NHK WORLD-JAPAN focus in September: Aichi

31 August 2026

NHK WORLD-JAPAN focus in September: Aichi

Travelling the Seasons of Japan

Aichi Prefecture September 20 Sun. 5:10/11:10/17:10/22:10 (UTC) Journey through Aichi’s changing seasons with stunning footage filmed over a year, featuring cormorant fishing, all-night festivals, free-diving harvests, and the people preserving local traditions.
Game Genome September 13 Sun. 1:10/7:10/13:10/19:10 (UTC) MOTHER 2 (EarthBound) MOTHER 2 is a classic RPG known internationally as EarthBound.Its creator, Itoi Shigesato, joins longtime fans to discuss how the game was made, revealing secrets behind its lasting popularity.
Dining with the Chef Tuesdays 1:30 /6:30/12:30 /17:30/22:30 (UTC) Traditional techniques and resourceful recipes! Chefs Saito and Rika, present their unique approaches to cooking delicious Japanese food.

BBC announces Lagos to host the Trust is Earned disinformation forum

18 August 2026

BBC announces Lagos to host the Trust is Earned disinformation forum

The BBC World Service will host ‘Trust is Earned’ – a day-long disinformation forum – in Lagos on 3 September 2026. The day will include a live BBC programme recording, an exclusive film screening, panel discussions, workshops and live demonstrations.

Bringing together journalists, educators, content creators and technology experts at the University of Lagos, we’ll explore how disinformation operates, how the BBC deconstructs it and the increasing involvement of AI in its formation.

As part of the Trust is Earned forum, there will be a special recording of BBC World Questions at the University of Lagos. Jonny Dymond will chair a panel of leading businesspeople, activists, influencers, and journalists – who will take questions from the audience. The panel will debate issues around disinformation, fake news, trust in politics and the upcoming Nigerian elections.

Elsewhere, the day will include:

An exclusive preview of the latest documentary from the award-winning BBC Eye investigations team
Panel discussions on the influence of AI on democracy, and the threats posed by disinformation as propaganda
Workshops on how the BBC uses open-source intelligence (OSINT) in its investigative journalism
A session on identifying disinformation and how to navigate it

The forum reflects the BBC World Service’s commitment to combatting disinformation, supporting media literacy and helping people critically assess the information they encounter daily.

Fiona Crack, Interim Global Director, BBC News, says: “Disinformation is the biggest challenge facing journalism in our time and it has the power to confuse, conflate and in the extreme, cause conflict. Not only must the BBC be the number one source of trusted news, we must also empower audiences to identify and navigate disinformation in their everyday lives. The Trust is Earned forum will give those attending the critical tools they need, and it will showcase the skills of our teams who counter disinformation through their journalism.”

BBC World Service: Trust is Earned – Lagos, 2026 takes place on Thursday 3 September August at the University of Lagos.

Refreshments will be provided for attendees. Free tickets for Trust is Earned sessions and for the special recording of World Questions are available on the BBC Shows and Tours website. Tickets are limited.

Trust is Earned: Lagos 2026 is the second forum to take place this year. Trust is Earned: Sao Paulo will be held in August.

AfroCinema Launches on Freeview UK via Channelbox

18 August 2026

AfroCinema Launches on Freeview UK via Channelbox

AfroCinema, the home of African cinema, has launched on the streaming TV service Channelbox, available on Freeview channel 271.

AfroCinema is a dedicated 24-hour movie channel celebrating the best of African film — from the vibrant world of Nollywood, the second largest film industry in the world, to award-winning productions from across the continent. The channel offers viewers a compelling mix of epic dramas, romantic stories, action films, comedies, and royal movies, showcasing the extraordinary storytelling talent emerging from Africa and its diaspora.

Channelbox is a free-to-air, multi-channel OTT platform available on connected Freeview channel 271 and through Channelbox-enabled television sets connected to both an aerial and the internet. The platform offers a unique interface that delivers each channel as the equivalent of a dedicated Freeview service and supports FAST channel monetisation across more than 70 channels, bringing a broad range of content to UK audiences.

AfroCinema’s programming spans the full breadth of African cinema — from Nollywood blockbusters and South African dramas to independent gems and diaspora films that reflect the rich diversity of African storytelling. With African filmmakers now competing at major international festivals and African cinema enjoying unprecedented global momentum in 2026, the channel arrives at a pivotal moment for the genre.

Tanya Kronfli, Head of Business Development at Channelbox, commented: “Channelbox is committed to celebrating diversity in genre, culture and language. We are delighted to welcome AfroCinema to our platform. Their rich selection of African films enhances our Freeview offering and strengthens our connection with multicultural audiences across the UK.”

Raufu Onigbogi, Chief Executive Officer at AfroCinema, commented: “We are delighted to launch on Channelbox and to reach UK audiences through such a well-established platform. This is an exciting milestone for us, and we look forward to sharing the very best of African cinema with viewers across the country.”

AfroCinema is now live on Channelbox and available to viewers across the UK on Freeview channel 271.

Shure Named Exclusive Event Partner for the AIBs 2026

4 August 2026

Shure Named Exclusive Event Partner for the AIBs 2026

Partnership reflects a shared commitment to empowering media voices and advancing exceptional storytelling

The Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) is delighted to announce that Shure has become the Exclusive Event Partner for the AIBs 2026, the 22nd annual international awards for journalism and factual productions.

The partnership brings together one of the world’s most respected audio technology companies with one of the media industry’s most prestigious international competitions, reinforcing the vital role that audio plays in compelling storytelling across television, radio, podcasting and digital platforms.

The AIBs recognise excellence in journalism and factual production from around the world, with entries welcomed in all languages and from organisations of every size. Judged by an international panel of senior editors, producers, commissioners and media executives, the AIBs have become recognised as the global barometer of journalism and factual storytelling.

As the Exclusive Event Partner, Shure will work closely with the AIB throughout the year to support initiatives that bring together journalists, programme makers and production professionals from around the world. A key element of the partnership will be the AIB-Shure Masterclasses designed to share knowledge, expertise and best practices among content creators working across multiple platforms and genres.

This partnership reflects two organisations collaborating and strengthening connections between programme makers, journalists and the technology providers that enable high-quality storytelling.

Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the AIB, said:

“Shure is a company whose reputation for excellence is recognised throughout the global media industry. Sound is fundamental to effective storytelling, whether in radio, podcasts, television, documentary filmmaking or digital content. We are therefore delighted to welcome Shure as Event Partner for the AIBs 2026.

“Beyond supporting the awards themselves, this partnership will create valuable opportunities for journalists and programme makers to learn from one another, exchange ideas and develop new skills through a programme of masterclasses and collaborative activities. We look forward to working closely with the Shure team over the coming months.”

Peter James, Vice President Global Business Development, Shure, said:

“At Shure, we believe that great journalism and factual storytelling help people betterconnect with the world around them. The AIBs celebrate the very best work being produced across the globe, making them a natural fit for Shure’s commitment to supporting broadcasters, content creators and media professionals.”

“Audio is at the heart of every great story. Whether audiences are listening to a podcast, watching a documentary or following breaking news coverage, high-quality sound plays a critical role in creating engagement, understanding and trust. Through this partnership, we look forward to highlighting the importance of audio excellence and supporting the next generation of storytellers.”

The winners of the AIBs 2026 will be announced at a gala awards ceremony in London on 20 November 2026, bringing together journalists, producers, commissioners, editors and media executives from around the world.

Further information can be found at the AIBs website, www.theaibs.tv.

NHK WORLD-JAPAN programme focus for August: The A-Bomb Manga that Promotes Global Peace

1 August 2026

NHK WORLD-JAPAN programme focus for August: The A-Bomb Manga that Promotes Global Peace

Japan in Focus

Project X: Unsung Heroes August 2 Sun. 1:10/7:10/13:10/19:10 (UTC) Barefoot Gen: Bridging the Divide The true story of how amateur translators brought a manga about the Hiroshima atomic bombing to the US and the world, bridging cultural divides and spreading a message of peace.
Japan in Focus August 28 Fri. 0:30/5:30/10:30/15:30/21:30 (UTC) Hikikomori Growing Together Through Farming　 A region in Japan is spotlighted for its unique method to help “hikikomori,” individuals withdrawn from society, by having them work in farming, creating a network of support.
Science View Tuesdays 14:30 /20:30/3:30 /9:30/19:00 (UTC) Science for our future. Cutting edge research, innovation and technology being created by Japanese scientists and engineers.

France 24 English now providing 24/7 subtitles

31 July 2026

France 24 English now providing 24/7 subtitles

France 24’s English-language channel now features subtitles available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across all distribution platforms.

This new service is powered by DVB Teletext subtitling technology, enabling viewers to turn subtitles on whenever they wish using their remote control.

Developed in partnership with france.tv access, the accessibility brand of france.tv studio, this innovation is based on advanced AI-powered automatic transcription. To ensure a high level of accuracy and reliability, the system has been trained on the tens of thousands of articles and videos available on france24.com/en.

Operators and distribution platforms carrying France 24’s English-language channel can now offer subtitles simply by enabling the subtitle data embedded in the channel’s broadcast signal.

This enhancement improves access to news and information for viewers who are not fully proficient in English and makes it easier to follow the channel in public spaces where the sound is muted or difficult to hear. It also provides a more accessible and inclusive viewing experience for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences. Finally, it enables France 24 to meet regulatory requirements in certain markets and comply with subtitling standards set by some distribution partners.