27 June 2011
Radio Netherlands Worldwide has said the Dutch cabinet’s plan to reduce its budget by 70 percent is inconceivable. General Director Jan Hoek and Editor-in-Chief Rik Rensen say the cutback is unprecedented: “In today’s international world, each self-respecting country has to live up to its responsibilities. The Education and Culture Ministry (OCW) is making it impossible for us to do this. Without any preliminary research, nor any consultations, a decision has been taken that will leave a global audience of millions out in the cold, and will cost 250 jobs.”
Former foreign minister and RNW Board of Supervisors Chairman Bernhard Bot says he is worried: “I find this cabinet plan incomprehensible, coming from a reliable administration which should be implementing long-term foreign policies serving the interests of the Netherlands and the Dutch people.”
The figures announced today show that from 2013 Radio Netherlands Worldwide’s budget will be reduced by 70 percent, from 46 million euros to 14 million euros a year. General Director Jan Hoek says: “This radical reduction is both unnecessary and not part of the agreed government coalition programme. The Culture Ministry is opting for the cheapest solution. This is too easy a way of achieving economies in public broadcasting.”
Editor-in-Chief Rik Rensen adds, “Our country wants to be known as an important and reliable trading nation. Radio Netherlands Worldwide is contributing to this, in ten languages, around the clock. Tens of millions of people all over the world consider RNW an important source of information, and the Netherlands’ journalistic calling card. Is our country really retreating behind the dykes?”
Coalition agreement
Announcing a decision which was planned in the government coalition accord, the cabinet announced last week that Radio Netherlands Worldwide should focus exclusively on bringing reliable and independent information to people in countries without press freedom. Two of Radio Netherlands Worldwides core tasks providing information for Dutch people living abroad and presenting a realistic image of the Netherlands to the rest of the world are to be scrapped. It is still unclear how much of the output in the remaining nine languages can be continued.
RNW’s own plan
On 7 June Radio Netherlands Worldwide indicated it was prepared to deliver a proportional amount of the planned government economies in public broadcasting, that proportion being 22 percent of its budget and a loss of 100 jobs. General Director Jan Hoek said, “We put forward a plan outlining our new direction to the Education and Culture Ministry, but they never even responded. It is unbelievably slapdash of the minister to take such far-reaching decisions without any consultation.”
27 June 2011
Vizrt Ltd., a leading provider of content production tools for the digital media industry, today announced a deal with Channel 7 from Thailand, worth approximately THB 61 million (approximately USD 1.9 million). The significant follow up sale provides the Thai public television channel with a faster Virtual Studio Engine performance, enabling an even more dynamic and visually enhanced viewer experience.
Notably, Channel 7 is now the first major network customer in Thailand using Viz Reporter and Viz Media Engine, allowing the company to target new audiences on all the latest handhelds and other online content access devices.
“Michael Namatinia, President of Vizrt APAC, stated, “Vizrt is thrilled with Channel 7’s vote of confidence as the network moves into the second phase of its upgrades. We’re especially happy to see Channel 7 moving into the mobile arena, with solutions employing the range of products from our Mobile division. This is a substantial purchase that will deepen the partnership between Channel 7 and Vizrt.”
The system was sold, delivered and Installed in Q2 and will go on-air for the up coming Thai elections on July 3rd.
About Channel 7:
Established in 1967, Bangkok National Radio and Television Broadcasting Corporation Channel 7 is a Thai television channel. The headquarters are located in Bangkok.
27 June 2011
The latest of the AIB’s industry briefings has been published and is available online – follow the link below to see the 24 June edition.
To subscribe, e-mail your name, job title, organisation and e-mail details to register @ aib.org.uk (please remove the spaces).
23 June 2011
Following decades of accomplishments, Tim Riordan decides to retire at the pinnacle of his career from his current position as Group TV Director at MBC, at the beginning of October, while remaining as a special advisor to MBC Chairman and Board. Having helped drive MBC channel launches over the years and successfully negotiated output deals with all the major studios, Riordan has been instrumental in shaping the unique TV viewing experience that millions in the Middle East and North Africa region have enjoyed.
In parallel, MBC Group announces the appointment of Ali Jaber as Group TV Director. Jaber will be joining the team of Group Directors that manage the Groups activities across many different media and platforms.
Commenting on this, Ali Al-Hedeithy, MBCs Group Director General said: Tim Riordan has been a pillar of the MBC Group for many years. He made his mark particularly in the launch of MBCs western content channels. However, we have also benefitted from his wide ranging experience across all areas of the Group. Tims leadership, his ability to make things happen from studio deals to channel launches, and his readiness to innovate – have been a big asset for MBC. Were delighted that Tim has agreed to stay in an advisory capacity to MBC Chairman and Board.
As far as the appointment of Ali Jaber is concerned, Ali Al-Hedeithy commented: Im pleased to welcome Ali Jaber to the MBC family, ahead of his joining date in September. Alis background, his wide ranging achievements in the industry and his years of experience will bring added value to the Group and will further enrich our team of Group Directors.
21 June 2011
The Dutch cabinet has announced plans to cut back the activities of Radio Netherlands Worldwide. The Dutch world service will no longer provide information for Dutch people living abroad, or provide the rest of the world with a realistic image of the Netherlands.
Instead, Radio Netherlands Worldwide is to concern itself solely with providing information in countries where free speech is suppressed or threatened.
During his press conference after the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Mark Rutte praised the work Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) has done.
“Radio Netherlands Worldwide will limit itself to one role, promoting free speech. I think the other tasks RNW performs are nice, valuable, but not enough to finance them with public money.”
Austerity programme
The cuts to RNW are part of a widespread austerity programme the current centre-right government is implementing to bring the national budget into balance. In the wake of cuts to higher education, the arts and defence, the government today announced a reorganization of the entire public broadcasting system.
As part of that reorganization Radio Netherlands Worldwide will no longer fall under the media budget, but become the responsibility of the Foreign Ministry. That move is scheduled to take place on 1 January 2013.
Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal confirmed the narrower focus – including press freedom – for the Dutch international service:
“Radio Netherlands Worldwide will concern itself with free speech under Foreign Affairs starting in 2013. I will not say anything else about it right now.”
Mr Rosenthal explained that, since RNW will remain part of the media budget next year, he does not want to step on ! his fellow minister’s toes, referring to Media Minister Marja van Bijsterveld.
Parliament
The financial details of these changes to Radio Netherlands Worldwide are not yet clear. The lower house of parliament is due to debate the cuts to RNW in two weeks. Parliament must still approve the cabinet’s planned cuts. The debate is scheduled for 27 June.
“Incomprehensible”
In reaction to the news from The Hague, former foreign minister Bernard Bot, chairman of the RNW supervisory board, said: “I find this cabinet decision incomprehensible for a government whose foreign policy should serve the long-term interests of the Netherlands and the Dutch.”
RNW director-general Jan Hoek echoed the feelings of Mr Bot: “This is an incomprehensible and sad decision. The ministry has chosen the easy way out by passing one quarter of the cuts in public broadcasting (200m euros) in its entirety to one organization – RNW.”
RNW editor-in-chief Rik Rensen said: “Our country is known as an important and reliable trading nation. Radio Netherlands Worldwide makes a unique contribution in 10 languages, 24 hours a day. For tens of millions of people around the world, RNW is an important source of information and a journalistic calling card for the Netherlands. Is our country really going back behind the dikes?”!
20 June 2011
Mobile phone users from Mexico to Peru can now listen to Voice of Americas Spanish language news bulletins, thanks to a new VOA partnership with AudioNow and its patent-pending technology that can stream radio content to any phone.
By simply dialing up the free service, mobile phone users can listen to VOAs latest five minute Spanish language newscast in Argentina, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
Access numbers for mobile subscribers in each country are posted on the VOA Spanish Service website.
VOA Latin America Division Managing Editor Clara Dominguez says the use of the cost-effective AudioNow technology, represents an expansion of our commitment to free and open access to media throughout the world, and especially in Latin America, where mobile phone use has grown rapidly.
AudioNow, a provider of mobile phone radio distribution in North America and around the world, uses proprietary technology that allows any fixed or mobile phone to access live and pre-recorded audio programming.
Dominguez says, VOAs Spanish language service continues to expand its audience throughout the Southern Hemisphere and this exciting partnership with AudioNow gives us an opportunity to serve an important listener base on a platform they are comfortable using.
Users of the new service do not have to download any software. The service is free, although some mobile operators may apply phone service charges, so users should check their mobile plan for details.
Listen to VOA at the following numbers: Argentina, Buenos Aires: +541159841362, Colombia, Bogotá: +5715087780, El Salvador, Nacional: +50321131960, México, Ciudad de México: +525530987583, Panamá, Nacional: +5078365477, Perú, Lima: +5117086904, Venezuela, Caracas: +582123357780.
For more information about this and other VOA Spanish language programs, visit www.voanews.com/spanish/news. For more about VOA in English visit www.voanews.com.
