BBC Executive response to Trust interim report on Delivering Quality First

The BBC Trust have published their interim report on Delivering Quality First, the BBC Executive’s proposed approach to meeting the constrained funding of the Licence Fee Settlement agreed with the Government in 2010.

This follows a public consultation.

The BBC Trust’s interim findings can be found here

The BBC Executive have responded: “We welcome the Trust’s endorsement of the majority of our Delivering Quality First proposals at this stage. We note their request for us to make some changes to our proposals in local radio and regional current affairs which we will be working on over the next two months.

"These proposals have required us to make some tough choices and we are glad that in the vast majority of cases we will be able to progress with changes we believe are necessary to ensure a future BBC that is sustainable, and able to offer the programmes and services most valued by licence fee payers.”

(Source : BBC Press Office)

EBU hosts spectrum debate at WRC-12

EBU Deputy Director of Technology & Development, David Wood, addresses the working lunch

The EBU has hosted a debate on radio spectrum involving the world's broadcasting unions, interest groups and leaders of the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12), on day two of the four-week, ITU-led symposium, in Geneva.

The conference, one of an ongoing series, endeavours to agree the policies that nations should adopt for using radio spectrum. It is widely acknowledged as the place where the future of world broadcasting takes shape. 

This year's agenda is full of important issues, some of which may bring changes to the way the television broadcasting bands are used in future. 

The discussion, during an EBU-hosted working lunch on Tuesday (January 24), drew frank exchanges about the relative positions that terrestrial broadcasting and wireless broadband should have in the spectrum used today by television broadcasting.  

Spectrum allocation is a thorny issue, since terrestrial television systems are evolving, while demand for wireless broadband is rising fast. The dilemma for the decision makers is how to decide on priorities.The meeting was hosted by EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenre and EBU Director of Technology & Development, Lieven Vermaele.  

EBU Deputy Director of Technology & Development, David Wood, who is also Chairman of the World Broadcasting Unions Technical Committee, said the world's terrestrial broadcasting community will argue for adequate spectrum for the evolution of terrestrial broadcasting.   

All the delegates keenly contributed to the discussion, agreeing that it had helped reach a common understanding.

(Source : European Broadcasting Union)

BBC World News to broadcast Japan Direct Season

On 5 March 2012, one year on from the earthquake and Tsunami in Japan, BBC World News will broadcast a special series of documentaries and news programmes that go behind the headlines to report on life in Japan.

From the overall state of the nation’s economy to the day-to-day lives of people throughout the country, the Japan Direct Season will explore the challenges and opportunities Japan faces today.

Programming highlights will include

Working Lives: Kyoto

Saturday 10th March 09:30, 22:30 GMT, Sunday 11th March 02:30, 15:30 GMT

This special edition of Working Lives take us to Kyoto. Presented by Roland Buerk, this programme highlights six workers on varying steps of the economic ladder and discovers more about their day to day lives and lifestyles.

One Square Mile

Saturday 10th March 12:30, 20:30 GMT, Sunday 11th March 00:30, 07:30 GMT

This month, One Square Mile is in Japan to explore a neighbourhood in the city of Nagasaki. Presented by the BBC's Mariko Oi, this programme explores one concentrated square mile of Nagasaki, by talking to local people about their everyday concerns and life in the city. The programme also looks at the architectural landscape of the city. Exploring Japan's oldest Chinatown, One Square Mile looks at the Chinese influences in the city, by visiting the Nagasaki Lantern Festival during the Chinese New Year.

Mariko also visits Nagasaki's historical architectural sites including some western style mansions which reveal Dutch influences in the city. The city was founded by the Portuguese in the 16th Century, who brought Christianity to the city and even though it was banned following riots in the country, this programme shows that Nagasaki has the highest percentage of Christian's in Japan who regularly use churches.

Read More at BBC

(Source : BBC Press Release)

New six-year cricket deal for BBC radio

BBC Sport and the England and Wales Cricket Board have agreed a new six-year deal for radio coverage, meaning ball-by-ball commentaries will run until at least 2019.

The agreement means live and exclusive coverage for the BBC of two home Ashes series in 2015 and 2019 as well as all England’s home Test, One-Day International and T20 series fixtures.

The current deal with the BBC is due to expire at the end of the 2013 season. Matches are broadcast on Radio 4′s long wave frequencies as well as BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra under the ‘Test Match Special’ branding.

David Collier, ECB Chief Executive said: “This is excellent news for all cricket-lovers. Test Match Special brings cricket into millions of homes in this country each summer and is widely recognised for its unique and world class coverage of cricket. The next six years are set to be exciting ones for the sport and Test Match Special’s coverage together with the regular summaries and updates provided by BBC Radio 5 live will play a significant role in promoting cricket from the playground to the Test arena.”

Barbara Slater, Director BBC Sport said: “We’re delighted to be taking cricket on the radio forward for a further six years. Test Match Special, now in its 55th year is one of the most treasured programmes on the BBC with its unique mix of expert commentary, insight, humour and entertainment. In a new digital era the programme and its accompanying download have never been more popular with its audience.”

(Source : Radio Today, UK)

New VOA Health Program Aims at Women in Tanzania

Washington, D.C. — Women and young girls in Tanzania are talking about critical health issues on a new VOA radio show called Crossroads: Healthy Decisions for the Youth.

The 30-minute Swahili language program examines crucial health-related decisions made by young girls, decisions that could impact their lives forever.

The premier edition of the new weekly show, which airs weekends, includes a segment called “Ask the Doctor” and a roundtable feature that gives young girls time to talk about issues that are important to them.

The program is already getting positive reviews.  Managers at Sport Radio 91.2 FM, a VOA affiliate station in Tanzania, say listeners immediately started calling in after the first broadcast to say they liked the new show.

VOA Swahili Service Chief Mwamoyo Hamza says the program is more than just a place for women to get health advice, it’s a forum for discussion and a place to share both the good and bad choices they have made.  “On each show, one girl will get the chance to talk about the decisions that are impacting her life.  On the first program, we heard from a 15 year-old who had complications from a forced abortion.  Now she’s realized she can no longer have children.”

Crossroads will be broadcast on shortwave and FM affiliate stations and will be available on the VOA Swahili website. The program, which is funded by a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development, is also expected to reach audiences in neighboring countries.

For more information about this program contact Kyle King at the VOA Public Relations office in Washington at kking@voanews.com.  Visit our main website at www.voanews.com for links to all of our programs.

(Source : BBG Press Release)

NHK WORLD TV is now seeking Program Monitors!

NHK is seeking viewers who will watch and submit comments regularly on NHK WORLD TV programs. The comments and suggestions will be utilized for enhancing our program quality.

If you are interested, please carefully read the requirements indicated below; if you are confident fulfilling below requirements and consent to what you are requested to do, please apply from the bottom form.

NHK WORLD TV Program Monitors

1. Requirements for becoming NHK WORLD TV Program Monitor

The applicants for NHK WORLD TV Program Monitor should:

• (1) be living outside of Japan;
• (2) be able to tune into NHK WORLD TV at any time, and watch the channel regularly on television (not on internet);
• (3) be aged 18 or older;
• (4) have a good conduct of English language, have confidence in writing comments on NHK WORLD TV programs;
• (5) have a bank account which can receive money transfer made in Yen, U.S. Dollars, Euros, or Pound Sterling.

Please note that:

• (i) those who do not have the 24-hour access to NHK WORLD TV channel are not eligible to apply.
  For example, if you are watching NHK WORLD TV:
  • (a) through your local PBS station or other channels such as Tokyo TV, which only carry parts of NHK WORLD TV news/programs
  • (b) through internet, and internet is your only means to tune into NHK WORLD TV; or
  • (c) watching NHK's English language programs through Japanese language channels such as NHK WORLD PREMIUM, TV JAPAN, JSTV,   you are NOT eligible to apply. 
• (ii) Only one person per household is eligible to apply. If any member of your household has already been assigned as NHK's Program Monitor or NHK Monitor of any other field, and is currently actively contributing as such, you are kindly requested to refrain from applying.

• (iii) Present NHK WORLD TV Program Monitors are requested NOT to apply.

Read More

(Source : NHK World)

News station Radio Cesko “not a priority” of CRo

Prague, Jan 21 (CTK) - The public Czech Radio (CRo) news station Radio Cesko (Radio Czech), which broadcasts on the frequencies of the BBC Radio for six hours a day, will not be further developed, its head Vaclav Sochor told E15.cz news server. “I was told that it is pointless to further develop Radio Cesko. It should become the core of a planned news and information channel,” Sochor said.

• Read the story from the Prague Daily Monitor

(Source : Media Network Weblog)

John Ryan to leave BBC Radio Manchester

The Managing Editor of BBC Radio Manchester, John Ryan, has announced that he will be leaving the station and the corporation in March this year.

John has been at the station for six years and has previously been in charge of BBC local radio stations in Leeds and Northampton.

He has also worked at stations including CTFM and Radio 210, and currently is the chair of Manchester community radio station Gaydio as well as running the regional branch of The Radio Academy in the North West.

John will leave the BBC on 23 March and will be starting his own consultancy and production company based in Manchester.

He told RadioToday.co.uk: “After six happy, amazing, exhausting years at BBC Radio Manchester, this has clearly not been an easy decision to make. I’ve loved working with the team here since 2005, and it really is the best job I’ve ever had – but 22 years is a long time to work in one organisation, even if there was a break in the middle! With the Salford move achieved, and the challenge of DQF on the horizon, it feels like the right time to hand the station on to a new editor.”

It’s understood the role of Managing Editor of BBC Radio Manchester will be advertised this week.

(Source : Radio Today, UK)

BBC Trust opposes local radio cuts

The BBC’s controversial proposed cuts to local radio stations across England have met opposition from the corporation’s governing body, the BBC Trust. Trust chairman Lord Patten is expected to ask management to go back to the drawing board with its plans to cut £15m from the budget of the BBC’s 40 local radio stations, which if implemented would lead to the loss of 280 jobs.

This proposal prompted thousands of complaints, more than for any other part of BBC director general Mark Thompson’s Delivering Quality First (DQF) initiative to save £700m a year. The BBC Trust, which met to discuss the cost-saving proposals last Thursday, is keen to reduce the level of the cuts and is said to be particularly concerned by the proposal for neighbouring BBC local stations to share afternoon programmes.

• Read more from The Guardian

(Source : Media Network Weblog)

Search on for next BBC Director General

The BBC Trust has begun the process to find the next Director General of the BBC, even though current postholder Mark Thompson has not announced plans to leave.

Trust chairman Lord Patten has confirmed a firm of headhunters have been appointed to scope out the type of candidates that would be required for the job.

Thompson has been in post since 2004 and has overseen the start of around £700m worth of cutbacks under the Delivering Quality First (DQF) programme.

There have been suggestions he may stand down after the London 2012 Olympics this summer.

But Lord Patten insisted in an interview with The Times that Mr Thompson would keep the role as long as he wanted. “He’s now embarked on what is the biggest year in the BBC’s history, with the Diamond Jubilee and Cultural Olympiad, the Olympics, Paralympics and so on,” he said. “So long as he wishes to remain Director-General, he will remain so and a very good one.”

Lord Patten added: “But we can’t simply ignore the importance of developing what they call in the corporate world our bench strength. I want us to be able, when the time comes, to have an intelligent view of who are possible successors and where successors should come from and what sort of job we would want them to be doing.”

The Guardian says former Radio 4 Controller and Radio Academy chair Helen Boaden is one name likely to be in the list of potential internal candidates for the DG job – along with BBC Vision director Geoge Entwistle, chief operating officer Caroline Thompson and BBC North director Pete Salmon.

(Source : Radio Today, UK)

BBC Africa Debate launches from Accra

A sub-Saharan "African Spring”? This is the theme of the inaugural edition of the new BBC World Service global monthly programme, BBC Africa Debate, which will be broadcast from Accra, Ghana, on Friday 27 January.

A year ago, when the protesters took to the streets in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, there were expectations of the Arab Spring spreading down the river Nile. There have been pockets of protests and demonstrations in several sub-Saharan African countries, many of them related to harsh economic conditions and poor governance. While ripple effects from the Arab Spring are visible in sub-Saharan Africa - home to some of the world's longest-serving and oldest leaders - the protests haven't resulted in any change of leadership.

In the inaugural edition from Accra, the presenter of BBC Africa Debate, Alex Jakana, teams up with Sam Farah, BBC Arabic presenter, to ask the panellists and the audience whether Africa is ready for a democratic leap forward, why there has been no "Spring" - and whether an “African Spring” would be useful or, indeed, necessary.

Commenting on the programme's launch from Accra, BBC Africa Current Affairs Editor, Stephane Mayoux, says: "BBC Africa Debate will focus on issues of pan-African as well as global significance. The theme of our very first debate is reform and political transition. Those issues are already being hotly debated across social-media platforms in Africa. Ghana, with its tradition of pan-Africanism, its media freedom - and its reputation for encouraging political and economic reform in Africa - was an obvious choice as a launch-pad for BBC Africa Debate. We are looking forward to bringing this first edition from Accra."

Read More

(Source :  BBC World Service Publicity)

Iranian Press TV loses UK licence

Press TV, the Iranian state broadcaster’s English-language outlet, has been forced off the air in the UK after Ofcom revoked its licence for multiple breaches of the broadcasting code. The controversial broadcaster had been threatened with being banned from broadcasting in the UK last year, after the channel aired an interview with Maziar Bahari, an imprisoned Newsweek journalist, that had been conducted under duress.

However, after hearing final submissions the media regulator downgraded the penalty to a fine of £100,000. It emerged today that Press TV has failed to meet the deadline for paying the fine, which was due in early January.

• Read more from The Guardian

(Source : Media Network Weblog)

Press TV claims UK jamming IRIB signals from Bahrain

The Iranian government-owned Press TV reports “The signal of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) channels on the Hotbird satellite provider has reportedly been jammed by British technicians operating from Bahrain. The transmission of jamming signals on frequency: 12437 MHz, horizontal position, symbol rate: 27500, FEC 3/4 began on Tuesday afternoon. The Eutelsat telecommunication giant declined to comment on the problem after IRIB contacted them for clarification earlier on Tuesday.”

(Source: Press TV via Media Network Weblog)

RFE/RL photographer Poturovic Wins Photography Grand Prize

Midhat Poturovic's photograph "Violence Against Roma People" was recognized as the best photo of 2011 at a recent competition in Sarajevo.

When RFE/RL photographer Midhat Poturovic arrived in the small Bosnian town of Osenik in August 2011, he saw what any other visitor would have seen: a village ravaged by violence in the wake of a local population’s attack on Osenik’s Roma population. But then he saw something that many would have missed. “We could see the destruction and the horrible mess,” Poturovic recalls. “One could take hundreds of photos of that. But my attention was drawn to one broken window in particular, where I could see a scared family just in between the pieces of glass. That is how this photo was born.”

Now Poturovic’s compelling photograph -- “Violence Against Roma People” -- has been recognized with the 2011 grand prize for best picture at Sarajevo’s annual “Photography BiH” competition. The event, organized by fotografija.ba,  is supported by the Sarajevo Foundation for Music, Performing and Fine Arts and the Embassy of Spain in Bosnia. Poturovic’s victory was announced at a gala ceremony in a Sarajevo gallery, the New Temple, on January 16, and his is slated to go on exhibit in another Sarajevo gallery, BlackBOX.

“This award is huge to me,” Poturovic told “Off Mic” in a recent interview. “I am pleased that the jury recognized the energy I put into my work. It will be a motivator for me to work harder and to become a better photographer.”

Poturovic, 26, has only been at professional photography for four years, and says that his interest in the art is driven by his love for photojournalism. “From day one, I was mostly interested in photography as a document, as a witness to daily events,” Poturovic says. “I was interested in newsy photos. For me the most challenging task is being a witness.”

(Source : Kristyna Dzmuranova, RFE/RL, Off Mic)

Radiodays Europe becomes tri-lingual

From left: Francesc Robert (ACR), Josep Maria Martí (Obs!), Ramón Mateu (Catalunya Radio), Anders Held (Radiodays Europe) and Olga Rodriguez (RNE).

The latest news about Radiodays Europe was presented at a press conference in Barcelona today. All the main Spanish and Catalan radio stations were present and declared their support and their excitement about Radiodays Europe coming to Barcelona.

Trilingual conference
For the first time Radiodays Europe will tri-lingual. The working language is still English, but all sessions in the main programme will be translated into Spanish and Catalan. So Radiodays will therefore be a very event for both public and commercial radio stations in Spain – there is no such meeting point today.

The project managers of Radiodays Europe declared that Barcelona was chosen as a host city for two reasons. Because it as an attractive destination with good flight connections and because of the dedicated support from local broadcasters in Catalonia and Spain from the start.

- Barcelona will be welcoming Radiodays Europe in a fantastic way. Since Radiodays Europe is a pan-European event, we intend to have it hosted in a new city each year. And we think the involvement of local broadcasters is important to make it a success, said Project Manager Anders Held.

Catalan receptions
Radiodays Europe will be a great networking opportunity. Participants should plan to come to Barcelona already on Wednesday 14 January and take part in the welcoming reception at MACBA, The Museum of Contemporary Art, at 8 p.m. On Thursday night there will be another reception for all participants, in Catalan style, hosted by the City of Barcelona. You would not like to miss that.

Barca
There will be several Spanish and Catalan speakers on different topics. One session will be dedicated to analyzing the football frenzy in the country and on radio in particular. Since we will be in the home town of FC Barcelona, one of the world´s greatest football teams, partners intend to make this somehow show also in this football session.

Live broadcasting from the conference
RNE said they will also be broadcasting two of their radio programmes live from Radiodays Europe in Barcelona. There will also be live broadcast on DAB+ at the venue during the conference.

 Local partners
The local Spanish and Catalan broadcaster partners are AERC (The Spanish Association of Commercial Radios), RNE (the national public broadcaster), Catalunya Radio (the Catalan public broadcaster), ARC (the Catalan Association on Radios) and Obs! (The Radio Observatory in Catalonia).

(Source : Radiodays Europe)

ITU Radiocommunication Assembly defers decision to eliminate the leap second

The ITU Radiocommunication Assembly has reached an important decision to defer the development of a continuous time standard in order to address the concerns of countries that use the current system of the leap second in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

The decision has been reached to ensure that all the technical options have been fully addressed in further studies related to the issue. These studies will involve further discussions within the ITU membership and with other organizations that have an interest in this matter and will be referred to the next Radiocommunication Assembly and World Radiocommunication Conference scheduled for 2015.

Adjustments made in one second steps, known as ‘leap seconds’, have been implemented since 1972 to compensate for variations in the speed of the earth’s rotation within the framework of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

(Source: ITU via Media Network Weblog)

Germany fires up analogue switch-off campaign

German broadcasters want to make viewers aware of the upcoming analogue switch-off via satellite through another special campaign week from 21 to 28 January 2012, sat-television.com reports.

Households will be informed mainly through intensified captions and rolling screen announcements shown during regular TV programmes.

The warnings will only be transmitted on the analogue transponders, thereby solely reaching the viewers affected by the move.

On 21 January 2012, 100 days will remain until Germany's TV and radio broadcasters will terminate their analogue DTH distribution on Astra.

From 30 April 2012 at 3 CET in the morning all German satellite feeds will be digital.

To continue reception, analogue households will have to upgrade their equipment for digital reception.

The German broadcasters have already carried out several campaign weeks since April 2011 to raise awareness for analogue switch-off via satellite.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

South Korea’s English-language radio station Arirang Radio to begin airing in U.S.

South Korea’s English-language radio station Arirang Radio will this week begin airing its programs in all U.S. areas, the company said Tuesday.

The English-language radio service will begin at midnight Thursday (U.S. eastern time) for listeners in all 50 U.S. states through SiriusXM Radio, America’s satellite radio company, said the Korea International Broadcasting Foundation, the operator of the Arirang radio station, in a statement.

The radio’s seven regular programs on Korean culture and tourism will become available for 11 hours a day on “Korea Today,” the 144th channel of SiriusXM, the company said.

SiriusXM broadcasts some 200 satellite radio channels to its 22.5 million paid subscribers.

“Korea Today will be the first channel whose programs comprise content from a specific Asian country,” the company said in the statement.

(Source : Yonhap News via the Korea Herald via www.kimandrewelliott.com)

BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2012 give Lifetime Achievement Awards to Don McLean and The Dubliners

Folk legends Don McLean and The Dubliners will both be given Lifetime Achievement Awards at BBC Radio 2's Folk Awards 2012, to be broadcast live on Radio 2 on Wednesday 8th February.

Presenter Mike Harding announced the recipients of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Awards on the Radio 2 Folk Show on Wednesday 18 January (7-8pm).

Jeff Smith, Head of Music for Radio 2 and 6 Music, said: “Radio 2 is committed to featuring folk music as part of our specialist music output, so we’re delighted to be holding the Radio 2 Folk Awards in Salford this year, and that listeners will be able to also watch the ceremony. Both The Dubliners and Don McLean are much loved by the Radio 2 audience, and I’d like to congratulate them on their well-deserved awards.”

Mike Harding said: [On The Dubliners] "When The Dubliners virtually invented the Dublin pub music scene 50 years ago, they changed the face of Irish music forever. They were exciting and different, with a real whiff of danger about them. In Luke Kelly and Ronnie Drew, they possessed two truly charismatic singers of a rare quality. Barney McKenna and John Sheahan, who remain with the group to this day, are indisputably world class musicians. Hugely influential and deeply loved at home and abroad, The Dubliners are responsible for countless definitive recordings and I'm delighted that Radio 2 is honouring their immense contribution to folk music.

[On Don McLean] "The truly great songwriters, who create works of such quality that they become standards across genres, are owed a debt of gratitude by the music world and I think it's fantastic that we're presenting Don McLean with this award."

Read More

(Source : BBC 2 Publicity)

Vijay Sharma to leave BBC Asian Network

The head of the BBC Asian Network has announced she is to leave in the summer after more than 20 years working for the corporation.

Vijay Sharma started her BBC career with Radio Leicester and developed Asian programming for the Midlands which eventually turned into the national digital radio service.

Plans to close the Asian Network were scrapped last year, though proposals under DQF will see cuts of around 30% to the network’s £12m budget.

Sharma announced her departure earlier today, saying she would leave following the BBC Trust’s service review of the network. It’s understood she is to pursue other interests in the health, cultural and charity sectors.

“I couldn’t have left when the station faced an uncertain future, but now seems like the right time,” she told BBC staff publication Ariel. “The Asian Network is performing well, its future as a national network is secure and there are some excellent creative plans.”

In an email to staff she said: “I have had the privilege of working with so many talented individuals – a group of hardworking, creative and inspirational people who are a credit to the BBC. The Asian Network has played a pivotal role in providing a platform to the British Asian artists, creative and journalistic talent. I am hugely proud of this.”

Under Sharma’s leadership, five hours of Asian programming at BBC Radio Leicester grew to 80 hours and a Midlands regional Asian Network. The programmes were then rolled out on medium wave frequencies to the East Midlands, the North West, South and West Yorkshire, Peterborough and the Three Counties, before Sharma led the move to a national radio station on DAB in 2002.

Asian Network Controller Bob Shennan – who also runs Radio 2 and 6 Music said Sharm’s legacy was ‘impressive’ and he paid tribute to her “inspirational leadership during the last turbulent 18 months”.

(Source : Radio Today, UK)

Radio Romania Int'l Winners of the contest “Busteni- the Jewel in the Foothills of the Caraiman Peak”

20 honorable mentions

Pavel Puchkov of Russia, Nikolaus Türk of Germanny, Hamzaoui Mahmud Hamzaoui of Egipt , Abdel Karim Najim of Morroco, Naser Farid Zifir of Yemen, Alberto Machado Marchand of Uruguay, Berny Solano Solano of Costa Rica, Ricardo Barsotti Zimmermann of Portugal, a listener of the Spanish language broadcasts, Qian Xiuping, Liu Wei, Zhou Fei and Meng Cheng, all 4 from China, Giuseppina Albanese, Mirella Damiani and Giorgio Borsier, all 3 from Italy, Amadou Tidjane of Mauritania, a listener of the French programs, Muhhammad Aslam Javed of Paksitan, a listener of the English language programs as well as Henk Poortvliet of the Netherlands and Joaquim Pombo and Michael Whing of the UK.

10 third prizes

Sergiu Crăciun Romanian born listener from Russia, Wolfgang Kühn of Germany, Boudoukha Mohamad of Algeria, Volodimir Gudzenko of Russia, a listener of the Ukrainian language programs, Salvador Lavín Carral of Spain, Romanian Adriana Petri of Israel, Xu Wenfeng of China, Stefano Citterio of Italy, Rachad Affo of Benin, a listener of the French language programs and Shri Pal Garg of India, a listener of the English service programs.

20 second prizes

Valeri Lugovski of Russia, Michael Lindner of Germany, Ben Amer Laid and Abdel Hamid Djebbari, both from Algeria, Serhii Kozlenko of Ukraine, José Luis Corcuera of Spain, Ivan Profor of the Republic of Moldova, Lu Jiawang, Xue Fei, Meng Chunquan, Li Ming, Xu Tongya, all 5 from China, Agide Melloni, Lina Battanoli, Giovanni Sergi, all 3 from Italy and Romanian Cristina Mirabela Rădulescu, a listener of Italian language programs, Alain Roques of France, Nassir Aziz of Pakistan, Mitul Kansal and M. Ganesan both from India.

10 first prizes

Nikolai Matveev of Russia, Goumidi Mohamad of Algeria, Konstantin Kisili of Russia, who listens to our Ukrainian service, Roberto Carlos Alvarez Galloso of the US, who listens to our Spanish service, Fan Hongjie, Shan Jinghai and Long Dingzhong, all three from China, Gianluca del Marco of Italy, Zenon Teles of India and Amand Gregory from the US, both listening to our English service.

Four special prizes

Jan Pongs of Germany, our co-national Marin Gherman of Ukraine, who listens to our Romanian language service, Jacques Giraud of France, and Richard Chen of Trinidad Tobago, listening to the English service programs.

Grand Prize

Cristina Russo and Giulio Pagani, a couple from Genoa, Italy.

Edith and Claude Unsinger of Strasbourg, France.

(Source : Radio Romania International)

BBG Calls for Agency Restructuring

Washington, D.C., January 18, 2012 – The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) announced its intention to restructure U.S. international broadcasting. It will seek legislation that would include establishing a Chief Executive Officer to manage the enterprise. In addition, the Board called for a plan to consolidate the agency’s three non-federal broadcast networks: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.

“The Board is ready to strengthen U.S. international broadcasting in part by freeing up resources locked up in inefficient and duplicative administrative structures and reinvesting in programming,” said BBG Chairman Walter Isaacson. “This is a historic agreement by the Board to streamline international broadcasting into one great organization focused on quality journalism with many brands and many divisions but unified as one organization.”

In a resolution passed at its January 13 meeting in Washington, the Board announced its intention to restructure international broadcasting in accordance with its recently released 2012-2016 Strategic Plan. The Board outlined proposed reforms and its intent to develop a draft legislative package to be called the International Broadcasting Innovation Act of 2012 (the “IBIA”).  It would establish a CEO who would report to the Board and provide day-to-day executive leadership. In addition the proposed package calls for a new organization that would reflect the optimal mix of federal and non-federal assets in support of international broadcasting; repeals the domestic dissemination ban in the Smith-Mundt Act; and renames the agency to reflect the mission of a unified structure. The restructuring package would be subject to appropriate administration approval and Congressional consideration.

“While there is a compelling case for streamlining the BBG’s complex structure and leveraging the highly professional newsgathering activities of our independent broadcast services, any reform plan will retain and celebrate the individual and historic brands and their journalistic mission,” said Isaacson in summarizing the Board’s recommendations. “We look forward to working with internal and external stakeholders and experts as well as with the Administration and Congress on these proposals.”

During its strategic review process, the Board engaged the services of management consultant Deloitte and external counsel Baker and Mackenzie to gain a detailed understanding of the costs, benefits and legal issues involved. The resulting studies indicated a compelling case and potential substantial savings over five years from eliminating duplicative management and administrative functions and affirmed the legal feasibility of a merger. Further details of the Board’s Record of Decisions and previous discussions can be found below:

Record of Decisions January 13, 2012

2011 Grantee Consolidation Assessment (Redacted)

Broadcasting Board of Governors Grantee Merger Assessment, executive summary

Minutes of November 18, 2011 BBG Meeting

(Source : Broadcasting Board of Governor Press Release)

Korean terrestrial and cable operators reach agreement on transmission fees

KBS 2TV programming has returned to the homes of millions of South Koreans after a 28-hour standoff ended between cable providers and TV networks over screening fees. Cable system operators resumed relaying KBS 2TV programs after multi-system operator CJ Hello Vision and TV networks reached an agreement on fees to screen their programs.

Despite resuming the broadcast signal, cable TV system operators are expected to face fines or other sanctions from the Korean Communications Commission since the severing of the KBS 2TV signal was illegal. The cable providers also did not follow the commission's orders to resume the broadcast by 8 p.m. local time on Thursday.

The 15-million households that were unable to watch KBS 2TV programs for two days have been issuing complaints. Messages denouncing the operators’ action were posted on social network services

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

BBC refuses to apologies for Top Gear India Special programme

The BBC has refused to apologise for broadcasting a Top Gear special in December, which was widely criticized for offending India, and resulted in a complaint from the Indian High Commission over its cultural insensitivity.

Many viewers complained to the BBC that in a Top Gear India Special episode, presenter Jeremy Clarkson made several controversial remarks about India’s clothing, trains, food and history. The Indian High Commission in London condemned the programme as tasteless, and accused the BBC of breaching undertakings about the filming.

The BBC has now responded for the first time to say the show did not display a hostile or superior attitude, the British newspaper Telegraph reports. The broadcaster said the jokes on the programme were at the expense of presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, rather than the Indian people.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

Radio Algeria launches new youth station

Radio Algeria recently launched a new youth station. Jil FM started broadcasting at 09:00 on Sunday 15 January on 94.7 FM, in the centre and centre-south, on 531Khz MW in the east and south-east and on 549 kHz MW in the west and south-west regions of the country. 

Jil FM will be providing its listeners with music, reports, debates, entertainment, comedy and news 24 hours a day 7/7. Programming will comprise 65% national and international music, 20% programmes related to socio-professional youth issues, 10% culture and 5% news. 

The radio station, located at 12 rue Shakespeare (El Mouradia–Alger) will also be present on all social networking sites.

(Source : European Broadcasting Union)

Hungary: Trial begins in Klubrádió case

A trial began in  Hungary on Tuesday regarding the award of the 92.9 MHz frequency to Klubrádió in 2010. The station won the frequency in a bidding process before the 2010 elections based on a ruling passed by the broadcast media regulator at the time, the National Radio and Television Board (ORTT).

However, the ORTT’s legal successor the National Media and Communication Authority, formed after the 2010 elections, refused to sign a contract, arguing that Klubrádió had not given up the right to broadcast on the 95.3 frequency it had been using.

Klubrádió pledged to end transmissions on 95.3 before it started broadcasting on 92.9. The two parties disagree as to whether a contract to broadcast on 92.9 had materialised.

Lawyer Péter Bárándy representing Klub­rádió argued that a contract was in effect as the programme provider had accepted the ORTT’s contract conditions. The Media Council argues that it had no obligation to conclude a contract. The Council reassigned Klubrádió’s frequency last month.

The trial will resume on 28 February.

(Source: Politics.hu via Media Network Weblog)

BBC World Service Trust becomes BBC Media Action

After twelve years supporting and strengthening the media in the developing world, the BBC World Service Trust has entered a significant new stage. As of 16 December 2011, it has changed its name to BBC Media Action. Its core purpose and mission remain the same, embodied in the strapline ‘transforming lives through media around the world’. But the new name better explains what it does, and avoids confusion with other parts of the BBC. A new website is currently under development.

(Source: BBC via Media Network Weblog)

Radio industry to test digital measurement system

The radio industry is to take some of its first steps towards an electronic system to increase the accuracy and speed of how it measures and reports audiences.

Listeners will soon be completing online listening diaries to complement the paper diary system.

The current system, run by Nielsen, sees diaries distributed at random, with listeners completing a log of their weekly listening habits. Each of the five major metro radio markets has around 2000 diaries gathering data during any given survey period. This information is then collated for the industry’s eight survey releases each year.

A common criticism of the system is that consumers do not keep track every 15 minutes of what they are actually listening to, but complete the diaries later based on what they best recall. This potentially skews share in favour of the highest profile – and most heavily marketed – stations.

Portable people meters, where actual listening is recorded rather than asking consumers to fill out a diary, would potentially address that drawback. But there are no immediate plans to introduce the technology, which is proving to be prohibitively expensive – even to trial.

Full sotry

(Source : mUmBRELLA, Australia via WorldDMB)

43 countries represented at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, in Baku

Geneva, 17 January 2012  - The European Broadcasting Union (EBU)  today announces the final list of countries that will participate at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, in May.

The countries are: 

Albania (ALRTV); Armenia (ARMTV); Austria (ORF) Azerbaijan (Ictimai TV); Belarus (BTRC); Belgium (VRT); Bosnia & Herzegovina (BHRT); Bulgaria (BNT); Croatia (HRT); Cyprus (CyBC); Denmark (DR); Estonia (ERR); Finland (YLE); France (France Television), FYR Macedonia (MKRTV);  Georgia (GTVR); Germany (ARD/NDR); Greece (ERT); Hungary (MTV); Iceland (RUV); Ireland (RTE); Israel (IBA); Italy (RAI);  Latvia (LTV); Lithuania (LRT); Malta (PBS); Moldova (TRM); Montenegro (RTCG); the Netherlands (TROS); Norway (NRK); Portugal (RTP); Romania (TVR); Russian Federation (RTR); San Marino (RTV) Serbia (RTS); Slovakia (STV); Slovenia (RTVSLO); Spain (RTVE); Sweden (SVT); Switzerland (SRG/SSR); Turkey (TRT) Ukraine (NTU) and the United Kingdom (BBC).

EBU Members from 37 countries will be represented in the two semi-finals on 22 and 24 May. Ten contestants from each semi-final will proceed to the grand final on 26 May. Azerbaijan (Ictimai TV);  France (France Television); Germany (NDR/ARD); Spain (TVE) and the United Kingdom (BBC) are automatically qualified for the final.

Three countries that recently rejoined the Eurovision Song Contest, Italy, Hungary and Austria, are set to take part again this year. Joining them is Montenegro, which has been absent  from Europe's favourite television show for the past three years.

Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, comments: "We are thrilled to see that once again over 40 countries will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. They will gather in Baku in May, get to know the country and its people, and most of all, be part of the most spectacular music entertainment show on Earth."

The Polish public broadcaster, TVP is unable to join this year’s line-up.  “As host broadcaster of Euro2012, TVP has a challenging year ahead. We truly hope to welcome TVP back again in 2013,” Jon Ola Sand explained.

The semi-final allocation draw, which decides which semi-final each country will compete in, will be held on 25 January in Baku, at the Host City Insignia Exchange. During the ceremony, the Lord Mayor of Düsseldorf will hand over the Contest's insignia to the Mayor of Baku.

For more details please go to www.eurovision.tv

(Source : European Broadcasting Union)

Gunmen kill VOA reporter in Pakistan

Gunmen in northwest Pakistan have shot and killed a reporter working for the Voice of America. Mukarram Khan Aatif, who filed reports for VOA’s Deewa Radio, was attacked today at a mosque near his home in Shabqadar. The town is located roughly 35 kilometers from Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Local police say two assailants on motorcycles arrived at the mosque during evening prayers. One of the men entered the mosque and shot Aatif in the head before fleeing.

Mr Aatif was hospitalized in critical condition, before succumbing to his injuries. Friends of the journalist, who was in his 40’s, tell VOA that Mr Aatif had received threats from militants in the past. He and his family had been forced to move to Shabqadar from their home in Mohmand agency due to the threats.

Mr Aatif also worked for the private Pakistani Dunya TV. Media right activists in Pakistan are condemning Mr Aatif’s killing and criticizing the government for not doing enough to protect journalists. Reporters Without Borders named Pakistan as the deadliest country for journalists for two years in a row, with 10 killed in the country in 2011.

(Source: voanews.com via Media Network Weblog)

2003 Bangkok Declaration: What Next?

The Bangkok Declaration was endorsed at the 1st Conference of the Ministers on Information and Broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region, hosted by the Government of Thailand in May 2003 in Bangkok. The declaration offered recommendations to address challenges of media globalization, cultural diversity, public service broadcasting, information divide and human resource development could respond to the changing media environment.

After nine years since then, in order to examine the leverage of its strength, AIBD convened the first Steering Committee Meeting on 13th January 2012, which was hosted by Thai Public Broadcasting Service (TPBS) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Mr Yang Binyuan, Director, AIBD stated the objectives of the meeting was to lay the groundwork and to determine expectations for the session on “Bangkok Declaration: What Next” - a parallel session to be deliberated at the forthcoming Asia Media Summit in Bangkok in May this year.

Full Story with Photo

(Source : Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development)

World TV Awards 2012 - Call for Entry

WORLD TV AWARDS 2012

The World Television Awards are open to all broadcasters in Asia, Pacific, Europe, Africa, and North & South America from public, private sector and freelance producers.

For 2012, the two World TV Awards categories are:

1) Category Humanity for the Best Documentary on Promoting Religious Understanding and Tolerance" -
2) Category Science/Environment for the Best Programme on "Preserving Ozone layer and Protecting the Earth" 

The deadline for programme submission is 16 April 2012.

Criteria & Entry forms available under "Form & application"

The World TV Awards are supported by United Nations Environment Programme OzonAction, Arab States Broadcasting Union, France 24, Radio France International, Monte-Carlo Doualiya, Radio TV Malaysia and Commonwealth Broadcasting Association.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development) 

Azadliq Broadcasters Win Azeri Media Awards

Vusula Alibayli and Huseynbala Salimov, correspondents with RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service, both won the prestigious "Media Key-2011" award during a January 10 awards ceremony in Baku. Radio Azadliq, as the service is known locally, is the first international news outlet to receive the award, which recognizes excellence in Azerbaijan's domestic media. Previously in 2009, two Radio Azadliq reporters also won a “Media Key” award for their reports exposing corruption and modern women’s issues.

Alibayli, Radio Azadliq’s "queen of comedy," was honored as "Investigative Journalist of the Year" for her reporting on government waste and the plight of illegal migrant workers in Azerbaijan and for her work as the moderator of Azadliq’s satire show, "250 Seconds +." Similar in format to "The Daily Show” in the United States, the show was recognized for “innovation in new media” at last year's "Blogosfer" convention in Azerbaijan.

Salimov, who is a current affairs analyst for Radio Azadliq, won the award for "Political Commentator of the Year." According to Salimov, "The fact that this nomination exists shows that our society is in need of serious journalism, analysis and interpretation of events."

The “Media Key” award is considered to be one of Azerbaijan's most prestigious journalism prizes. It has been awarded since 1997 by the Azerbaijan Union of Journalists, a media advocacy group, and "Yeni Nasil,” or “New Generation,” one of Azerbaijan's most active media advocacy groups.

“The government in Azerbaijan cannot criticize us because we follow professional standards of journalism and stand out within the local media environment,” explains Radio Azadliq’s director, Kenan Aliyev.

Radio Azadliq’s coverage of local issues has garnered international as well as local attention. Radio Azadliq’s reporters risk their lives in order to report on issues that matter to ordinary citizens.

See Radio Azadliq’s Alibayli and Salimov accept their awards in this video of the award ceremony.

(Source : Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

Channel Africa Highlights

Channel Africa: Producing and Broadcasting innovative and dynamic programming that informs, educates, entertains, and empowers African citizens. 

Mandate:

Channel Africa is an International Public Service Radio station whose mandate is to support South Africa’s Foreign Policy enshrined in the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s – Vision and Mission and contribute to the development of Africa, support peace, democracy and good Governance through the production and broadcast of innovative, dynamic and stimulating news, current affairs and informal knowledge building content in English and other major African languages.

SOUTH AFRICA'S INTERNATIONAL RADIO SERVICE

Since the advent of the new democratic dispensation in 1994, Channel Africa, the international radio service of the SABC has been engaged in the process of redefining itself and repositioning itself so that it is in line with the new democratic values underpinning the new South Africa. During this period, Channel Africa was faced with the task of formulating a vision and a mission that would cast the station as a major role player in the field of continental and international broadcasting.

WORLD CLASS PLAYER

Although the preceding years have seen much effort to bring about this turn around (above), it is only in 2001 that significant strides were made towards the realization of these objectives. In its vision, Channel Africa states that it is "The Voice of the African Rennaisance”. In its mission statement, Channel Africa pledges “To promote the rejuvenation of Africa through the production and broadcast of dynamic, stimulating and interesting programmes. To provide programming that informs, educates, entertains, and empowers African citizens". The vision and mission of Channel Africa has, therefore, qualified Channel Africa as one of the world class players in international broadcasting.

WINDOW TO SOUTH AFRICA

As a station based in South Africa, Channel Africa recognizes that it has the responsibility to provide a window into the new democratic South Africa as well as a role to play in showcasing the democratic dispensation in the country. This also entails promoting a culture of respect for human rights as enshrined in our constitution.  In the globalising world of today, the role of communication is pivotal to the survival and progress of the developing countries. As an African broadcaster Channel Africa is in the forefront of this struggle for development and the promotion of the ideals of the African renaissance.

COMMITIMENT TO AFRICA'S RENAISSANCE

It is in this context that Channel Africa states in its mission that it is "The Voice of the African Renaissance” and that it will endeavor in its programming “to reinforce Africa’s dignity, pride and sense of self worth.”  Channel Africa, as a role player in the field of international broadcasting has been thrust onto the forefront of the struggle for Africa’s development and revival.

BROADCAST PLATFORMS

Channel Africa broadcast live on three platforms; Shortwave, Satellite, and Internet. Its broadcasts are in Chinyanja, Silozi, Kiswahili, English, French and Portuguese. The Satellite broadcast is via PAS 10 and is accessible through SENTECH's vivid decoders.

The Shortwave broadcast covers the south, east, central and west Africa. The Satellite broadcast covers the sub-Saharan region although it can be picked as far as London. The Internet broadcast covers the entire world.

(Source : Channel Africa)

Radio Inka from the Peruvian Andes heard on 1610 AM

From high up in the Andes, Radio Inka (or Inca) has begun broadcasting on the frequency of 1610 kHz mediumwave. Radio Inka is based in the town of Puno on the shore of Lake Titicaca. The station was first reported heard by Peruvian DXer Alfredo Cañote. No further information about the station is known.

(Source : DXing.info, January 15, 2012)

BBC appoints David Shukman as Science Editor

The BBC has appointed David Shukman as its new Science Editor.

David joined the BBC in 1983 and has worked as Northern Ireland reporter, Defence Correspondent and World Affairs Correspondent. He is currently the Environment and Science correspondent.

David has reported from more than 90 countries and has made a dozen trips to the polar regions. Most recently he covered the launch of the last space shuttle and filmed inside the exclusion zone around the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan.

As well as reporting on science stories for BBC News, the new post will also involve working with science programme makers across the BBC.

Fran Unsworth, Head of Newsgathering, said: “I’m delighted to appoint David as Science Editor. His ability to make complex scientific issues accessible will be a great asset in this new role and ensure that our audiences get the most out of the BBC’s science coverage.”

David Shukman said: "It's a privilege to be given this new role as part of the BBC's drive to enhance its science coverage. The science story has never been so compelling and I'm delighted to be given this opportunity to lead our reporting and analysis of it."

The appointment is a new role, created as a result of recommendations made in an independent review of the BBC’s science coverage, published by the BBC Trust in 2011.

The review was carried out by Professor Steve Jones, Emeritus Professor of Genetics at University College London, and included in-depth content analysis by Imperial College London for two separate periods in 2009 and 2010.

The role was advertised externally and the wider BBC science community were involved in the recruitment process, contributing to the job specification and sitting on the preliminary and final interviews.

(Source: BBC Press Office)

As of February 1 Radio Bulgaria will be able to find and listen in the Internet

As of February 1 our media stops broadcasting on short waves, 76 years after the first emission in this frequency range. The reasons are both financial and related to our wish to keep pace with new trends. Programmes in Balkan languages will keep coming in medium waves. As of February 1 you will be able to find and listen to us in the Internet at http://bnr.bg/sites/en/FullEmissions/Pages/default.aspx. This gives the start to a new stage of Radio Bulgaria’s development. We hope that the relations of trust and friendship kept up for many years would persist. We would be with you again – our long-time listeners and those who would join the large family of Radio Bulgaria from now on. 

(Source : Radio Bulgaria)

Glasgow community radio station Celtic Music Radio goes digital for event

Glasgow community radio station Celtic Music Radio is available on DAB across much of southern, eastern and central England for the next few weeks – as well as in Ayrshire and South East Wales.

The station is using Now Digital’s ‘Pop Up’ channel on 19 local multiplexes to bring the Celtic Connections music festival to millions of potential listeners from later this week.

Celtic Music Radio started as an RSL station in 2006, covering the world-famous event. It was awarded a full-time community radio licence in 2007 and has just had its licence extended by a further five years to January 2018. It broadcasts on 1530AM in Glasgow.

The Celtic Connections festival starts on Thursday (19th January) and runs until 5th February with its main stage in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Celtic Music Radio went live on the Pop Up Radio channel this morning (Monday) and will be available on digital until 6th February.

Founder Bob McWilliam said: “This is great opportunity for digital radio users across the country to get a taste of Celtic Connections and Celtic Music Radio local programmes. All they have to do is select Pop Up on their digital radio display and they will get Celtic Music Radio from Glasgow.”

Pop Up Radio is on the following Now Digital multiplexes: Ayrshire, Berkshire & North Hampshire, Bristol, Cambridge, Cornwall, Coventry, Essex, Kent, Leicester, Norwich, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth, South East Devon, South East Wales, Sussex Coast, Swindon, West Wiltshire and Wolverhampton.

(Source : Radio Today, UK)

ABU Launches Radio Song Festival

The ABU is launching a new and exciting initiative - the ABU Radio Song Festival. The first edition of the Festival will be hosted by the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and will take place at the ABU General Assembly in October 2012.

The ABU Radio Song Festival aims to showcase and recognize the diverse, undiscovered musical talent of nations within Asia and the Pacific regions. The Festival is to foster understanding, awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity that exists across the region. The ABU Radio Song Festival will introduce unsigned local artists to an international audience and would celebrate the musical and artistic diversity of the Asia-Pacific region.

The ABU encourages its radio members to participate in the ABU Radio Song Festival by selecting and sending to the ABU “Bank of Songs” some of the best music and songs of fresh young singers. The objective of the activity is to discover, encourage, introduce and promote new song compositions by unknown and upcoming artists among ABU member countries, provide an international gateway for the winning artists and to promote greater collaboration and partnership among ABU radio broadcasters. 

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)