Advanced Wireless Services to accelerate 3G growth in the Americas

6 July 2009

The GSMA Mobile Business Briefing reports:

A new GSMA-backed study has made the case for new Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum as a key driver of mobile broadband growth in the Americas. The study by US-based research firm Global View Partners said the spectrum – as a core 3G band in the Americas – will accelerate the launch of new services in the region and put it on a par with Asia and Europe in terms of 3G reach. “Regulators should move quickly and not delay in making this valuable and viable spectrum available to meet the rapidly growing broadband needs of consumers and businesses across the Americas,” said Ricardo Tavares, senior vice-president at the GSMA. The spectrum – 90MHz in the 1.7-2.1GHz range – has already been auctioned-off to operators in the US (in 2006) and Canada (in 2008), and the study notes that the prices paid for AWS spectrum in these countries “revealed high market demand,” as well as adding significant mobile broadband capacity and coverage. Many Latin America markets are planning to license the spectrum this year.

According to the study, additional licensing of the AWS spectrum across the region should bring total subscribers with AWS-enabled devices from an estimated 12.4 million at the end of 2009 to an estimated 177.8 million at the end of 2013, a growth rate of 94 percent each year. As the subscriber base increases, the research suggests that device sales will also grow from an estimated 10.9 million in 2009 to an estimated 114.5 million in 2013, representing a growth rate of 80 percent each year. The research also highlighted operator plans. For example, T-Mobile USA plans to continue to drive AWS device and subscriber penetration over the next several years. Global View Partners’ market forecast predicts approximately one half of the operator’s subscriber base are expected to be using HSPA-enabled devices capable of operating in the AWS band within two years, with more than 90 percent within five years.

Radio Netherlands Worldwide wins international radio prizes

6 July 2009

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 RNW’s English-language programme, The State We’re In. Both prize winning broadcasts were made by RNW journalist Eric Beauchemin. The Head of RNW’s English department, Andy Clark, believes in the importance of this international recognition: “These awards underline RNW’s 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.

How to enter the 2009 AIBs

6 July 2009

Enter the 2009 AIBs today – download the entry information href=”https://aib.org.uk/files/AIBs_2009_130509.pdf”
target=_blank>here

Use our online payment system to pay for your entries –
click

here to pay online.

Al Jazeera English launches live streaming on Apple iPhone and iPod Touch globally

6 July 2009

Al Jazeera English, the world’s first global 24-hour English-language world news channel based in the Middle East, is today launching AJE Live, a software application which gives viewers access to the channel live on their Apple iPhones and iPods anywhere in the world.

AJE Live provides unlimited viewing of the Al Jazeera English channel on both Wi-Fi and 3G networks. The application, developed with online TV specialist Livestation, is available for an introductory one-off fee of $2.99 on all Apple App Stores, which are accessible via iPhone and iPod touch devices or via iTunes.

Phil Lawrie, Director of Global Distribution at Al Jazeera Network comments: “The Web 2.0 generation is online 24/7 and demands to be constantly updated on global news as it happens. AJE Live is now part of the iPhone apps phenomenon, and is giving users instant access to an exciting brand of journalism when they want it, where they want it. Al Jazeera English is already firmly established as one of the most viewed news channels on YouTube and now AJE Live is keeping the station at the fore of the digital revolution.”

Matteo Berlucchi, CEO of Livestation adds: “The fresh perspective on international news and current affairs offered by Al Jazeera English is an ideal match for the generation of iPhone users who want alternative news online. This is demonstrated by the success of Al Jazeera on the Livestation online service and by the high levels of web traffic generated by the iPhone and iPod Touch devices. I am confident iPhone users will welcome the ability to watch Al Jazeera on the move or at home through this high quality application”.

1Cast to offer Al Jazeera video clips on game-changing TV news site

3 July 2009

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.

“It’s 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 Network’s 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.

South Africa MPs propose board for SABC

3 July 2009

BBC News reports: A parliamentary committee has proposed a five-strong board to head the South African Broadcasting Corporation, a day after the previous board was sacked.

Parliament voted to dissolve the board after months of infighting and alleged mismanagement – the public broadcaster is 740m rand ($94m; £58m) in debt. The communications committee has now chosen five people for an interim board which MPs will vote on next week. Critics have long said the broadcaster was a mouthpiece for the government. They accused former President Thabo Mbeki of filling the previous board with his own followers. Opposition parties said the new board would have to be politically impartial if the beleaguered broadcaster’s reputation is to be restored. The BBC’s Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg says four of the members of the proposed interim board are seen as relatively neutral. But the committee could not agree on the fifth nominee – Phil Mtimkulu, a political science lecturer who was nominated by the governing Africa National Congress (ANC).

They were eventually forced into a vote, and approved his nomination by eight votes to four. The SABC has been saddled with debt since the mid-1990s, with some board members and senior managers accused of abusing their position to enrich themselves. The board and managers have also openly rowed over major decisions and blamed each other for the corporation’s difficulties. By the time the National Assembly decided to dissolve the board, most of them had already quit.