Two Radio Netherlands Worldwide programmes have won prizes in the prestigious New York Festivals Radio Broadcasting Awards. The documentary, A prison within a prison, about depression in the Gaza Strip won a gold medal in the keenly contested category, Human Relations. The jury also voted a series of interviews and reports on Zimbabwe as one of the certificated finalists in the category, National/International Affairs.
The Zimbabwe series was produced as part of RNWs English-language programme, The State Were In. Both prize winning broadcasts were made by RNW journalist Eric Beauchemin. The Head of RNWs English department, Andy Clark, believes in the importance of this international recognition: These awards underline RNWs strong international reputation, especially in the challenging field of accurately reporting about human rights issues.” he says. The programmes can still be heard on demand via the website www.radionetherlands.nl or downloaded as a podcast.
NYF Radio Broadcasting Awards
The NYF Radio Broadcasting Awards, also known as the Radio Oscars, are given to distinguished radio productions from all over the world. Each year, hundreds of programmes are considered by various juries made up of international experts, with criteria including production, presentation, originality and creativity.
NXVision, a UK-based provider of place-shifting technology, has secured a follow-on investment. Investors in the 300,000 funding round included Braveheart, Scottish Enterprise, LINC Scotland and the companys management. The funds will help the company boost sales.
NXVision (previously known as Inxstor) has developed technology for the place-shifting market. Place shifting allows users to watch TV in any location on devices other than TV sets. They can access audio and video content from a mobile device by processing images and sound from home video equipment into digital signals and transmitting them to the new viewing location over the home internet connection.
NXVisions first is product is embedded into set top boxes incorporating media processors (STi7109 or equivalent) and runs alongside existing content protection and middleware. It has been evaluated by a number of operators and allowed them to access Freeview and satellite set-top boxes remotely from personal computers, laptops and mobile phones over Internet Protocol through 3G or WiFi networks. The companys technology currently works with Apple iPhone/ iPod Touch, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, LG, Google Android, RIM and Windows Mobile handsets.
Late last year, the company introduced a side-loading product (push TV) which allows programs to be tagged for mobile recording through the electronic program guide. Once recorded the program is transferred either via WiFi or 3G to a selected mobile device for viewing.
Satellite communications firm TerreStar has successfully launched what is believed to be the world’s largest communications satellite, which will provide mobile broadband coverage across North America.
Launched by Arianespace from Kourou, French Guiana, yesterday, the satellite – called ‘TerreStar-1’ – is the foundation for TerreStar’s satellite communications network targeted at government users, emergency responders, enterprises and those in rural communities without conventional mobile network coverage. The all-IP-based mobile broadband network supports voice, data and video services. “We are creating a new paradigm in mobile broadband network services and devices that will leverage our integrated satellite and terrestrial communications components to enable true ubiquity and reliability – anywhere in the United States and Canada,” said Dennis Matheson, CTO of TerreStar.
TerreStar’s network will operate in two 10MHz blocks of contiguous MSS spectrum in the 2GHz band throughout the US and Canada, and claims to have a spectrum footprint that covers a population of nearly 330 million.
The firm has already launched a handset compatible with the network in collaboration with partner firm, EB (Elektrobit). Launched at the CTIA Wireless trade show in April, the ‘TerreStar smartphone’ claims to be the world’s first quad-band GSM and tri-band WCDMA/HSPA smartphone with integrated all-IP satellite-terrestrial voice and data capabilities. TerreStar has a nationwide roaming agreement in place with AT&T in the US.
The international arm of NHK, Japans renowned public service broadcaster, has recently contracted for an increased range of services with WRN, the London based broadcasting and transmission company.
Starting from the summer season of 2009, WRN is providing new platforms for Radio Japans Arabic services to be heard in the Middle East via a 1000kW Medium Wave station on 1377kHz AM, and on FM for the Palestinian Territories, parts of Israel and Jordan. This adds to WRNs existing agreement to place NHKs Arabic programming on its own station Sawt Al-Alam (Arabic for Voice of the World) which is an aggregation of programming from leading world broadcasters and is available on the Arabsat, Hot Bird and Nilesat satellite services.
Mr Yuki Sakagami, Associate Director of NHKs International Planning & Broadcasting Department said, Within current media development in the world of international broadcasting, NHK World Radio Japan is now taking the initiative to broadcast its programmes on the most suitable media, including FM and Medium Wave, in each target area, and commencing these new transmission platforms in the Middle East is one such example.
NHKs Russian language programming is now heard on WRNs Russian channel Vsimirniya Radioset (which is Russian for World Radio Network) on both satellite and locally on 738 AM (Medium Wave) in Moscow. Karl Miosga, Chairman of WRN, said Radio Japan adds the new dimension of a Japanese perspective to the programming we offer in Russia and we are delighted they join us as a partner broadcaster with their extremely high quality content.
Meanwhile in South Asia, Radio Japan in Bengali, Hindi and Urdu is now available via one of the shortwave relay facilities offered by WRN. Jeff Cohen, who looks after shortwave transmission at WRN, says, Though use of shortwave has been declining in recent years in western nations it is still essential for reaching Asia and this is attested by the high demand for frequency spectrum in the region.
Atsushi Terauchi, Senior Manager at NHKs International Planning & Broadcasting Department, spoke of the general widening of NHKs use of relay facilities, It is essential that the 18 language services of Radio Japan from NHK World, reach the highest possible audience worldwide. So we constantly review transmission platforms and add new ways that audiences can tune to our programmes.
David Treadway, Managing Director of WRN, expressed his delight at the new business with NHK, We really appreciate the confidence of Japans public broadcaster in WRN shown by this significant increase in the global transmission services we provide.
1Cast, the revolutionary broadcast platform that delivers up-to-the-minute news video to subscribers’ smartphones and the web, today announced that Al Jazeera English, the first English-speaking global news channel headquartered in the Middle East, is now available via the 1Cast service.
Al Jazeera English delivers a fresh perspective on world news to over 150 million households worldwide. The channel has a unique editorial mission to balance the current global information flow by giving voice to stories that often are under-reported, promoting debate, and challenging established perceptions. Presenters including Sir David Frost, Riz Khan and Rageh Omaar keep viewers up-to-date from Broadcast Centres in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC, and from 69 bureaus on all continents.
Its a fascinating development that will allow audiences to view our news broadcasts – which often originate in places such as the streets of Pakistan or Baghdad – on a smart phone or via the web just seconds later in America, said Phil Lawrie, Al Jazeera Networks Director of Global Distribution. Our new partnership with 1Cast expands on our commitment to give global citizens access to world news delivered from a refreshing, alternative perspective via multiple technologies, both traditional and new.”
We are very pleased to offer our subscribers and viewers the exceptional perspective and coverage that Al Jazeera English delivers across the world, said Anthony Bontrager, President of 1Cast. Al Jazeera English joins a roster of some of the most respected news leaders in the world who are using 1Cast to extend their audience reach through our unique platform.
1Cast is a digital newsstand that gives viewers more control over the content they consume. Viewers simply select the topics they care about most, and 1Cast delivers up-to-the minute newscasts of video clips from leading news sources, including the Associated Press, BBC World News, Bloomberg, CBC, Reuters, CNBC, Barrons.com, Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal, AllThingsD and now Al Jazeera English.
News content from 1Cast is consumed on-the-go, via iPhone, iPod Touch, Android mobile phone or on the web, and is updated continually throughout the day. Users can also share their personalised newscasts with friends via email or on platforms such as blogs, social networking sites and other web portals using the 1Cast embeddable video player.
