VOA TV to Iran streaming on Livestation

3 July 2012

Iranians can now watch all of their favorite Voice of America TV shows online with Livestation, a 24 hour a day streaming platform that brings together news programs from around the world.

Viewers in Iran and elsewhere can simply go to www.livestation.com and select ‘VOA Persian’ from the list of regional channels. The site is free and can also be accessed on smart phones as well as an iPhone app.

VOA Executive Editor Steve Redisch says placement of VOA’s Persian Service on the streaming site marks a step forward in the delivery of our programs to the people of Iran. “New research from Gallup shows Internet use is growing in Iran and many people have web access in their homes. It makes sense for us to take advantage of new distribution opportunities,” Redisch says.

Earlier this year the Persian Service rolled out a new lineup of television programs including Inside the USA, which highlights aspects of American life and institutions. In addition to direct-to-home satellite, viewers of many popular VOA programs, including the satirical shows Parazit or OnTen, turn to Facebook, YouTube and other social media sites to watch the programs on demand.

With Livestation, viewers will have increased access to all the VOA Persian Service shows. Livestation aggregates dozens of television news programs from around the world in different languages. The channels can be watched for free via the Livestation website, a desktop player, a free smartphone app that presents all the channels on one interface, or through other mobile phone apps.

The latest audience data from Iran indicates VOA Persian TV has a weekly audience of more than 21 percent, making it one of the most popular international broadcasters in the country.

Entries pouring in for the 2010 AIBs

9 July 2010

As you will have seen, we have extended the deadline for entries to be submitted to the 2010 AIBs, the international media excellence awards, until 1600GMT on 16th July due to numerous requests. Broadcasters, content producers, providers of technology and others are responding to the extra time granted with large numbers of entries arriving at AIB headquarters every day.

So far companies in 21 countries have entered – from Argentina to China and from Australia to the USA. From phonecalls made to the AIB, we also know that many more entries are on their way.

It is particularly pleasing to see new companies entering for the first time – companies like KI.KA (Der Kinderkanal von ARD und ZDF) in Germany, TV Antena 1 in Romania, Russian Travel Guide Co Ltd Russia, Conker Media Ltd UK, Press TV Iran and eTV South Africa.

It is still not too late to enter if you are a producer or broadcaster of international TV or radio programmes (whether using terrestrial broadcasting, satellite, online or mobile) or if you produce the technology to power broadcasts, or if you run marketing programs for broadcasts (see the categories page on the website for the full list of different awards).

But with only one more week to the deadline, you will have to hurry so if you still want to enter go to the entries page for full details