25 August 2014
Deutsche Welle has signed an agreement with the newly-launched Outernet as an additional content distribution channel. The satellite-based Internet provider promises free access to information.
Outernet is a new platform that was designed to bridge the digital divide and penetrate censored markets by beaming the best content from the Internet via a constellation of nanosatellites in orbit down to every citizen on Earth, free of charge.
“Outernet and Deutsche Welle share many of the same values and goals. It is a clear message to all who wish to censor or restrict access to the Internet,” says DW Director General Peter Limbourg. Because reception is quite easy to access and because the use of many small satellites will make it quite difficult to obstruct signals through jamming, DW’s cooperation with Outernet will be able to “contribute to net neutrality and circumvent censorship,” Limbourg explains, adding, “We hope this will enable us to better reach our users especially in crisis regions and in countries where press freedom is restricted.”
“For Outernet, it is extremely important for us to be globally minded in our content sources – particularly news – from the outset,” says Thane Richard, head of User Engagement at Outernet. “Deutsche Welle represents a very exciting step for Outernet in bridging the global information divide by providing quality news along with other relevant content to our users.”
Outernet is making use of a network of small satellites to transmit selected data – audio, video, text and applications – to simple receivers that users can either purchase or build themselves. All software and hardware required to access Outernet is open source. Once the receiver has the signal, it is rebroadcast locally and content can be viewed on any WiFi enabled device. “No other information channel allows for such a wide variety of content, or broadcasts on a genuinely worldwide scale,” Richard comments.
Outernet officially launched its service in test phase a few days ago. During this early stage, content will be available in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. DW content will be available throughout the entire test phase.
Visit outernet.is to see instructions on how to connect to the signal. (Source: DW press release)
21 August 2014
Lawyers for the jailed Al Jazeera journalists in Egypt have filed appeals against their convictions.
The weaknesses in the case have been widely protested and ridiculed, and much of the public criticism is reflected in the grounds for appeal.
The case will next be heard before the Court of Cassation which will examine the grounds for hearing a full appeal. A date for the hearing has not yet been set.
The submission to the court rests on the breaches of process in the case. These include:
• Flaws in the arrest procedure
• The fact that evidence presented in court did not marry with the charges
• Prosecution expert technical witnesses submitted statements which were somehow verbatim
• The journalists were accused of editing footage, but without originals, no one could have known whether they were in fact edited
• The judge’s verdict made mention of lack of accreditation, but this is not a criminal offence
Al Anstey, managing director of Al Jazeera English said:
“The appeal will lay bare the flaws in the case against Peter, Baher and Mohammed. These are three outstanding journalists who were just doing their jobs, and journalism is not a crime. We look forward to them being exonerated in due course. We will not stop in this quest till they are reunited with their families, and back doing the jobs they love.”
The campaign to free the three received a further boost this week when leading international and human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin said they should be released, saying that the case was an example of how to set up a “kangaroo court”.
21 August 2014
The United Kingdom is set to host a NATO Summit in Wales from 4th-5th September 2014.
President Obama, Chancellor Merkel and President Hollande are expected to attend along with Heads of State and Government from around 60 other countries. The on-going instability in Ukraine and Israel’s recent land offensive in Gaza provide a backdrop for the talks, chaired by current Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
TIMA will be operational to assist broadcasters’ needs:
- HD / SD Live Stand-up facilities from The Media Centre at Celtic Manor*
- Tape playout facilities (subject to format)
- International point-to-point delivery via satellite on TIMA’s Eutelsat 10A leased capacity and fibre networks
- ENG crews available on request
*Live position will be inside the accreditation zone. Accreditation has now closed.
See https://my.hq.nato.int/ for more details.
The Media Centre will open between 12:00 – 23:30 on Wednesday 3rd September, and then stay open between 05:00 Thursday 4th September and 23:45 on Friday 5th September.
Contact TIMA on +44 20 7024 9650; e bookings@tima.com; www.tima.com
20 August 2014
TVPlayer has signed a major licensing agreement making Euronews now available to its viewers in the UK
Euronews, the most-watched news channel in Europe, has now launched on leading live TV streaming service, TVPlayer.
Covering world news and broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Euronews live currently reaches an impressive 415 million households in 156 countries.
The launch of Euronews on TVPlayer will bring around-the-clock coverage of the most up-to-date news, business and current affair stories, as well as lifestyle features, to a wider audience in the UK across multiple devices.
TVPlayer is an OTT platform launched in the UK by Simplestream, which streams live TV across multiple devices from some of the UK’s favourite free-to-air broadcasters. Launched in December 2013, TVPlayer has proven itself to be one of the fastest growing live TV platforms in the UK.
The latest addition of international news channel Euronews takes TVPlayer’s channel offering to now over 45 channels. TVPlayer can be watched via tvplayer.com, App Store, Google Play, the Amazon App Store and is soon to launch via channel 241 on Freeview in the UK.
Arnaud Verlhac, Director of Worldwide Distribution said “I am delighted with this agreement between Euronews and TVPlayer, enabling us to share our channel to the UK’s fastest growing TV platform. Euronews integrates perfectly into TVPlayer’s offering. The agreement also brings Euronews into a large audience, strengthening its presence in the UK.”
Lewis Arthur, Platform Manager of TVPlayer said “The launch of Euronews on TVPlayer is an exciting addition to our platform. In a fast-pace digital age, consumers expect to be kept up-to-date on world news and current affairs, which they seek out online and using their mobile phone. We are pleased that we have been working with Euronews to bring their 24 hour world news coverage to a captive audience in the UK.” (Source: Press release)
20 August 2014
Intelsat today commemorates its 50th anniversary of providing critical telecommunications and video content distribution infrastructure for businesses, organizations and governments around the world. In honor of its anniversary, the company created a video library featuring 50 interviews with contributors to the earliest days of the commercial space sector, as well as the business leaders responsible for today’s innovations. The video gallery also includes the stories of Intelsat’s customers and employees who have witnessed firsthand the vital role of satellite communications in connecting the world.
“I can think of no better way to honor Intelsat’s 50th year and those early pioneers of space than by looking to the future and the advances that are taking place in space-based communications that will transform how people, machines, and businesses connect to one another,” stated Dave McGlade, Chairman and CEO, Intelsat. “The advent of high throughput satellite technology, such as Intelsat EpicNG, and innovation occurring at all levels of our ecosystem will ensure that communities and businesses around the world have the information and content they need to progress and thrive. That was our mission in 1964 and remains critically important at Intelsat today as we endeavor to connect people of the world.”
The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT) was established on the basis of agreements signed by governments and operating entities on August 20, 1964. INTELSAT’s sole purpose was to provide the necessary communications infrastructure that would aid in the socioeconomic development of nations around the world.
Since then, Intelsat has played a crucial role in enabling the vast progression of telecommunications over the past half century. The company’s global satellite network has provided critical connectivity and content delivery that has transformed businesses, driven economic development and productivity and brought people together during global events.
Since Intelsat’s global satellite broadcast of Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon in 1969, Intelsat’s satellites have allowed the world to share in real time some of modern history’s most historic moments and iconic entertainment events. As important, Intelsat has served as the critical link for news organizations and humanitarian workers by providing near-instant communications infrastructure during times of crisis.
50 years, 50 satellites, and millions of people connected by satellite communications, Intelsat remains the world’s leading provider of satellite communications. The company’s commitment to innovation, its customers and ensuring that businesses and people wherever they are around the world have access to content and connectivity that will enable them to thrive and grow continues to be at the core of Intelsat’s success.
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19 August 2014
Vizrt Ltd. announced today a deal worth USD 297,000 for the implementation of broadcast graphics products with Tek Signals LLC, a systems integrator in the Middle East. Tek Signals LLC is working with a 24 hour news channel to upgrade and expand their existing facility including their current Vizrt installation.
The deal includes adding additional channel branding capabilities for the news channel with Viz Multichannel and Viz Ticker, Vizrt’s real-time 3D ticker control system. Viz Engine was also purchased to provide real-time rendering of graphics for Viz Multichannel and Viz Ticker. (Source: Press release)
