Uechtritz leaves Nine

7 July 2005

Max Uechtritz, Director of News and Current Affairs at Australia’s Nine Network, has resigned from his post.

Uechtritz’s resignation comes after the departure of deputy chairman David Gyngell and the appointment of Sam Chisholm as Executive Director of Television at Nine’s parent company, PBL.

Uechtritz joined Nine 13 months ago, after 18 years at the ABC, most recently as the Corporations Director of News and Current Affairs. Citing personal reasons for his departure, Uechtritz’s next career move is unknown at present.

GlobeCast launches new Eurobird transponder over UK and Ireland

30 June 2005

GlobeCast announced on 28 June the addition of a new transponder to its capacity on the Eurobird satellite over the United Kingdom and Ireland. Joining the company’s three other digital DTH platforms on Eurobird, this new capacity, available this July, will provide broadcasters with much needed access to the over 7.6 million subscribers to the Sky Digital bouquet, and will also reach a potential 3.7 million cable subscriber homes.

The addition of this transponder to GlobeCast’s offer is the company’s response to a spike in demand by broadcasters needing to target the British satellite television market. The capacity was purchased from leading DTH services company ASTRA, and will fill an existing need in addition to allowing the launch of new services in the region – notably in the domain of HDTV.

GlobeCast offers a large range of services associated with its Eurobird platforms originating from its London Technical Operations Centre. These services include multiplexing, uplink, satellite capacity, BSkyB EPG access (Electronic Programme Guide) as well as the possibility of interactive broadcasts and GlobeCast’s proprietary content management solutions.

GlobeCast’s platforms on Eurobird are accessible to radio and television broadcasters on five continents via the company’s proprietary ATM fibre network, which interconnects 15 teleports and Technical Operations Centres worldwide, allowing for reception across Europe and the rest of the world by both Direct-to-Home and cable subscribers.

Newcomers to GlobeCast’s platform on Eurobird will join nearly thirty major television broadcasters on the platform – including EuroNews, Abu Dhabi TV, Extreme Sports, Hollywood TV and Chinese broadcaster CCTV 9.

Inmedia makes digital media networks happen for POPAI

30 June 2005

Inmedia is set to host Point of Purchase Advertising International (POPAI)’s latest technology conference, Making Digital Networks Happen. The not-for-profit trade organisation’s next technical seminar will take place at Inmedia’s Gerrards Cross headquarters on 12 July.

“This event supports POPAI’s mission to develop the digital communication industry and inform the media world of its benefits,” says chairman of POPAI’s digital working group David Williams. “Inmedia is a leader in content distribution and its Buckinghamshire site is the ideal location to demonstrate the power of digital media networks.”

“POPAI is largely responsible for driving standards and establishing best-practice in the digital networks industry for retailers and suppliers so Inmedia is keen to support its efforts,” says Inmedia’s commercial director Barrie Woolston.

Inmedia also announced that it is to become the official media supplier to the Jordan Grand Prix team and deliver SNG services during the 2005 British Grand Prix. The content management and delivery leader is to provide facilities for filming, editing and interviews with the team’s drivers.

“Inmedia’s communications expertise and its flexible and cost-effective SNG services will vastly increase our media presence during the British Grand Prix,” says Jordan’s commercial director Christian Geistdoerfer. “The team’s sponsors and Jordan are keen to reach as broad an audience as possible and these media services help us achieve this.”

“Inmedia’s partnership with Jordan gives broadcasters improved access to the Jordan team,” says John Dunlop, Inmedia’s head of marketing services. “SNG is the ideal solution for special sporting fixtures and I look forward to extending the Jordan team’s global reach at future events.”

Deutsche Welle and Radio Netherlands win awards at New York Radio Festivals

30 June 2005

At this year’s New York International Radio Festivals which honours the best achievements in radio programmes worldwide, AIB member broadcasters Deutsche Welle and Radio Netherlands were awarded prizes. The judges had more than one thousand programmes to choose from, entered by many national and international broadcast organizations. The award ceremony was held in New York on June 27.

Radio Netherlands’ English Department won 6 awards: one World Gold Medal, two World Silver Medals, two World Bronze Medals as well as a Finalist Certificate. Deutsche Welle’s English Service won a Bronze Medal in the category “Profiles/Community Portraits” for its series ‘At Home in Europe’ which documents the cultural diversity in the EU and examines how minorities fare in the 25 countries of the European Union.

DW-TV also won several of the 2005 BDA Gold Awards in New York. It won a Gold for “In Focus” in the category “News in-house / Art Direction & Design: Topical Promo“. The channel was awarded another Gold for the opener to “Made in Germany” in the category „News Out-of-house“. A Silver award was received for the opening sequence to the series “Berger’s Business“. The BDA Gold Awards are the most prestigious international awards for television design. Each year an international jury sifts through more than 10.000 entries from TV stations worldwide.

www.rnw.nl

www.dw-world.de

VT group BBC World Service transmission contract to continue

30 June 2005

VT Group, through its VT Communications subsidiary, has reached agreement to continue distributing and transmitting BBC World Service radio programming for a further five years to 2012. This is valued at approximately £150 million.

The initial contract was originally let to Merlin Communications upon privatisation in 1997. VT Group acquired Merlin in 2001, creating the VT Communications Division.

BBC World Service radio programmes are transmitted through 10 transmission sites in the UK and throughout the world, which are operated and maintained by VT Communications. The service is transmitted in 43 languages to around 150 million weekly listeners throughout the world with the English and Arabic services broadcast 24 hours a day.

VT Group Chief Executive Paul Lester commented: “The continuance of the contract will underpin our communications business for several years to come and reflects the high standards of service provided since privatisation. In addition, we are excited to be supporting the World Service as it faces a period of unprecedented technological change, through its increasing move into the digital era.”

Nigel Chapman Director at BBC World Service said: “Our relationship has continued to develop very positively since the acquisition of Merlin by VT. We face an exciting but challenging future and we are delighted to be working with VT Communications as our partner.”