SNIPPETS
The Global Media Partnership

FEBRUARY 2009

FEB CONFERENCE
“MEDIA CAN BRING A CHRISTIAN EUROPE – FAITH OR FANTASY?”
MARCH 19TH – 22ND 2009
Park Hotel Vitosha, Sofia, Bulgaria

EO’s Jan-Willem Bosman will join the FEB Speakers in Sofia, Bulgaria at the FEB Conference. He is the International Director of New Media, and is responsible for the internet “Why Jesus?” Course, and for developing the “stepping-stone ” process to help people find their way to God.

Harry Johnson, Country and Gospel Singer from Lynch, Kentucky, will join the Conference Music Team of Stefan Vrachev, Concert Pianist from Sofia, and a duet of Roma Musicians.

Register NOW at www.feb.org/conference.htm
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EUROPE

EU:
The European Commission is promoting competitive Mobile TV services in the EU. It has published a set of guidelines for the authorisation of Mobile TV to accelerate roll-out of the service across Europe. Mobile TV revenues worldwide are expected to reach more than €7.8 billion in 2013. Commercial services launched before summer 2008 in some European countries show that there is an increasing consumer demand: in the Netherlands alone, 10,000 users had already subscribed to the service by September 2008. These guidelines are intended to underline the Commission’s commitment to the promotion of new services for European consumers.
Source: EU Press Release

SPAIN:
Jerry Gibson and his wife Gwen have been appointed as Directors of IMM in Spain. His predecessor was John Merrell who has served for 8 years on the FEB Board. Previously, Jerry and Gwen served as Directors of International Student Friendship Ministries with Chi Alpha and pioneered campus ministry in Mexico.
Contact: Jerry.gibson@agmd.org

EU:
Two and a half years after its launch, three million registrations have been made for the Domain “.eu”. The domain is the fourth most popular among European countries and ninth worldwide. It promotes a European online identity intended to help citizens and businesses to benefit from the single market.
Source: EU Press Release

SPAIN:
RKM Radio and Television, and Solidaria TV, which belong to the Evangelical rehabilitation group, Remar, have moved their broadcasting to the Hispasat satellite, to avoid falling foul of the law in Spain. Miguel Diez, Chairman of Remar, says the authorities have closed down several of their Radio or TV stations in recent months. Several charges have been made, “with fines running into hundreds of thousands of euros.” Even though many of these fines have been rescinded through legal appeals, the closure orders have been carried through, and this too has involved legal costs. Remar have now turned to the satellite option, which offers broadcasting 24 hours a day throughout Europe.
Source: ACPress News

PORTUGAL:
InterAct Mission Sweden’s Karl Smensgard is leading a Radio Ministry in Portugal, using the Lausanne and Manila Declarations as guidelines for Community FM Station Centro FM 101.4. Twenty percent of broadcast time (24/7) has Christian content, including “Through the Bible” and a Womens’ Programme. Only Portuguese people go on air. The Station is a member of ARIC (the Association of Christian Radios in Portugal), which consists of 70 Radio Stations. Centro FM 101.4 is the only non-Catholic member. The membership gives the right to use the programmes from the Catholic national radio R.R. (which has the biggest audience in Portugal), and daily rebroadcasts their news and sports programmes.
Contact: karl@centrofm.com

GERMANY:
German Christian Broadcaster ERF, will combine its TV and Radio programming into a single outlet. On March 1st, ERF Medien (Wetzlar, Germany) will start broadcasting 24/7 via its new combined TV and Radio Channel, ERF eins (ERF one). “In Germany, commercial TV started 25 years ago and ERF was there at the start. Now, 50 years after ERF was founded, another milestone has been reached, in the form of our own combination TV/Radio Channel,” says ERF Spokesman Michael vom Ende. The new channel will combine existing programmes with new ones. Viewers will see magazine formats, talk shows, documentaries, movies and children’s programming, all conveying Christian content. Sunday church services will also be broadcast regularly on ERF eins. Music and literary programmes, additional talk shows, and special Bible discussion programmes are now in production for the new TV channel.
Email: lothar.ruehl@erf.de

UK:
Virgin Media’s CEO claim that TV viewing habits are on the edge of a major shift when he announced Virgin’s latest on-demand viewing figures. The company had 516 million on-demand views in 2008, of which nearly 100 million were customers accessing the BBC’s iPlayer catch-up service through the platform. Virgin registered 56 million views in December, which equates to more than 1,000 episodes of a 30-minute drama watched on-demand every minute, and represents a 60% growth on the year. CEO Neil Berkett said, “More and more viewers are abandoning TV schedules and choosing to watch the programmes they want, when they want. We are redefining how people watch TV.”
Source: C21Media

EU:
The European Parliament Prize for Journalism will be awarded for the second time in October 2009. The Prize is in 4 categories: written press, radio, TV and internet. The winner in each category will receive €5,000. Individuals or teams of up to 5 people are eligible to contribute with articles or reports. Contributions must have been published or broadcast between 1 May 2008 and 31 March 2009 in one of the official languages of the European Union. Participants must be nationals or residents of an EU Member State and registered journalists.
Contact: Andreas Kleiner: dgcomm-secreppj@europarl.europa.eu

UK PSB Review:
OFCOM’s Public Service Broadcasting Review says that the UK Government needs to decide on a new funding model for PSB within a year, as the current model is unsustainable. Among the other key points were:

ITV will have limited public service commitments.
Channel 4 will become the alternative PSB to the BBC through partnerships, joint ventures or a merger.
Channel 4 will have a new remit to deliver a range of PSB commitments.
Guaranteed plurality of broadcast news in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, by delivering through a consortia funded by competitive tender.
Source: Broadcast and info@churchesmediacouncil.org.uk

ROMANIA:
Christi Tepes now produces a documentary each month, on National Television – Romania’s Channel 1 – the only TV Channel that covers the country. The programmes develop a Christian worldview and aim to stir interest in the Bible as a reliable book that answers today’s questions. The next documentary is “Bible and Justice”. Previous programmes included “Democracy and Religion”, “Church and State”, “Science and Religion”, “Euthanasia” and “Archaeology and the BIble”.
Contact: cristitepes@yahoo.com

ONLINE:
In Partnership with Momentum Pictures, the Damaris Trust is offering a “Pollard on Film” ( www.pollardonfilm.com) episode on the film “Defiance” (starring Daniel Craig and Jamie Bell). The episode looks at themes from Defiance and includes clips from the film.
Email: brian.leask@damaris.org

AFRICA

NEW INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR:
International Christian Broadcaster Trans World Radio (TWR) has announced the appointment of Tanzanian Dr Emmanuel D. Mbennah as International Director for Africa. Mbennah will take up his new role on April 1st 2009. He served as a Country Director for Compassion International in Tanzania. His academic resumé includes a postgraduate degree in Biblical studies, a B.A. in Communication Arts, a Masters and a Ph.D. in Communications.
Visit: www.twr.org

BENIN:
TWR International President, Lauren Libby, reports that on the first anniversary of TWR’s broadcasts from the 100,000 watt transmitter in Benin, West Africa, more than 40 programmes per week are being aired in 20 languages. Among hundreds of responses, a listener wrote: “There is no kind of sin that I did not commit. I even thought that the Lord could not forgive me. But the first day I listened to the Yoruba programme was the day the Lord instantly came into my heart, and I am now born again.”
Visit: www.twr.org

ASIA

NORTH KOREA:
According to the Open Doors’ 2008 World Watch List, North Korea is the worst country for persecuting Christians. Saudi Arabia is second and Iran third. The World Watch List is compiled from a specially-designed questionnaire of 50 questions covering aspects of religious freedom. A point value is assigned, dependent upon how each question is answered. The total number of points per country determines its position on the World Watch List.
Click here: www.opendoorsusa.org:80/content/view/432/

AFGHANISTAN:
Pamir Productions – Afghan Christian media – now offer a contact phone number in their Radio Programmes. In 3 months they have received calls from 60 identifiable phone numbers, plus another 160 unidentified calls, from across Afghanistan. Callers often mention that they are listening with their family or with friends. Many ask for materials, especially the Scriptures, and to be connected with a Church.
Email: info@pamirmedia.org

CHINA:
Officially Christianity numbers 40 million individuals in China – but most Western observers estimate the real number is at least double and maybe triple that figure. Bishop Jin Luxian, 92 year-old Roman Catholic Bishop of Shanghai, believes the growth is due in part to “rampant materialism”. “Souls become ever more empty,” he says, “which affords religion room to expand”. Official proportions of religious groups in China are:

Non-religious 42%
Chinese folk-believers 28%
Buddhists 8%
Christians 8%
Atheists 8%
Animists 4%

Muslims 2%
Source: National Geographic Magazine

AUSTRALIA

COUNTRY FACTS – AUSTRALIA:

Official Country Name	Australia
Region	Oceania
Population	19,357,594
Language	English
Literacy Rate	100%
Size	7,686,850 sq km
GDP	390,113 (US$ millions)
Number of TV Stations	104
Number of TV sets	10,150,000
TV Sets per 1,000	524.3
Number of Radio Stations	608
Number of Radio receivers	25,500,000
Radio Receivers per 1,000	1,317.3
Number of individuals with computers	8,900,000
Number of individuals with Internet access	4,048,000
Internet access per 1,000	459.8

GLOBAL

HCJB Global:
At his inaugural ceremony – HCJB Global President Wayne Pederson reaffirmed the mission’s priority of bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ via Media and Healthcare ministries to those who have never heard. HCJB Global is best known for its “giant shortwave station” in Ecuador, but the ministry model is developing to emphasise “planting” local radio stations and helping medical partners, handing over the reins to nationals worldwide.
Visit: www.hcjbglobal.org

3xM:
In 2009, 3xM will help to expand Christian TV programming in West Africa and strengthen the position of Christian TV in Asian countries. Last year, Christian TV programmes were begun in Gabon, Niger and Benin – and permanent Christian TV broadcasts began in Senegal. In 2008, negotiations started in Guinea-Conakry and the Central African Republic, in which the political situation is unstable. Also in 2008, Christian broadcasts became available in Central Asia and Indonesia. 3xM’s partner in South Asia expects to produce its own programmes this year.
Contact: pressreleases@3xm.nl

SIGNIS:
SIGNIS – the World Catholic Association for Communication, has opened Registrations for the SIGNIS World Congress 2009 on www.signisworldcongress.net The Congress will take place in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from October 17-21 2009 on the theme “Media for a Culture of Peace – Children’s Rights, Tomorrow’s Promise”, to highlight how the Media can contribute to the building of a culture of peace through the creative empowerment of tomorrow’s generation. The Congress programme is built around three strands: Current Global Issues on Human Rights and Children’s Rights, Emerging Perspectives on Media and Social Transformation, and The Challenges of Growing up in a Digital Age. About 400 communication professionals from all over the world are expected to attend the 4 day event.

LATIN AMERICA

GUATEMALA:
The Christian Fraternity of Guatemala (Fraternidad Cristiana de Guatemala) is 30 years old. The history of “The Frater” (as people call this church) has been full of challenges and blessings. The congregation is now the largest church of the region and 12,000 people regularly worship. The growth of “The Frater” illustrates the current revival in Guatemala. Seminars, concerts and other activities are being prepared to celebrate the Anniversary.
Email: mireya@coicom.com

LITERARY CONTEST:
Letra Viva, a network of Christian publishers in Latin America, together with Christian Editing and Media Associates International, is launching a Literary Contest to find, according the Contest Logo, “the best of Christian thought in Latin America”. The essay contest will close March 31st 2009, the winning works will be announced in July 2009 and the five top essays will be published. Visit: www.premioletraviva.com

MEXICO:
“Expocristina”, Exposition of Books, Bibles, Music and Mass Media, is one of the main events in Latin America and will take place in Tabasco, Mexico on March 12-14 2009. The programme includes seminars, workshops, concerts and specialised conferences for business people and leaders. More than 150 organisations are expected to be represented.
Email: mireya@coicom.com

MIDDLE EAST

QATAR:
The Middle East is drawing on its religions and cultures to help grow its own Animation Industry. C21Media.net reports that Qatar is launching its own US$30m Kids Channel, which will feature “enlightening” and “moral” content, and Endemol had a new TV series with Teshkeel Media Group based on Arabic superhero comic books. In a country’s transition from Animation importer to Animation producer and exporter, stories from the local religion often provide the basis for the industry to develop.
Source: C21Media.net

GAZA:
Sweden’s IBRA is co-operating with Al Hayat TV to broadcast a programme in Gaza, in Arabic, called “Questions about Faith” .
Visit: www.ibra.org

NEW TV SERIES FOR ARAB TEENS:
Arab Vision observes that Arab teens are growing up in a confusing and tumultuous world. Families and societies are frequently conservative, so there is little room for open discussions on important issues. Arab Vision’s new 28 minute TV programme “Super Teens” offers informative, innovative, funny and challenging advice that encourages Arab teens to live out their faith in the Arab world. The programmes feature reports by and about Arab teens, testimonies of contemporary Christian singers and artists and advice for difficult situations.
Email: office@arabvision.org

EGYPT:
In a co-operation between a Church in Sweden, PMU InterLife, SAT-7, IBRA Media and local partners in Egypt, 26 new episodes of the Arabic soap opera
“A Happy Marriage” are being broadcast. The shows revolve around Egyptian families and deal with different aspects of family life. The aim of the series is to start debate about equality in the Family and in Society. Beside the drama part of the show, there are also documentaries, interviews and discussions about the issues. The first 26 episodes were broadcast through the Christian satellite channel Sat-7 and received a record response. However, the greatest response has come through the affiliated Homepage.
Visit:www.alzawag.tv

NORTH AMERICA

DELAYED SWITCHOVER:
The US Senate has delayed the nationwide switchover from analogue to digital television and has passed a Bill giving viewers four more months to prepare. The switch has been shifted from February 17th to June 12th 2009. President Obama asked Congress to postpone to give the government time to fix a consumer help programme that ran out of money. The scheme offers US$40 towards the purchase of a converter box, which retails for between US$50 and US$80. Nielsen Research recently revealed that a total of around 6.5 million US homes – 5.7% of households, including 4.7% of whites, 9.9% of African-Americans, 9.7% of Hispanics, 6.9% of Asians, 8.8% of under-35s and 4.8% of over-55s – would see nothing but static if the digital switchover had gone ahead as planned on February 17.
Source: C21Media.net

< 2009>NORTH AMERICA:
An International Forum on Effective Communications in a Changing World will be held on Monday April 6th 2009 at the CBS Studio center, Studio City, California, presented by the International Center for Media Studies. The symposium will address issues around the most effective ways to reach indigenous people in the developing world. Speakers will focus on how to discern the most culturally appropriate message as well as how to understand and identify correct media and technologies. The vital questions of audience, content and the most effective medium remain at the forefront of ministry delivery in the developing world. Leaders from churches, and International Broadcasting and Media Organisations are invited to attend, as well as Academics, particularly with an interest in religion, culture and media.
Visit: www.center4media.org

DIARY DATES

FEB CONFERENCE 2009:
THE FEB CONFERENCE is in SOFIA, BULGARIA at the PARK HOTEL VITOSHA from MARCH 19 – 22 2009.
Visit: www.feb.org

PROCHRIST 2009:
ProChrist 2009, with Ulrich Parzany, will take place at the Chemnitz Arena from 29th March to 5th April 2009 and will be broadcast via Satellite.
Visit: www.prochrist-chemnitz.de

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