7 August 2004
SRI ended its news and current affairs programmes in April, but broadcasts are continuing on shortwave and satellite until the end of October. SRI is to cease all radio broadcasts at the end of October to concentrate exclusively on its Internet platform (www.swissinfo.org).
To mark the end of its broadcasts a special series of radio programmes looks back at key events that have shaped SRI and Switzerland over the past seven decades, since SRI first hit the airwaves in 1935.
7 August 2004
Encoda Systems has appointed John Sorensen as its new CEO. Sorensen was previously President of its Media Management division and he succeeds Don Doctor who will remain with the company but take on a less operational, more high-level strategic role as chairman of the board. This move provides continuity and additional strength to the leadership of Encoda, as it expands across EMEA.
John Sorensen is a widely regarded industry expert who has previously held posts with Unisys and Hewlett-Packard. He joined CCMS, Inc. 17 years ago as the principal designer and developer of the company’s traffic management and billing software systems for the cable/MSO industry. CCMS became part of Encoda Systems in 1999.
5 August 2004
Al-Jazeera Sports has installed Chyrons state-of-the-art digital telestration tool, CODI-Strator. The installation was carried out by Chyron partner, Pro Media International Ltd UK.
The CODI-Strator enabled the Arabic sports network to introduce a new and exciting dimension to its Euro 2004 transmissions. Throughout the tournament, Al-Jazeera Sports commentators provided live, animated digital telestration using Chyron’s CODI-Strator at the beginning and end of each match, as well as during the half time interval. Al-Jazeera Sports is now using the CODI-Strator for the Asia Cup in China, which, like Euro 2004, is a major football tournament involving teams from 16 countries, divided into four groups.
CODI-Strator allows sports presenters’ instant interaction with the video source using a simple touch screen method. When highlights of the game are replayed in slow motion or freeze-framed for analysis, the presenter can sketch graphics directly on to the screen, identifying players and game plan strategies enriching the viewing experience.
David Ward, VP & general manager, Chyron EAME commented, “We are delighted to be working with Al-Jazeera Sports. CODI-Strator has become an invaluable part of the sports broadcasting experience and we were particularly impressed by the speed at which Al-Jazeera’s presenters became familiar with the system, creating some very sophisticated broadcasts.”
5 August 2004
The BBC has joined forces with Cosmote, Greeces leading telecommunications company, and the Greek media group, Imako Media S. A. to launch its international news content and breaking news alerts on the new i-mode platform for mobile phones in Greece. Starting in August, the BBC news headlines and summaries, in Greek and English, along with breaking news alerts in English will be displayed on an i-mode platform hosted by the Greek mobile operator, Cosmote and provided by Imako Media S.A.
The BBC content has been made available to the i-mode subscribers in Greece following an agreement with Imako Media S.A. The BBC site is added to the list of sites in i-modes News/Weather category provided in Greece exclusively by Cosmote.
Head of BBC World Service Business Development Miles Palmer welcomed the development as a step forward toward an even more innovative and comprehensive Internet mobile service for Greece: The BBC has a lot to offer to mobile phone subscribers in Greece. Through i-mode we will be able to provide them with breaking news alerts and distinctive, authoritative, reliable and impartial news and current affairs content, updated every five minutes, 24 hours a day, in Greek and English.
5 August 2004
PanAmSat Corporation has appointed Mike Antonovich as executive vice president of global sales and marketing. In this role, Mr. Antonovich will continue to lead the company’s global sales and marketing programme which includes: programme distribution, broadcast contribution, telecommunications and networking services.
Since joining PanAmSat in 1989 as a manager of broadcast services, Mr. Antonovich has served in a wide variety of senior leadership positions including in North American sales, Pacific Ocean Region sales, global sales and most recently, assumed the responsibility of leading the Company’s marketing initiatives worldwide, serving as senior vice president of global sales and marketing.
Prior to his tenure with PanAmSat, Mr. Antonovich worked for Group W Satellite Communications and the ESPN sports network in a variety of production, post-production and operations positions. His experience in the broadcast and satellite industries spans over 25 years.
5 August 2004
Germanys international broadcaster Deutsche Welle announced in July that the Canadian Radio and TV Commission (CRTC) has approved DWs application for a licence to transmit GERMAN TV in Canada. GERMAN TV is currently negotiating with several Canadian cable and satellite providers to bring the best of public service TV to German-speaking households in Canada. GERMAN TV is a joint initiative of ARD, ZDF and DW. At present, the 24 hour programme is available in the US, Chile, Mexico and Brasil.
