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.
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.
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.
3 July 2009
Three new music channels were launched by ABC-Australia today as its radio services went digital in the state capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
ABC Radio director Kate Dundas said the new channels – ABC Dig Music, ABC Jazz and ABC Country – were being added to the ABC’s current line-up of five radio channels.
The existing channels would continue to be broadcast in analogue as well as on the new digital platform.
“The thing that’s important to remember is that all our current services stay on analogue, so no one needs to go out and have a complete switch-over like television will be in a few years,” she said in a statement directed to the ABC’s listeners, but adding that they would need to buy a digital radio to receive the digital services.
Ms Dundas said the ABC had plans to extend the new services to other capital cities and regional areas.
3 July 2009
As reported on the ABU web site:
According to AFP, China’s official news agency said today it will begin broadcasting in Europe this week, in the country’s latest bid to project its “soft power” through an overseas media blitz.
The state-run Xinhua news agency’s English-language television service will launch in Europe starting on Wednesday, Xinhua’s deputy editor Wu Jincai said. “The service will be on screens in supermarkets, and in Chinese embassies in Europe too,” he said.
He gave no further details but state media this year launched a global expansion, apparently aimed at shaping the communist-ruled country’s image.
The chief of the Communist Party’s overseas propaganda bureau, Wang Chen, said in January that expanding the global reach of China’s media was an important way to engineer a better image for the country and its government.
“We must… increase our capacity to broadcast, to positively influence international public opinion and establish a good image of our nation,” Xinhua quoted Mr Wang saying at the time.
After setting up French and Spanish channels ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China Central Television (CCTV) has also announced plans for Russian and Arabic channels this year.
3 July 2009
As reported by Tornado Insider:
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.
30 June 2009
Entries are arriving at the AIB head office in the UK for the 2009 AIBs – the fifth annual international media excellence awards.
Many broadcasters and production companies have contacted us to ask for an extension to the entry deadline – so we’ve responded!
The closing date for the 2009 AIBs is now Friday 31 July 2009.
Full details of how to enter are in the entry booklet you can download using the link below, and if you have questions, call us on +44 20 7993 2557 or e-mail awards2009 [@] aib.org.uk.
