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
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.
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.
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.
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.
19 January 2004
The co-production partnership between the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), BBC World Service Trust (BBC WST) and Doordarshan (DD) has been extended for a year.
The partnership was established to promote HIV/AIDS awareness and support through mass communications. It is under this partnership that detective series like Jasoos Vijay, the youth show Haath Se Haath Milaa and a range of TV spots designed to convey HIV/AIDS messaging, are being broadcast by DD nationally and regionally (in chosen areas, with appropriate language versions).
The new project extension will see both programmes produced for a second run and will also extend the number of languages in which the output is broadcast. The public service ads are mainly produced by DD producers, while the programmes are produced from BBC WST’s base in New Delhi using local technicians and talent and drawing on the expertise of both of its partners and the Trust’s small international staff.
BBC World Service Trust Director India, Colin Rogers, said “Research has shown that our mass communications campaign has achieved significant impact in raising audience awareness of the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS particularly in the area of care and support and in removing stigma. The campaign run by this partnership is the largest of its kind in the world and is a model which is being replicated already in South East Asia and in Africa. We are very proud of our association with NACO and Doordarshan and delighted that the success of the first year’s output has led to their enthusiasm for continuing and expanding the project.”
