoot and the simple post production process means that for the first time, we are able to turn around VR content quickly for time-sensitive news events.”
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Heesun Kim, Vice President of Global Marketing,
Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. |
“This is an exciting time as we push boundaries in the way news content is created and delivered through our collaboration with Euronews. Imagine being able to sit in the stands of a sporting event happening across the globe or standing in the crowd, witnessing an important political debate. With the Gear 360, Samsung makes this possible by offering viewers a truly immersive and interactive 360-degree experience.”
(Source: Euronews press release)
19 September 2016
“Top Chef” arrives in the region. Talented chefs from all over the Middle East set to go head-to-head in the Arabic-language adaptation of the popular reality TV cooking programme Launching on MBC1 and MBC MASR2
The world’s most prominent cooking competition is now available in Arabic
During its debut season, 15 men and women from all over the Arab world will compete in a number of cooking challenges, all taking place under the watchful eyes of a star panel of judges, comprising of Bobby Chinn, Maroun Chedid & Mona Mosly
Episode One of Season One of ‘Top Chef’ will air Wednesday 21st September at
6:30PM GMT/ 21:30PM KSA, and will continue to air every Wednesday
Dubai, September 19th, 2016: It’s certainly not going to be easy. Fifteen chefs from around the Arab world will have to stay quick on their feet as they juggle between balancing weird and wonderful ingredients, coming up with unique delicacies and preparing international-style cuisine – all for the chance to be crowned the Middle East’s very first ‘Top Chef’.
The Arabic-language adaptation of the world-famous reality culinary-competition television series launches this week on MBC1 and MBC MASR2, with all cooking challenges taking place under the watchful eyes of Egyptian-Chinese internationally renowned chef, restaurateur and cookbook author Bobby Chinn; celebrity Lebanese chef Maroun Chedid and Saudi chef Mona Mosly.
Every week, ‘Top Chef’ will see the contestants take part in three segments – a Quickfire Challenge, Elimination Challenge and Judges’ Table. At the end of each episode, one or more chefs are named the winners of the day, while one chef is eliminated from the competition.
The Arabic edition of ‘Top Chef’ is directed by Wassim Succar, while Mona Mosly will present weekly updates in addition to her role as a member of the judging panel.
The programme was unveiled for the first time yesterday at a special launch event for media and other VIPs, held by MBC Group at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai.
Following a sneak preview, guests got the chance to take part in a friendly cooking competition, preparing dishes in similar challenges to the show. This was followed by a special lunch prepared by none other than the show’s celebrity panel of judges.
(Source: MBC press release)
19 September 2016
France 24 has extended its distribution across Turkey by concluding a new agreement with Türk Telekom Tivibu, subsidiary of Türk Telekom.
The channel is now available in French to more than 400,000 new households as part of the Tivibu basic offer, on channel 206.
In addition to this new agreement, France 24 is available in Turkey on the major cable and satellite offers, reaching 8.2 million homes, representing 93% of all digital TV homes.
The channel broadcasts in English and French on D-SMART (channels 306 and 311) and TURKSAT (channels 75 and 74), and in English on DIGITURK (channel 146).
France 24 is also accessible in Turkey via direct-to-home satellite in three languages via Hotbird or Astra.
(Source: France 24 press release)
