9 June 2003
Analogue TV is to be shut down across Sweden on 1 February 2008, when digital technology should be fully introduced. This was decided by the Swedish parliament although the Moderate Unity Party and the Liberal Party voted ‘no’.
Large parts of the proposal will be sent back to the government with a request to come back with more detailed proposals for the development of the broadcasting network, licensing, and related issues.
In other digital developments Berlin will be the first digital-only region of any European city when it ceases analogue television transmission in August this year.
In Spain, the national public service TV operator, TVE, will mirror the UK system by leading the development of digital terrestrial television following the collapse of commercial DVB-T operator Quiero TV in 2002.
New EU member Poland has outlined early options for DVB-T for the country. Total switch off in around 10 years or a switch-off in certain areas in 6-12 months are the options reported to be under consideration.
2 June 2003
The Russian state broadcasting company Voice of Russia, which broadcasts in 32 languages, is launching video broadcasting on the Internet.
A special section is to be opened on the Voice of Russia website in which the most significant and interesting programmes and interviews will be posted in a video format.
“In those conditions when the electronic mass media are developing fast” it is necessary to provide listeners, through the Internet and the worldwide web, with “the most up-to-date news product, a balanced combination of audio and video components, as well as textual and graphic information”, says Voice of Russia broadcasting company chairman Armen Oganesyan.
Source: BBC Monitoring
2 June 2003
AIB Member Swedish Radio International (SRI) will commence its live, daily Digital Radio Mondiale broadcasts on 16 June 2003. Its transmissions will debut in conjunction with DRM’s inaugural broadcasts event in Geneva, during the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC 2003). The precise moment of the world’s first DRM broadcasts will be marked at a spectacular reception at Geneva’s Chateau de Penthes on 16 June.
“We are proud and happy to be among the first DRM broadcasters. I think cooperation, the way DRM consortium and its members are developing it, is an efficient way to secure DRM’s future success, which is a must for AM radio to survive in a digital media environment,” said Anne Sseruwagi, director of SR International
SR International will broadcast three-and-a-half programme hours per week in English to the east coast of the United States, covering Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore. The RS International broadcasts will be relayed via CBC/Radio Canada International’s site in Sackville, Canada.
Deutsche Welle and Radio Netherlands have also announced their participation in DRM’s inaugural broadcasts. In the coming weeks, more of the world’s best-known broadcasters and network operators will confirm their participation in DRM’s historic moment.
Source: BBC Monitoring
2 June 2003
A French parliamentary commission has produced a report on the setting up of a 24-hour international satellite TV channel.
RFI, the French international radio station, reports that the new channel will be called CFI24 – the letters standing for Canal France International – and its initial annual budget will be in the area of 80 to 100 million Euros. All French state radio and TV outlets will be involved in the enterprise, as well as two private ones – TF1 and Canal Plus.
CFI24 will initially broadcast to Europe, Africa and the Middle East in French, English and Arabic,” the radio said, “and in five to seven years’ time the coverage area is expected to be extended to include the USA, South America and Asia, with the range of languages widened to include Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese and others.
The parliamentary commission wants the new channel to be, like Radio France Internationale, neither servile nor hostile. It is not supposed to be the voice of France – which would serve absolutely no purpose – but rather an independent French outlet like RFI.
The satellite cover will be provided by Euronews, TV5 and Media Overseas, the radio said.
Source: BBC Monitoring
2 June 2003
AIB member VT Merlin, part of the VT Group, had a good year to the end of March 2003, delivering on current contracts and winning important new business.
VT Merlin has successfully completed the design and build of a new short and medium wave transmission station in Oman for the BBC World Service. Work on this contract started in March 2000 and the station is now providing a 24 hours broadcast service.
VT Merlin is also a 20% shareholder in the Alert JV that won the 30 year PFI contract with the Defence Communications Services Agency (DCSA) for a new Submarine Communications Facility. In March VT Merlin was selected as preferred bidder for the Defence High Frequency Communications Service contract further strengthening its relationship with the DCSA. The fifteen-year Public Private Partnership contract is expected to be finalised by June 2003 and will be worth £220m. Under the contract VT Merlin will operate, maintain and enhance the MOD’s High Frequency Communications Facilities in the UK and overseas that are used by all three armed services.
2 June 2003
A conference to design the legal framework for democratic media in Iraq, is taking place June 1-3, 2003 in Athens, Greece. It is the first multilateral forum to address post-war reconstruction.
Organised by Internews Network, a non-profit organization supporting open media worldwide, and hosted by the Greek Foreign Ministry, which currently holds the presidency of the European Union, the conference’s other major sponsors include UNESCO, the US Agency for International Development, the German Foreign Office, and the Russian Ministry of the Press.
The three-day symposium has brought together leading Iraqi, Arab and Western media experts to develop a set of policy recommendations for legal and regulatory reforms in Iraq. These reforms are meant to foster free, pluralistic media in post-Saddam Iraq.
