BBC Studios appoints SVP Scripted and SVP Factual for EMEA

5 October 2023

BBC Studios appoints SVP Scripted and SVP Factual for EMEA

Ahead of Mipcom 2023, BBC Studios have announced that Chris Kinsman and Rebecca Ransley have been promoted to the newly created roles of Senior Vice President Factual and Senior Vice President Scripted for BBC Studios’ Content Sales Markets EMEA.

Based in London and reporting to Nick Percy, President of Global Markets, Chris and Rebecca will lead the teams responsible for co-production and finished tape sales across all EMEA markets, setting the sales strategy and directing co-production and content financing opportunities for their respective genres. Chris and Rebecca will work closely with BBC Studios’ content sales leads across Global Markets and North America, as well as with BBC Studios Production leadership.

Nick Percy, President, Global Markets said, “Both Chris and Rebecca bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their new roles which have been created to reflect the evolving needs of our business. With these promotions I am delighted to be able to recognise the quality of their leadership and the strength and expertise of our sales teams.”

Chris Kinsman, SVP Factual, Content Sales Markets EMEA said, “For a number of years Rebecca and I have worked alongside each other, so we’re delighted to be jointly leading the integrated EMEA sales team with these new roles and we’re looking forward to unlocking further opportunities for our world class factual and scripted programming.”

Rebecca Ransley, SVP Scripted, Content Sales Markets EMEA said, “With BBC Studios’ ambitious growth plans and growing pipeline it’s the perfect time to have refreshed our team structure in line with the company’s objectives allowing closer and richer conversations with our partners.”

Chris has spent almost twenty years nurturing key strategic relationships for the EMEA region at BBC Studios. Having worked across sales and co-productions in France and content sales in Italy and Iberia, Chris then went on to lead the Western Europe Content Sales team for Factual. Over the course of his time at BBC Studios, Chris has led commercial partnerships across key EMEA markets for Factual, overseen the negotiations and delivered multiple co-productions for key BBC Studios’ content and fostered long lasting partnerships.

With over a decade of experience within roles at BBC Studios, Rebecca has managed sales teams across multiple EMEA markets working with both local and global partners. Over recent years she has worked closely on BBC Studios’ scripted output and its sales strategy across EMEA, ensuring a natural progression into her new role. Prior to her time at BBC Studios, Rebecca held a variety of commercial and production roles at the BBC including at BBC Panorama.

BBC Studios recently announced that it will be heading to Mipcom with a standout slate packed with distinct, high-quality programming, including Mammals, The Famous Five, Truelove, Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution and The Unique Boutique.

Bespoke events include a fireside chat with CEOs for Global Distribution and Productions, Rebecca Glashow and Ralph Lee, and live play-along game of primetime entertainment format, The 1% Club.

BBC Studios will be located at P0.E1 within the Palais des Festivals Verrière section at the market.

[Source: BBC press release]

Yolanda López stepping down as Acting VOA Director

2 October 2023

Yolanda López stepping down as Acting VOA Director

Earlier this month, Yolanda López, Voice of America’s acting director, announced her departure from the news organization to take a position outside the federal government.

“Over the past eight years at this agency, I’ve experienced both wonderful and challenging moments, forming lasting memories and friendships that I’ll carry with me for a lifetime,” López said in a statement to VOA staff. “Together, we’ve navigated through wars, conflicts, a pandemic, natural catastrophes, elections, special coverages, protests and more. I’m deeply grateful for the support and resilience each of you has shown in such critical moments.”

Prior to her appointment as Acting VOA Director in January 2021, López served as Director of the VOA News Center, where she oversaw all content production and editorial decision-making. As a veteran journalist and producer, she joined VOA in 2015 as the Latin America Division Director. Under her leadership, López generated significant audience growth in the region through media partnerships and affiliations.

“During her more than two-and-a-half year tenure as Acting Director, Yolanda guided VOA through the COVID-19 pandemic, oversaw the evacuation of VOA journalists from Afghanistan, and supported global coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” said Amanda Bennett, CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media. “Yolanda did it with a profound respect for VOA’s mission and its charter, and with a deep commitment to journalistic independence, press freedom, and the protection of journalists around the world.”

On October 1, Acting Director for VOA Programming John Lippman will succeed López as VOA’s acting director.

“It has been a privilege to work closely with Yolanda López over the past two and a half years and it is an honor to follow her as VOA Acting Director,” said Lippman. “My approach as Acting Director will be similar to Yolanda’s, focusing on VOA’s mission to provide our audiences around the world with truthful, comprehensive news coverage, on protecting our journalists and on getting our staff the resources they need.”

As Acting Director for Programming since January 2021, Lippman managed VOA’s 48 different language newsrooms to provide news and information to a global audience. During his nearly 15-year tenure at the agency, Lippman has served as Acting Director of USAGM’s Office of Performance Review, interim General Manager of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, and as VOA’s Deputy Director for Programming.

[Source: VOA press release]

NHK WORLD Japan Monthly Focus: Live and Let Live

27 September 2023

NHK WORLD Japan Monthly Focus: Live and Let Live

Live and Let Live is NHK WORLD Japan’s Monthly Focus for October

The Kind-Hearted Cat October 8 Sun. Ep.1 October 15 Sun. Ep2 October 22 Sun. Ep3 October 29 Sun. Ep4 0:10/6:10/12:10/18:10 (UTC) Single mother and nursery school teacher Miyuki meets Sri Lankan Kumara while doing volunteer work in northeastern Japan after the 2011 disaster. One year later, the two reunite as if by fate and are slowly drawn to each other. Along with Miyuki’s daughter Maya, they begin living together as a family. But, right after they submit their marriage forms and become officially married, Kumara is detained in an immigration facility for overstaying his visa and is given a deportation order to return to Sri Lanka. The marriage is suspected to be fake when Kumara is questioned, and the family is treated with disrespect. In order to help Kumara, they have no choice but to start a court case to win special permission for residency. The three of them just want to live together as a family. With that simple wish in their hearts, they take on a court battle with Japan itself.
Let’s Trek Japan October 7 Sat. 0:10/6:10/12:10/18:10 (UTC) With 70% of its land covered by mountains, Japan is a paradise for mountain climbers! Let’s go enjoy the magnificent views and experience the unique hiking culture. Hiking Across Hakuba’s Great Snow Valley: Enjoy a midsummer snow hike and trek through flower fields in full bloom.Stay overnight in Japan’s largest and oldest mountain lodge. Conquer Hakuba’s three summits by walking across ridgelines with tremendous views.
Medical Frontiers Mondays 14:30/20:30/3:30/9:30 (UTC) Prevention to cure! The groundbreaking world of Japanese medical technology and healthcare. From food and exercise to the latest treatments.
BENTO EXPO Fridays 1:30/6:30/12:30/17:30/22:30 (UTC) Bento connects the world! Discover a universe of bento from Japan and around the world, with step-by-step instructions and delicious tips and tricks!

Rti celebrates its 95th anniversary

21 September 2023

Rti celebrates its 95th anniversary

Radio Taiwan International (Rti) celebrated its 95th anniversary with an event featuring remarks by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday 19 September, along with other speakers including Legislative Speaker You Si-kun, Ambassador of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to Taiwan Andrea Bowman, and Rti Chairperson Cheryl Lai.

In her speech, President Tsai said that Rti has witnessed important events in the development of Taiwan’s democracy over its 95-year history. Tsai said Rti has carried out its responsibilities from then until now by continuing to cover Taiwan’s growing engagement with the world. Tsai also said Taiwan’s ability to connect people all over the world was demonstrated by the many postcards received in various languages on display at the event. She thanked Rti for its past work and says she hopes Rti will continue to bring the voices of Taiwan to the world.

Rti Chairperson Cheryl Lai also gave remarks at the event. Lai says Rti is Taiwan’s only public media company to broadcast in 20 languages across multiple platforms. Lai says Rti has been an important channel for people in Southeast Asian countries to understand Taiwan. She says the Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Thai language services have a long history at Rti, and are important resources for Taiwan’s new immigrants and migrant workers. Lai says that Taiwan also began a Ukrainian language social media service following the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Lai concluded by saying that as Taiwan grows more vibrant and diverse, Rti will continue to spread Taiwan’s voices to all corners of the world.

Ambassador Bowman said in her speech that reaching 95 years of service is not an easy accomplishment to achieve. She says Rti represents an excellent model for how to spread the message of democracy and peace across the globe.

The Association for International Broadcasting and its members across the world were represented at the anniversary gala by AIB chief executive Simon Spanswick (on the stage, second from right in the photograph).

Extraordinary journalism and factual productions set to be rewarded in the AIBs 2023

14 September 2023

Extraordinary journalism and factual productions set to be rewarded in the AIBs 2023

80 companies in 23 countries competing for one of the prestigious AIBs

The extraordinarily varied shortlist for the 19^th annual AIBs has been revealed by the Association for International Broadcasting. Over the (northern hemisphere) summer, hundreds of hours of TV, radio and podcasts have been watched and listened to by the shortlisting team and now work from a remarkable 23 countries has reached the final judging.

Each year, the not-for-profit AIBs search out the world’s best journalism and factual productions and this year’s shortlisted work cover an immense range of subjects. The war in Ukraine, unsurprisingly, features across many categories as the devastation and its effect on Ukrainians of all ages is reported – often in horrific detail – to audiences globally. There are documentaries on Britain’s health service and protests in New Zealand against Covid vaccinations. The desperate flight of migrants and the effects of climate change are other subjects within the extensive shortlist, alongside lighter stories on great pandas and the Tasmanian tiger.

“Each year the AIB is honoured to be allowed to showcase the most extraordinary work and remarkable stories produced by journalists and programme makers in all parts of the world,” says Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the Association for International Broadcasting. “It is truly humbling that so many organisations choose to submit entries to the AIBs, and to ask our global panel of judges to evaluate their work. As an organisation, we pay tribute to their bravery and tenacity in telling stories that really matter to audiences in all parts of the world.”

Demonstrating the international flavour of the competition, work in this year’s AIBs has been produced in English and 19 other languages and 80 organisations are represented in the shortlist.

The complete shortlist, covering 20 categories, is available at https://theaibs.tv/AIBs-2023/Shortlist-2023/AIBs-2023-shortlist.pdf.

The AIBs 2023 will be presented in London on 10 November during the traditional gala evening that regularly brings guests together from Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Reserve your places at this major celebration of success here.

The Event Partner for the AIBs 2023 is Taiwan’s international media company, Rti – Radio Taiwan International. This year, Rti is celebrating its 95^th anniversary.

France 24 launches new weekly “En tête à tête”

5 September 2023

France 24 launches new weekly “En tête à tête”

France 24 launches this week the new interview show « En tête à tête » broadcast at 11.45 a.m on France 24 in English (Thursday) and on France 24 in French (Friday). Every week, Marc Perelman receives leaders, personalities and figures from the world of politics, culture and activists to discover those who shape the world.

On Thursday, 14 September, at 11.45am (Paris time) his guest is Reza Pahlavi, son of the late Shah of Iran.

Marc Perelman began his career at Jeune Afrique as a reporter, then joined The Forward in New York as an international correspondent for the Middle East and the United States. He joined France 24 in 2009.

[Source: France 24 press release]