12 May 2014
Television and radio stations in eastern Ukraine carrying programming of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America have been forced off the air, depriving audiences of popular sources of unbiased news and information.
On May 12 at 10:30 a.m. local time, unidentified, Russian-speaking armed men forced employees to turn off the transmitter at a station in Donetsk used by RFE/RL broadcast affiliate Radio Era FM. The men then reconfigured the transmitter to broadcast programming from “Radio Respublika,” a previously unknown station airing Russian state radio programs and other pro-Russian content. RFE/RL programs normally run on Radio Era FM from 6-7 a.m. and 9-10 p.m. Monday through Friday but are currently off the air. This follows a shutdown of Radio Era’s FM transmitter in Crimea on March 9.
RFE/RL Editor-in-Chief Nenad Pejic condemned the Radio Era FM takeover, stating that “millions of Ukrainian citizens are being deprived of access to accurate, verifiable information about what is happening around them, at a crucial juncture in their lives. The seizure of Radio Era FM’s transmitter is a deplorable violation of the universal right to freedom of opinion and expression.”
Voice of America is also experiencing disruptions to its programming in the area. Channel 5, which broadcasts the VOA Ukrainian Service news program Chas-Time, has lost its terrestrial signal in several cities in the eastern part of the country, including Donetsk and Luhansk. According to Channel 5, several cable providers in the region have also been threatened, potentially further disrupting distribution via cable.
Despite the increasingly dangerous environment for reporters in the region, VOA and RFE/RL have been providing much-needed news and information. Threats to journalists in Ukraine have been escalating, and on May 1, an RFE/RL video crew was attacked while covering a demonstration in Kharkiv.
On May 2, masked, angry men carrying knives and axes threatened two VOA video reporters in Donetsk. In addition, a VOA reporter working in the Donetsk area returned to Kyiv for a few days after being warned that he was on a “snatch list” of journalists targeted for capture. He has since returned to Donetsk. (Source: Press release)
12 May 2014
The BBC’s independent commentary and analysis of current affairs is now available directly to viewers in Ukraine thanks to a partnership between BBC World Service and Ukraine’s most popular TV channel, 1+1.
From the heart of the BBC’s news operation at New Broadcasting House in London, BBC Ukrainian (BBC Україна) journalists will appear live on the channel’s prime-time evening news programme, TSN, at 19.30 on Mondays and Wednesdays, providing 1+1 viewers with international perspective of current regional events as well as analysis of UK and global developments.
BBC Ukrainian has a number of partnerships with major news websites in Ukraine. This is the first collaboration with a TV channel. BBC World Service Europe Hub Editor, Artyom Liss, comments: “The popularity of BBC Ukrainian had been growing steadily, with audiences coming to the bbc.ua website for unbiased, balanced and reliable news, interviews and analysis. It’s great that, through collaboration with a TV channel such as 1+1, our journalists will be engaging with new audiences across Ukraine.”
Frederick Durman, Head of Business Development for Europe, BBC World Service, adds: ““We are really excited that our partnership with 1+1 will bring BBC Ukrainian to a wide audience at this critical time in Ukraine’s history.”
“TSN is the leading news programme in Ukraine, our anchors and journalists receive the most prestigious professional awards every year. Still, such collaboration for us is a great honor as BBC is the trendsetter in international news world and a golden standard for journalists. We aim to amaze our viewers, and I’m sure that the BBC input will add to our programme’s attractiveness,” – adds Sergiy Popov, Head of the Information Department of 1+1 Media.
The BBC Ukrainian website bbc.ua brings news stories, reports and features, picture galleries as well as audio and video content delivered by its journalists in Ukraine, Russia and the UK, as well as the BBC’s unparalleled global newsgathering operation. The Special Projects index on bbc.ua features BBC Ukraine’s editorial initiatives and special reports, while the dedicated index, Ukraine, offers news and information focusing on the country. Major, quickly developing events are covered on Live pages – an innovative tool of online journalism, which reflects news updates in real time. The BBC College of Journalism section shares the BBC’s guidelines on the use of unbiased language and style when reporting for TV, radio and online.
BBC Ukrainian is part of BBC World Service. (Source: Press release)
9 May 2014
Download a pdf of this press release here
Africa’s Digital Media Future – benefits for social and economic growth
London, 09 May 2014
The Africa Digital Media Future conference (#AfricaDMF), to be held in London on 15 May 2014, is drawing together DGs and CEOs from major broadcasters across Africa, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Swaziland and South Africa. The event, organised by the Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) in partnership with Channels TV from Nigeria, will address practical steps to ensure that Africa can harness the extensive potential of digital media developments for social and economic growth across the continent.
It will also launch an innovative free-to-view TV platform for Africa and ambitious plans for a new pan-African news channel.
Among those leading the conversations at the conference are Suvi Linden, Commissioner of the United Nations Broadband Commission for Digital Development, and January Makamba, Deputy Minister of Communications, Tanzania.
‘Digital migration represents a major opportunity for Africa to provide a richer, more informative and more local range of broadcasting to serve the needs of the continent ‘ said Simon Spanswick, CEO of the AIB. ‘But it is vital that it is implemented so that information is accessible and affordable to all. Bringing together senior media figures from across Africa provides a powerful platform for sharing insights and co-operating in delivering relevant solutions to each country’
‘Africa’s talent is creating exciting innovation in countries across the continent and digital media is a vital tool to harness this talent and help it build the future of Africa.’ said John Momoh, chairman and CEO of Channels TV. ‘We have the opportunity to work together to provide national and international media that helps to strengthen our social structures and build strong economic growth.’
The invitation-only conference will include sessions on Africa’s digital dividend, creative transformation and digital migration.
– E N D S –
For more information and to request press accreditation, contact Roger Stone at the AIB in the United Kingdom on +44 (0) 20 7993 2557, e-mail roger.stone@aib.org.uk.
About Channels TV
Channels TV has operated since 1993 as an independent television station broadcasting in Nigeria and now has an audience of over 20 million. Its mission is: to produce and broadcast television programmes of quality and integrity that recognize and challenge, the intelligence and curiosity of our viewers; to provide community oriented programmes that will enrich local and international viewers; to give an alternative medium of communication to the government-controlled media in Nigeria; and to perform the role of a true watch-dog of the government and its policies, and hold public officers accountable to the people. It has been named “Best Television Station of the Year” by the Nigerian Media Merit Award Trust 8 times in the last 13 years.
For more information, visit www.channelstv.com
About AIB
Established in 1993, the Association for International Broadcasting | AIB is a non-profit, non-government, industry association founded in 1993 to represent, promote and assist its members. It currently has a membership of over 50 companies in around 30 countries, including major broadcasters serving audiences of hundreds of millions of people each week.
With a reach of over 26,000 communicators and media professionals, AIB is a unique centre of information about international broadcasting, covering TV, radio, online and mobile. AIB researches regular market intelligence briefings for its members and provides client-specific consultancy and project support. Members receive an extensive package of services throughout the year. AIB publishes the comprehensive AIB Global Broadcasting Sourcebook and the international media magazine, The Channel. AIB hosts the annual AIB International Media Excellence Awards – the “AIBs”. For more information, visit www.aib.org.uk and theaibs.tv or call +44 (0) 20 7993 2557
AIB | PO Box 141 | Cranbrook | TN17 9AJ | United Kingdom
T +44 20 7993 2557 F +44 20 7993 8043
www.aib.org.uk
25 April 2014
News from the BBC Hausa service is now available via BBMTM in Nigeria, thanks to collaboration between BBC World Service and BlackBerry. Subscribers to the service will receive up to five BBC Hausa news alerts daily, each with shareable story links, with users able to engage with the BBC by sharing their comments and story ideas.
The launch of the BBC Hausa news content via BBM is part of the BBC’s ground-breaking move to see how “chat apps” could be used to deliver its content to, and engage with, a wider demographic of users. The app fits organically in the BBC Hausa offer as the service operates on a “mobile-first” basis, with its online content primarily optimised to be viewed on mobile phones.
Trushar Barot, Assistant Editor for the Social Media Hub at BBC News, says: “We had been speaking to BlackBerry for a few months about their plans to develop their BBM product. We were keen to try and find a BBC service that we felt would be a good fit to test the service. Many Nigerians use BBM, with consumption of news content on mobile phones also very high, so linking up with the BBC Hausa service felt like the right choice.”
BBC Hausa Editor Mansur Liman adds: “With over 96% of the traffic to the bbchausa.com website coming to its mobile version, BBC Hausa has prioritised its mobile offer as our key platform to reach our audiences. The launch of the BBC Hausa BBM in Nigeria – our biggest market – is a great development which will allow us to tap into new audiences, and also create a very simple, cheap and immediate way of connecting us with our users there.”
To connect to the account, subscribers will need to download the latest version of BBM (available on iOS and Android, as well as on BlackBerry handsets) and search for ‘BBC Hausa’ from the ‘Channels’ tab. Alternatively, users can connect via the BBM PIN: C00334DDD. Links to the BBC Hausa BBM channel will also be available via the website bbchausa.com and via the mobile website BBM.com/bbchausa.
BBC Hausa is part of BBC World Service. (Source: Press release)
25 April 2014
Japan International Broadcasting (http://www.jibtv.com/), the distribution company of NHK, and MEDIA BROADCAST (http://www.media-broadcast.com/en/homepage.html), the leading service provider for the broadcast and media industries in Germany, have announced a new partnership which brings NHK WORLD TV (www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/) to all HbbTV-enabled devices with DTT reception in Berlin. The stand-alone, 24-hour, English-language television news and lifestyle network produced by NHK, Japan’s sole public, independent broadcaster, launched on Saturday, March 15, 2014 and uses MEDIA BROADCAST’s hybrid TV service, multithek, for transmission.
“MEDIA BROADCAST is a well-regarded, globally established broadcast and media company,” said Yoshihiko Shimizu, president and CEO, Japan International Broadcasting. “We are delighted to be working with them to deliver NHK WORLD TV to Berlin, the capital city of Germany and one of the most influential and vibrant markets in the world.”
NHK WORLD TV provides a 24-hour programming cycle, including the network’s news show, “NEWSLINE.” The objective reporting, particularly in economic news originating from Asia with programs such as “ASIA BIZ FORECAST”, “Asia This Week”, and “ASIAN VOICES” provides balance for a more comprehensive perspective on world financial affairs. The channel also offers a variety of lifestyle and cultural shows, including “TOKYO FASHION EXPRESS”, “Asia Insight”, “J-Architect”, “cool japan” and “BEGIN Japanology”, as well as an assortment of documentaries and specials.
NHK WORLD TV is currently available in 275 million households across 140 countries and regions. (Source: Press release)
22 April 2014
ABC International and its Australia Network have further strengthened and expanded the long term international relationship with China’s media powerhouse, the Shanghai Media Group, with support from the media authorities of the Chinese Government in Shanghai.
On the back of the Australian Government’s Australia Week in China trade mission, ABC International and the Australia Network have struck an international multi-platform media cooperation arrangement supported by the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film and TV. The detailed agreement to formalize the arrangement is slated to be signed in Shanghai on May 4.
Through the cooperation, ABC International will establish an online portal in China through which a range of ABC and other Australian media content and services can be offered and presented to partner Chinese media organisations.
The arrangement also enables the ABC to establish a base in Shanghai with official approval to represent and sell media content across China, enter into international co-productions, and generate international sponsorship and promotional opportunities.
“This historic agreement opens up a whole new world of television and online cooperation between Australia and China,” ABC Managing Director Mark Scott said. “It provides a truly unique window for all Australian media to build a friendly and mutually cooperative relationship with China.”
“International Channel Shanghai last week broadcast a week of Australian TV programs provided by the ABC and Australia Network to coincide with Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s visit. Q&A’s live broadcast in China was the first open interactive public comment style program broadcast live from China to Australia. The success of last week and the future under this agreement will help build understanding between China and Australia.”
Mr Sun Wei, the Executive Director of the Shanghai Media Group’s International Channel Shanghai, said: “The Shanghai Media Group is China’s second largest media organization and its recent restructure ensures we are looking to further build our international media partnerships.
“Ground breaking international broadcasts such as Q&A, which was produced as a collaboration between Australian and Chinese television crews, pave the way for bigger and better international media cooperation and cultural connections in the future.”
Lynley Marshall, the CEO of ABC International, said: “This agreement will enable us to put the full range of Australia Network programming and content from other Australian media into China and for China to connect more closely with our media”.
“Most importantly, the agreement will provide opportunities for promotion of Australian business, tourism, entertainment, culture and education”. (Source: Press release)
