Digital Broadcasters | BBCArabic Seeks Uni Recruits

With weeks away to the launch of the BBC Arabic TV Channel, the BBC in Dubai has informed Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia that a series is of interactive media workshops to recruit talented young university graduates to become broadcasters, is under way. Labelled as “The World as You See It” road show is to target media studies attendees to groom the best into becoming the program and news presenters of tomorrow on the soon to start, BBC Arabic TV Channel. The BBC Arabic team is visiting universities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Egypt and Morocco. (Listed below) The point BBC Arabic is making is that its operation is now about being an integrated Arabic-language multi-media operation - a first, the BBC says, for the region - that completely integrates radio, tv and online Internet. Essentially, experienced BBC journalists will share their knowledge and experience with media students, encouraging them to complete 3 minute video packages of stories they believe will be of wide interest. The best works will be featured on the new channel. Hosam El Sokkari, Head of BBC Arabic, said this is about developing talent that he views as a first step in building a relationship between the BBC and with the multi-media 'broadcasters' of the future. The Arab universities co-operating with BBC Arabic are: United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, Sharjah University, Sharjah, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Birzeit University, West Bank Palestine, the American University in Cairo, Cairo, Al Ahram Canadian University, Cairo, Cairo University, Cairo, the Mohammed V University, Rabat, Université Hassan II, Mohammedia, Casablanca. More information from BBC's PR support Dubai - info at asdaa.com http://www.bbcarabic.com http://www.bbc.co.uk

Digital Broadcasters | Perth | New Radio Licenses

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has advised Digital Broadcasters Vendor News Asia (DBVNA) that it is calling for local non-profit organisations to apply for two community radio station licenses up for grabs in the Perth, Western Australia marketplace. Deadline is August 16, 2007. The two FM frequencies being offered are 100.9 MHz and 90.5 MHz. 100.9 MHz became available after the ACMA cancelled the licence held by the Western Australian Aboriginal Media Association - WAAMA for breaches of its licence conditions. 90.5 MHz is currently shared by several groups on a temporary basis. Perth and neighbouring Fremantle with a population of over 1.5 million is a radio broadcast market with some 30+ radio stations. Most are commercial including horce racing, ethnic, Aboriginal news and tourist radio. A handful of community stations are operating already in Fremantle or Perth, including 89.7 Twin Cities FM, RTR-FM and Radio Fremantle. Tags:

Digital Broadcasters | Radio Australia's Guangzhou Breakfast Goes Begging

Digital Broadcasters Vendor News wonders why Radio Australia's Breakfast Club in its upcoming East Asia, three city tour was able to co-opt host broadcasters in Singapore (938Live FM) and Kuala Lumpur (Traxx FM) to simulcast their editions but when Phil Kafcaloudes the program's co-presenter kicks off on April 27 in Guangzhou, it is not happening? Not even a breakfast 'club sandwich' will be shared? The Radio Australia press release said that the program will sample the styles, flavours and tastes of Asia. Perhaps if Radio Australia had sent co-presenter Adelaine Ng (a Chinese lady?) the outcome in Guangzhou may have been different? Kind of deflates the message that the release was trying to convey when it stated that: "The East Asia tour builds on the growing links Radio Australia has established with stations in the region....". According to Radio Australia, "The Breakfast Club" is the popular morning program, which provides an appealing and humorous start to the day capable of engaging audiences from India to Tonga. The Aussie national broadcaster also says that the Breakfast Club program is broadcast (re-broadcast? - Ed) across Radio Australia's expanding Asian and Pacific FM network, Not only that it is quickly becoming a regional media benchmark in interacting with wide audiences ranging across physical borders and cultural boundaries from India to Tonga. It does not elaborate on how it is doing that. I think they ought to Wiki that comment, and get it justified.

Digital Broadcasters | ACMA Licenses Station without Station ID

Digital Broadcasters Vendors News thinks this is bizarre. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA ) allocated in mid-February a radio license and no one publicly has a clue to what the station is going to broadcast nor what will be its station ID. Actually it looks like carte blanche for the licensee.....Is this bureaucracy gone mad? The future station has paid 200,000 Australian dollars that is all the public knows. The licensee, ANC International Holdings Pty Ltd is to provide a high powered open 'narrowcasting' radio service in Canberra, ACT. The proposed service will operate on 1323 kHz on the AM band. ANC International Holdings bid the A$200,000 at an auction on 8 December 2006 after four applications were received for the licence. ANC International Holdings Pty Ltd must commence the new service by 21 June 2007, or such longer period of time as approved in writing by ACMA. The definition of Open narrowcasting services are broadcasting services that are limited in some way - targeted at special interest groups, or are available in limited locations (for example sporting arenas or shopping centres), or are provided during a limited period or to cover a special event or because they provide programs of limited appeal. Over ninety per cent of currently operating narrowcasting services provide either tourist radio or racing radio services in Australia.