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
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.
5 August 2004
Citing the “promising initiatives” of U.S. international broadcasting in the Arab world, Iran and Afghanistan, the bi-partisan panel investigating the September 11, 2001 attacks called for increased funding for those efforts. “The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has asked for much larger resources,” the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States said in its report. “It should get them.”
On page 377 of its report, the 9/11 commission made the following recommendation: “Recognizing that Arab and Muslim audiences rely on satellite television and radio, the government has begun some promising initiatives in television and radio broadcasting to the Arab world, Iran, and Afghanistan. These efforts are beginning to reach large audiences.”
Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, chairman of the BBG, the independent federal agency that oversees all U.S. international broadcasting, said of the report’s recommendations, “We believe that the people of the Middle East and elsewhere are best served by providing them the truth. That’s what our broadcasting does.”
Currently, the BBG’s annual budget of more than $550 million goes to broadcasts around the world through various entities, including the Voice of America (VOA); Alhurra television and Radio Sawa, Arabic-language broadcasts; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Radio Free Asia (RFA.)
Since 9/11, the BBG has taken steps to dramatically increase its broadcasting to key areas.
The Middle East: Alhurra, a new satellite television channel launched in February 2004, is aimed at Arabic-speaking viewers in 22 countries across the Middle East. Radio Sawa, a 24/7 station, has garnered large audiences of young people in the region with its mix of news, information and Western and Arabic music.
Iran: Radio Farda, a youth-oriented, 24/7 radio, covers news about Iran, along with entertainment and features. It is a joint project of VOA and RFE/RL. VOA-TV launched a successful, daily, Persian-language show, News and Views, broadcast to audiences by satellite. Additionally, VOA has a Persian service and two other weekly television shows.
Afghanistan: Audiences in that country are able to listen to a 24-hour stream of news, information and other programs in Dari and Pashto. These are run by the VOA and Radio Free Afghanistan, which is part of RFE/RL. Additionally, the BBG arranged for two medium-wave transmitters to be installed in Kabul – one for the BBG, the other for Afghanistan to help bolster its media.
Pakistan: The VOA recently expanded its Urdu service to 12 hours daily to reach more Urdu-speaking listeners in Pakistan and parts of India.
5 August 2004
Software Generation Ltd (SGL), a leading provider of video storage management software, has announced its partnership with Autocue, a chief supplier of integrated broadcast and newsroom systems.
The SGL and Autocue collaboration will see the integration of SGL FlashNet, the company’s leading software storage solution, which provides the link between video stored as files on video servers, editing systems, and the long term archive library, and Autocue’s QNews and QMedia solutions. From the Autocue application interface users will be able to send and retrieve material directly to and from the library. The solution is already being used by a major news channel on the US East Coast.
SGL FlashNet will be exhibited on Autocue’s stand 7.329 throughout IBC2004.
