13 March 2013
GlobeCast today announced that it has signed a multiyear contract with Arise News, a newly launched global 24-hour TV network that will deliver news and current events programming to audiences across Africa and Europe. GlobeCast will provide full HD playout, uplink, and satellite capacity for Arise News’ HD channel, Arise News HD, scheduled to launch today.
“For the launch of our HD service, we needed a service provider with global reach that will enable us to distribute to any platform, anywhere, as we continue to grow. We also wanted to work with a single supplier that could provide us with a complete solution rather than a simple service,” said Nduka Obaigbena, Founder of Arise News. “With its unique ability to meet these requirements and world-class reputation for quality of service, GlobeCast is the ideal partner for Arise News.”
GlobeCast will initially provide a full HD service for Arise News HD with uplink to one of its newly acquired fleet of Astra 2G transponders for delivery toU.K.viewers via the Sky platform. Soon, GlobeCast will uplink the service to the Hot Bird satellite for distribution to DTH and cable headends inEurope. Next year, GlobeCast will be working with the channel to facilitate further expansion of the channel in Europe and to audiences in theU.S.andAfrica.
Arise News aims to become a global media organization reflecting the experiences of underserved communities, championing the voices of the African diaspora across all continents, and engaging citizens of the world. In addition to the U.K., Arise News will operate bureaus in New York;Lagos,Nigeria; and Johannesburg,South Africa; the network has plans to roll out additional news bureaus in Washington,D.C.; Dakar,Senegal; Nairobi,Kenya; Dubai,United Arab Emirates; Rio de Janeiro; Beijing; New Delhi; and Los Angeles.
“Arise News is poised to fulfill a vital role in the international broadcasting community by reporting global news and current affairs through the eyes of communities that are often ignored by the mainstream media,” said Juliet Bayliss, Sales Director at GlobeCast U.K. “We are very pleased to be a key part of this effort, and we look forward to working with Arise News as it builds a foundation for continued expansion.”
8 January 2013
YahLive, the Abu Dhabi, UAE-based HD television satellite platform for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and GlobeCast, a leading content management and delivery company, today announced a new partnership in which GlobeCast will provide YahLive with a 24/7 monitoring and reporting service for YahLive’s satellite signals (video, audio, and data) across the MENA region.
As part of YahLive’s ongoing Customer Excellency (Customer First) program, GlobeCast’s around-the-clock, real-time monitoring and detection services will enhance YahLive’s quality control, maintenance, and incidence response capabilities for its growing channel bouquet.
The local monitoring and reporting initiatives will be done by GlobeCast at Jordan Media City (JMC), inAmman,Jordan. GlobeCast’s global reach and JMC’s regional presence will result in detailed reporting that combines local expertise with global capabilities. GlobeCast is a subsidiary of the France Telecom-Orange group.
The agreement was signed by Georges Baroud, CEO of GlobeCast Middle East, and Mohamed Youssif, CEO of YahLive.
Commenting on the new partnership, Youssif said:
“As the region’s HD television satellite platform, YahLive has become synonymous with ‘Pure HD’ and the company that is spearheading MENA’s SD-to-HD conversion in response to the accelerated demand for premium-quality HD television — partnering with global leaders like GlobeCast ensures that we deliver on our number one commitment to television viewers and broadcast partners — to provide the best in service reliability, quality, and customer service.”
“Our solution offers YahLive the scalability and flexibility needed to meet its demands,” said Baroud. “GlobeCast is the first and only broadcast service provider to offer externalized monitoring services in theMiddle East. In building this monitoring center, we were searching for an integrated system that could do everything a channel needed. Broadcasters are concerned about their quality of service and are looking for professionals to help them.”
YahLive’s mission is to address the rapidly growing HD television demand across the MENA region. It is a strategic joint venture between Al Yah Satellite Communications (Yahsat), and SES, one of the world’s most prominent satellite broadcasting companies. Starting operations less than one year ago, YahLive has already created an exclusive HD bouquet of more than 40 quality channels including GEM Sports TV, Russia Al Youm, Abu Dhabi TV, MBC, Cartoon Network Arabic, and Saudi TV. By year-end 2012, YahLive’s bouquet increased to 50 channels.
GlobeCast operates over a dozen teleports worldwide, delivering the equivalent of 1,000 television and radio channels. The company used its extensive knowledge and experience in the broadcast industry to develop this 24/7 monitoring center, which will provide robust and secure service for clients in the region including satellite operators, broadcasters, and TV channels. This service is part of a catalog of value-added services that GlobeCast has tested in its centers worldwide and is now beginning to implement in theMiddle East.
24 October 2012
RTS SAT makes its debut in full MPEG-4 to Australia and New Zealand
GlobeCastAustraliatoday announced a major upgrade that will allow the company to deliver its customers the first high-quality MPEG-4 services on the Optus D2 DTH satellite platform. GlobeCastAustraliais the leading provider of broadcast services forAustralia,New Zealand, and thePacificIslandsand is part of the worldwide GlobeCast group.
GlobeCastAustralia’s Chief Executive Simon Farnsworth said: “We have invested in MPEG-4 to give our customers access to the latest world-class technologies to help them innovate and grow.”
GlobeCast will commence its new MPEG-4 service with its channel partner RTS SAT, on behalf of EURO World Network (EWN). EWN operates a DTH and IPTV distribution platforms inAustralia; using GlobeCast Australia DTH satellite distribution on Optus D2.
Mark Lobwein, Chairman of EURO World Network said, “It is a pleasure to be working with GlobeCastAustraliain this region for our blue chip customer, RTS SAT. GlobeCast has been looking after DTH services inAustraliafor over a decade and we are excited to be working with them to deliver this new technology for our satellite customers.”
Farnsworth said MPEG-4 offers GlobeCast customers:
o Increased household penetration potential because of its higher-quality video delivery to large-screen flat-panel displays
o Higher-quality sound with an option for Dolby® audio
o Greater bandwidth efficiency and value
GlobeCastAustralia’s enhancement of its Optus D2 DTH platform includes upgrading four carriers to state-of-the art Thompson Video Networks MPEG-4/MPEG-2 encoders. The Optus D2 DTH platform coversAustraliaandNew Zealand.
RTS SAT will be available in both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 until the end of the year.
20 September 2012
Brazil‘s leading broadcaster joins MyGlobeTV’s lineup of international and thematic content
TV Globo International has signed an agreement with GlobeCast, a leading provider of media management and global content delivery services, to join its MyGlobeTV platform.
MyGlobeTV is a television bouquet that brings international and thematic audiovisual content directly to subscribers in theUnited States. In contrast to WorldTV, GlobeCast’s direct-to-home satellite offering, with MyGlobeTV all viewers need is a broadband Internet connection and a MyGlobeTV set-top box; no satellite dish is required.
Launched in July, MyGlobeTV is currently composed of 16 Romanian channels and there are plans to rapidly expand the lineup to include further communities, attracting a large variety of niche audience groups.
“We’re very pleased to welcome TV Globo to our MyGlobeTV platform. GlobeCast Americas launched MyGlobeTV to provide an innovative, user-friendly, and unique way for communities of viewers in theAmericasto access their content,” said GlobeCast Americas CEO Lisa Coelho. “With MyGlobeTV, the significant and growing community of Brazilians and Portuguese speakers in the US and indeed any viewers with a broadband connection, will be able to watch TV Globo International and follow the news in real time — as well as live sports, soap operas, miniseries, children’s programs, and entertainment.”
“We are very happy with this new partnership,” said Raphael Correa Netto, Head of International Sales at TV Globo. “Now, more Brazilians and Portuguese speakers in theUnited Stateswill be able to watch Globo´s programs delivered via broadband. This system gives more mobility so that fans of our telenovelas, documentaries, and entertainment shows can follow their favorite programs.”
6 July 2012
– Mike Lattin retained as advisor to the company and the CEO –
– Simon Farnsworth appointed CEO –
GlobeCast Australia today announced the retirement of its Chief Executive Officer, Mike Lattin, who will continue with the company in an important advisory role. The company also announced the appointment of Simon Farnsworth as Chief Executive Officer. The changes have immediate effect.
Farnsworth has worked for 10 years with the GlobeCast Group, most recently as Global Head of the GlobeCast Group’s Broadcast Contribution services.
“This is an excellent growth path for GlobeCast Australia and our customers,” said GlobeCast Australia Chairman Peter Cosgrove. “Simon brings outstanding new knowledge and leadership skills, and we retain the benefit of Mike’s unique expertise, earned over more than 45 years in international broadcasting. Mike has led GlobeCast Australia over the past nine years to become the leading broadcast services provider covering Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands with a relentless focus on our customers that will continue. Mike is a legend.”
“I am delighted to continue with GlobeCast Australia in my new capacity and to assist Simon and his team,” said Lattin. “He is a talented executive with a talented team delivering at the leading edge of global broadcasting.”
“I am very excited about growing our business and building on Mike’s extraordinary achievements,” said Farnsworth. “In the past 10 years, I’ve worked in the United Kingdom and held board roles in Hong Kong, India, and Singapore, and my new home base — covering Australasia and the Pacific Islands — is one of the most dynamic broadcasting markets in the world. I am completely committed to continuing to deliver the excellent service levels that our customers demand.”
Lattin has held senior management and programming roles at each of Australia’s commercial TV networks, held similar roles internationally, and was Head of the Optus Television subscription TV platform. In 2001 he became a Director and CEO of MediaSat, which later merged with GlobeCast Australia. Lattin was appointed CEO of the newly merged company in 2003.
www.globecast.com
