26 January 2004
Radio Free Asia (RFA) has begun broadcasting live streaming audio of its Tibetan-language radio programmes on the Internet.
Listeners can now log on to RFAs Tibetan service web site through www.rfa.org, then click on the upper right-hand button for live streaming audio of RFA Tibetan broadcasts. Listeners should then click on the link at the top that indicates the live streaming audio.
RFA broadcasts news and information to Asian listeners who lack regular access to full and balanced reporting in their domestic media.
RFA is a member of the AIB.
21 January 2004
US communications, media and entertainment company Comcast launched TV One, a new cable channel aimed at African-Americans. Targeting over 25s, TV One’s lineup will include sitcoms, dramas, a reality gospel show and events such as the Cowboys of Color International Rodeo. The channel will be competing with Black Entertainment Television (BET).
“Comcast strives to provide as diverse an array of programming choices as possible for our subscribers, and we’re working with TV One to make this new network widely available,” said Comcast spokesman Tim Fitzpatrick.
21 January 2004
Asia’s leading broadcaster Star Group Limited, in conjunction with Singapore-based info-communications company StarHub, announced the launch of Star Chinese Movies on StarHub CableTV from 21 January.
This follows the launch of History Channel in India in November and Star Chinese Movies and Xing Kong’s introduction on PCCW’s Broadband in Hong Kong in December. Star Chinese Movies, which features over 100 movies including at least 20 exclusive premieres a month, is aired in Mandarin and the movies are commercial-free. The channel will be offered as free-to-air till February 22.
Star’s other channels available on StarHub Cable TV include Star Movies, Star World, Star Sports, ESPN, National Geographic Channel and Phoenix Chinese Channel.
StarHub operates its own nation-wide broadband network that delivers multi-channel cable TV, data, voice and Internet access. The company will also offer Digital Cable Services in 2004.
20 January 2004
The Association for International Broadcasting is delighted to welcome new members to the organisation.
Harris Corporation, ABS-CBN, Deutsche Welle, ITN International and TV New Zealand have joined the AIB and will benefit from the full range of AIB Member services.
See the full story in AIB News and find out about the benefits of membership by clicking on AIB Membership to the left.
20 January 2004
Ibrahim Helal, editor in chief at Al Jazeera based in Doha, Qatar, has stepped down from his post. He is joining BBC World Service Trust to work on media training projects over the coming two years.
Helal has been with Al Jazeera since 1996 when it was formed with many of the staff who had worked on BBC World Service Television’s Arabic language service.
19 January 2004
Omnibus Systems, the award-winning provider of comprehensive automation and asset management solutions to the broadcast industry, has received a capital injection of $12.5m (approximately 10m) from majority shareholder Palamon Capital Partners. The new funding is earmarked for further development of G3 technology and further US expansion, as the company positions itself to address the needs of the growing automation and asset management market for digital television operations.
It follows the completion of a market study conducted on behalf of Palamon by the management consultants McKinsey & Company which indicated that OmniBus’ groundbreaking G3 architecture shows enormous potential in the broadcast market. OmniBus G3 technology offers a unique implementation of micro-modular design, delivering integrated units of functionality, each of which addresses the precise requirements of individual users. In sharp contrast to the “one-size-fits-all” approach of traditional software development, G3 provides tailored, task-specific modules that share a common interface. Because this flexible, scalable architecture is based on standard, open-IT protocols, it allows broadcasters to use a single, consistent interface to integrate, control and configure OmniBus products and third-party equipment for smooth content-flow management throughout entire operations.
To guide the company through this new chapter in its development, Mike Oldham – previously the CEO of OmniBus Systems’ North American subsidiary – has been appointed Chief Executive Officer with worldwide responsibilities. “We go into 2004 in great shape. As a result of a significant increase in orders during 2003, we have our strongest-ever order book and we have attracted important growth funding from our biggest shareholder,” said Oldham.
Omnibus Systems is a member of the AIB.
