2 August 2016
An Azerbaijani court will convene on August 3 to hear RFE/RL’s appeal against tax-related claims that were used by the government as grounds to shut down the company’s Baku bureau in December 2014.
“The commercial court should affirm that all claims brought against us are baseless, and the prosecutor should move without delay to unfreeze our Baku bureau’s bank accounts, return the company seal, stamp and documents that were confiscated in December 2014, unfreeze the personal bank accounts of our Baku staff members, and let us get on with our journalistic mission of providing independent news and information to the people of Azerbaijan,” said RFE/RL President Thomas Kent (pictured).
Earlier this year Azerbaijan’s Supreme Court effectively threw out two claims against RFE/RL’s Baku bureau when it overturned two charges against RFE/RL journalist Khadija Ismayilova (pictured right), leading to her release from prison in May. Of two remaining allegations against RFE/RL, one involves the Azerbaijani government’s interpretation of a bilateral tax treaty that exempts U.S. nonprofit organisations from corporate income tax. The other relates to the process of accrediting journalists, which the Azerbaijani government revised effective July 1 this year, and with which RFE/RL is in compliance.
RFE/RL was forced to close its Baku bureau in May 2015, after it was raided by Azerbaijani authorities on December 26, 2014. Agents with the prosecutor’s office confiscated company property, interrogated over 20 staff members without legal representation, imposed travel bans on employees, and froze company and personal bank accounts pursuant to a tax inspection on unspecified grounds.
The raid came just weeks after the top advisor to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev published a statement in the country’s official media calling RFE/RL journalists spies and threats to the country’s national security.
Despite the closure, RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service has continued to actively engage audiences in Azerbaijan via satellite and the Internet, attracting nearly 1.5 million visits per month to its website, and more than 20 million views on YouTube during the first six months of 2016.
1 August 2016
As part of the support project by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for the recovery from the Kumamoto Earthquake, Japan International Broadcasting Inc. (JIB) will broadcast a series of TV programmes entitled Japan Food Quest – Kyushu – comprising of programmes domestically produced by broadcasting members of The Minkyokyo. The series will air starting in August continuing through September, 2016.
Due to the Kumamoto Earthquake, the number of tourists from abroad visiting the Kyushu Region has drastically decreased. A proactive worldwide presentation of the charm and appeal of Kyushu, particularly its local harvests and food specialties, is necessary in order to bring back and attract more overseas tourists to the region.
Japan Food Quest – Kyushu – is a series of 30-minute documentary programmes featuring various food specialties from Kyushu. Each programme also takes a look at the efforts of the farmers and producers, as well insights on the cultural landscape of the area. JIB will broadcast nine programmes produced by the broadcasting members of The Minkyokyo, with an updating commentary from the programmes’ directors, on NHK WORLD TV, in English. (On-air every Friday, 8:30 am JST, broadcast four times each programme)
・Aug. 05- Tonkotsu Ramen: The Heart and Soul of Hakata (RKB Mainichi Broadcasting Corp.)
・Aug. 12- Kumamoto Salad Onions: A Vegetable-led Revival (“RKK” Kumamoto Broadcasting Co., Ltd.)
・Aug. 19- Ayu Fish Sauce: A Saucy Success Story (Oita Broadcasting System, Inc.)
・Aug. 26- Adversity and Triumph: Miyazaki Beef (Miyazaki Broadcasting Co., Ltd.)
・Sep. 02- Makurazaki Dried Bonito: New Recipe for a Tasty Classic (Minaminihon Broadcasting Co.,Ltd.)
・Sep. 09- Champon: Secrets behind Nagasaki’s Signature Dish (Nagasaki Broadcasting Company)
・Sep. 16- Amanatsu: The Fruit of Dreams (RKB Mainichi Broadcasting Corp.)
・Sep. 23- Kumamoto Shio Tomatoes: Gifts from the Sea (“RKK” Kumamoto Broadcasting Co., Ltd.)
・Sep. 30- Pearly Specialty: Miyazaki Caviar (Miyazaki Broadcasting Co.,Ltd.)
※For more information, please visit the series’ website: kyushu.jibtv.com
The series is also scheduled for broadcast on Taiwan’s terrestrial channel FTV-Formosa TV in English with Chinese subtitles, and South Korea’s terrestrial channel OBS dubbed in Korean.
(Source: JIB press release)
1 August 2016
Establishing a new age of family TV entertainment as Saudi Football League returns to “Arabsat”
Arabsat commits to protecting viewers from pirated content
MBC PRO SPORTS channels resume broadcast on Arabsat with Saudi Super Cup between Al Ahli and Al Hilal
MBC Group channels announced the transition of its gulf channels and MBC Pro Sports Channels to “Arabsat” through a strategic partnership signed with “Arabsat” today. The cooperation aims to establish a new era of family TV entertainment reinforcing high quality viewership. While the transition of some channels will be exclusive to “Arabsat”, the next stages will focus on providing sophisticated reliable receivers, enabling viewers to experience the best in modern TV.
Khalid Bin Ahmed Balkheyour, “Arabsat” CEO stated: “We are pleased with this partnership between Arabsat and MBC Group; it is proof that the media industry is progressing in the right direction”. Balkheyour reiterated the benefits of this collaboration: “Most important is the protection of Intellectual Property Rights in the region through our commitment to prohibiting any channel from broadcasting pirated content, and so ultimately protecting and serving the Arab viewers’ interest”.
“Arabsat” initiated new HD technology several years ago in collaboration with Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) with the aim of improving the HD quality and growing it in the Arab world.
Sam Barnett, MBC Group CEO said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Arabsat and progressively, we will be moving our Gulf focused channels exclusively onto Arabsat.” Barnett added “Arabsat enjoys high viewership in general and in the GCC in particular and we’re sure that the addition of more exclusive MBC channels will boost Arabsat’s penetration further”.
Most immediately this partnership sees the return of the Saudi Football League to Arabsat. MBC PRO SPORTS will broadcast on “Arabsat” as of Monday 8th August during the Live broadcast of the Saudi Super Cup between Al Ahli and Al Hilal taking place in London.
(Source: Arabsat press release)
29 July 2016
Deutsche Welle (DW) has recorded a marked increase in its audience reach over the last year. 135 million people watch, listen to or use DW programmes and services at least once a week, compared to 118 million in 2015. The English-language TV programme and digital offerings across languages, especially in social media, are particularly successful.
DW Director General Peter Limbourg: “The positive development in the number of users of our media strengthens our conviction to focus on digital media and extensive news programming in English. The popularity of our formats, especially in the Middle East and Africa, is proof of DW’s positive image. Thanks to our multi-language editorial teams, DW is a recognized and valued source of independent, reliable journalism.”
TV programs
DW offers 24-hour TV programmes in German, English, Spanish and Arabic. TV formats in 16 languages are broadcast in cooperation with more than 2,500 partners worldwide. DW now reaches 66 million viewers, as compared to 55 million in 2015.
Among the four languages, English programming is the most popular with viewers, reaching up to 30 million people every week. The redesigned English channel was launched in June 2015. The hourly DW News shows which make up the core programming are complemented by magazines, reports, documentaries, interviews and talk shows. Interruptions due to breaking news are possible at all times.
Over the last year, the weekly number of viewers of DW’s Arabic television program in the Middle East and North Africa has increased by about 50 percent, due to many partnerships with regional TV stations. The digital offerings in Arabic are nearly as successful. The German-language programme is currently being updated and will be relaunched early next year with a clear focus on culture.
Radio programmes
For international broadcasters, radio remains a relevant media – especially in Africa, where DW programmes can be received via FM and short wave. Currently 40 million people listen to DW programmes on a regular basis, especially in Hausa and Kiswahili.
Digital offerings
29 million users choose the digital offerings of the DW App, on dw.com, social media or affiliated platforms. In 2015, the weekly figure was 22 million. The interactive app is available to download for free at dw.com/app/ios or dw.com/app/android).
Facebook likewise plays an important role. The increasing use of DW video content draws a growing number of young fans in Asia, especially in Bangladesh and Pakistan. In the Arab world, DW’s digital contents reach more than nine million users per week; in Europe it is more than six million.
July 29, 2016
The figures are the results of an extrapolation drawn from more than 90 studies with 250,000 participants from more than 60 countries. DW’s Market and Media Research department also took into account user figures regarding DW platforms including apps, Facebook and Twitter, as well as partner platforms.
(Source: DW press release)
29 July 2016
Mediacorp honoured some of the best journalistic works across its news platforms – on television, radio, print and online – at the 2016 Mediacorp News Awards Gala last night. Now in its tenth year, the Mediacorp News Awards celebrates excellence in journalism and commends journalists for constantly raising the bar of Mediacorp’s news reporting.
The annual awards event was held at the Conrad Centennial Singapore last night and was attended by about 150 people including 100 journalists, as well as newsmakers and judges.
Mr Shaun Seow, Chief Executive Officer of Mediacorp, said in his speech, “The Great Digital Disruption has lowered the barriers to entry to our business. Journalism as a trade is under siege.” He added that Mediacorp journalists have what it takes to overcome these challenges. They include “quality journalism that begets trust”, “investing time and resources so that audiences find us wherever they are”, and attributes like “intelligence, determination, an unwavering moral and ethical compass, a relentless drive to beat the competition, and perhaps most importantly the ability to work tirelessly.”
The Special Guest at the Gala was Ms Sun Xueling, Member of Parliament and Deputy Chairperson of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Communications and Information.
The winners in the five categories of work are:
1)Documentary/Special of the Year
Winners:
1) Get Real: Heart of the Haze (English Current Affairs)
2) Mr. Lee, One Year On (TODAY)
2)Feature Story of the Year
Winners:
1) Sabah Quake: Heart of Courage (English Current Affairs)
2) Undercover Asia 3: Kasur’s Lost Children (Programme Production & International Production)
3)News Story of the Year
Winners:
1) Nepal Quake: Singapore Gurkha confronts destruction at home village of Barpak (Digital News)
2) Channel NewsAsia Exclusive: Interview With President of the United States Barack Obama (English Current Affairs)
4) Young Journalist of the Year
Winner: Jackson Board, Senior Correspondent (Digital News)
5) Journalist of the Year
Winners: 1) May Wong, Correspondent (International News)
2) Leong Wai Kit, Senior Reporter (Singapore News)
The winners were picked from a field of some 30 nominees by a jury comprising Mr Douglas
Foo, Chairman of Sakae Holdings Ltd, Ms Judy Hsu, Chief Executive Officer of Standard
Chartered Bank, and Mr Richard Magnus, Chairman of the Public Transport Council.
(Source: Mediacorp press release)
26 July 2016
Arqiva, the communications infrastructure and media services company, has today announced a partnership with Welsh free-to-air TV channel S4C, enabling its delivery in High Definition (HD).
Delivered by Arqiva’s spot-beam satellite technology, S4C HD launched on 7 June 2016 – three days prior to coverage of the UEFA Euro 2016 Championships, which saw the Welsh national team reach the semi-finals and attracted an audience of over 416,000 football fans throughout the course of the competition.
The channel – available on Sky and Freesat 104 in Wales (and Sky 134 and Freesat 120 in the rest of the UK) as well as on-demand platforms, including BBC iPlayer – will deliver high definition, Welsh-language broadcast coverage watched by over 629,000 viewers a week on- and offline.
Steve Cowin, Chief Technical Officer at S4C commented: “HD is important for TV viewers in 2016 – it is something that audiences both expect and deserve. The fact that we were able to do this in time for the UEFA 2016 Euro Championship was very important for us.
“We’re pleased to be extending our partnership with Arqiva to include the delivery of this HD option. From day one the HD stream was nearly faultless, meaning minimal alterations during transmission testing and final deployment within a short time period.
“The successful channel launch means our local audiences can now enjoy content – be that original drama (like Y Gwyll) entertainment, news or sports – both in high quality and Welsh-language, which is a significant step forward for us.”
David Crawford, Managing Director of Satellite & Media at Arqiva commented: “At Arqiva we pride ourselves on delivering high quality, reliable satellite solutions, and consider service excellence and client support core aspects of our DNA.
“Having delivered S4C in SD via DTT broadcast for many years, we’re delighted that the channel has confirmed its confidence in Arqiva’s expertise by extending its HD business to our talented satellite communications team. We look forward to continuing our relationship with S4C, helping them to deliver an even higher standard of content to their Welsh and wider UK audiences.”
