11 September 2006
Arab television network Al Jazeera International has become the first international news channel in more than three years to be allowed to set up a permanent base in Zimbabwe after President Robert Mugabe’s government chased away mostly Western television and radio broadcasters such as the BBC.
Al Jazeera International, a subsidiary of the Qatar-based Arabic television channel Al Jazeera, has opened a two-man bureau in Zimbabwes capital, Harare, the ZimOnline internet site reported.
The two journalists hired by al-Jazeera, Cyrus Nhara and Farai Sevenzo, are said to have already started work. Nhara is a cameraman and producer who has done work for Reuters television in Harare. Sevenzo is a news reporter who has done work for Britains Channel 4.
11 September 2006
The name of the new digital satellite infrastructure of SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company, is entavio.
With the brand entavio, we will offer an infrastructure providing high-performance TV for everyone, said CEO Wolfgang Keuntje at the start of the international Consumer Electronics trade fair IFA in Berlin. For the new digital satellite access, consumers will need a receiver as well as a smartcard. We want to provide all TV households in cities and in the countryside with access to the whole range of digital offers at a low and affordable price, said Keuntje.
With entavio, the viewers will benefit from a broader variety in TV. The offer will enable broadcasters to provide a comprehensive digital programme, additional service packages and value-added services. The offer will include interactive TV and electronic programme guides as well as an easy combination of Free-TV with Pay-TV, Video-On-Demand (VOD), Pay-Per-View (PPV) and a Personal Video Recorder (PVR).
Furthermore, entavio will enable TV reception with a future-proof receiver.
The company offering the new digital satellite infrastructure is also called entavio and is located in Unterföhring near Munich.(www.entavio.com).
11 September 2006
SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company, will launch ASTRA2Connect, a fully satellite-based interactive and low-cost broadband internet access to serve the residential market, the small and home offices as well as small and medium enterprises. ASTRA2Connect will provide a full satellite-based triple play infrastructure service enabling broadband internet access, voice-over-IP and other content related access services such as IPTV or Video-on-Demand. It is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2007 and will mainly target homes in Europe, which can not easily get terrestrial broadband internet services.
Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA, says: ASTRA2Connect is a great innovation that brings broadband internet access to everyone – whenever and wherever. The end-consumers will benefit from an affordable and always-on two-way connectivity. We are proud to offer this revolutionary satellite-based infrastructure and envisage to extend ASTRA2Connect to other regions of the world in the near future.
ASTRA2Connect is currently offered on a wholesale basis to large European service providers such as telecommunication operators, internet service providers and broadband operators that conduct pro-active marketing and sales activities in the residential and small enterprise markets. The necessary equipment consists of an interactive satellite antenna as well as a low-cost and easy-to-install satellite modem. For the design and procurement of the satellite platform and the related modems, SES ASTRA has entered into a cooperation with Newtec, a recognized market leader in satellite communication systems.
ASTRA2Connect uses advanced technology developed with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA).
11 September 2006
SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company, has announced today at the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam that it has signed a second transponder contract with the public Polish television TVP (Telewizja Polska SA). The additional capacity on SES ASTRA`s prime orbital position 19.2 ° East will enable TVP to enhance its existing channel line-up on ASTRA by new thematic channels like TVP SPORT, TVP ROZRYWKA (entertainment), TVP FILM, TVP HISTORIA and TVP INFO.
TVP has been broadcasting from one transponder on ASTRA 19.2° East since last year for its encrypted channels TVP 1 and TVP 2 as well as TVP 3, TV POLONIA and TVP KULTURA, which are free to air.
With almost 40 million inhabitants and 12 million TV households, Poland is SES ASTRA`s largest market in Central and Eastern Europe and TVP is one of the most important broadcasters in the region. SES ASTRA reaches some 107 million households across Europe.
Thanks to this agreement, the Polish people will gain easier access to the new thematic channels to be broadcast by TVP soon. This is very good news for the Polish TV viewers, said Marcin Bochenek, Vice President of TVP.
The new contract with TVP is another important milestone in our strategic partnership and a major step to develop our position in the Polish and Central and Eastern European market, said Alexander Oudendijk, Chief Commercial Officer of SES ASTRA. The contract allows TVP to enhance its offer to its audiences in Poland and all across Europe. We are very pleased with this cooperation which enables us to build an even stronger base for further future growth in this all important market.
11 September 2006
WORLDSPACE Satellite Radio, one of the world leaders in satellite-based digital radio services, today announced the launch of Falak-India’s first exclusive 24-hour Urdu channel and WORLDSPACE’s 31st branded, self-produced channel on its Satellite Radio Network.
Falak’s programming, available on AsiaStar(TM) Channel 109, will showcase the vast repertoire of Urdu music and celebrate the cultural heritage associated with the language of the imperial Mughal courts. “WORLDSPACE created Falak in response to subscriber interest in programming that conveys the mystery and beauty of Urdu culture and its place in the India of today,” said William Sabatini, vice president of global programming, WORLDSPACE. “Its launch not only reinforces our commitment to delivering a truly personal listening experience, but also to delivering programming that simply cannot be found on India’s traditional radio stations.”
Falak showcases the widest collection of Urdu music on radio in the form of ghazals, qawalis and film songs, broadcasting rare songs that are not even available in music stores today. The carefully structured programming highlights the various forms of Urdu music ranging from evocative poetry readings or Mushairas, exclusive interviews with singers and poets of a bygone era, special live recordings, trivia on historical events, celebrating the lives of legends from Urdu literature and music, sharing social messages contained in ancient Urdu literature, in addition to a host of other exclusive programming, including:
Taareekh Key Jharokhey Sey — a look into the history of various important cities, places of interest, monuments
Filmy Saughaat — film songs featuring Urdu lyrics from India and Pakistan
Aqwaal-E-Zareen — social messages from great philosophers from all over the globe that have been translated and adapted in Urdu
Bazm-E-Khanam — tips on good health, house keeping, family relations, culinary delights of the Indian, Mughlai, Irani, Uzbeki, Arabic and Afghani platter — their history, the little known tricks and techniques in their preparation
Sufiyana Kalaam — A special program featuring Sufi Qawalis, Mersias, Nohas and Baints
Ghazal Usne Chhedi — theme-based shows on Urdu poetry
Sham-E-Farozan — ghazals by renowned Urdu poets
Falak captures the nuances of Urdu through a range of innovative programming that brings to life the romance of more than just the language. The channel revives memories of a whole tradition of impeccable style and etiquette, prose and poetry and a rapidly vanishing set of traditional values.
11 September 2006
Harris Corporation announced that it is collaborating with VT Communications, an industry-leading broadcast services provider in the United Kingdom, to integrate the Intraplex(R) NetXpress(TM) audio-over-IP managed platform as a key component in the development of the first phase of VT Communications’ innovative new multiplatform global content distribution system.
VT Communications has selected Harris to supply a range of products, including the D-Series(TM) Playout Automation system, an application within the H-Class(TM) Application Suite, and the NetBoss(R) network management system for complete fault management and performance reporting. The system also will use Intelligent Media Mover, a Harris workflow management solution.
As part of an overall system, Harris is supplying infrastructure products for an integrated Broadcast Centre located in southern England that will manage the worldwide operation.
