Al Arabiya News Network announces international expansion and new English show line-up

16 September 2024

Al Arabiya News Network announces international expansion and new English show line-up

Al Arabiya News Network, the Arab world’s leading source of news, announces its international expansion of its English-language news segments and the introduction of brand-new shows fronted by some of the world’s best-known journalists.

This strategic expansion highlights Al Arabiya’s commitment to delivering high-quality, comprehensive news coverage to viewers worldwide beyond its award-winning core Arabic-language TV channel and digital platforms.

Joining are a plethora of top names from the global news scene including Rosanna Lockwood, and Tom Burges Watson, who will be covering a wide range of topics from international politics and current affairs to culture and human-interest stories.

Mamdouh AlMuhaini, General Manager of Al Arabiya Network stated: “We are delighted to introduce Al Arabiya News Network’s English-language programming line-up. This international expansion reflects our dedication to providing our viewers with diverse perspectives and insightful analysis on the issues that matter most.

“We are looking forward to reaching new audiences around the world, providing them the trusted and accurate news coverage that our original Arabic network is known for.”

Global News Today (GNT) with Rosanna Lockwood

Backed by an industry-leading team, British journalist Rosanna Lockwood deploys her interviewing skills and deep journalism experience to bring viewers their daily dose of world news via compelling guests, expert insights, and analysis.

“Global News Today” encompasses wall-to wall coverage of the biggest global events – such as the recent UK General Election – and a comprehensive look at the issues shaping the world, while seeking to inform, educate and entertain.

About Rosanna Lockwood:

Working as a presenter and correspondent for major networks across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Rosanna Lockwood has fronted prime-time news shows from London, Istanbul, Moscow, Dubai, and Singapore. Prior to joining Al Arabiya News Network, Lockwood hosted her own daily news show on Talk TV in the UK. She has also presented for CNBC, MSNBC, Reuters, the BBC, Bloomberg TV, LBC, and ITN.

WE News with Tom Burges Watson

Fluent in English, French, Italian and Japanese (plus knowledge of basic Arabic), Tom Burges Watson joins Al Arabiya News Network as English-language news presenter. He brings with him nearly two decades of experience in television, radio, and print media.

Watson has rich experience in delivering breaking news and has covered major events such as the 2015 Paris attacks, the Beirut explosion, and the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

About Tom Burges Watson:

Until June 2024, Tom was the host of the evening news show “Prime News Paris” on France 24, a channel of which he was part of for the past 15 years. Alongside his role at France 24, Watson also worked as Paris Correspondent for Monocle Magazine. Prior to his time in France, Watson worked with CNN International in the United Kingdom.

TUNE IN NOW

Discover Al Arabiya News Network including its brand-new English content via Al Arabiya on free-to-air satellite TV, as well as the following online channels:

Global News Today (GNT) presented by Rosanna Lockwood: Live daily at 21:30 KSA / 18:30 GMT / 14:30 ET
We News presented by Tom Burges Watson: Live daily at 20:00 KSA / 17:00 GMT / 13:00 ET
English website: english.alarabiya.net
YouTube: AlArabiyaEnglish
Catch highlights on TikTok: @alarabiya_eng
And Instagram: @alarabiya_eng
All episodes can be found on Al Arabiya’s Facebook page & YouTube channel.
[Source: Al Arabiya press release]

France 24 English accessible on New Zealand’s DTT

16 September 2024

France 24 English accessible on New Zealand’s DTT

Already available on digital platforms in New Zealand, France 24 is launching its English channel on the Freeview DTT service in the country, which reaches 3.2 million users – 87% of the population.

Starting September 16, 2024, Freeview viewers can access France 24 English’s live broadcasts for free on channel #200 during the following time slots: weekdays from 1 am to 7 am and 12 pm to 1 pm, as well as weekends from 3 am to 9 am.

[Source: France 24 press release]

Pacific culture captured in new ABC’s Canvas of Oceans

16 September 2024

Pacific culture captured in new ABC’s Canvas of Oceans

From the team behind The Pacific, join presenters Alice Lolohea and Johnson Raela in Hawai’i as they explore the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) with Canvas of Oceans – a story of preservation and celebration of Pacific identity.

Watch a preview of Canvas of Oceans.

HOW TO WATCH:

Canvas of Oceans will premiere on ABC Australia, Sunday 15 September at 3:00pm Papua New Guinea (PNG) time, 4:00pm in Solomon Islands (SBT), 5:00pm in Fiji (FJT), 6:00pm in Tonga (T0T), 6:00pm in Samoa (WST) and 3:00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

Held every four years, the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) is the largest celebration of indigenous Pacific cultures. In June 2024, Hawai’i hosted the 13th FestPAC with over 2,500 delegates from 25 Pacific nations and territories coming together to share and celebrate their cultural connections.

Canvas of Oceans follows hosts of ABC Australia’s The Pacific, Alice Lolohea and Johnson Raela, as they travel to Hawai’i to document the vibrant and diverse cultural exchanges of FestPAC. From musical and dance performances to traditional and contemporary arts interspersed with moving conversations, the documentary captures the essence of FestPAC. By speaking with artists and cultural practitioners, Canvas of Oceans tells a story of celebration, preservation and the challenges faced by many Pacific communities grappling with the after-effects of colonisation as they strive to protect their cultural identity.

Canvas of Oceans also shares the deeply personal journeys experienced by presenters Lolohea and Raela as they uncover profound connections between their own cultural heritage and lives and celebrate the rich tapestry of Pacific cultures.

Presenter Alice Lolohea said: “Immersing ourselves in the culture and history of the wider Pacific brought me to tears. Witnessing the beautiful exchange of knowledge, traditional practices and aloha between Indigenous people of the Moana is an experience a textbook will never do justice.”

Johnson Raela added: “We already know Pacific arts is vibrant and entertaining, but we also know there’s a lot of deep hurt and loss of culture due to colonisation that artists and creatives from across the region are reclaiming – it’s these voices that we’ve tried to capture in this film.”

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “Canvas of Oceans is a beautifully crafted documentary, shot and produced by the talented team behind The Pacific. ABC Australia audiences can anticipate a moving and informative program, celebrating Pacific culture and storytelling from FestPAC.”

Consent Management Platform for FAST and AVoD services on free-to-air TV platforms

10 September 2024

Consent Management Platform for FAST and AVoD services on free-to-air TV platforms

Synapse TV announced their approved status as the latest Consent Management Platform to join IAB Europe’s Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF).

As a result, the Synapse CMP may be used to collect consent on any FAST TV services on Freeview, Freely and other free-to-air platforms. TCF compliance now allows viewers to enjoy their favourite content while ensuring their privacy preferences are maintained. The CMP is compatible with most connected TVs to hit the market over the last decade. This includes but is not limited to TVs branded Freeview (modern HbbTV and legacy MHEG), Samsung TV+, LG, Roku, Freely, etc.

The TCF, which was launched in April 2018, is a cross-industry voluntary standard that relies on standardisation to facilitate compliance with certain provisions of the ePrivacy Directive and the GDPR. It is developed by IAB Europe in collaboration with organisations and professionals in the online industry. It is intended to enable publishers, technology partners and content owners to work together and provide users with a standardised experience when they make privacy choices.

Together with its content partner Global Distribution Services Synapse TV are delivering over a hundred FAST and linear TV channels to Freeview and Freely including Al Jazeera, France24, NHK World, Channelbox, ROK, Filmstream and many others.

“Our priority has always been to deliver a seamless and enjoyable viewing experience for all CTV users whilst respecting their privacy rights”, said Chris Wass, director of Synapse TV. “The addition of a TCF compliant CMP targeting free-to-air UK TV platforms ensures this respect whilst also maximising the programmatic opportunity for our customers.”

“The CMP is user-friendly and aligns with industry standards to provide a secure and transparent experience. Together with Synapse TV we will continue to adapt to any future regulatory changes to ensure that ourservices remains safe and compliant”, said Tanya Kronfli, director of Global Distribution Services, Synapse TV’s content partner.

BBC Studios expands reach of BBC Player in Poland

1 September 2024

BBC Studios expands reach of BBC Player in Poland

BBC Studios and CDA partner to launch BBC Studios’ multi-genre VOD service, BBC Player, on CDA Premium from 1 September 2024

BBC Studios and CDA announced that BBC Studios’ multi-genre VOD service will launch on CDA Premium from 1 September 2024. BBC Player will be available to the entire CDA Premium subscriber base, providing them with a wide range of award-winning BBC programming.

BBC Player is the local on-demand destination for BBC content in Poland. CDA Premium subscribers will be able to stream curated content selected solely for the platform, as well as award-winning and critically acclaimed shows from BBC Studios’ linear channel portfolio – BBC Brit, BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle, BBC First and CBeebies. This follows the successful launch of BBC Player on CANAL+ in June 2022 and online streaming service PLAY NOW and PLAY NOW TV.

CDA Premium subscribers will have access to a range of BBC drama and factual entertainment, as well as world-renowned natural history productions and even children’s programming. In September and October, audiences can look forward to a variety of programmes, including, but not limited to:

Absolutely Fabulous (season 3 and 4): Multi-award-winning British television sitcom created by Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, starring Joanna Lumley and Julia Sawalha.

David Beckham: For the Love of the Game: One of the most iconic players of his generation, David Beckham returns to the screens for a unique journey as he plays seven games in each of the seven continents around the world.

The Diplomat: Gripping crime series that shines a light on the secretive world of diplomacy. From the producers of Bodyguard and Line of Duty.

Inside No. 9 (season 1): Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton’s critically acclaimed and BAFTA Award-winning anthology of tales of the genuinely unexpected.

Mountains: Life Above the Clouds: A landmark 3-part series from the BBC Natural History Unit revealing the extraordinary animals and remarkable people who make a home in the iconic mountain ranges of the world, from the Himalaya, Rockies to the Andes.

Super Surgeons (season 2): A powerful documentary following a team of pioneering surgeons and their patients at one of the world’s leading cancer hospitals – The Royal Marsden.

Wonders of the Sun with Dara Ó Briain: The comedian’s latest documentary, in which he embarks on another journey of discovery, this time exploring our relationship with the Sun.

Bartosz Witak, General Manager for CEE at BBC Studios, says: ‘This deal marks the expansion of our on-demand platform in Poland, allowing even more people to stream BBC Studios’ award-winning content. Complementing our existing suite of linear BBC channels on CDA, I am proud to be providing CDA Premium subscribers access to a selection of dramas and factual shows on the go’.

[Source: BBC press release]

NHK WORLD-JAPAN’s focus in September: Kii

1 September 2024

NHK WORLD-JAPAN’s focus in September: Kii

Sacred Kii Mountains

Barakan Discovers KUMANO:Spirit of the Forest Sep 1 Sun. 1:10/7:10/13:10/19:10 (UTC) Pioneering ecologist Minakata Kumagusu explored the forests of Kumano. Join Peter Barakan as he follows Minakata’s path and discovers a universe in nature.
Small Journeys Odaishi-San Bringing People Together —Koya-Sanroku, Wakayama Prefecture Sep 7 Sat. 1:10/7:10/13:10/19:10 (UTC) Koyasan is the sacred site of a Buddhist sect established by monk Kukai around 1,200 years ago. Come meet the devoted residents who are grateful for his protection and the enduring bonds he fosters.
INNOVATIVE INVESTIGATIONS Sexual Exploitation of Minors Sep 22 Sun. 0:10/6:10/12:10/18:10 (UTC) Part 1 Threats to children survive, and even thrive, in the shadows of social media. Our investigation discovered a network of online communities fixated on sexualization of minors.
INNOVATIVE INVESTIGATIONS Sexual Exploitation of Minors Sep 29 Sun. 0:10/6:10/12:10/18:10 (UTC) Part 2 The second part of the series focuses on a child porn app with organized crime connections. Critics of mainstream platforms say they could do more to weed out harmful content.