AIBD / ABU / ASBU Regional Workshop on Convergent Journalism

The Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) as part of its Media Partnership have undertaken a joint regional workshop for the first time.

It was proposed that the AIBD organize a regional workshop on Convergent Journalism for AIBD, ABU and ASBU members in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The workshop was held from 11-15 July 2011 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and was conducted by Dr John Cokley PhD, of the School of Journalism & Communication, The University of Queensland, Australia.

The workshop aimed to provide the participants with a “competitive advantage” in the emerging world of convergent journalism.

The list of 12 participants were from a range of countries and regions across the AIBD, ABU and ASBU memberships: one each from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Jordan, Macau, Nepal, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and two from Saudi Arabia. Two of the 12 were women. The participants’ job roles ranged through reporters, producers, news directors, to news controller.

More Photo

(Source : Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development)

Malta (Temporarily) Shuts Off Analog Radio

Malta is getting a temporary analog radio shut off on Saturday, 27 August.

L’Awtorità tax-Xandir, the broadcasting authority for the Mediterranean nation of Malta, is switching off all analog radio broadcasts originating from the GħargħurTransmitting Tower, the main broadcast-origination site for the archipelago.

The work must be conducted during daylight hours and all analog radio broadcasts from the facility have to be switched off from 05:00 to 15:00, although analog radio could be switched on earlier if the work is completed ahead of schedule.

In October 2008, Malta became the first country in Europe to rollout a national DAB⁺ network. Forty-seven services, including several DAB-only channels, operate on the network.

According to the April-June 2011 quarterly audience survey conducted by l’Awtorità tax-Xandir, 7.9% of Maltese radio listeners have a digital radio system and tune to DAB⁺ broadcasts, although that does not include digital radio listening that takes place through television or Internet platforms.

In case of weather delays, the analog shutoff and tower work will be done on 3 September.

(Source : Radio World via World DMB)

RNW World pop contest 2011: The Points and the scoreboard

Time for the results of the points awarded to the 28 songs in this, the second just-for-fun World Pop Contest. 

Many of you took the time to send us your points for your personal top 10 favourites from the contest. We have put your points together to come up with the scores from a total of 27 national juries.

The Points
Each country will award a total of 110 points. Normally as 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 points. In a very few cases - where there has been an exact tie of points within a national jury - the points may differ, but they will ALWAYS total 110.

We'll be presenting those scores here over the coming weeks, with 4 or 5 countries voting in batches. The animated (moving) scoreboards are presented below [non-moving images are at the bottom of this page]. 

How to watch the animated scoreboard
The scoreboards are presented as PowerPoint show. You do not need PowerPoint to view the animated scoreboard, but you will need a PowerPoint viewer - which you may already have on your computer. You can download a Free and Legal viewer here.

Click the download button, then install the viewer.

Then click on the link(s) below to download the Scoreboard(s) to your computer. Save it, then use the PowerPoint viewer to open it. You may prefer to simply open it straight from the webpage, which should work provided you already have a PowerPoint viewer installed. Many computers will already have a PowerPoint viewer installed.

Click to start the show, then keep clicking. Once the name of the country voting has sunk to the bottom of the screen, click 1 x to get the points 2 to 18, then click again to see who has got the maximum 20 points.
 

The Animated Scoreboards:

SCOREBOARD - I with the points from Bangladesh, Canada, Lebanon and Russia

SCOREBOARD - II with the points from France, Algeria, Switzerland and Turkey

SCOREBOARD - III coming soon...

(Source : Radio Netherlands Worldwide)

DIRECTV launches hurricane information channel

DIRECTV has launched a dedicated 24/7 “Hurricane Irene Information” channel that will provide live broadcasts from local stations in markets affected by the hurricane to DIRECTV viewers nationwide.

The DIRECTV-produced information channel began broadcasting at midnight EDT/9 pm PDT last night and airs on three separate viewer channels: 259, 325 and 349. DIRECTV plans to provide continuous coverage throughout the weekend or until the storm has diminished in strength.

DIRECTV will simulcast local news and information coverage from various stations in affected markets as the storm moves up the East Coast. DIRECTV will also provide graphical information to inform its customer base about potential evacuations, closures, event cancellations and any additional critical information as needed. Storm preparation information will be delivered in graphical form from the American Red Cross, as well as coverage from the agency’s special disaster preparedness and relief interview with American Red Cross President Gail McGovern, along with information from other emergency organizations.

As DIRECTV tracks the storm it will manually switch to a local station in the affected market. The information channel will broadcast coverage from the following markets:

• Greenville/New Bern, NC
• New York
• Norfolk, Va
• Richmond, Va
• Roanoke, Va
• Washington, DC

(Source: DIRECTV via Media Network Weblog)

Kenya: KBC launches 24-hour vernacular station

The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) has launched its first 24-hour Kalenjin vernacular station. Kitwek 98.0 FM joins the large KBC family at a time when media in the country is diversifying. Information Minister Samuel Poghisio officially launched the station in Eldoret town .

Mr Poghisio said the radio station will boost various projects like farming, livestock development, business and advertising activities in the region which is rich while the youth’s talents will be honed and utilized to the maximum by this medium. The minister further said that the new constitution promotes freedom of expression including in mother tongue, and refuted allegations that the vernacular local radio station would encourage disunity among all Kenyans.

(Source: Kenya Broadcasting Corporation via Media Network Weblog)

Winners of RTI int'l painting competition

First prize winner (Goh Wern Sze, Malaysia) 

Second prize winner (Valerie Villon, France)

Third prize winner (Robisankar Bosu, India)

The three will each receive a 7-day, 6-night food and accommodation package upon arriving in Taiwan in early October. 

‧One first place prize: US$1,000 and 7-days, 6-nights of food and accommodation
‧One second place prize: US$500 award and 7-days, 6-nights of food and accommodation
‧One third place prize: US$300 award and 7-days, 6-nights of food and accommodation

(Source : Radio Taiwan International)

European Broadcasting Union launches new Europe-wide broadcast industry research

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), working with Futuresource Consulting, today announced the launch of new research into the key business challenges and future opportunities for European broadcasters in an evolving market.

This is the first study of its kind within the broadcast industry and will shed light on the shifting broadcast marketplace, consolidation, cost pressures and potential new revenue streams for the industry, as well as how buying behaviours may be changing on account of financial pressures. The results will be analysed within the context of the wider broadcast environment to ensure a thorough and long-term understanding of the marketplace.

“This is a clear demonstration of our commitment to providing our membership with the insight they need,” says Lieven Vermaele, Director, EBU Technology & Development. “In light of the many changes in broadcast technology and channels over recent years, this study will provide the foundations for new growth. From broadcast purchase decisions with major strategic implications, to identifying operational issues and solutions, our aim is to allow our Members to take effective and timely action in anticipation of industry change," concludes Mr Vermaele.

“There is no doubt that the broadcast industry is evolving in a number of key areas,” says Andrew Snoad, Director of Custom Solutions, Futuresource Consulting. “From an infrastructure perspective, the move from traditional broadcast equipment towards IT solutions continues to impact. Content delivery is also facing challenges. In recent years, the number of channels has skyrocketed. Traditional viewing may be challenged by a whole host of new platforms such as smartphone, PC and tablet. However, there are many opportunities for broadcasters to exploit additional revenue streams, and this is a driving force behind the research study.”

The basic concept for the study is that EBU Member broadcasters respond to requests for company-specific information, which remains confidential, and in return are given the aggregated (average) information. The EBU has called this ‘Project Fair Exchange’ for its Members.

The study will be conducted by Futuresource Consulting with public and commercial broadcasters across Europe and the findings will be delivered towards the end of 2011.

(Source : European Broadcasting Union)

BBC North recruitment to end next month

The BBC’s external recruitment drive for opportunities at their new northern base at MediaCityUK is to close in just over two weeks’ time.

As teams from departments including Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Manchester move into the new facilities, we’re told around three quarters of the total vacancies at the Salford site have been filled.

In a message to candidates on the BBC Recruitment website, the corporation announced: “We have been delighted with the positive response to our new home at Salford Quays and we have had an unprecedented volume of applicants for the job opportunities that have arisen from the move. We are now at the stage where we’ve filled around 75% of vacancies and are into our last phase of recruitment. This means that we no longer need to seek new applications for the majority of our roles as we have a high number of candidates already.”

The ‘BBC North Job Opportunities’ general vacancy will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 11th September 2011. Those people who have already applied and gone through the online assessment process will continue to be considered for relevant positions as they become available.

We’re also told that there are only around 200 vacancies left to fill between now and March 2012 across all BBC departments that are moving into the MediaCityUK site.

As well as 5 Live and BBC Radio Manchester, staff already based at BBC Manchester are moving to Salford – including teams from BBC Network radio such as 6 Music’s Radcliffe and Maconie show and religious and current affairs programme makers from Radio 4. Departments including Sport, Childrens and Future Media & Technology are also heading North. Find out more here.

(Source : Radio Today, UK)

BBC Research & Development demonstrates implementation of DVB-T2-Lite at IBC 2011

On the DVB stand at IBC 2011, BBC Research & Development will conduct its first public demonstration of DVB-T2-Lite, the new T2 profile set to transform audience's experience of watching programmes on the move. 

The latest version of the DVB-T2 specification, the technology standard that enabled High Definition on Freeview, introduces DVB-T2-Lite as a new profile which will allow cost reduced receiver implementations for applications such as mobile broadcasting. The profile can be mixed with conventional T2 signals in a single multiplex, to allow separate optimisation of the individual components and also to reuse the existing broadcast transmitter infrastructure. This means that in the future the T2-Lite component could provide audiences with a reliable live "broadcast" TV or radio experience on their handheld devices. Using this new profile live broadcasts can be delivered to multiple audience members without major investment in the already existing infrastructure. 

BBC Research & Development started transmissions of DVB-T2-Lite from the roof of BBC R&D's South Lab on 7 July. For these transmissions BBC R&D have developed their own T2-lite modulator and demodulator. These devices have been used intensively to validate the new standard. BBC R&D would be interested to license this technology to other parties.

Notes to Editors

BBC Research & Development

The role of BBC R&D is to provide world-class leading edge technical research and innovation expertise to the BBC, to enable the corporation to create and deliver innovative high quality content and services, as cost-effectively as possible to the licence fee paying public. The world class engineers in R&D also advise the BBC on what is coming in the future – what it needs to be involved in and influence, what are the likely winning and losing technologies and what the BBC needs to lead, follow or ignore. The department has always followed a philosophy of collaboration and openness; it works regularly with other broadcasters, standards bodies and technology partners.

About DVB Project

The Digital Video Broadcasting Project (DVB) is an industry-led, world wide consortium of over 230 broadcasters, manufacturers, network operators, software developers and regulatory bodies committed to designing open technical standards for the global delivery of digital television and data services. Services using DVB standards are available on every continent with more than 600 million DVB receivers deployed.

(Source : BBC Press Release)

New stories from BBC Northern Ireland

BBC Northern Ireland launches a new season of programmes this autumn, with a broad range of stories that reflect life in the region and issues of interest and importance to local audiences. 

Ailsa Orr, BBC Northern Ireland's Head of Programmes, said: "This autumn we are offering our audiences a wide range of new factual programmes, original new series and returning entertainment and comedy output. We believe these programmes reflect the people, their real life stories, the history and humour, the issues and themes which are relevant to Northern Ireland. 

"Some of the highlights include Slim Chance: Fix My Family, a new six-part reality series following the trials and tribulations of a group of families as they undergo a gruelling but potentially life-changing experiment to lose weight and overhaul their lifestyles. BBC One Northern Ireland will also broadcast a number of single films reflecting on and telling the stories of significant events in our recent history; some of which had impact beyond Northern Ireland. 

"At The Crossroads meets four of the mothers and daughters who were caught up in the events of the Holy Cross protest 10 years after it shocked the world. Bombs Bullets And Business As Usual tells the story of the world's most bombed hotel, the Europa in Belfast, with testimonies from journalists like Anne Robinson and John Sergeant who 'all but lived' there during the Troubles.

"Film-maker Alison Millar goes to the Shankill Road to explore the lives and times of The Men Who Won't Stop Marching. For four months she joined the men of the marching bands and in particular spent time with Jordan, an 11-year-old aspiring drummer from one of the families on the estate. 

"Bloody Sunday: The Long Wait tells the emotional inside story of the events that led up to the findings of the Saville Report, the multi-million pound inquiry into Bloody Sunday which concluded on June 15, 2010; and Hume is the latest in a series of BBC Northern Ireland documentaries describing the careers of key political figures in Northern Ireland, with exclusive access to John Hume. 

"Later in the autumn we are also delighted to announce the return of Sketchy, starring stand-up comedian and actor Diarmuid Corr and The David Meade Project, where the incredible mentalist unleashes more tricks on the unsuspecting public. Out Of The Blue is a new eight-part series taking a look at contemporaneous arts in Northern Ireland challenging the conventional view of what an arts series should be, with presenters Graham Little and Joanne Salley and a team of five reporters travelling all over Northern Ireland to uncover the stories of the people who ensure our leisure time is as enjoyable and varied as it can be. 

"Across the rest of our output BBC Northern Ireland continues in our commitment to Irish Language and Ulster-Scots programming with several new series for autumn, while sports fans can look forward to some great local action. The new season also sees the return of the multi-award-winning Spotlight and Spotlight Special. 

"We hope this wide variety of programmes will offer something for everyone, concluding a great year of television on BBC Northern Ireland."

(Source : BBC Press Release)