Monday 2 November
The AIB phone system failed on, Monday 2 November, at around 1200 GMT. It remained out of action for the rest of the day and so calls could not be received.
The phone lines are now operational and we’re open for business again! Our main switchboard number is +44 20 7993 2557, or within the UK 020 7993 2557.
We apologise for the inconvenience this phone outage may have caused but it was outside the control of the AIB.
Andrea Catherwood, formerly senior foreign correspondent and presenter with ITN, has joined the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION network as a London-based anchor. The BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® network is Europes most-watched business channel daily, and the largest business network in the region with distribution to more than 140 million households across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Brian Martinez, BLOOMBERG TELEVISION head for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said, We are extremely excited that Bloomberg has attained the widest reach of any business network in the region, and we are delighted to welcome Andrea to the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION family. Andreas network news experience and extensive background in global reporting make her a great addition to our exceptional team.
Catherwood joins a growing roster of exceptional global anchors and reporters at the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION network, including such talent as Francine Lacqua, Linzie Janis and Rishaad Salamat in Europe; Betty Liu, Erik Schatzker and Deirdre Bolton in the U.S. and Bernie Lo in Asia. Anchor Margaret Brennan, formerly a retail reporter for CNBC, joined the network during June.
Steve Clark, former Controller of Factual Programs at ITV, Head of News at Al Jazeera English and Director of News and Programs at MBC, has joined the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION network as Head of Production and Programming. Malcolm Fried, former BLOOMBERG NEWS® Executive Editor in London and Amsterdam Bureau Chief, has joined the network as Managing Editor.
Bloombergs growing team will deliver news to the widest business television audience across the region. During 2009, the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION network increased its English-language television distribution across Europe, Africa and the Middle East to more than 140 million households, from 28 million in 2008.
Further expanding its reach, the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION network announced significant brand collaborations this year in India and Turkey, two of the worlds fastest growing and most dynamic economies. Last month, the Bloomberg UTV channel was launched in association with UTV in India. Later this year, BloombergHT (Haberturk) will debut in Turkey in association with Ciner Media.
In addition to its broad scope, the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION network has more daily viewers than any other business and financial channel in Europe, according to the recently announced 2009 European Media & Marketing survey (“EMS”). The survey reveals that the network delivers 36% more affluent European viewers than its closest rival, and continues to have the most loyal audience.
“This is an exciting time for BLOOMBERG TELEVISION in Europe, said Martinez. We are incredibly proud of our achievements, especially as our growth has occurred in what has been a difficult year for many media organizations. We have made remarkable gains in distribution, and our collaboration with regional television partners has expanded our scope in the growing economies of Turkey and India.
Capping these developments, the network introduces a new look and feel to its London newsroom and studio this month, using advanced technology and graphics.
Martinez said, The BLOOMBERG TELEVISION new look reflects the quality of our information in a dynamic, interactive setting. Our new studios use advanced technology to engage viewers in a conversation about the business and economic developments that affect their lives every day. We have made bold decisions during this difficult period, making innovations in our look and feel, in our expansion and in how we deliver critical information, at a time when our viewers need it most. We will continue to build on this momentum.”
The move from analog to digital television frees up radio spectrum for other purposes, the so-called “digital dividend”. The European Commission has published a “Digital Dividend” roadmap on how the spectrum should be used and this has just been adopted as as a Commission Recommendation and a Communication to the European Parliament and Council.
The proposals have sparked debate over a number of issues, including Cable Europe’s warning to examine the risks of interference among different consumer devices.
So Forum Europe’s policy forum on “Implementing a European Digital Dividend Strategy“, on November 30th in Brussels, offers stakeholders the opportunity to hear from those people directly involved in the formulation of the roadmap and to discuss the proposals put forward in the more detail. Top level speakers will open up a frank and interactive debate on the best way forward in implementing a European Digital Dividend strategy to ensure that maximum socio-economic benefits are achieved.
The forum is an opportunity to be part of the debate at this time of unprecedented importance for the allocation of the radio spectrum in Europe. For more information click here
The Associated Press (AP), the worlds largest and most-experienced news agency and Munich based earth television network GmbH, which owns and operates the largest world-wide, fully remote controlled broadcast camera network, have announced a new content distribution partnership. AP will distribute three key earthTV products to its broadcast and online clients through Europe, and in other selected territories.
The partnership also allows AP to license earthTVs unique webTVplayer to its newspaper and publishing clients as well as other web portals seeking high quality daily video content. The three earthTV products are the hourly The World Live programmes; the networks weather programmes including 3-Day Forecast, the first weather report with real images of the future and earthTVs event programming which includes the 2010 World Cup Countdown (daily LIVE from the host cities in South Africa) and the New Years Eve spectacular. The distribution deal will commence on 1 November 2009.
Thomas Hohenacker, CEO and founder of earthTVs mother company Telcast Media Group GmbH, comments: AP has offered earthTV a global satellite transmission service for a number of years and this new partnership is a logical progression of the two companys relationship of mutual respect and trust. I think earthTV programmes which are available in the language and local design of the clients individual countries are a perfect complement for APs video news feeds. Both earth television network and AP are committed to delivering clients the highest quality products and services and we at earthTV are very excited that our two teams will be working together.
Markus Ickstadt, AP’s Director of Sales Europe, Middle East & Africa: While AP has enjoyed a commercial relationship with earthTV for a number of years, this development is an exciting departure that for the first time matches the content needs of our customers with the output both AP and earthTV can offer. earthTVs state-of-the-art technology and compelling business models represent the kind of break-through our customers are looking for, as we aim to secure income not just for us who create and deliver the content, but also our customers who display and distribute it.
The presentation ceremony for the 2009 AIBs, the International Media Excellence Awards, on November 4th, will be hosted by Francine Lacqua of Bloomberg Television. The awards select the very best examples of news, current affairs and creative feature making as well as the best cross-media or mobile production, the most innovative technology and the most creative marketing campaign. They are unique in being chosen by an independent panel of judges made up leading members of the international broadcasting community. Francine Lacqua will be introducing the short list for each category, announcing the winners and conducting a short interview with each of them.
Francine is an anchor and correspondent for Bloomberg Television in London. As host of In Business, the morning newscast from 9AM to 10AM, Francine reports on the days top business and financial stories. In addition Francine co-anchors Inside Business, during the afternoon, wrapping up the close of the European markets for Bloomberg Televisions global viewers.
In recent months, Francine has interviewed UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, IMF Director General Dominique Strauss Kahn, World Bank President Robert Zoellick, South Korea Finance Minister Yoon Jeung Hyun and HSBC Chairman Stephen Green. Francine also covers Europes most prestigious events for Bloomberg Television including the World Economic Forum, Davos.
Bloomberg Television is a major sponsor of the 2009 AIBs, in line with their commitment to outstanding broadcasting and innovative ways of providing information.
Details of The AIBs including how to book can be found here
Al Jazeera Satellite Channel has just finished preparations to launch a new look and a new cycle of programmes to coincide with its Al Jazeera Day celebrations on November 1st, the day on which the Network will also celebrate Al Jazeera Arabics thirteenth anniversary as well the sixth anniversary of the launch of Al Jazeera Sport Channel and the third anniversary of Al Jazeera English and Al Jazeera Documentary channels.
This Sunday nights edition of Al Hasad (Harvest of the Day), Al Jazeera Arabics main news programme, will have a new look and color scheme and new theme music. The changes include a newly redesigned studio incorporating a video wall and other state of the art technologies.
In addition, the management has also introduced important changes to its content based on findings from a recent opinion poll conducted by Nielsen, a leading international research company that specializes in viewer conduct and TV ratings. The sample survey included 27,000 viewers from 14 Arab countries.
Commenting on the New Look and new cycle of programmes at the Al Jazeera Channel, Wadah Khanfar, Director General of the Network stated, The changes are aimed at making the channels programmes more dynamic and more interactive to attract new audiences, especially the youth. He further added, The new programmes will provide much more indepth analysis and the new changes to the channels studios and on-screen graphics will reflect Al Jazeeras commitment to deliver to our audiences the best in broadcasting while maintaining Al Jazeeras authentic style which they have become accustomed to over the years.
Along with the new look there are a number of additional changes introduced to news programmes as well. The main news programmes, Midday and Harvest of the Day, will adopt more in-depth analyses and a faster rhythm with the new style aimed at giving the channels reporters and correspondents in the field a greater role in coverage and a closer engagement with its audiences through social and human interest stories. The channel will continue broadcasting its Maghribi North African bulletin daily at midnight Makkah time. In addition, a new weekly sports bulletin will be shown at 2:30 Friday afternoons.
One of the most important changes in programmes will include the channels talk shows. The new programming grid will see the introduction of two new talk shows. The first called Fi Alumq, Arabic for In-Depth, will host intellectuals, analysts, and strategists to discuss issues from different angles in news and current affairs presenting in-depth analyses of major issues pertaining to the region and the world. The programme will be aired at 10 pm every Monday night and will be introduced by Al Jazeeras well-known anchor Ali Al Dafiri. Another newcomer to the grid Al Milaf or The File will deal with political and social issues that are of key interest to the Arab world and the world in general. The programme will have packages and discussions that go beyond the surface and look at the essence of issues rather than focusing on overt controversies. The File will be aired at 10pm on Friday nights and will be introduced by Sami Kluaib.
Al Jazeeras viewers will also have a chance to enjoy more football related coverage through a weekly programme called Dunia Al Kura, or The World of Football. This programme will cover the different football events in a non-traditional style prepared by a team of sporting specialists. It will be hosted by Muhammed Saadoun Al Kuwwari at 8pm Monday nights.
Minbar Al Jazeera (Al Jazeeras Platform), the programme which gives a voice to the voiceless will also see several changes to its look with a more interactive format allowing the audience to have a greater ability to express their views by engaging through social media such as Twitter and Facebook. (Source: Al Jazeera press release)