In the wake of the well-publicised cyber attacks on Sony Entertainment and TV5 Monde – together with a range of other less-discussed attacks – that have seriously impact broadcasters’ operations, AIB is working on high-level meetings for its Members to share knowledge and to discuss possible solutions to this major threat.
“Broadcasters are natural targets for hackers and others who seek either to disrupt programming and social media, or to hijack the airwaves to distribute propaganda,” said Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the Association for International Broadcasting. “We have received an unprecedented response to our proposal for discussions on this subject and we’re now developing an initial one-day knowledge-sharing meeting for AIB Members and a number of specially-invited experts.”
The inaugural AIB meeting on cyber security and disaster recovery will take place towards on 6 October 2015 in London, co-hosted by Deloitte. The high-level, invitation-only meeting will be strictly confidential to allow sharing of knowledge among AIB Members and to help focus the minds of board-level executives including CEOs and CTOs. A range of experts from a number of key organisations involved in protecting critical national infrastructure assets will share their knowledge as AIB leads the conversation to ensure the security of its Members.
For more information about this initiative, please contact us.
The Association for International Broadcasting is delighted to announce that the eleventh AIBs – our annual search for the best in factual TV, radio and online media – are open for entry.
With categories covering journalism and documentaries, children’s and science, and many more, this festival will celebrate the world’s most outstanding content.
Full information on how to enter is on the AIBswebsite and you can read the entry booklet here in a special digital page-turning edition. If you’d like a printed copy of the entry booklet, please contact us.
“We’re looking forward to another great competition after last year’s record-breaking festival,” said Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the AIB. “Over the past decade, the AIBs have attracted the most remarkable content from broadcasters and production companies around the world. In 2015, I expect we’ll see even more outstanding content from every part of the world, particularly since the AIBs are open to work in any language. This is a truly international competition that’s respected around the world.”
You can get a flavour of the 2014 AIBs in our showreel:
Entries can be submitted up to the closing date of 22 July 2015.
Broadcasters responded rapidly to the devastating earthquake in Nepal that is believed to have killed more than 10,000 people and made hundreds of thousands homeless.
BBC World Service is now broadcasting additional programming on shortwave in both Nepalese and in English while BBC Media Action – the BBC’s international development charity – is working with the Nepali Service on BBC World Service (radio and online) and local partner radio stations to broadcast ‘Lifeline’ programming.
Liliane Landor, Controller of World Service Languages, says: “Information is vital and we are doing all we can to make sure that our audiences in the affected areas receive their local and regional news as well as ‘Lifeline’ programming designed to give practical information to help deal with the aftermath of the earthquake.”
The Nepali language programme is available on shortwave as follows:
Nepali dawn transmission (01:30-01:45 GMT) on 11995 kHz (25 metre band) and 15510 kHz (19 metre band)
Nepali evening transmission (15:00-16:00 GMT) on 9650 kHz (31 metre band) and 5895 kHz (49 metre band)
The availability of World Service English on short wave to Northern India and Nepal has been extended with the service now starting one hour earlier than normal at 23.00 GMT.
Additional frequencies for World Service in English (to S Asia) from 23:00 GMT to 24:00GMT: 5895 kHz (49 metre band) and 9540 kHz (31 metre band)
From 00:00GMT the broadcasts continue as normal on 12,095kHz, 9,410kHz and 5970kHz.
For broadcasters covering the disaster, Reuters-TIMA are operational from the Radisson Hotel, Kathmandu offering
HD/SD live stand-up positions
Multi format playout facilities
Editorial support
International point-to-point delivery via the Reuters-TIMA network
The External Services Division (ESD) of All India Radio reacted quickly to the situation.
As soon as the News of devastating Earthquake ravaging large part of Nepal started trickling in, as an immediate measure, SOS announcements advising people not to panic and take precautionary safety measures against the possible aftershocks were made. Thereafter, the service got in touch with the MEA officials and by 7 pm, the helpline numbers of MEA, the Indian Mission in Kathmandu were repeatedly announced. People were advised to take all precautionary measures, as per the guidelines provided by the NDMA. Appeal of ADG, NDMA was also recorded over telephone and broadcast.
Since all lines of communication had broken down, the Nepali Service being broadcast on short-wave remained the only available communication link to reach out to the distressed people in Kathmandu valley and the hinterland Nepal.
Normal programming of the whole evening transmission was changed and programmes relating to the Earthquake were broadcast continuously.
Globecast, global content contribution, management and distribution provider, and Arabsat have today announced the launch of Arabsat TV Everywhere, a new multi-platform OTT TV service with live streams of the best Arabic channels.
Powered by Globecast’s OTT Live solution, Arabsat TV Everywhere is an expansion of the already popular Global Arabic Bouquet (GAB), a grouping of premium Arabic channels from the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU). The new service, which is available to watch for free from almost anywhere in the world on PC as well as iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, will enable more people to enjoy the great content the GAB has to offer at home and on the move.
Globecast, which has been ARABSAT and ASBU’s partner for the worldwide distribution of the GAB since 2004, designed and developed the complete TV everywhere service. The end-to-end solution, which includes content preparation; content management; application design and development; delivery and a player, will enable Arabsat to deliver a seamless experience across all devices.
Giorgio Giacomini, Managing Director Globecast Middle East said, “This is a very exciting development in our relationship with Arabsat and the ASBU. Arabsat’s decision to make many channels of the GAB available on smartphones and tablets reflects the growing desire of audiences around the world to consume content when and where they want. Because of this we have carefully designed our solutions to provide both technical and business acumen allowing our customers to easily expand with innovative new OTT services while concentrating on what they do best: create and develop world class content.”
Khalid Balkheyour, ARABSAT President and CEO, added, “The world of OTT service delivery is one that’s growing rapidly. You only have to look at the growth in the sale of connected devices to see why. Globecast has always provided us with excellent distribution services and we are very pleased to announce the extension of our partnership.”
Since the launch of their partnership, Globecast, ARABSAT and ASBU have expanded the Global Arabic Bouquet’s potential viewership and footprint, offering a single global coverage to ASBU members. Arabic language channels are now able to join the bouquet and reach viewers on all five continents free to air. It reflects Arabsat’s commitment to help Arabic viewers stay connected with their roots and culture from anywhere in the world.
CNNI is now offered across the Middle East & North Africa via the superior coverage of ARABSAT BADR-6 in an agreement between parent company Turner Broadcasting and Arabsat. The agreement gives Middle Eastern audiences the opportunity to watch CNN International’s award-winning mix of breaking news and news, business, sports and feature programming via the minimum dish size.
CNN International has dedicated editorial and broadcast hubs in London, Atlanta, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong, and provides round-the-clock coverage of the most important international stories for its diverse global audience.
“After being present in the region for many years we’re delighted to expand our reach in the Middle East still further through this new partnership with Arabsat,” said Rani R. Raad, Chief Commercial Officer CNN International. “As the region’s leading international news provider this is just our latest commitment to ensuring CNN is widely available in the region and we’re very pleased to welcome Arabsat viewers to the channel.”
Khalid Balkheyour, President & CEO of ARABSAT said “It was always our ambition in ARABSAT to bring CNNI on board. CNN has a long & professional history of covering the Middle East news & critical events. We are pleased to deliver CNNI to ARABSAT viewers across the Middle East & North Africa combined with an extensive offering & wide varieties of the prime Free-To-Air international and regional news channel on ARABSAT hotspot at 26⁰ E .”
CNN can be viewed on:
ARABSAT BADR-6 at 26⁰ E
Frequency: 11,785 MHz (Vertical)
QPSK, Symbol Rate: 27.5MSymb/s, FEC: ¾
CNN International’s arrival on Arabsat comes as the latest signal of CNN’s long-standing and evolving commitment to the Middle East region. The CNN Abu Dhabi bureau is home to flagship weekday show Connect the World with Becky Anderson and a number of locally produced feature shows dedicated to the region, and the CNN Arabic website based in Dubai was relaunched last year for its users with a refreshed responsive format. The network operates a number of newsgathering bureaux in the region. CNN has a portfolio of important commercial partnerships across the region and recently chose the Middle East for its first CNN Traveller café, based at Abu Dhabi Airport. (Arabsat Press Release)
Since launching in February this year, Reuters-TIMA has provided global Location Services to over 25 clients across four continents. CNN, Nippon TV, Euronews and Seven Network are among the first broadcasters to have used the new service.
Reuters-TIMA Location Services provides every aspect of newsgathering facilities and support services on the ground during breaking news stories. Recent stories covered include the Germanwings crash, the Tunisia museum shooting, border unrest between Saudi Arabia and Yemen as well as migrant boat disasters in the Mediterranean.
The partnership between Reuters and TIMA, which launched at the 87th Academy Awards, also provides coverage of key global events and unprecedented access, as well as providing logistical and editorial services. In the last two months Reuters-TIMA have made 132 transmissions from five events. Upcoming events, booked by global clients, include the birth of the royal baby, the UK general election, the G7 Summit in Bavaria and the Russian Victory Day parade.
Reuters-TIMA Location Services was created in response to the increased demand for live content in a shifting media landscape. Combining Reuters’ unparalleled global editorial content, seen by over a billion people every day, with TIMA’s cutting-edge technology and considerable experience of service delivery for the international media industry, Reuters-TIMA Location Services form a vast news and editorial network.
From New York to Moscow and Rio to Singapore, plus a network of Middle Eastern offices, including TIMA’s facilities in Tehran, Reuters-TIMA Location Services has been set up to help broadcasters cover every major world event, from elections to summits, sports to national celebrations and breaking news such as war, natural disasters and militant attacks, providing every aspect of newsgathering facilities and support services.
Tim Santhouse, Reuters’ Global Head of Video Products, says: “We’re delighted that such a broad range of broadcasters – large and small, public and commercial – have taken up the service, letting them focus on covering the story while we take care of the operational side, including technical and local knowledge.”
Alla Salehian, CEO of TIMA, says: “With strategically placed broadcast and satellite resources in regional hubs around the world, we’re able to respond quickly to breaking news. Since our partnership launch, the last two months have been exciting and fast-paced, responding to important global stories and working with key broadcasters.”
Reuters-TIMA Location Services include:
> Breaking news facilities: Reuters-TIMA Location Services 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
Reuters
Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest international multimedia news provider, reaching more than a billion people every day. Reuters’ 2,600 journalists in nearly 200 locations around the globe deliver unparalleled international and national news coverage with speed, impartiality and insight to professionals via Thomson Reuters’ desktops, the world’s media organizations and directly to consumers on reuters.com.
TIMA
TIMA provides a range of broadcast services from its offices and studios worldwide, including production facilities, content production and events coverage. Its London headquarters opened in Spring 2012 and was swiftly followed by bureaux in Washington DC, New York and Paris. TIMA also operates across the Middle East in Saudi, Sanaa, Damascus, Baghdad and Tehran, where it provides media services for accredited broadcasters. Everything TIMA does is aimed at developing new ways of producing and distributing content. www.tima.com
In the wake of the well-publicised cyber attacks on Sony Entertainment and TV5 Monde – together with a range of other less-discussed attacks – that have seriously impact broadcasters’ operations, AIB is working on high-level meetings for its Members to share knowledge and to discuss possible solutions to this major threat.
The Association for International Broadcasting is delighted to announce that the eleventh AIBs – our annual search for the best in factual TV, radio and online media – are open for entry.
Broadcasters responded rapidly to the devastating earthquake in Nepal that is believed to have killed more than 10,000 people and made hundreds of thousands homeless.