18 June 2007
International broadcast services provider VT Communications is working
with Arqiva Satellite Services to deliver a radical and forward-looking Global
Media Network (GMN). The GMN is a purpose-designed, IP media delivery and integrated satellite network, using
multicast techniques to provide broadcasters and content providers with both
streaming and file-based media distribution. VT has signed a five year agreement
with Arqiva to provide the satellite edge services to carry multiple radio
channels around the globe.
By integrating the GMN with distributed asset-management, network automation and
custom developed content management, VT Communications is able to offer a
complete, single-sourced, media-management, distribution and
transmission/platform delivery service over multiple media platforms. Live or
stream management is facilitated within the GMN allowing point-to-point and
point-to-multi-point distribution within the network.
To complete the global network, Arqiva has provided a flexible, three satellite
solution, initially providing coverage to four continents. This will be used as
an overlay over VT Communications terrestrial MPLS infrastructure, to enable
delivery to those places not connected by fibre and where a satellite solution
is the only option, such as Ascension Island and Ulan Bator in Mongolia.As part of
the agreement, VT Communications has located its state-of-the-art GMN services
and management infrastructure at Arqivas Chalfont Grove Media Centre north of
London in the UK, where it can derive maximum benefit from Arqivas extensive
satellite capabilities and provide distribution and uplinking from its global
network of teleports. The agreement opens the way for both companies to pursue
new, cross-platform media opportunities utilising their combined network
infrastructure, expertise and services.
Bryan Coombes, Director of Broadcast at VT Communications said: We are delighted to
be partnering with Arqiva on this critical development of our business. They
offered us the most robust and resilient solutions allowing us to, not only
offer a plethora of new services, but also to raise the bar to a new level
within our existing service offerings. This is an exciting time at VT
Communications as we develop our distribution and transmission infrastructure,
providing our customers with a simple path to the benefits of our global,
multi-platform, media services.
18 June 2007
The AIB is delighted to
announce that its 2007 Media Excellence Awards are
now open for entries.
This is the third year that the Association
for International Broadcasting has celebrated excellence in the field of
international broadcasting and new media. In 2006, we received almost 100
entries from broadcasters and other organisations in the international
broadcasting sector, all of the very highest quality. This year, we expect the
number of entries to be higher still and to come from more countries (in 2006,
more than 20 countries were represented in the Awards entries).
We have extended the number of categories
to reflect changes happening in international media. We’ve recruited a truly
international panel of judges who will provide peer review of the work of
colleagues. We have maintained the AIB’s reputation for independence and
non-commercialism. And now it’s up to you.
You can download the entry form
here,
and we’ve also made paying the entry fee simple using our online payment system
– click
here. And remember, Members of the AIB receive complimentary access to the
Awards as part of their membership benefits.
The presentation of the AIB Media
Excellence Awards 2007 will take place in central London on
Tuesday 20 November – we’ll be
holding a Diner Pensant and Awards at a superb venue that will help us
celebrate excellence in international broadcasting and new media on a grand
scale.
For more information about
the 2007 AIB Media Excellence Awards, call the AIB in London on +44 (0) 20 7993
2557 or e-mail us: awards2007(at)aib.org.uk.
18 June 2007
The Al Jazeera Network has announced it has signed its largest ad campaign agreement with the Turkish Ministry of Tourism and Culture for an undisclosed amount.
Speaking from Al Jazeeras headquarters in Doha, Commercial Director Abdullah Al Najjar said, We are delighted with this agreement. It represents the growing recognition within the commercial sector of the strength of the Al Jazeera brand and the value of advertising on Al Jazeera. We take great pride in this agreement and our relationship with the Turkish Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
H.E. Mr. Mithat Rende, Turkish Ambassador to Qatar said, Al Jazeera has emerged as the leading network in the region and in the process the network has become one of the most familiar international brands. We recognize this value, and therefore, it was quite natural for the Turkish Ministry of Tourism and Culture to choose the Network to broadcast its tourism ads. I am very happy with this relationship and I look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the Network.
The ad campaign will start in June on Al Jazeera and will showcase the Turkish Ministry of Tourism and Cultures new advert.
Al Jazeeras portfolio of advertisers includes international names such as Reuters, Sony, Nokia, Shell, The Malaysian Tourism Authority, Dubai Tourism and Cyprus Tourism as well as Tanmyat, Pepsi, Samsung, Etihad Airways, Qtel, LG, Qatar Airways, QNB, General Motors, Red Bull, Master Food Snickers, Qatar Financial Centre, Rolls Royce, Vodafone, Qatar Petroleum, Reach out to Asia, Dubai Properties, Mercedes .
5 June 2007
The English-language TV channel Russia Today has launched its own section at YouTube portal. The channel plans to use the YouTube service to showcase its top news, reports, documentaries and stories.
For us, the agreement with YouTube is the chance to widen audience of our channel by hundreds of thousand users of Internet, for whom, watching TV on the computer monitor is more habitual and comfortable, said Russia Today Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan.
The section will be renewed each day and the access to Russia Todays stories will be free for all users.
1 June 2007
RRSat Global Communications Network Ltd., a rapidly growing provider of comprehensive content management and global distribution services to the television and radio broadcasting industries, announced today that it recently started operating a new multiple channels per carrier (MCPC) platform on the Galaxy 23 satellite located at 121 degrees West. The new C-Band platform, acquired through a deal with a leading satellite operator – Intelsat, will serve a growing number of broadcasters wishing to enter the dynamic North American market by connecting to the leading cable operators and direct broadcast satellites (DBS) in the USA and Canada.
“We are very excited to increase our penetration to the lucrative North American market through the new MCPC platform on the renowned and leading Galaxy 23 satellite,” commented David Rivel, CEO and Founder of RRSat. “This new platform will enable us to further expand our reach to the leading cable and satellite operators in North America, offering our customers even broader distribution by reaching millions of new households daily. We constantly strive to offer our customers the most diverse and geographically broad basket of products, and this addition will substantially enhance our offering to the North American market.”
1 June 2007
German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle is now offering hourly updated one minute news headlines for mobiles in German and English.
DW has been experimenting with special Internet services for mobile phones since 2005 – for the football world cup 2006 30 languages were on offer.
The German and English programmes of DW-RADIO were also recently launched for mobile reception.
The new ‘DW-TV News’ service is available free of charge from mobile.dw-world.de, for use with UMTS or EDGE-enabled mobile devices such as mobiles, PDAs or Pocket-PCs.
