18 January 2012
A new report from the European Audiovisual Observatory and MEDIA Salles shows that around 18 500 digital screens had been installed in Europe by the end of 2011. This means that over 52% of European screens are now capable of digital projection, up from just 4% three years ago.
While the initial phase of large-scale digital conversion during 2009 and 2010 had been more or less entirely driven by 3D installations, roll-out in 2011 was for the first time driven by 2D screens. This suggests that roll-out has entered its second major phase and is now driven primarily by full conversions of larger circuits under VPF schemes and by public initiatives ranging from legislation (France), publicly funded industry-wide conversion schemes (Norway and the Netherlands) to direct public funding schemes, 60 of which have been identified at national, sub-national and pan-European level, including the new MEDIA 2007 scheme.
Analysis based on a comprehensive site-by-site listing of analogue and digital cinemas as of 2010 clearly shows that small cinemas and exhibitors have significant problems converting to digital. By the end of 2010 only 11% of single-screen cinemas had installed a digital screen, compared to 89% of multiplexes. These small cinemas, however, form a characteristic part of the European cinema landscape, with single-screen cinemas alone accounting for almost 60% of all European cinemas. Though presumably not vital for overall box office results, these smaller cinemas play an important social and cultural role in many communities. The fact that these screens have not yet converted highlights the fact that commercial financing models cannot cover all European cinemas, causing a funding gap for between 15% and 20% of European screens.
At the same time, given the high penetration rates in various European markets, the end of 35mm distribution seems to be approaching rapidly. Distributors in Belgium, Luxembourg and Norway, which was the first country worldwide to become fully digital in mid-2011, were expected to end 35mm distribution as early as 2011/2012 and a total of 11 territories had converted at least 50% of their screens by mid-2011, including the two leading markets France and the UK.
Once large distributors switch to digital distribution in such major markets, demand for film stock will drop significantly, putting pressure on 35mm economics on a pan-European level. This could cause financial strain for those distributors and exhibitors still depending on it. Many of these are presumably small companies now faced with a growing competitive disadvantage: digital cinema increases the economies of scale related to both film exhibition as well as distribution so bigger companies stand to benefit more than smaller players from the transition to digital, both in terms of cost savings as well as in increased revenue potential. This economic reality will ultimately lead to fundamental change in the fragmented European theatrical landscape and poses a challenge to the European independent sector, characterised as it is by a large number of small exhibitors and distributors.
18 January 2012
MBC Group continues to evolve and deliver the latest in Global Entertainment and content by airing most recent series in the US, in addition to new episodes of existing series that have just been released. This dynamic strategy will affect two of MBC Groups channels, namely MBC Action and MBC 4 and have commenced on January 15th. Both Channel offerings will now consist of a 7-day daily block of the best in International shows and will offer their viewers an exclusive destination for the most-anticipated TV shows, for free.
MBC Groups contemporary strategy is testament to our dedication to providing our loyal viewers with content that is up-to-date and puts them on par with the Global scale of entertainment. It further distinguishes our channels as the ultimate destinations for the latest in International drama, delivered free to the Arab world, commented Ali Jaber, Group TV Director at MBC Group.
The new and updated series will be aired from Saturdays to Wednesdays while Thursdays and Fridays are allocated to the current running series, with DOUBLE UPS, for viewers to eventually catch up with the updated episodes/seasons.
The new content on MBC 4 include: The Ringer (Season 1), Secret Circle (Season 1), The Vampire Diaries (Season 3); while the new content on MBC Action will include: Hawaii FIVE-o (Season 2), The Mentalist (Season 4), Nikita (Season 2), NCIS (Season 9), WWE, and Alcatraz, a brand new US series, the latest from JJ Abrams.
16 January 2012
OASYS, the pioneering developer of IT-based automated playout solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ed Calverley as Solutions Design Manager. Calverleys new role will see him working closely with the Sales and Development teams and with clients to build feature-rich, reliable automated playout solutions that are both easy to use and to maintain.
Calverley joins OASYS from Miranda where he held a central role in the development and delivery of the iTX IT-based playout system. Prior to this,Calverley spent several years at the BBC, joining via a graduate training programme and subsequently gaining experience across a wide range of broadcast technologies and disciplines including Studios, Outside Broadcast, Engineering Support and Playout.
Ed Calverley commented, I have been aware of OASYS for some time, but when I actually saw the OASYS software in action it was a real eye opener to the true power of IT-based playout. By focusing on actual customer requirements, OASYS has built the most versatile playout device Ive ever seen.
Mark Errington, CEO, OASYS, said, We are pleased to welcome Ed to the team. His broadcast knowledge and experience combined with his ability to design pragmatic customer solutions will be invaluable, as will his input into the continued development of our Automated Playout solutions.
13 January 2012
euronews has hit the ground running with the launch of DTT broadcasting in Greece and Cyprus. The channel targets full nationwide coverage in both countries by the end of 2012.
In Greece, euronews English is already available to 4,000,000 people in the region of Attica, which includes the capital Athens, and in Thessaloniki. More precisely, the DTT coverage reaches 75% of homes in Attica and the whole population in Thessaloniki.
Before the end of this year, euronews aims to extend its reach all over the country. ERT, the Greek public broadcaster, will offer the free-to-air DTT transmission of euronews English, as part of the digital technology deployment offer at a national scale.
In Cyprus, euronews English is available on a 24/7 basis on digital terrestrial TV since July 2011 and covers currently 95% of the population.
euronews is available on Cyprus DTT through the CYBC platform, the public broadcaster, among CYBC-1, CYBC-2, CYBC-HD and ERT-World channels.
The CYBC digital platform will cover 99% of the population by March 2012.
Michael Peters, CEO of euronews, said: “The move on Greek and Cyprus DTT is a huge step forward for euronews. Our close partnerships with ERT and CYBC enable us to be watched by a large audience and places euronews as premium international news channel at a country level. We are very proud to announce those two important agreements.”
13 January 2012
More than 2,600 Cubans contacted Radio Martí for a chance to win one of six mopeds in a listener contest sponsored by the station.
The contest, which ran from Dec. 19 to Jan. 5, raffled off six mopeds donated by Cuban-Americans and provided important insight into the Cuban audiences use of shortwave and AM radio as well as social media. Martí asked Cubans to call, e-mail, Twitter or subscribe to Facebook for a chance to win.
The positive audience feedback for this moped raffle and our new forward-leaning programming reinforces our program choices, said Carlos García Pérez, Director of Radio and TV Martí. It is compelling to hear from Cubans about attitudinal changes on the island, incremental changes underway, and how closely connected they continue to feel to the U.S. and Cuban-American community in particular.
The listener contest is part of a year-long effort by Radio and TV Martí to reshape programming to better match the interests of young Cubans who face economic hardships as well as ongoing political restrictions. Through numerous focus groups with Cubans who have recently arrived in the U.S., as well as daily call-in programs and contests like these, Cubans consistently express their interests in technology, economic opportunities, entertainment and connecting with Americans.
The Martís have responded with a series of program initiatives to make programming relevant to the day-to-day lives of young people on the island. Shows like Avanza Cuba (Cuba Forward), look at the incremental changes underway in Cuba and future opportunities in technology and business; while El Revotillo (The Scramble) provides an on-air market for trading goods and services; and other news and entertainment programs foster enhanced audience participations through mobile, online and social media tools.
13 January 2012
Babcock International Group (Babcock) has won a 10-year contract to continue providing services relating to the transmission and distribution of radio and television for the BBC World Service.
The contract was awarded to Babcock following a rigorous competitive process. It is designed to ensure that the BBC receives the optimum value for money that continues to deliver high levels of service for its audience. The contract start date is 1 April 2012; it is worth circa £200 million over 10 years.
Babcock has been a trusted delivery partner for the BBC World Service for 15 years, and has ensured that the BBC World Service reached its audience of 166 million. Under the terms of the new contract, Babcock will build upon this heritage and provide essential support to ensure that the BBC provides a reliable and resilient service to its global audience. This will include:
* Scheduling and co-ordination of all BBC World Service shortwave broadcasts across the globe. In the first year of the new contract Babcock will co-ordinate a total of 180,335 hours of transmissions for the BBC.
* Operating and maintaining the BBC’s six high power sites and a power station to ensure global coverage. This includes the BBC key target areas of Africa and the Middle East, the Indian Sub-Continent and South East Asia.
* Monitoring of high frequency broadcast performance (using independent data). The BBC is committed to offering the best quality of service to its worldwide audience and Babcock’s monitoring ensures the best possible audio quality is achieved in the desired target areas.
* Managing the satellite network contracts and support of the satellite distribution systems including 1,300 receivers worldwide in over 650 locations in 128 countries.
* Maintaining the BBC World Service’s FM Relay network. In addition to the satellite receiver maintenance, Babcock will support the equipment of more than 150 FM relay sites around the world. This will underpin the resilience of the service offered by the BBC.
By the end of the new contract the partnership will have lasted for a quarter of a century. In 2009 Babcock and the BBC World Service jointly won the ‘Team of the Year – Professional and Support Services’ at the BBC Global News Reith Awards. This was the first time an external supplier won an award at this event. The year after Babcock was selected as the winner of the Reith Award under the category of Professional Services.
Bryan Coombes, Director, Communications, Babcock, said:
“Our history of working in partnership with the BBC shows that we can deliver value for money and unprecedented levels of performance. We know and understand the BBC and the broadcasting industry and are committed to finding the right solutions to the challenges the broadcaster faces over the next ten years. We will achieve this through offering innovative ideas that drive efficiencies over the life of the contract.”
Nigel Fry, Head of Distribution BBC Global News, said:
“The new contract with Babcock builds on the success of the last 15 years. It will provide us with clarity of costs over the coming years, and significant savings that are critical in the current economic climate. Importantly, these savings will not affect the quality of service that our global audience expects.”
