16 June 2005
As part of its strategy to expand the geographic reach of its programming, China Central Television (CCTV) has signed a multi-year expansion agreement with PanAmSat for the distribution of its premium programming to Western Africa.
“As PanAmSat has expanded its global services, we have been able to utilise the greater power and coverage for the efficient and economical distribution of our global programming,” said He Zong Jiu, vice-president, CCTV.
PanAmSat currently provides full-time programme distribution services for CCTV via the Company’s PAS-1R Atlantic Ocean Region satellite, PAS-8 Pacific Ocean Region satellite, PAS-9 Atlantic Ocean Region satellite and PAS-10 Indian Ocean Region satellites. PanAmSat also provides CCTV with capacity on its Galaxy 3C satellite for direct-to-home (DTH) services in the United States.
This new agreement is for capacity on the Ku-band payload of the PAS-1R satellite. CCTV has been a PanAmSat customer since the launch of the company’s PAS-2 satellite in 1994.
16 June 2005
On 7 June, two journalists working for the German public broadcasters Amharic programme had their work permits withdrawn. The reason given by the government in Addis Abeba was imprecise reporting.
Deutsche Welles director of programmes, Joachim Lenz, stated that he saw this act as a clear infringement of the freedom of speech and the press, and as such not acceptable. He talked about massive intimidation of our colleagues in contradiction to all democratic rules.
16 June 2005
SysMedia, specialist in subtitling solutions and content management and production systems for teletext and interactive TV, has been awarded the contract to supply TVNZ New Zealands public service broadcaster with PLASMA Magenta, SysMedias multi-platform production solution for teletext and interactive TV. The sale was handled by SysMedias New Zealand distributor, Magna Systems, who is also involved in the project management and installation.
Colin Prior, Business Development Director at SysMedia explained, We are delighted that TVNZ have again selected SysMedia as a supplier of key technology (they installed our WinCAPS subtitling solution recently which went live in January of this year). With a significant teletext audience throughout New Zealand, the PLASMA Magenta system will provide TVNZ with a flexible and extensible platform for many years.
16 June 2005
GlobeCast has begun broadcasting the French music and entertainment channel W9 on its channel distribution platform on HOT BIRD. The platform is operated in partnership with satellite television provider TPS and gives W9 access to a potential audience of 1.3 million digital TPS subscribers throughout France.
GlobeCast’s solution for W9 includes fiber connectivity from the broadcaster’s control room to GlobeCast and TPS’ platform gateway outside Paris, as well as uplink, encryption and space capacity on the HOT BIRD Satellite at 13ºE. In joining this coveted platform, W9 is joining other prestigious channels distributed by GlobeCast on its platform with TPS, such as EuroNews, Pink TV, cartoon channel Boomerang, Russian broadcaster RTR Planeta and Chinese channel CCTV9.
Part of French entertainment group M6, the channel today known as W9 was launched in March 1998 under the name M6 Music. W9 is a French-language entertainment channel where music, fiction, cinema and general entertainment come together.
16 June 2005
The Radio Netherlands television report Drug Trafficking has won the CNN World Report Award in the category Best Personal Profile. The item was broadcast worldwide in CNN’s World Report in July of last year. The Prize was awarded to Pieter Landman (Head TV) during the CNN’s 25th anniversary celebrations of at the news channel’s headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The other nominees were Venezuela’s Venevision TV and Switzerland’s ILO TV.
The item was made by reporter Annette Posthumus and tells the story of Dutch cab driver Pedro Ruijzing (46) who was arrested in Thailand on drug trafficking charges ten years ago. He was pardoned by the Thai government on the occasion of Queen Beatrix’s visit to the country in 2004. He now educates schoolchildren about the dangers of smuggling drugs.
Radio Netherlands Television (RNTV) has been the Dutch contributor to CNN’s World Report since 1990. More than one hundred countries make regular contributions to World Report which is broadcast worldwide by CNN on a daily basis.
16 June 2005
Harris Corporation has announced the promotion of Cheng Fan to the new position of director, international channel development for the Broadcast Communications Division (BCD).
“This position is an important part of Harris Broadcast’s initiative to increase international business growth through a world-class distribution channel,” said Debra Huttenburg, vice president/general manager of BCD’s Radio Broadcast Systems business unit and head of international sales. “Cheng has the experience and the expertise Harris needs to broaden its worldwide presence in broadcast applications and software solutions. Among other things, he will spearhead programs that increase assistance to Harris’ regional sales organizations and support growth plans for every BCD product line.”
