24 March 2014
Euronews, Europe’s leading news channel and MSN Arabia, one of the leading web portals in the Middle East and North Africa, team up to provide users with a comprehensive selection of news programmes from three Euronews services.
Thanks to the syndication of an international and multilingual content agreement, Euronews Arabic, Euronews English and Euronews French, are delivered to different regional North Africa and Middle East sites of the MSN Arabia’s network. Indeed, www.arabia.msn.com is accessible to Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia and Pakistan.
The 100 million monthly visitors to the MSN Arabia site can now follow, through articles and video content provided by Euronews, the latest international news and a complete up-to-date selection of programmes on Business, Europe, Culture, Science and Technology, all available in English, French and Arabic. The subjects covered are updated several times a day by the Euronews editorial teams.
“Thanks to our partnership with MSN Arabia, already followed by 100 million visitors each month, we reinforce Euronews’ presence in all MENA countries,” said Walid Chamak, Head of Digital Partnerships at Euronews.
“Beyond the editorial quality, Euronews is a perfect fit for news providers such as MSN Arabia willing to diversify their news sources and target a multilingual audience” he added.
“We are very pleased to have concluded this agreement with one of the world’s leading news providers,” said Basma Samir, Portal Development Executive, MSN Arabia and North Africa.
“This is a great win for both parties. We are pleased and very optimistic about the value this brings to MSNA visitors and users in terms of content quality and coverage not to mention the language diversity. This is only one in many deals that MSNA is working on to power our different verticals and channels to offer our visitors around-the-clock coverage with premium quality content from premium providers,” said Ramy Riad, Executive Producer, MSN Arabia and North Africa. (Source: Press release)
22 March 2014
Dr. Mohammed Bdaiwi Owaid Al-Shammari, the Baghdad bureau chief of RFE/RL’s Iraq Service, Radio Free Iraq (RFI), was shot and killed at a checkpoint near his office this morning in an incident that company managers have called tragic, senseless and shocking.
Dr. Al-Shammari was shot on his way to work in the Jadriyah neighborhood of Baghdad, an area adjacent to the Presidential Palace.
The shooter has been identified as a member of Iraq’s presidential guard.
RFE/RL editor in chief Nenad Pejic expressed extreme sadness and shock at the news. “Al-Shammari went through this checkpoint every day. It is inexplicable to us that this could have happened, and we insist on a thorough investigation and prosecution of the gunman,” he said. “This is a profound loss for RFE/RL and Radio Free Iraq, and our deepest sympathies are with Al-Shammari’s family and the colleagues he leaves behind.”
RFI reports that Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki went to the scene of the murder and promised members of Al-Shammari’s family that the gunman would be brought be justice.
Al-Shammari, 46, was known on the air as Hasan Rashid. He joined RFI in 2006 and was appointed as Baghdad bureau chief in 2012. A journalist since 1993, Al-Shammari served on the editorial boards of several local media institutions, and was an associate professor of journalism at Al-Mustansiriya University in Baghdad. Al-Shammari is survived by his wife and three children.
Al-Shammari is the third RFI journalist to be killed since the Service began broadcasting in 1998. In April 2007, Khamail Muhsin Khalaf was kidnapped and shot dead in Baghdad; one month later, her colleague Nazar Abdulwahid Al-Radhi was shot dead in the southern Iraqi city of Al-Amarah. (Source: Press release)
21 March 2014
BBC Urdu has announced the re-launch of its TV programme, Sairbeen, on Pakistan’s Aaj News channel and online on bbcurdu.com. From Monday 31 March, the new-look Sairbeen will be broadcast live from London by Aaj News and streamed on bbcurdu.com at 19.30 PST (14.30 GMT) Monday to Friday, covering key global and regional issues.
Sairbeen developed a loyal audience base across Pakistan following its first broadcast in February 2013. Now re-launched in a more concise and dynamic format, as a Monday to Friday programme, Sairbeen returns to the screens as a live broadcast with BBC Urdu’s trademark editorial offer for Pakistan’s TV market. It will also become an essential, prime-time addition to the news schedule of Aaj News.
Recent surveys in Pakistan show that the BBC continues to be perceived as trustworthy and accurate. On trust, the BBC ranks highest among international broadcasters in Pakistan. BBC Urdu Editor, Aamer Ahmed Khan, comments:
“The feedback we get is very clear: there is a demand for Sairbeen on TV, for its breadth of coverage, connecting the local with the global, and for its independent, balanced and distinctive approach to any story. In Pakistan’s volatile environment, we are committed to helping our viewers understand the world and how the world sees Pakistan. We are thrilled to be coming back to the TV screens in Pakistan on Aaj News channel.”
In its new format, Sairbeen continues to expand on its basic premise of strong original journalism, drawing on the BBC’s unparalleled international newsgathering presence. Underpinned by regional reporting from BBC Urdu correspondents in Washington, Delhi and across Pakistan, and by in-depth analysis from BBC Urdu’s leading journalists, Sairbeen brings a different and more global perspective to news and important contemporary issues. Arts, technology, travel and social media are also within the programme’s focus.
Sairbeen is presented by Aliya Nazki, voted the best emerging current-affairs anchor by a leading media watchdog. It is also presented by Shafi Naqi Jamie, one of BBC Urdu’s most experienced and well-known broadcasters.
Aliya Nazki says: “I have been counting down to Sairbeen’s re-launch in this new, exciting format, and looking forward to reconnecting with viewers in Pakistan and wherever they are in the world. We welcome back to Sairbeen all those who want to get to the heart of the story and understand the ‘why’ behind the news. Come and live the story with us! ”
Aaj News Group COO Shahab Zuberi says: “It is a matter of great honour and prestige for Aaj News to collaborate with BBC. Sairbeen is an excellent addition to our schedule as it brings top-quality, independent news and information to anyone who wants to keep abreast of regional and world developments.”
Sairbeen will be aired at 19:30 PST Monday to Friday. Each edition of Sairbeen will be repeated on Aaj News at 11.00 on the following day and will be available on bbcurdu.com on demand until the next broadcast.
BBC Urdu is part of BBC World Service. (Source: Press release)
19 March 2014
RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd., a leading provider of digital content management and global content distribution services to the broadcasting industry, announced today the opening of RRsat America’s corporate office to locally support the U.S. media market with a comprehensive array of end-to-end digital media services.
Consumer demand for the highest-quality entertainment experience at home and on every screen is growing rapidly, complicating the production and distribution operations of media content owners and distributors. To answer this challenge, RRsat is expanding its services, fortifying operations in the U.S. with an experienced management team and overhauling key infrastructure, especially its New York Metro teleport and broadcast facility.
“Enhancing our presence and local solutions in the U.S. market is an important strategic initiative and a key part of our global expansion program,” commented Avi Cohen, Chief Executive Officer of RRsat. “We are excited about this move, as it puts RRsat right at the center of one of the world’s most innovative digital media markets, with a comprehensive offering which meets the complex needs of today’s content owners and distributors. RRsat has a strong global presence with upper tier customers throughout the world and we are well-equipped to handle America’s content distribution needs.”
RRsat America benefits from the robust infrastructure and capabilities of its corporate branch, including the RRsat’s leading global network that reaches 95% of the world’s population and offers worldwide, flexible, distribution solutions. This enables
RRsat America to offer new business opportunities for content monetization by providing innovative media management, monetization and global content distribution services to more places, in more ways, on more devices – now locally from the U.S.
RRsat America’s complete end-to-end offering includes:
· Global content acquisition and distribution
· Local access to our global content management and preparation services
· Sports and live event solutions
· Online video solutions
Leading the U.S. team is Ohad Har-Lev, President of RRsat America, who previously served as Managing Director of RRsat’s Mobile Satellite Services. The rest of the RRsat America management team is comprised of industry veterans, including
Douglas Parrish, former EVP Global Operations at Ascent Media Group, EVP/ CTO at the Walt Disney Internet Group, and SVP Operations at Move Networks; as well as Susanna Mandel-Mantello, who founded SM2 Sports & Media Solutions, after serving as the Director of International Broadcasting for the NHL.
“Our services have already proven to meet the rigorous demands of delivering some of the most popular live events in America to viewers worldwide, such as the past few NFL seasons, including the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl,” said Mr. Har-Lev. “The expansion of our already substantial U.S. presence will enable us to offer extended capabilities and value-added services to meet the ever-growing demand in the American market.” (Source: press release)
18 March 2014
Regional broadcaster, Channel NewsAsia, is migrating to a new generation satellite, AsiaSat 7, C-Band, with effect from 31 March 2014. All traffic on the current AsiaSat 3S will be moved with no changes to its parameters or other viewing options.
AsiaSat 7 is designed to replace the aging AsiaSat 3S which was launched in 1999 with a 15-year design life and would reach its scheduled retirement in 2014.
The migration is being handled by engineers from AsiaSat and MediaCorp, and does not affect viewers or operators.
On Wednesday 19 March Channel NewsAsia presents:
MH370 Special: Passport to Crime
The mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 exposed the fact that some passengers had boarded the doomed flight with stolen passports. We follow their trail from check-in at Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Thailand and an underworld of passport crime. How did this happen? And what price are we going to pay? The Director of Interpol calls passport fraud the most serious security threat in the world. So, why has it been ignored for so long? We profile the security experts and investigators who are battling to track down the syndicates behind this trade – and ask why airports and airlines refuse to crack down.
Wednesday, 19 March 2014, 8.00pm (Sin/HK/MNL time)
Encore telecasts
Wednesday, 19 March, 12.30am
Thursday, 20 March, 5.00am
Friday, 21 March, 1.00pm
Saturday, 22 March, 6.00am
Sunday, 23 March, 3.00am
17 March 2014
The AIB is delighted to welcome Cameroon Radio Television as its latest Gold member.
The full press release can be downloaded here:
