28 October 2014
Global news network RT announces RT UK to go live on Thursday, October 30th 2014
Global news network RT announces today the official launch of its dedicated United Kingdom news channel, RT UK. RT UK will air both live and pre-recorded original programming to UK audiences from October 30th 2014, and will be available to more than 90% of UK households via Freeview (Channel 135) and Sky (Channel 512).
Broadcasting from its new London studios at Millbank, RT UK will cover local, regional and national UK stories, focusing on the issues that matter most to Britons. Equally, as part of the network that looks at a broad spectrum of global news, it will dissect the implications of major international developments for UK audiences – in line with RT’s core mission to Question More.
“It has always been RT’s goal to bring new perspectives to our viewers – to show them the side of the story they won’t see on the mainstream channels,” said Margarita Simonyan, RT’s Editor in Chief. “Now, with a dedicated UK channel, we can serve the needs and interests of the British public by promoting debate and new ways of thinking about specifically British issues.”
RT UK will feature an extensive array of broadcasting talent, including award-winning news anchor Bill Dod, internationally recognised financial commentator Max Keiser, and investigative talk show host Afshin Rattansi, amongst others.
RT UK is a 24/7 channel, initially broadcasting 5 hours of dedicated UK programming each day including live news, documentaries and chat-shows. This programming will be supplemented by content supplied from other RT channels, including the flagship RT International.
First launching in December 2005, the RT network now consists of three global news channels broadcasting in English, Spanish and Arabic. RT UK’s sister channel, RT America, broadcasts from a Washington, DC studio and the network also houses documentary channel RTDoc – broadcasting in English and Russian. RT’s video agency RUPTLY delivers broadcast-quality news footage from all the global hotspots. Today RT has a global reach of more than 700 million people in over 100 countries. (Source: RT press release)
27 October 2014
SES TechCom, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES S.A. (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) and Es’hailSat, The Qatar Satellite Company registered in the State of Qatar, announce the signing of a comprehensive consultancy service agreement.
The agreement provides Es’hailSat full access to the technical experience and engineering know-how of SES, one of the market leaders in satellite communications.
In the framework of the contract, SES TechCom will support Es’hailSat in the development of its new teleport facility. The teleport will be built on a green field site north of Doha. It will be designed as a modern, state of the art facility providing satellite control and communications support (TT&C) for the Es’hail 2 satellite, and offer up-linking and reception facilities tailored for Es’hailSat’s business partners.
The teleport will be designed from the outset to allow for significant future growth, and will feature all major requirements in order to provide customers with comprehensive satellite ground station and platform services. During the course of the contract, SES TechCom will work closely together with Es’hailSat’s project management team and their selected contractors, in order to create a new and exciting satellite facility for the future of Qatar’s communication infrastructure.
Ali Ahmed Al-Kuwari, CEO of Es’hailsat, said: “We are delighted to be working on this important project with SES TechCom, a world leading company with proven expertise in the design and delivery of satellite ground station facilities. The establishment of our own teleport in Qatar is an integral part of the Es’hailSat program, giving us a secure and independent satellite infrastructure. It marks another key milestone in our plan to become a leading satellite operator and center of excellence in the MENA region.
Gerhard Bethscheider, Managing Director of SES TechCom, stated: SES is proud to support Es’hailSat in the development of their new, state of the art teleport infrastructure in Qatar and I am confident, that SES TechCom will be a knowledgeable and reliable partner for Es’hailSat’s ambitious project. SES operates several of the largest and most successful teleports in the world and this with an unrivalled experience in the design and operation of such facilities. This initial contract has the potential to foster a long standing partnership between our two organisations.”
27 October 2014
BBC newsreader and Crimewatch co-presenter Matthew Amroliwala will host the 10th annual AIB Awards on November 5 in London. The AIB Award’s honour broadcasting’s top achievements in factual content from around the world.
After 16 years at BBC’s News Channel, Amroliwala moved onto BBC World News this August where he is now presenter of its flagship programme, Global.
Before Amroliwala began anchoring news coverage in the studio, he worked in the field as a foreign correspondent, a political correspondent and as a news reporter, and reported from Bosnia, New York and Washington. As a presenter he broadcast continuously for six hours on the day of London’s 7/7 bombings.
Amroliwala will join an esteemed list of AIB hosts who include Al Jazeera English’s Barbara Serra, BBC’s Mishal Husain, France 24’s Mark Owen and Bloomberg TV’s Francine Lacqua.
In addition to the awards gala, the AIB evening will also feature AIB’s traditional “In Conversation”, this year with special guest Olly Lambert. Lambert won an AIB last year for his Channel 4 documentary, Syria: Across The Lines. The film also won the Emmy this year for Outstanding Coverage of a Current News Story, a BAFTA for Best Current Affairs Programme, and the Rory Peck Award for Best Broadcast. Lambert was also nominated for an Emmy for his documentary The Bombing of Al-Bara.
The AIB Awards will take place at the spectacular LSO St. Luke’s in London and will be hosted by BBC presenter Matthew Amroliwala. A limited number of tickets are still available through the Awards website or by calling +44 (0) 207 993 2557.
24 October 2014
BBC America, the BBC’s commercial arm, will now be operated by American entertainment company AMC Networks, following a $200m (£125m) deal.
AMC, a company boosted by the tremendous success of its AMC Channel dramas Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead, will manage BBC America as a standalone alongside other channels in the AMC Networks portfolio, including IFC, SundanceTV and WE tv. AMC bought a 49.9% stake in the Corporation, while BBC Worldwide will retain 50.1% stake.
The two networks already have drama co-producing experience, with such series as The Honorable Woman.
BBC Worldwide chief executive Tim Davie said AMC “are committed to the kind of high-quality, unmissable content that has already gained BBC America one of the most educated, affluent and tech savvy audiences in all of US television.”
Tony Hall, BBC director general, said the deal would “help us reach new audiences in the US, strengthen BBC America’s position for the long term and create opportunities for the UK creative community”.
23 October 2014
AIB, the Association for International Broadcasting, will present a special posthumous Founders Award to the family of gifted BBC journalist, Komla Dumor, who died suddenly in January at the age of 41. The award will be given at the 10th annual AIB Awards on November 5 in London.
Born in Ghana in 1972, during his short career, Dumor had an extraordinary impact, epitomising a new Africa, one of success and hope. Through his compelling story telling he worked tirelessly to bring this narrative to the world.
In 1998, during a break in his studies, Dumor answered an ad for a job as a part-time reporter for Ghanaian local radio station Joy FM and quickly moved on to become presenter of Joy FM’s Super Morning Show. He was named Journalist of the Year by the Ghana Journalist Association.
In 2007, Dumor joined the BBC as host of Network Africa for the BBC World Service, moving on to The World Today programme, then Africa Business Report for BBC World News television.
In June 2012, he was named the presenter of Focus on Africa, the BBC’s first-ever dedicated daily TV news programme in English for African audiences, broadcast on BBC World News. He also interviewed a number of high-profile guests including Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Kofi Annan, Tony Blair and Africa’s wealthiest businessman, Aliko Dangote. He anchored live coverage of major global events including the death of Nelson Mandela and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
In 2013, the respected publication, New African, listed Dumor in its list of 100 most influential Africans.
Peter Horrocks, Director of the BBC World Service, said at the time of Dumor’s death, “Komla was a leading light of African journalism – committed to telling the story of Africa as it really is. Africa’s energy and enthusiasm seemed to shine through every story Komla told.”
And Dumor said on the launch of Focus on Africa in June 2012: “After decades of turmoil and uncertainty, a new Africa is emerging. The old stereotypes are being challenged and a new, compelling narrative is being written. I am incredibly excited to be part of a new programme that will provide solid coverage and analysis of Africa’s challenges and prospects.”
“AIB is delighted to be able to commemorate the life and work of this accomplished and respected journalist,” said Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the Association for International Broadcasting. “Komla was an inspiration to his BBC colleagues and respected by viewers and listeners across Africa. He is sorely missed across the media industry.”
The AIB Awards, taking place on November 5 at London’s LSO St. Luke’s, honor the highest achievements in factual content for TV, radio and online. Komla Dumor’s legacy of high-quality journalism and knowledge-sharing across borders represent the ideals AIB aims to foster as the world’s leading knowledge network for the global broadcast industry.
A limited number of tickets to the AIB Awards are still available. Guests are travelling from all over the world to share ideas and knowledge and reward the very best in factual programme making globally.
22 October 2014
Francesca Unsworth has been appointed Director of the BBC World Service Group.
In this role she will lead the BBC’s global news services – BBC World Service, BBC World News and BBC.com/news – as well as BBC Monitoring, and will chair the BBC’s international development charity, BBC Media Action. The BBC’s global news services have a weekly audience of 265m.
Fran will also continue to act as deputy to the Director of News and Current Affairs.
Director General of the BBC, Tony Hall, said: “I have known Fran since she joined the BBC and watched in admiration as she has become that rarest of things: a lifelong BBC insider who thinks like an outsider. Her range of skills and experience combined with a quite exceptional gift for management makes her exactly the right person to take over the enormously important job of directing the World Service Group. I am thrilled with her appointment.”
Director of BBC News and Current Affairs, James Harding, said: “Fran embodies the best of the BBC: she is thoughtful and enabling, tireless and determined, interesting and smart. Fran is already known for her record in fighting for journalistic freedom and free expression. I know she will prove an inspiring and respected director of the World Service, inside the BBC, in Britain and around the world.”
Fran Unsworth said: “Today is the proudest day of my professional life. I do not take on lightly the responsibility of looking after a part of the BBC with such a proud history. I promise to be the guardian of the best of the BBC’s values of independence, impartiality and fairness in our international services, while continuing the successful modernisation of the World Service Group to take our journalism to new audiences worldwide.”
Fran began her journalistic career in 1980 in BBC Local Radio joining Radio 1’s Newsbeat. She spent a spell as a network radio producer in Washington DC and later joined Radio 4’s The World At One and PM.
Fran was appointed the BBC’s Home News Editor and then, in 2001, Head of Political Programmes. In 2005 she became Head of Newsgathering, running one of the world’s largest newsgathering operations with bureaux across the world.
Between November 2012 and August 2013 Fran was the BBC’s Acting Director of News and Current Affairs. She is currently Deputy Director of BBC News and Current Affairs.
Fran will become the first female director in the 82-year history of the World Service. She will take up her new post on 8 December 2014. She succeeds Peter Horrocks, who announced earlier this year that he was leaving the BBC.
