1 April 2009
At the 2009 NAB Show in Las Vegas, Nev., STATS (booth SL5011) and Vizrt (SL5508) will host an exclusive in-booth demonstration of its holographic-effect technology for members of the media on Tuesday, April 21st at 8:30AM. STATS and Vizrt are exhibiting from neighboring locations at NAB and this special demonstration will be seen from both companies exhibit areas.
Since we announced our plans to conduct in-booth demonstrations for NAB attendees, members of the media have clamored for their own opportunity to see the holographic effect up close, said Bjarne Berg, CEO for Vizrt. “The press event is an exciting opportunity for us to demonstrate it and show broadcasters how they can use it to their advantage. “
The press demonstrations will provide a wonderful opportunity to display the versatility of this product both in term of potential uses as well as set up and size, said Brian Kopp, Vice President at STATS. We look forward to demonstrating the product and answering any questions about the technology.
The holographic effect proved very effective in drawing viewers to CNNs election night coverage, with an estimated 13 million viewers tuning in. It is poised to redefine the remote interview, creating the appearance of a face-to-face exchange. The transmission is seamless, provides high optical quality and eliminates the traditional split-screen view and production sequences of typical remote interviews.
This innovative video treatment is comprised of STATS video processing and tracking technology, along with Vizrts real-time tracking and rendering software. The impression of the holographic interview is completed in fractions of a second.
Multi-participant interviews are possible, changing the scale of the hologram subject or using the image in post-production to create intriguing promos.
Press interested in attending will need to pre-register with Nick Stamm from STATS, stamm@stats.com or Robin Hoffman from Pipeline Communications robinhoffman@pipecomm.com and will be required to show a special exhibit floor pass for entry. Representatives from STATS and Vizrt will distribute the passes at the LVCC Main South Lower Hall entrance on Tuesday, April 21 beginning at 8 AM.
31 March 2009
The founding conference of the National Bureau of Investigative Journalism (NBR) is taking place in Moscow on March 31, RFE/RL’s Russian Service reports.
The chief editors of Russia’s leading media outlets are gathering to discuss the organization’s goals and objectives.
The president of the Moscow-based Fund to Protect Glasnost, Aleksey Simonov, told RFE/RL that the NBR should become a sort of lobbyist for journalists’ interests in state entities, such as the State Duma and Interior Ministry.
According to Simonov, the increasing violence directed against journalists in Russia demands closer cooperation between journalists and police investigators.
He also said investigative journalism remains one of the most effective and necessary genres in Russia.
26 March 2009
Al Jazeera Network, the Middle East-headquartered international broadcaster, announced that it is significantly stepping-up the distribution of its feature programmes. It will be offering a range of its factual and documentary programming from Al Jazeera English, the Al Jazeera Documentary Channel and the Al Jazeera Satellite Channel.
Phil Lawrie, Director of Global Distribution stated: “With a growing portfolio of programmes from these three acclaimed channels, we’re able to market a range of compelling programming that covers a wide variety of current affairs topics and issues.
The library available from Al Jazeera English includes over 50 hours from its award-winning documentary strand Witness, comprising stories told by local filmmakers that provide a fresh insight into world events as they impact on the daily lives of ordinary people.
Arabic-language content includes Al Jazeera Documentary Channel’s 4-part documentary Arab Christians and, from the Al Jazeera Satellite Channel, The PLO – a 13-part documentary looking at the creation, establishment and existence of the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
Al Jazeera showcases this content and more at the forthcoming MIPDOC, March 28-29, and MIPTV, March 30-April 3.
26 March 2009
The AIB is pleased to announce that companies can now book enhanced entries in the
2009 Global Broadcasting Sourcebook.
For just £295 (plus UK VAT at 15%), companies can have an enhanced entry that includes their
logo in full colour, plus a description of up to 120 words – all set in an eye-catching
coloured box.
You can see an example of the enhanced listing
here.
To reserve your enhanced listing in the new edition of the
Global Broadcasting Sourcebook that
will be published at the end of May 2009, use our online shop
here. We will then contact you to obtain your logo and listing.
Alternatively, download the booking form
here, or talk to Alison
Seary on
+44 (0) 20 7993 2557.
You can also book advertising in the Sourcebook – look through the
media pack
here.
26 March 2009
Kenyans have found a new place to watch and listen to the Voice of America’s (VOA) (www.VOANews.com) news and information: the palms of their hands.
In a unique arrangement with Safaricom (www.safaricom.co.ke), a leading telecommunications company in Kenya, VOA provides daily updated audio and video stories to cell phone subscribers who download the material.
“We’re dedicated to delivering VOA’s news and information to all people – on all platforms,” said VOA Director Danforth Austin. “This arrangement with Safaricom shows the benefits of new technology,” he said.
The Nairobi-based Safaricom estimates there were 800,000 attempted downloads of VOA reports between mid-December 2008 and mid-March 2009.
Many downloads tracked with VOA’s comprehensive coverage of the January 19, 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama, whose late father was Kenyan. VOA’s inauguration coverage spanned the days before and after the inauguration, and included an interview with one of Obama’s cousins from Kenya.
Safaricom networks reach areas throughout Kenya, an East African country of nearly 38 million where mobile technology often has leap-frogged conventional landline telephones. Safaricom has about 10 million subscribers in Kenya, with many concentrated in the major cities, including Nairobi and Mombasa.
Approximately 10 million Kenyans subscribe to the service. Subscriptions are reportedly concentrated in the major cities such as Nairobi and Mombasa.
26 March 2009
SIRIUS XM Radio has made WRN available to XM subscribers. WRN is broadcast on SIRIUS channel 140 and XM channel 135.
This is excellent news for WRN’s content partners as the merger between SIRIUS Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio brings the combined company, operating under the name SIRIUS XM Radio, to more than 19 million subscribers (based on subscriber numbers ending 4th Quarter 2008).
Tim Ashburner, WRNs Board Chairman, said, WRN has had a long association with SIRIUS and is absolutely delighted to make its programming available to XM subscribers across North America, bringing to listeners a unique perspective on the worlds news and offering different viewpoints from around the world.
WRN will be re-modelling its North American service specifically for satellite radio by adding a wide variety of programming from the worlds news broadcasters.
