29 October 2015
Reuters-TIMA – which launched in February this year – is expanding its network by adding studio hubs in major international cities in order to meet the demand for news services among its global clients.
The new studio locations will be based in Moscow and Rio de Janeiro and will provide unprecedented access to breaking news and events, together with logistical and editorial support. This will improve services for clients in the run up to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and the 2018 World Cup in Russia, as well as coverage of other major stories from the region. This comes hot on the heels of the opening of an office in New York’s Times Square, the heart of the city’s commercial district, to complement Reuters-TIMA’s existing UN facility in New York.
Reuters, the world’s largest international multimedia news agency, teamed up with TIMA (The International Media Associates) – a global facilities and content services provider – in order to deliver state-of-the-art location services, including studio facilities and logistical support, to broadcasters and online publishers. Over 30 major media outlets have used the service to date, including CNN, Nippon TV, Euronews and Seven Network.
Recent stories covered by Reuters-TIMA include the twin bombings in Ankara during the pro-Kurdish and labour activists’ rally, the Papal visit to Cuba and North America in September and the European immigration crisis. Upcoming events booked by global clients include the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) which will be held near Paris and the UN General Assembly in New York.
The partnership brings together invaluable local knowledge with strategically placed broadcast and mobile resources. From robust satellite uplinks in America, Europe and Asia, to live feed services via dedicated fibre circuits, Reuters-TIMA has the technical facilities in place to greatly improve services for clients.
Reuters-TIMA is set up to cover every major world event with a network extending from Washington to Singapore, with a number of Middle Eastern offices, including TIMA’s facilities in Tehran.
Tim Santhouse, Reuters’ Global Head of Video Products, says: “We are committed to providing a comprehensive international broadcast service which is well-placed to cover all major international stories. At a time when many news organisations are reducing their resources, we are actively investing in our services so we can effectively respond to our clients’ needs.” Alla Salehian, CEO of TIMA, says “We are creating an infrastructure to help broadcasters cover the news more cost-efficiently and are therefore proud to unveil the new studio hubs. Once these are fully operational, we will be looking towards Asia and Africa.”
Reuters-TIMA services include:
Breaking news facilities: Reuters-TIMA provide every aspect of newsgathering facilities and support services on the ground during breaking news stories throughout the year.
Event facilities: The partnership also provides coverage of key global events and unprecedented access to events that are also of regional significance, as well providing logistical and editorial services and dedicated customer support.
Studio space: The service also offers clients access to high-tech live studio facilities around the world, many with stunning city backdrops.
www.reuters-tima.com
28 October 2015
SES S.A. (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), one of the world’s leading satellite operators, announced today that lifestyle content producer Scripps Networks Interactive has signed a strategic agreement to expand and migrate its North American distribution platform to a pair of SES satellites at the centre of the North American orbital arc.
Scripps Networks Interactive has joined other media and entertainment leaders already leveraging SES’s optimized cable distribution neighbourhood – built on three reliable satellites (SES-1 at 101° degrees West, SES-3 at 103° degrees West, and AMC-18 at 105° degrees West ) and ideally located to serve the North American market. With a full line-up of popular network brands, including HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, and Travel Channel, Scripps Networks Interactive is utilizing a full transponder of C-band capacity on SES-1 to deliver HD content, while another C-band transponder aboard SES-3 is facilitating the distribution of standard definition (SD) feeds.
The centre of the arc cable distribution platform is a vital component of SES’s fleet optimization over North America. Scripps Networks Interactive is among the early movers to relocate to the platform, which enables programmers to reach more than 100 million U.S. television homes through virtually every cable TV, IPTV and direct-to-home provider across the region.
“Scripps Networks Interactive is looking forward to being part of the SES centre of the arc satellite fleet and home to the next generation of cable distribution for North America,” noted Mark Hale, Executive Vice President, Global Operations and Chief Technology Officer for Scripps Networks Interactive. “This new heart of the orbital arc platform location is an essential part of our distribution strategy going forward.”
“This important agreement opens a new chapter in a longstanding partnership between Scripps Networks Interactive and SES, which is dedicated to the reliable delivery of great programming to millions of television viewers across North America,” said Elias Zaccack, Senior Vice President, Commercial Americas for SES. “Leading networks and content developers such as Scripps Networks Interactive are signing on to join this new, vitally important cable distribution platform at the centre of the arc. SES has optimized this trio of spacecraft to meet the needs of cable operators, broadcasters and programmers for years to come.”
27 October 2015
MTG announced on 26 October that it had simultaneously signed and completed the sale of its Russian and international pay-TV channel businesses for a total consideration of 45.5m US dollars. The Russian channel business comprises factual, movie and sports channels, while the international channel business comprises pan-regional factual channels and the TV1000 movie channels.
These transactions do not include MTG’s other entertainment channels or platforms, or the global Trace pay-TV channels business. The businesses being sold generated combined revenues of 448m Swedish krona [US $52.8m] and operating profits of 102m krona for the first nine months of 2015.
Sabiero Holdings Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the international private equity firm Baring Vostok, has acquired MTG’s international channels business, and Russian company LLC Sinerdzhi has acquired the Russian channels business.
Irina Gofman, MTG executive vice president and CEO of the acquired businesses (pictured left), will be responsible for these businesses under the new ownership, and the existing management teams and employees will also stay with the acquired businesses under the new ownership.
“The sale has been made necessary by the changes in the Russian laws regarding foreign ownership of mass media that were announced last year and come into effect from the beginning of next year. We have undertaken a thorough review of the options available to us in this context and to seek the best possible outcome for the stakeholders in the businesses and MTG as a whole.
“I want to thank all of our talented and loyal colleagues who have contributed so much to the remarkable growth of these operations that we launched. We wish you the very best for the future and look forward to further success together as we continue to carry the channels on our various pay-TV platforms.
“These transactions and the agreement announced by CTC Media aim to conclude our act! ions to comply with the new Russian laws. Our total cash income from our 123m dollars of cash investments in Russia since 2001 would then be approximately 770m dollars and equivalent to a cash return of more than five times our investment.” – Jorgen Madsen Lindemann, MTG president and CEO
A preliminary accounting and non-cash gain of approximately 40m krona will be reported as a non-recurring item in MTG’s Q4 and full year 2015 results as a result of these transactions announced today. The effects of the CTC Media transactions are separately reported in the “discontinued operations” lines of MTG’s accounts.
26 October 2015
AIB Lifetime Achievement Award to be presented to Larry King
Television legend and news icon Larry King is to be honoured with the presentation of the inaugural Association for International Broadcasting Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Award will be presented on 4 November 2015 during the 11th AIBs, the annual awards for factual television, radio and online productions at LSO St Luke’s in London.
Throughout his career King has interviewed the most prominent newsmakers in politics, as well as hundreds of celebrities and sports men and women. One of the best-known faces on news television in the world, he continues to delight audiences with his inimitable style and is set to return to UK screens with the launch of two shows on RT UK later this month – Larry King Now and Politicking with Larry King, developed specifically for RT.
“Larry King has been one of the most influential people in news television for the past three decades, and in radio for over 50 years,” said Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the AIB. “Larry is known across the world, thanks to his eponymous TV show that ran for 25 years on CNN and that’s now on RT Channel, Ora TV and Hulu. In recognition of his remarkable career on radio and television, and his extraordinary impact on the news industry, the Association for International Broadcasting is honoured to welcome Larry to London to present him with our inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award.”
With his trademark braces (or suspenders, as they are known in North America) making him instantly recognisable everywhere in the world, it is King’s curiosity and compassion that has brought the best from his interviewees, whether president or pop star. He has interviewed every US president since Richard Nixon, world leaders such as Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Vladimir Putin, and pop stars from Paul McCartney to Lady Gaga.
King holds the world record for the longest-running television show hosted by the same person on the same network and in the same time slot – Larry King Live on CNN. The show launched in June 1985 and ran until December 2010. He’s quoted as saying that he has “never brought my opinions to the show”, as “I never learnt anything while I was talking”. Instead, he coaxes information from his guests through a non-confrontational style that allows them to be centre stage and perhaps reveal more than they might have intended.
King’s career started in radio as a morning DJ in 1957 in Miami Beach on WAHR where he doubled as an afternoon newscaster and sports reporter. In 1978, he began a nationwide night-time show on Mutual Broadcasting System, mixing a single 90-minute interview with a phone-in.
Download the press release here.
Reserve places at this rapidly selling out event at theaibs.tv/the-aibs-2015-awards-dinner-reservations/.
The AIBs 2015 – supported by
22 October 2015
Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), the world’s leading provider of satellite services, today announced that Intelsat Chief Executive Officer Stephen Spengler was elected to the company’s board of directors, effective 22 October, 2015.
In announcing Mr. Spengler’s appointment, David McGlade, Executive Chairman of the board stated, “Steve is a proven leader with outstanding customer and deep communications industry knowledge and ability. During his tenure at Intelsat, Steve has been instrumental in driving Intelsat’s next generation strategy, and in incorporating satellite, ground and service innovation into Intelsat’s initiatives. We’re pleased to welcome him to the board – where he will continue to contribute to our efforts to build value for all our stakeholders.”
Mr. Spengler is a 30-year telecommunications and satellite industry veteran with experience in the media, broadband, government and internet sectors. He has been a key force behind the development of Intelsat’s next generation of satellite solutions, particularly the company’s high throughput satellite platform, Intelsat EpicNG®.
Spengler joined Intelsat in 2003, and has served in executive roles of increasing responsibility, including Deputy Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Commercial Officer, Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Strategy, and various sales management roles. He joins the Board filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Denis Villafranca.
Mr. Spengler earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and a Masters of Business Administration from Boston University.
Biography and photo of Steve Spengler
21 October 2015
CNBC Africa – the pan-African financial and business news channel – will be syndicating its award-winning multimedia and video clips to Newstag, an innovative ‘mobile-first’ video news service. The multi-year deal grants Newstag the right to share and distribute CNBC’s news videos on its mobile and online platforms alongside current affairs and entertainment content from other professional content producers around the world, including AP, AFP and Reuters.
CNBCAfrica.com Chief Executive, Sid Wahi said: “Newstag is to professional video news what YouTube is to amateur video clips. They are the world’s largest online network based on videos only from trusted sources. CNBC Africa is the largest and most credible source of business content from around the continent with over 35,000 videos, interviews and clips available through its digital publishing channels. This partnership will extend our current reach and enhance our digital ecosystem.”
Newstag’s ‘mobile-first’ service enables users to create their own ‘tagstream’ (or personalised TV channel) in seconds, organising, consuming and sharing stories among their social networks using the latest web and mobile technologies. These stories are available from a number of different perspectives, resulting in a platform that allows converging viewpoints to be presented side by side, shedding new light on international news as it breaks.
Newstag CEO, Henrik Eklund, says: “Newstag is committed to providing global news coverage from truly distinct perspectives and we’re delighted that CNBC Africa has partnered with us to offer our users a refreshing insight into African news through an African lens. It’s a dynamic time for Africa and in less than a decade CNBC Africa has built a solid international reputation for providing credible and impartial news, presenting an exciting picture of a continent in development from nuanced reporting on the ground. We hope that combining these strengths with Newstag’s innovative news model will amplify Africa’s voice, allowing it to reach a large international audience.”
Launched on 1 June 2007, CNBC Africa celebrates its 8th anniversary as Africa’s first and only real-time Pan Africa financial and business news network. Part of the global CNBC family, which reports around the clock from major financial centres worldwide, CNBC Africa covers business and financial markets news from across the continent, telling the story of Africa on the move.
Since the channel’s launch, CNBC Africa has been breaking ground across the African continent and amongst many successes and achievements, is the only pan-African television network to report live each day across Africa. The combined reach of CNBC Africa and its affiliated networks is 390 million viewers around the world. Its reach on the African continent has been growing by the day through its distribution partnership with MultiChoice.
CNBC Africa has grown beyond all expectations since it was launched eight years ago, and everyone on the CNBC Africa team is justifiably proud of the respected media brand that they have all helped to create. Through accurate and incisive reporting and analysis, and an attractive and dynamic programme schedule, CNBC Africa has clearly positioned itself as the premier African news and information resource for CEOs and senior corporate executives, financial houses, investors and aspirational viewers across the continent.
This announcement follows Newstag’s selection as a top international start-up by Mobile World Capital Barcelona in an international contest to recognise the most innovative use of mobile technology in business. In addition to this, Newstag has recently been nominated for ‘best international news site’ by WAN-IFRA alongside Business Week and Singapore Press Holdings.
