Arqiva and MediaKind launch Arqplex head-end service

12 September 2022

New headend-as-a-service simplifies content processing for broadcast and OTT networks

Arqiva and MediaKind have announced the next stage of their pioneering partnership with the launch of Arqplex, a new hybrid content processing service that is set to transform headend services for broadcast and OTT networks.

The fully managed headend-as-a-service has been designed and developed for a broad range of broadcasters and network or platform operators, including leading global, regional, and national broadcasters and regional cable and satellite network operators.

The Arqplex service provides secure and reliable content aggregation, encoding, multiplexing and packaging for content distribution and will unify OTT and broadcast operations, reducing complexity, increasing efficiency and delivering rapid speed to market for customers.

About Arqplex

Arqplex is underpinned by decades of experience in broadcast and broadband services for tier-one service providers. The partnership combines MediaKind’s cloud-native multiplexing, encoding, and packaging headend media processing technology delivering globally renowned content quality and distribution reliability with Arqiva’s expertise in systems integration, connectivity, and managed services. Arqiva’s operational teams fully manage and monitor the service, bringing real economies of scale to headend operations.

Through MediaKind’s cloud-native headend software, Arqplex will deliver broadcast-grade service levels to OTT operations. The service utilises Arqiva’s global content network to collect content from any source, whether satellite, fibre, cloud, or the internet. It also includes options to manage ad insertion and catch-up functionality for customers.

The highly scalable and flexible Arqplex service is built on a cloud-based subscription model, removing the need for large capex investment in the latest technology advances. Customers can have technology upgrades and patches securely applied as soon as they are available, removing the need to source and install updates.

Media service providers can use AWS public cloud, an alternative cloud provider or Arqiva’s UK-based datacentres. Where customers opt for cloud processing, operations can be sited in the region most appropriate for their services. The Arqplex service also integrates seamlessly with other products across the Arqiva portfolio.

The existing Arqplex roadmap will be extended further, with Arqiva and MediaKind integrating a range of partners to expand the service’s capabilities. Arqiva has already begun the process of migrating existing headend customers to the new headend-as-a-service offering.

Arqplex will radically simplify the headend operations of broadcast and OTT operators, enabling them to focus on growth. The ways in which content is consumed, and the content itself, have become increasingly diverse in recent years. At Arqiva, we’re embracing cloud technology to remove hassle and empower agility for our customers, so that they can meet the needs of their consumers. We’ve already begun the process of migrating existing headend customers to the new headend-as-a-service offering. We’re excited to be leveraging our partnership with MediaKind once more, building on our cloud-migration proposition.

Shuja Khan, Chief Executive Officer, Arqiva

NHK WORLD Monthly Focus: China targets seabed supremacy

8 September 2022

NHK WORLD Monthly Focus: China targets seabed supremacy

In its ‘Monthly Focus’ for September NHK WORLD reports on the following:

Tracking China’s Mystery Ships: The Race for Seabed Supremacy

The international competition for resources has reached the depths of the seas. China is looking to earth’s “last frontier”—the deep ocean floor—for oil and natural gas, and for minerals used in smartphones and electric vehicles. In this documentary, NHK analyzes China’s activities using both maritime and satellite data.

The crisis in Ukraine has sharpened the need for countries to find stable energy supplies. The ocean floor may ultimately determine the future of security and the global economy.

September 10 Sat. 15:10/22:10

September 11 Sun. 5:10/10:10

September 12 Mon. 19:00 (UTC)

Momo and the Seven Papagenos

Momo gets on well enough with her parents, and finds her boyfriend acceptable and her job only mildly annoying. This is not enough to prevent her from having thoughts of death, however. Momo thus begins a series of encounters with people she has connected with on social media who have found reasons to go on living despite suicidal thoughts. These Papagenos, named after the character in the opera “The Magic Flute,” provide her with ideas on what makes life worthwhile.

September 10 Sat.

1:00/7:00/13:00/18:00 (UTC)

DOSUKOI Sumo Salon First-Time Title Winners

DOSUKOI Sumo Salon delves deep into Japan’s traditional sport using newly acquired data. In this episode we look at first-time title winners. Which of the six annual tournaments is most likely to have a newly minted title winner? How many tournaments does it take a wrestler new to the top division to win his first title, typically? What changes do wrestlers make after they take their first title? We go behind the scenes to answer these questions and more!

September 3 Sat.

0:10/6:10/12:10/18:10 (UTC)

Japanology Plus

Fresh insights into Japan. Stories behind Japanese life and culture through the eyes of Peter Barakan, a 45-year resident and watcher of Japan.

Thursdays

2:30/7:30/13:30/19:30 (UTC)

[Source: NHK WORLD press release]

NHK WORLD-JAPAN debuts on Freeview UK

6 September 2022

NHK WORLD-JAPAN debuts on Freeview UK

NHK WORLD-JAPAN launches on Freeview channel 271 via the Channelbox platform.

NHK WORLD-JAPAN, the international English-language channel from Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, delivers to the world the latest information about Japan and Asia. This channel reaches over 380 million households in 160 countries and regions via local satellite and cable TV providers.

NHK WORLD-JAPAN is available in the UK on Sky and Freesat and now became available also on Freeview, channel 271 bolstering the Channelbox news category which includes Bloomberg, Euronews, France24, TVP World and many other international news channels.

“NHK is a window to Japan and Asia and this TV channel is a perfect addition to the Channelbox and Freeview lineup of news channels”, said Tanya Kronfli, Head of Channelbox content and business development.

Channelbox is a multi-channel platform available on connected Freeview, channel 271, and Channelbox mobile applications.

Channelbox is free-to-air and has over 60 TV channels including Euronews, Fashion TV, NTD, France24, Fuel and many others.

France 24 | September programme highlights

5 September 2022

France 24 | September programme highlights

France 24 has announced the highlights of its September output across the English-language service

Beyond the News | Reporters

Central Africa, under Russian Influence | September 10 | 1710 GMT

As the world watches the war in Ukraine, Russians are carrying out another fight, in Africa. Since 2017, the mercenaries of the Wagner Group, a Russian secret army have set up their base in the Central African Republic. They protect the regime in exchange for mineral resources and deploy aggressive propaganda to cover up the massacres, rapes and torture they are accused of.

Taking advantage of France’s loss of influence in its former colony, torn apart by decades of a deadly civil war, Russia has turned the country into the laboratory of a new information war. Using education, cinema, and even vodka.

France, by France 24 |

Champollion: The Man who Cracked Hieroglyphics | 9 September |1545 GMT

On 14 September 1822, Jean-François Champollion became the first Egyptologist in the world to crack the mystery of hieroglyphics. With support from his brother, he led the way in the study of ancient Egypt, lifting the veil on 1,500 years of history. In this special edition, “France in Focus” travels to Vif, in Isère, to follow in the footsteps of the “child prodigy” who would become the first head of the Louvre’s department of Egyptian antiquities.

Iran International leads popularity stakes

11 August 2022

Iran International leads popularity stakes

Foreign-based Persian-language broadcasters dominate the news and information market in Iran, according to an article in Shargh Daily, a relatively independent and reformist newspaper in Iran.

The article, published on 8 August, calls for the Iranian government to be more tolerant of media and criticism, pointing out that Iranian citizens turn to international TV news services for day-to-day information.

BBC News Persian, Iran International, Manoto and VoA Persian News Network are influential, “with Iran International getting ahead by employing anchors and journalists who left Iran and having an impact on public opinion in the country.”

The article’s author, Ghader Bastani, writing on Iran’s Journalist Day, urged the government to give freedom “as the most effective way to fight corruption and improve government efficiency.”

According to a survey carried out by the Netherlands-based Gamaan agency in 2021, Iran International had the highest audience for TV news in the country, at 33% daily audience, while Manoto TV rated at 30%. BBC News Persian ranked at 17%, Turkey-based Jam TV at 16.5% and Persian News Network operated by Voice of America at 11%. Iranian state TV ranked at 16%, according to the survey.

Statement on arrest of VOA freelance journalist in Juba, South Sudan

10 August 2022

Statement on arrest of VOA freelance journalist in Juba, South Sudan

Voice of America issued the following statement following the arrest of their freelancer Diing Magot in South Sudan: “We are extremely distressed by the arrest of Diing Magot, a VOA freelance journalist for our English to Africa language service on our South Sudan in Focus program, over this past weekend. Magot was covering a protest over the hardships and skyrocketing commodity prices there. She was arrested alongside the protesters in Konyokonyo Market, as she did not have her ID or press card with her, and she was initially detained at the Malakia police station. To obtain her release, the South Sudan Media Authority demanded a letter from VOA, confirming she is our freelance journalist and she was there on assignment. We have provided the letter to the Media Authority, and we had expected word of her immediate release. However, according to a lawyer with the South Sudan Union of Journalists, Diing Magot and five protesters were relocated to Juba Central Prison. Magot is waiting for a court date. We are asking South Sudan authorities for the immediate release of our journalist.”

[Source: VOA press release]