7 November 2014
Wilfred Frost at the 10th Annual AIB Awards
At the 10th annual AIB Awards in London on 5 November, Wilfred Frost, son of journalist Sir David Frost, announced the inaugural Sir David Frost Memorial Lecture. The talk by a major public figure to be announced will be held on 18 February at the Association for International Broadcasting’s #iamabroadcaster Global Media Summit.
A journalist in his own right, Wilfred Frost announced the lecture in his introduction to the “In Conversation” segment of the AIB Awards gala. This year’s In Conversation featured an interview by Frost interview with documentary filmmaker Olly Lambert, who won the AIB last year in the category of Best Middle East Documentary for his film Syria: Across The Lines.
Frost said: “We debated whether an annual talk should be given in Dad’s name by a fellow TV presenter. Or perhaps by a fellow media entrepreneur or executive. But in the end, the answer was simple. If Dad were alive today, who in the world would he most want to be interviewing? On Wednesday 18th February 2015 Paradine Productions and AIB will bring you an address from an individual that fits that description – someone who can not only tell us what is happening on a set of crucial issues in the world today, but can in fact make news themselves with what they say. We will be announcing the speaker for February very soon.”
Sir David Frost, who died last year, is one of the most famous journalist of the 20th century. He is most known for his interviews with notable political figures, including eight British Prime Ministers and seven US Presidents. His series of interviews with US President Richard Nixon, broadcast on American TV in 1977, drew the largest TV audience for a political interview in US TV history. The Nixon interviews were adapted into the play Frost/Nixon, which was adapted into a film in which Frost was played by Martin Sheen, directed by Ron Howard.
The #iamabroadcaster Media Summit will offer the global media industry two days of intensive discussion on the upheavals and opportunities facing broadcasters today. Held in London from 17-18 February, #iamabroadcaster will feature provocative and challenging discussions with major players and thinkers both from within and outside the media industry. Attendees will leave with an entirely new outlook on the broadcast industry and a new definition of what the word “broadcasting” means in the 21st century.
Further information, including venue, line-up, and sponsorship opportunities will be available on the AIB website.
6 November 2014
“Remember, remember, the fifth of November,” goes the old British children’s rhyme. After last night’s 10th annual AIB International Media Excellence Awards, many filmmakers will remember the fifth of November for years to come.
Each year the Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) searches the globe for the top achievements in factual content for TV, radio and online. This year’s AIB Awards featured entries from over 30 countries, telling stories that ranged from the hard realities of current global conflicts and the inner secrets of global corporations, to imaginary explorations of extinct life and exposing to the light of day the buried troubles of decades past. The AIBs, sponsored by Eutelsat, were held again at London’s LSO St. Luke’s, a spectacular venue that is also home to the London Symphony Orchestra.
The gala evening was hosted by BBC Global and Crimewatch presenter, Matthew Amroliwala and was punctuated with poignant moments, including the presentation of a special AIB Founders Award to the late Ghanaian journalist and BBC presenter, Komla Dumor. Universally respected, Dumor died suddenly in his London home in January of this year at the age of 41. The award was accepted by Dumor’s wife, Kwansema Dumor.
The AIB’s traditional “In Conversation” guest was filmmaker Olly Lambert. During the awards dinner, Lambert was interviewed by Wilfred Frost, son of the journalist, Sir David Frost. Called “one of the most talented documentary filmmakers working in British television” by The Times, Lambert won an AIB last year in the category of Best Middle East Documentary for his film Syria: Across The Lines. The film also garnered Lambert an Emmy, a BAFTA and a Rory Peck Award. The full interview with Lambert will be available to view via the AIB website.
The 2014 AIBs covered 18 categories with most categories recognising a Highly Commended entry in addition to the category Winner.
The AIB Award nominees were evaluated by an international panel of 50 judges from the broadcast industry. AIB Awards judge Ruth Sloss, Director of Programming at Spafax, said: “The AIBs are not restricted to one language. Submissions are actively encouraged in all different languages from broadcasters across the globe, which is refreshing in a world where content can often be English-centric. They also look to take work from different budgetary backgrounds as content is assessed with the limits of a broadcaster’s budget in mind. It means a small broadcaster from a developing country can compete alongside the BBC’s and CNN’s of this world.”
The results of the 10th Annual AIB Awards (in order of presentation):
Domestic current affairs documentary – TV
Dispatches:Breadline Kids – Channel 4 Television (Highly Commended)
Failon Today:Deluge – ABS-CBN Corporation (Winner)
John F Kennedy: A Legacy Remembered – Voice of America
Spotlight:Guns and Government – BBC
Suidlanders- Preparing for a Revolution – E Sat Pty Ltd
The Way they Steel – Antena 3
Short news report – TV
Egyptian Clashes – Alhurra Television
Muzaffarnagar Riots: Refugee Crisis – New Delhi Television Ltd
Seleka Victims – TVC News-Continental Broadcasting Service
Typhoon Haiyan: Mass Graves – CNN
Ukraine Donetsk Airport – Voice of America
Ukraine Unrest: Shooting in Independence Square – CNN (Winner)
Short documentary – TV
ERC Syrians Camp in Jordan – Pyramedia Productions
First Sight: Sonia & Anita – Blue Chalk Media (Winner)
Mother-Daughter Reunion – Alhurra Television
Nkana Dilapidated Bridge – Channels Television
Prisoner Turned Farrier – Voice of America
Racism in Housing – BBC London (Highly Commended)
The Angel’s Music: A Pianist with Down Syndrome, His Family and His Message – Kansai Telecasting Corporation (Highly Commended)
Investigative documentary – radio
Face the Facts: A Thousand Philomenas – BBC Radio 4 (Highly Commended)
Forbidden Love in Egypt – BBC Arabic Service (Winner)
Human Trafficking – Radio Sawa
The Other 9/11 – SBS Radio
Water Wars – Radio New Zealand
Who is there to protect Erwiana? – Radio Television Hong Kong
Live journalism – TV
2014 Indian Parliamentary Election Coverage – New Delhi Television Ltd
Anti-Government Protests in Kiev – RT (Highly Commended)
CNN Coverage of the Downing of Flight MH17 – CNN (Winner)
The Legal Round Table Debate – Trial Productions
Ukraine Unrest (Live): Shooting in Independence Square – CNN
Uttarakhand Floods Coverage – New Delhi Television Ltd
Live journalism – radio
The Reality Of Life With Dementia – BBC Radio 5live (Winner)
The Death Of Nelson Mandela – BBC World Service (Highly Commended)
Egyptian Clashes – Radio Sawa
Current affairs documentary – radio
From Heungnam to Geoje: 60 Years Armistice Special – KBS (Korean Broadcasting System)
A Good Man in Rwanda – BBC World Service
An Anatomy of Medical Malpractice in Taiwan – Radio Taiwan International
India: Resisting Rape – BBC World Service (Winner)
Operation Herrick: The Patient Pathway – BFBS (Highly Commended)
Syrian Refugees – Radio Sawa (Highly Commended)
Children’s factual programme – TV
Bushwhacked! (Series 2) – Mint Pictures (Highly Commended)
Deadly Pole to Pole – BBC Natural History Unit (Winner)
Jawla 2014 – Al Jazeera Children’s Channel
Made in SA – South African Broadcasting Corporation
Matanglawin: Worst Case Scenario Weather – ABS-CBN Corporation
Pay it Forward – Observator, Antena 1
The Joy of Life (Vom Glück des Lebens) – Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)
Radio personality of the year
Catherine Bott – Classic FM
David Mellor – Classic FM
RJ Teena-Salaam Indore – DB Corp Ltd (Radio Division) 943MY FM
Shaimaa Khalil – BBC World Service (Winner)
AIB Founders Award – Komla Dumor
Live sports coverage – TV
Aviva Premiership Rugby Final 2014 – Sunset+Vine for BT Sport (Winner)
Istaf Superseries Finals 2013/2014 – Astro Arena SDN BHD
The Grand National – IMG Productions for Channel 4 Television (Highly Commended)
Creative feature – radio
Brixton Ballads-Sound Stories – ABC Radio
Crossroads Generation – DW Deutsche Welle
Lost in Dutch Formosa – Radio Taiwan International (Highly Commended)
Newstalk BC – Christian Broadcasting Association (Winner)
OSM Frequency II – Radio-Canada
Will Kate Survive Kate? – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Specialist programme
AIDS: Living in the Shadows – Voice of America (Highly Commended)
Brazil’s Soccer Cities – BBC (Highly Commended)
From Here to Timbuktu Buganda – Wananchi Programming
Inside Lego – Bloomberg TV
Revealing Dali – TVE Spain (Winner)
Zashto – RT
Online factual
Cronulla Riots: The Day that shocked a Nation – SBS Television (Australia) (Winner)
Days of Rage Digital Initiative – Channel NewsAsia Mediacorp Pte Ltd
IRANORAMA – Webdoc.FR/France 24 (Highly Commended)
Sochi:Outside the Arena – Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty [RFE/RL]
Serengeti: Toward an Uncertain Future – DW Deutsche Welle (Highly Commended)
Zaatari Refugee Camp – CNN
Science programme – TV
David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive – Atlantic Productions (Winner)
Secrets of Bones – BBC Natural History Unit (Highly Commended)
Synthetic Biology: Creating Life from Scratch – France 24
The Lake Megantic Tragedy – Radio-Canada
Toxic Sugar – Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Catalyst
Weed: Dr Sanjay Gupta Reports – CNN
Domestic investigative documentary – TV
Britain’s Secret Terror Force – twenty2vision Ltd (Winner)
The Paedophile MP: How Cyril Smith got away with it – Channel 4 Television
India matters: In your Face – New Delhi Television Ltd
The Armstrong System – SRF
The Cruel Cut – Channel 4 Television (Highly Commended)
The Route of the K Money – artear S.A
International current affairs documentary – TV
Difficult Destinations: Turkmenistan – deMENSEN
Dispatches: Children on the Frontline – Channel 4 Television (Winner)
Our World: Yemen-World’s Most Dangerous Journey – BBC News & Current Affairs
Pakistan’s Hidden Shame – Clover Films for Channel 4 Television (Highly Commended)
TB: Return of the Plague – True Vision Productions
The Surgery Ship – Media Stockade/SBS Television
Undercover Asia: Invisible Children – Channel NewsAsia Mediacorp Pte Ltd
International investigative documentary – TV
Dispatches: How to fix a Football Match – Channel 4 Television (Highly Commended)
Our World: Iran’s Secret Army – BBC News & Current Affairs
Our World: Saudi’s Secret Uprising – BBC News & Current Affairs (Winner)
Return to Benghazi – CNN
Slave Industry – A Year On From Rana Plaza – Islam Channel
Worked to Death in Qatar (for the 2022 World Cup) – France 24
TV personality of the year
Christiane Amanpour – CNN
Pia Castro – DW Deutsche Welle
Richard Quest (Quest Means Business) – CNN (Winner)
Kiran Jethwa (Tales from the Bush Larder Kampal) – Wananchi/Fox Int Channels
Ted Failon – ABS-CBN Corporation
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4 November 2014
Peter Limbourg, Director General of Deutsche Welle
AIB member Deutsche Welle has partnered with Israeli Russian-language station Channel 9, which has the widest reach of any Russian-language TV station outside Russia. DW hopes the new partnership will enable it to target a large number of programs to a new international audience.
Channel 9 is receivable in Israel, as well as in Germany, Canada, the US and Australia, via cable or satellite networks.
Alexander Levin, majority owner of Channel 9, and representatives of DW have agreed in Bonn that, starting immediately, several formats will be adopted into the programming of Channel 9, among them the successful culture magazine Arts.21, the lifestyle show Euromaxx Highlights, the science series Tomorrow Today and the globalisation magazine Global 3000.
The agreement also includes the use of DW articles and news on Channel 9’s online portal.
Channel 9 had been owned by Africa-Israel Investments (AFI Group) until February 2013, when company head Lev Leviev sold his stake in the network to partner Alexander Levin for $6.5 million. The company had often operated at a loss and been bogged down in several legal disputes. Levin relocated from Russia to Israel in order to take control of the station. One of his stated goals had been to expand Channel 9’s offering to Russian speakers outside of Israel.
DW Director General Peter Limbourg welcomed the cooperation as an important step towards free reporting in Russian. “We shall benefit by having Channel 9 as our partner, which, just like DW, stands for independent journalism. We want to expand this cooperation still further in the future.”
Alexander Levin stressed the importance of this partnership for both parties. “Like DW, Channel 9 attaches the highest significance to a free, pluralistic reporting of political affairs. In view of the growing influence from politics on the Russian media, this is becoming for us increasingly a unique selling point.”
3 November 2014
Euronews and SportAccord have signed a historic collaboration for sports programming, which will enable the Global broadcaster and the Union of all 92 International Sports Federations to establish a new sports programme. The agreement was signed today between Michael Peters, CEO of Euronews group and Marius Vizer, President of SportAccord, at the annual International Forum for international sports federations in Lausanne.
The partnership will revolutionize the global news coverage of sports. Euronews, a multi-cultural news channel broadcasting in 13 languages will distribute original sports news to an upmarket audience with a worldwide geographical spread. Under the agreement, Euronews will, amongst others, run a weekly sports-programme « Sports United » starting from January 2015, as well as several special magazine shows, focusing on specific sport disciplines. Euronews viewers will also have access to major national, regional and international competitions, from football and gymnastics to beach volleyball and judo.
Each show will be produced in 13 languages and be broadcast to over 420 million households in 156 countries, as well as on digital media platforms.
« Sports United », a dynamic sports programme covering the entire scope of sports disciplines and competitions worldwide will air in 13 languages on Euronews starting January 2015.
Speaking about the historic partnership, Marius Vizer, President of SportAccord said, “We are very excited about the mutually beneficial partnership with Euronews. This Partnership will enable premium exposure for SportAccord Members and at the same time raise interest in all sports of the masses. Euronews, the international and multi-lingual news channel offers us the opportunity to highlight the richness of our federations’ activities and to make it accessible to a broad audience”.
Michael Peters, CEO, Euronews, added, “Today, it is very complex to buy and trade distribution rights for sport events. We decided to take a more global, high-level approach. SportAccord showed interest in the idea. Furthermore, this agreement came as a natural fit. At Euronews, our editorial team of over 400 journalists from 30 nationalities represents our channel’s diversity. It was natural to us to partner with SportAccord, an organisation that represents a broad, and nearly unlimited diversity of athletes, sports and disciplines. ”
« Sports United » show on Euronews
Sports news from around the world in your own language. A show that covers all sports, a must for passionate sports lovers. Available as of January 2015 on-air and on a broad range of digital platforms. (Source: Euronews press release)
3 November 2014
IT giant Microsoft has proposed a pilot project in Bengaluru to offer high-speed Internet deploying TV WhiteSpace technology.
Microsoft has similar Internet projects in other developing countries like Africa. TV white spaces, the unused portions of wireless spectrum in the frequency bands generally used for television, are well-suited for delivering low-cost broadband access to rural and other unserved communities.
For instance, Microsoft’s Kenyan mobile broadband project uses TV white spaces to offer low-cost broadband access to rural. The network utilizes TV white spaces and solar-powered base stations. This pilot in Africa, announced in February 2013, is part of Microsoft’s 4Afrika Initiative.
A telecom news report in Economic Times said Microsoft has submitted a proposal to the Wireless Planning & Coordination wing of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) four weeks ago.
“The idea is to provide cost-effective connectivity,” said Microsoft India chairman Bhaskar Pramanik. “I believe TV WhiteSpace can be the affordable answer to last-mile connectivity challenges in India, especially for remote areas that lack electricity and other infrastructure,” Pramanik said.
The TV WhiteSpace technology works on unused spectrum available in broadcasting bands in the lower frequencies from 200MHz to 700MHz.
As per the proposal, Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft will utilize nearly 19 percent of spectrum unused by Doordarshan, the national TV broadcaster, in the sub gigahertz band. It costs less than Rs 10 lakh to install a WhiteSpace technology router. The Microsoft proposal will be a big boost to BJP Government’s 1 lakh crore plus Digital India mission that is expected to connect 2.5 lakh villages and offer variety of e-government services. India’s Rs 20,100 crore broadband project aims at connecting 2.5 lakh village panchayats through high speed broadband by 2017.
(Source: www.telecomlead.com)
3 November 2014
Newstag, a crowd-curated video news service from Stockholm, has announced the appointment of Mat Ekholms as CTO in a move to support the company as it develops its innovative approach to news sharing through social media.
Video expert Mats Ekholm brings over two decades of experience in the news, media and entertainment industries with an impressive track record of building world class solutions for video companies. Ekholm has previously been CTO at several international companies including Utd By Content and Kamera and has also worked with Ericsson.
Newstag will bring together video news stories from content producers around the world, including AP and Reuters, as well as brands and NGOs. The ‘mobile-first’ service will enable users to create personalised video newscasts on their smartphones, tagging news, brands and NGOs to create relevant and customised feeds to consume and share with their peers through social networks. Newstag’s logo – the twelve sided figure or dodecahedron – reflects the multi-faceted nature of news in the 21st century and our relationship with it in today’s complex world.
CEO and Founder, Henrik Eklund, will be exhibiting at Websummit. (Source: Newstag press release)
