• SOUTH AFRICA
  Angus Buchan will be the opening Keynote Speaker at the Association of Christian Broadcasters’ Conference from 9-11 March 2010 at the Ocean View Hotel, Strand, South Africa. The theme is “Raising your Game“.
  Contact: Dave Hotchkiss djhotchkiss@telkomsa.net
  

• SOMALIA
  “Thru the Bible” is now  heard on TWR shortwave in the Somali language from Monday to Friday. A recent survey suggests that “Thru the Bible” is the most popular radio programme among Somalis. It is a 30 minute weekday Bible Study that covers the entire Bible in five years. Since the civil war in Somalia, it is estimated that over a million people are living in refugee camps and Christians face strong opposition to their faith.
  Visit www.twr.org
  

ASIA

• EUROPEAN UNION
  The new EU Telecoms “Better Regulation Directive” and the “Citizens’ Rights Directive” must be absorbed into national laws of the 27 EU Member States by June 2011. The new European Telecoms Authority, called “Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC), will provide consistent regulation across Europe to strengthen the single telecoms market. “The establishment of BEREC is a visible sign that we are serious when we say that Europe’s telecoms operators and consumers should no longer feel national borders in network access and the delivery of communication services,” said Viviane Reding, the EU’s Telecoms Commissioner. “From spring 2010 onwards, BEREC will help national telecoms regulators and the European Commission to ensure that telecoms services can be delivered under consistent and competitive conditions across the EU”.
  Source: EU

• UK
  The BBC iPlayer “Catch-up service” is averaging more than five million unique users a week – registering more than 88 million video requests a month. The service’s most watched programme of the year was “Top Gear“. The iPlayer is available on 20 devices and viewing differs on each platform. Mobile phone viewing peaks after 21.00 and again on Saturday and Sunday mornings. However, Computers still dominate iPlayer use, accounting for 86% of requests.
  Source: C21Media.net

• GERMANY
  FEB Chairman, Harvey Thomas was a Speaker at the Christliche Medienkongress in Schwabisch Gmund in southern Germany in December, on the subject “Touching the World – the Art of Communication.” Reflecting the active Evangelical Movement, the Congress had over 200 Delegates from a wide variety of Media across Germany, from Church News Letters to the Evangelical Alliance’s “IDEA“, ERF and BibelTV.

• EUROPEAN COMMISSION
  The European Commission has ruled that commitments offered by Microsoft to boost competition on the web browser market are legally binding. Microsoft will now offer European users of Windows a choice among different web browsers and allow computer manufacturers and users the possibility to turn Internet Explorer off. Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said, “Millions of European consumers will benefit from this decision by having a free choice about which web browser they use. Such choice will not only serve to improve people’s experience of the Internet now but also act as an incentive for web browser companies to innovate and offer people better browsers in the future.”
  Source: European Commission

• HUNGARY
  The European Leadership Forum (ELF) will be held from 22-27 May 2010 in Eger, Hungary. Last year, the Forum was the catalyst for 200 seminars, leadership training events and public lectures throughout Europe. It aims to stir the intellectual momentum of European Evangelicals and to inspire a new generation of Leaders both from Eastern and Western Europe to face today’s challenges.
  Visit www.euroleadership.org

• FINLAND
  The SuomiTV Family Channel was launched in December. It is a new free-of-charge commercial TV channel which promotes family values and “responsible” broadcasting. It is a digital TV Channel broadcasting on Channel 33 on cable networks all over Finland. Although not overtly a religious channel, it will carry strategically placed Christian programming.
  Visit www.suomitv.fi

• UK
  MGM Studios launched a linear high-definition (HD) channel in the UK in December as part of a 50/50 joint venture with BSkyB, with a selection from the MGM Film library. It airs 24/7 and is the 37th HD Channel now on the Sky platform. MGM is anticipating the popularity of HD and will re-master many MGM movies in HD. The MGM brand is on 20 channels in 130 countries.
  Source: C21Media.net

• HUNGARY (Member of the European Union)
  

  Official Country Name	Republic of Hungary
  Region	Europe
  Population	10,106,017
  Languages	Hungarian
  Literacy Rate	99%
  Size	93,030 sq. km
  GDP	45,633 (US$ millions)
  Number of TV Stations	35
  Number of TV sets	4,420,000
  TV Sets per 1,000	437.4
  Number of Radio Stations	77
  Number of Radio receivers	7,010,000
  Radio Receivers per 1,000	693.6
  Number of individuals with computers	870,000
  Number of individuals with Internet access	1,480,000
  Internet access per 1,000	146.4

• UK
  Bullying in churches is “rife” across the UK. A report has revealed that 150 Clergy and Ministers seek protection from Trade Union “Unite” every year. The Union, which has set up a helpline for Priests intimidated by their Bishops or Congregations, is calling for full employment rights for Clergy and greater protection in the law. Rachel Maskell, from Unite, said that bullying and sexual harassment of Clergy were serious problems that were not being adequately addressed. “It’s endemic throughout different denominations and different churches. Where there is an openness and willingness to address the situation we are able to resolve the case,” she said, “but when there is a denial that there is a problem, as in some denominations, then we are not able to get the solutions in place and the Clergy are very vulnerable.” Most of those who have turned to the Union for help are in the Church of England, but Roman Catholic Priests, Rabbis and Imams have also joined Unite, according to Ms Maskell. The Archbishop of Canterbury admitted that there is a problem with bullying in the Church when he spoke at a TUC Conference last year. He said, “I have good reason to know from pastoral contacts with people how much of an issue it can be.”
  Contact: news@email.premier.org.uk

AFRICA

• SOUTH AFRICA
  The “Lausanne Global Conversation” – a public Forum - has been set up by the Lausanne Movement in preparation for “Cape Town 2010“. The Lausanne Global Conversation will focus on topics to be discussed at the Event and includes a series of 12 Articles, blogs and podcasts, discussion forums, interaction on Twitter and Facebook, advance copies of Presentations from CT2010 Speakers and in-person interaction at Bible Colleges, Mission Agencies, Churches and Theological Institutions. Discussions currently in progress are: Muslim-Background Believers; Poverty, Prosperity and the Gospel; and Whole Gospel, Whole Church, Whole World.
  Visit www.lausanne.org/global-conversation/about.html

• MOROCCO
  Fourteen dramatised testimonies of Moroccans coming to faith are being broadcast on two Christian satellite stations covering North Africa. Each episode features dramatised scenes to visualise the testimony, with the voice-over of a Moroccan narrating it. A local Moroccan telephone number is used to invite feedback and questions from viewers.
  Visit www.shehada.org

• SOUTH AFRICA
  Martin Frische, of the Evangelical Stadtmission of South Africa (ESSA) will run special screenings of the 2010 FIFA World Cup along with the Alpha Course and the Alpha Marriage Course. ESSA currently run a Day Care Creche in Zandspruit and have just built a youth centre. Contact: Martin Frische martin.frische@stadtmission.org.za
  

ASIA

• SUDAN
  52 half-hour Radio programmes produced by IBRA will be broadcast over shortwave in North Sudan. The Egyptian programme “Church in my home” has been translated from Arabic and adapted to the Sudanese culture. The series will be broadcast during the second quarter of 2010.
  Contact info@ibra.se

• SOUTH AFRICA
  The Prison Broadcasting Network (PBN) has launched a new website www.prisonbroadcast.org.za which contains new content; links to Breaking News globally about PBN; links to a new Blog and to other Friends’ websites as well as Videos of “Jail Star“.
  Contact Marius Boaden: info@prisonbroadcast.org.za

• ETHIOPIA
  IBRA’s ministry in Ethiopia has launched a website for the media work at http://hiyawtesfa.org The website is still under development, but several radio programmes in both the Oromo and Amharic languages are already online.
  Contact info@ibra.se

• NIGER
  TWR has begun broadcasting 15 minute, OneStory episodes of the Gospel in the Tawallamet dialect of Tamajaq, aimed at the Tuareg people many of whom live in the Sahara desert. As there are no written Scriptures in the Tawallamet dialect, these stories will form an audio Bible for the Tuareg.
  Source: TWR Snapshots
  

ASIA

AFRICA

• ANGOLA
  International Christian Broadcaster Trans World Radio (TWR) is to produce programmes in Angola, teaching the Ovimbundu people about the spread of the HIV virus and to create a forum for discussion among listeners. The Ovimbundu people number about 4 million, almost 40% of Angola’s total population. An estimated 6% of the population are infected with the HIV virus and 30 out of 100 people test positive each day. By 2010, there will be approximately 331,000 AIDS orphans.
  Email: hcombe@twr.org.uk

• NIGERIA
  The new leader of the Anglican / Episcopal Church in Nigeria has claimed that Muslims are trying to take over Africa. The Most Revd Nicholas Okoh, believes that Christianity is under threat from Islam. He was elected primate of Nigeria earlier this month, making him one of the powerful figures in Anglicanism. Nigeria, where the Anglican Church has 17 million adherents, is split between Christianity and Islam and has been troubled by religious strife in recent years, notably in the predominantly Muslim north. The Archbishop is a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Nigerian army, and as Archbishop of Nigeria’s Bendel Province, was one of the prime movers in the Gafcon meeting of conservative Anglicans in Jerusalem in 2008.
  Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

• MOZAMBIQUE
  Over 2 million people live in the rural flood plains of the Zambezi River, an area known as the Zambezia province. A civil war and lack of infrastructure have made it difficult for missionaries to the Lomwe and Makhuwa people living in the region. Traditional indigenous practices and rituals have been present in most churches. More than 350 growing Churches have emerged and Christian Communities established through Radio Broadcasts from TWR. The Lomwe people are largely an oral culture, and many potential Christian leaders cannot read or write. Contact: info@twr.org.uk

• ETHIOPIA
  In a letter from prison – a young man in Ethiopia recently testified that God’s love reaches beyond physical and spiritual barriers. He writes: “I am 27 years old and am writing this letter to share my experiences and testify to the changes that took place in my life while I was confined in a prison. Being sentenced to 5 years made me feel hopeless and helpless, and I spent my days weeping and I suffered from nightmares and flashbacks. The prisoner in the next cell was a believer and was imprisoned because of a false accusation. He began to teach me basic Bible lessons, introduced me to TWR’s radio ministry and requested a radio for me. The radio I got through my prison mate became my intimate friend. The Bible lessons are instilling new life, new thinking and a new attitude. I became a new creation in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
  Contact: info@twr.org
  

ASIA

• AFGHANISTAN
  Pamir Productions is preparing 40 half-hour radio programmes based on the “Come, follow me” discipleship course, which specifically addresses Afghan issues of attitude, family and social relations. They have also produced a pilot programme for a potential TV ministry and hope to begin regular production in the near future.
  Contact: info@pamirmedia.org
  

AUSTRALIA

• VISION RADIO NETWORK
  Vision Radio Network continues to expand towards its goal of Christian Radio for every Australian by bringing on air new stations nearly every week. The most recent addition was in a small Aboriginal community in Oombulgurrie northern WA, home to 300 people. Testing of the new AM antenna destined for Adelaide is being conducted and Vision hopes that 1611AM Adelaide will be on air by November 2009. There are 20 other stations ready and waiting for technicians to complete installation.
  Source: Squawk, Christian Media Australia

EUROPE

• EUROPEAN UNION LISBON TREATY
  The Irish electorate has voted “Yes” to the Lisbon Treaty with 67% of voters approving ratification during the second referendum. Turnout was 59%. Poland has also now ratified and this leaves only the Czech Republic to commit, to make the Treaty law.

• UK
  Product placement is to be allowed on UK TV shows. Independent Broadcasters will be allowed to take payments for displaying commercial products during shows. The change is intended to bring in extra funds for Commercial Broadcasters. Experts believe it could raise up to £100m a year. There are currently strict rules against product placement and the ban will remain in place on the BBC. An ITN spokesman welcomed the move, saying, “Reforming the UK prohibition would also be a welcome acknowledgment of the pressures currently faced by an industry in transition. New sources of revenue mean better-funded content – which can only be good news for viewers.” The Culture Secretary’s predecessor, Andy Burnham, had said in March that “serious concerns” remained about product placement because it could harm editorial independence. Big Brother creator, Peter Bazalgette, said, “You have to trust the consumer. If it’s overdone or tasteless, viewers will switch off.”
  Source: BBC News
  

• FRANCE
  TopChretien will launch a “Church on the Internet” for new believers, particularly those who have connected to ConnaitreDieu.com over the last 4 years. The project is called MonEglise.net (MyChurch.net) and will broadcast services specifically produced for Internet users to connect with God and each other. It is a Church for people discovering faith and a Church for transition as people will be encouraged to join a local church in their communities. It will encourage spiritual growth, with online Counsellors and Bible Studies by e-learning.
  Contact Eric Celerier: ec@topchretien.com

• GERMANY
  ERF celebrates its 50th anniversary in October, with a praise worship service and a jubilee gala. The celebration’s theme is: “50 years ERF – Listening, Watching, Believing“. On October 19, 1959, seven men and women founded ERF Media, at that time under the name “Evangeliums-Rundfunk” at Hotel Eulerhaus in Wetzlar, Germany. In February 1961, the first broadcast was sent by short-wave transmission throughout Europe. Today ERF Media operates a 24 hour television channel, 3 radio channels and 15 internet websites. While offering his congratulations, Hessian Prime Minister Roland Koch wrote, “contrary to the idea that media information always has a short lifespan, ERF Media sends a message that is timeless- the message of Christianity.”
  Contact: lothar.ruehl@erf.de

• BULGARIA
  Studio 865, partner of 3xM, has launched a new website to meet the growing interest of Bulgarians for the Christian message via internet. On the new website all episodes of the Christian programme “Christianity” are played. The viewer can decide when to view an episode. During the first month the website had more than 13,000 viewers. 3xM has partnered with Churches and Christian organisations in producing and broadcasting television programmes for nearly 30 years. Working mainly in Africa and Asia, 3xM focuses primarily on Countries where there are few believers.
  Contact Martien Timmer: m.timmer@3xm.nl

• UK
  The Church and Media Network (CMN), the successor body to the UK Churches’ Media Council, has launched a new network, “theMediaNet“,  for Christians and others who work in media, which includes contacts, resources, articles, blogs, events and jobs.
  Visit www.themedianet.org

• EUROPEAN COMMISSION
  The European Commission has declared the official start of operations by EGNOS, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service, with its Open Service now available free to businesses and citizens. EGNOS is Europe’s first contribution to satellite navigation and a precursor of Galileo, the global satellite navigation systen that the European Union is developing. EGNOS is a satellite-based augmentation system that improves the accuracy of satellite navigation signals over Europe. The accuracy of current GPS signals is improved from about 10 metres to 2 metres.
  Source: European Union Press Release

• UK
  London’s Premier Christian Radio, which started 14 years ago as a small AM Station - has become a National Broadcaster, heard across the UK on DAB Digital Radio. Premier is the UK’s only Christian Radio with national terrestrial coverage.
  Contact: response@premier.org.uk

• ROMANIA
  Alfa Omega is celebrating in 2009! It is 15 years since it began, there have been 10 years of TV productions, beginning with “The Truth, The Way and the Life” series, its flagship programme; it is 7 years since the beginning of its weekly news programme in Romanian “Mapamond crestin” (Christian World News) and 3 years since it aired the first Romanian Christian TV channel on satellite. They now plan to equip and set up a new studio in Timisoara.
  Visit www.alfaomega.tv

• FRANCE
  The European Commission authorised a €450m (US£640m) state aid payment to French Public Service Broadcaster France Televisions last month, but has opened a formal investigation into its future funding. The cash injection is compensation for lost revenue at France Televisions following a primetime advertising ban on the broadcaster earlier this year. In July, the EC adopted new rules on the public funding of broadcasters, to ensure commercial broadcasters are not disadvantaged from such state aid. The Commission said the subsidy was in line with European rules on state aid and public sector broadcasting, but has opened the formal investigation into whether the funding mechanism for France Televisions for 2010 and beyond complies with these regulations. Future payments will be based on the findings of this investigation.
  Source: C21Media.net

• GERMANY

GLOBAL

• INTERNET ADVERTISING
  According to the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB), first-half spending on internet advertising was a record £1.75 billion (US$2.8bn, €1.87bn) a quarter of the market and more than the £1.64 billion for television. The 4.6% online increase may have made the UK the world’s first major economy to relegate TV advertising – down 17% to 21.9% of total spend – to second place. According to IAB boss Guy Phillipson, online can grow even bigger. He said: “We could absolutely see it grow to being 30% of ad share spend, to exceed £4 billion (US$6.3bn, €4.28bn) a year.” Of the total online spend, 60% went to search engines and 22% was for classified ads. Meanwhile, newspaper display ads were the third biggest – £1.38billion (US$2.17bn, €1.47bn) or 18.5% of the total. The study, co-produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers, shows that overall advertising fell by 16% as businesses cut costs in the recession.
  Source: broadcast

• BROADBAND
  A study of the global state of broadband has put the UK 25th out of 66 countries in terms of the quality and reach of its networks. The research for Cisco found that countries such as Latvia and Bulgaria were better prepared than the UK for next-generation net applications. The UK was listed among countries whose broadband is “meeting needs for today”. South Korea and Japan dominate the league table. While the average download speed globally was 4.75mbps (megabits per second) – average upload speed was 1.3mbps. Researchers also worked out how fit countries were to cope with the demands of today’s users based on a set of popular consumer applications. Two-thirds of the 66 countries met the criteria for today’s requirements, but only 9, including Japan, Sweden and Latvia, were ready for future demands such as watching high-definition video. Countries will need an average download speed of 11.25 mbps to be able to cope with future applications.
  Source: BBC News
  

• INTERNET
  Viviane Reding, the EU’s retiring Commissioner for Information Society and Media, welcomed news that ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), the body primarily responsible for managing internet domain names, will become more open and accountable to billions of internet users worldwide, by being subject to an Independent review panel rather than the US Department of Commerce. Since 2005, the European Commission has called for reform of the governance of the internet’s key global resources. This is necessary to ensure important public policy objectives such as freedom of expression and facilitating stable business transactions online.
  Source: European Commission Press Release

• 44TH WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY
  The theme chosen by Pope Benedict XVI for the 44th World Communications Day on 24th January 2010 is: “The priest and pastoral ministry in the digital world – New Media in the service of the word.” Bishop Duffy, Chair of the Communications Commission of the Irish Bishops’ Conference said, “We must remain alert and continue to grow within this new media environment while being ever-mindful that it must be managed responsibly.”
  Source: www.radiovaticana.org
  

LATIN AMERICA

• BONAIRE
  Trans World Radio has announced that their broadcasts across the Caribbean and South America will continue during the repair of their transmission towers on the island of Bonaire. Due to the harsh, salty environment of the island, parts of the transmission towers had rusted extensively and had to be replaced. The cost of replacing the towers would have been over £600,000 (US$947,000, €640,000), so the team on Bonaire is repairing the individual braces, at a tenth of that cost. The transmission towers allow the station to broadcast across Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana and Cuba.
  Contact Hannah Combe: hcombe@twr.org.uk

MIDDLE EAST

• SAT-7
  SAT-7 KIDS and SAT-7 ARABIC have begun broadcasting on the Atlantic Bird 4 (AB4) satellite, making these two channels available to many new viewers in the Arab world. They will continue to broadcast simultaneously on HotBird. The AB4 satellite platform can be viewed by people living in nearly every country in the Middle East and North Africa and is co-located with Nilesat at 7 degrees West. SAT-7 PARS has just re-launched its Farsi website www.sat7pars.com as well as a new airtime schedule.
  Visit www.sat7.org
  

NORTH AMERICA

• USA
  NRB is 65 years old. 65 years ago, Television was in its infancy, Radio was king, and the Internet was still the stuff of science fiction. In 1943 evangelical ministers discovered that they were virtually unable to purchase radio airtime. In response to that challenge, a group of leaders formed a Committee, later named the “National Religious Broadcasters“. In April 1944, 150 Broadcasters met in Columbus, OH and drafted NRB’s “Statement of Faith“; then on September 21, 1944, NRB held a constitutional convention in the Moody Memorial Church in Chicago. The group voted on a Constitution, Bylaws and Code of Ethics, and on December 18, 1944, the state of Delaware awarded NRB a Charter of Incorporation. “NRB was birthed in the fires of adversity and these many years later the fires burn hotter than ever,” says Dr Frank Wright, NRB’s President & CEO. “Just as NRB’s founders underwent defining trials 65 years ago, the battles we face today will define the shape of Christian media communications for decades to come.”
  Contact: today@nrb.org

• CANADA
  Galcom International has appointed Tim Whitehead as its new Executive Director, taking over leadership responsibilities from Allan McGuirl, who will continue serving with Galcom as “Founder and International Director Emeritus“, seeking further opportunities to expand Galcom’s radio outreach. Galcom was founded as a radio ministry in 1989, and since then has distributed more than 750,000 solar powered radios in 126 countries.
  Email: galcom@galcom.org
  

DIARY DATES

• UK: The Christian Broadcasting Conference (CBC) will be on Friday 27 November 2009 at the De Vere Latimer Place, Chesham, Bucks. It’s Theme will be “Confronting Giants, Applauding Excellence, Encouraging One Another in Tough Times“. CBC hopes to enhance the rise of Christian Media and Christians working in the Media by all means and on every platform, including proliferation of New Media and global communication.
  Contact Crystal Chamkhi: info@cbc.org.uk




• SLOVENIA: The next FEB Conference will be 11-14 November 2010 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Put the dates in your diary NOW!
  
• USA: The NRB 2010 Convention will feature Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries, during the Closing Banquet on March 2nd 2010.
  For more information about the Convention visit www.nrbconvention.org
  

EUROPE

• EUROPEAN UNION
  The new President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, from Poland, has said he wants to “deepen dialogue with the continent’s Christian churches “. Mr Buzek is a Lutheran; was Poland’s Prime Minister from 1997-2001; and is the first President of the European Parliament from a post-communist eastern European country. He said, “ The principles associated with the tradition, culture and, above all, faith of Christianity have fundamental importance for me, as well as for Europe’s future identity and development. A debate with churches and other religions on our continent’s problems is essential. Christian values should be very important at an individual level for each politician and leader, but also collectively since they define and show the key ways a politician can act.”
  Source: National Secular Society

• UK
  TV viewers should be able to watch Channel 5’s programmes in High Definition (HD) via an aerial, after OFCOM announced that it has made a provisional decision to reserve capacity in principle to the Broadcaster, to provide new HD services on Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) from 2010. OFCOM’s decision to award an HD Licence to Channel 5 is subject to it resolving certain key criteria related to its application. It will mean that Channel 5 will join the other Public Service Broadcasters in launching four HD services on DTT.
  Visit www.ofcom.org.uk

• ROMANIA
  The Bucharest Christian Centre has opened a Christian Bookstore – stocked with books, magazines, dictionaries, CDs and DVDs. The objective is to help develop Christian character and strengthen new believers. The Centre was founded in 1992 as an interdenominational hub to serve churches and Christian organisations.
  Contact: mmceuta@yahoo.com
• UK
  Media Regulator OFCOM is consulting on whether to allow Non-Governmental Organisations to fund public service programming. Debate lines are emerging between pro- and anti-NGO factions. BBC Storyville editor Nick Fraser said, “The dangers are self-evident. You’d get a lot of biased films “. OFCOM is proposing a list of safeguards – such as requiring that programmes be in the public interest and funding arrangements be made transparent to audiences.
  Source: C21Media.net
• SWEDEN
  The Swedish music streaming service, Spotify, will make its first mobile application within weeks. The company has submitted the application to Apple’s iTunes App Store for approval. If given clearance, Spotify’s service will then be available to download onto iPhones. Spotify has been called an “iTunes killer ” because it is easy to use and has a comprehensive, free library of millions of songs. It is also seen as a possible saviour for the music industry, in its bid to offer alternatives to piracy. Spotify has said the application will be free, but will require a premium subscription to use, which will give Spotify on computers without adverts.
  Source: BBC News
• GERMANY
  The “European Journalism Fellowships ” at Freie Universitat, Berlin, is a programme for mid-career journalists, designed to give participants the opportunity to take a two-semester leave from their professional positions and spend a sabbatical year in Berlin to work on a major research project. Journalists from European countries and the USA are invited to apply for a fellowship. The closing date for applications is 1 November 2009.
  Contact: ejf@zedat.fu-berlin.de
• POLAND
  The websites “Looking for God” and “WhyJesus?” in Polish are part of Radio CCM, who are celebrating the first year of this ministry. Radio CCM is targeted at people who are indifferent or antagonistic to religion and introduces them to Christ through “Looking for God“. Then, with “WhyJesus?” and Odkryj Radio, Internet spoken word Channels and personal contact through email, they connect individuals with courses and churches to help them towards spiritual growth. They have had 22,250 unique visitors and 3,507 decisions.
  Visit: www.deorec.com.pl
• EUROPEAN COMMISSION
  The European Commission wants Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to sign up to a voluntary agreement to tackle illegal internet downloading. It is backing its invitation with the threat of legislation. The agreements would cover creative content including films, books and music. The Commission envisages commitments by copyright holders to support new legal downloading services and commitments by ISPs to tackle piracy. Four Consultation meetings are planned before the end of the year. The Commission envisages that developing the agreements will take around a year.
  Source: European Voice
• UK
  The BBC has denied criticism from Conservative politicians that it is increasing its spend on imported shows at the expense of children’s and homegrown content. A BBC spokeswoman said the Public Service Broadcaster is not reducing its programming spend to allow it to import more acquired content, but to deliver value for money. She added that in terms of children’s content, the BBC is investing the same amount as last year, £125m (US$206m). “We are showing more new drama, comedy, entertainment and factual programmes than before, and we have concentrated our children’s investment on producing fewer but higher quality original programmes, such as the Sarah Jane Adventures and Waybuloo.”
  Source: C21Media.net
• NORWAY
  The Dutch broadcaster Evangelische Omroep (EO) and French Internet ministry TopChretien, together with the Norwegian ministry Indremisjonsforbundet, are working on launching a Norwegian version of the “Looking for God” and “WhyJesus?” websites. They plan to launch these websites in December 2009.
  Contact: arjo.de.vroome@eo.nl
• CROATIA
  Vladimir Psenko reports that “Christian Radio” in Croatia now includes 12 Radio Stations in total. Six are supported by “Good News” Funds (Varazdin Radio; Cakovec Radio; RVG Velika Goria Radio; Samobor Radio; Bljesak Okucani Radio and Tirana Radio) and seven by “Valley of Blessings” Funds (Martin Radio; Samobor Radio; BBR Bjelovar Radio; Osijek City Radio; Zupanja Radio; Djakovo Radio and Vukovar Radio). Samobor Radio is financed by both Funds and this year has expanded its programming.
  Contact: vpsenko@gmail.com
• CYPRUS
  SAT-7’s annual Networking Conference will be held in Cyprus in November, for supporters and staff to meet and bring up-to-date information of the ministry’s plans and achievements. In SAT-7’s recent Mount Toubkal Challenge, participants trekked to the summit of the mountain in Morocco, the highest in North Africa at 4,167m. So far almost £9,000 has been raised for the SAT-7 ministry.
  Contact: admin@sat7trust.org
• UK
  UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB is to launch “the UK’s first 3D Channel” next year, 2010, for subscribers to its current generation of Sky+HD set-top boxes. The channel is expected to include movies, entertainment and sport, and will use the satcaster’s existing HD infrastructure. Sky+HD now has some 1.3 million subscribers. To watch the 3D channel, customers will also require a 3D-ready TV, which Sky expects to be on sale in the UK next year.
  Source: C21Media.net
• TURKEY
  CBN recently broadcast a programme about Radio Shema, with scenes from Turkey, including Istanbul and Ankara, and introduced Radio Shema to the public. A few miles from Turkey’s capital city, Ankara, Radio Shema FM 98 is doing something that is rarely allowed in a Muslim country. “We openly talk about Jesus Christ and read the Bible every day,” Soner Tufan, Radio Shema’s General Manager, said. Tufan explained that the Radio Station has become a powerful tool in changing people’s perception of Christianity. “People here have deep suspicions about Christianity – they view it as a form of imperialism and a faith that belongs to Westerners,” he said. But Tufan said music, especially Christian music, has been a key to reaching Turks with the Gospel. “They really love the worship songs we play, and we are able to communicate important truths about God and his love for mankind. This is helping change people’s ideas about Jesus.”
  Contact: sonertufan@gmail.com
• EUROPE
  Parts of Europe that were formerly major missionary sending countries, around the world, are now themselves the largest mission fields. Places like Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, England and France, most with less than 2% evangelicals, are now considered “unreached“. Creative strategists are using Internet, podcasts and short edgy spots on commercial radio stations to speak to their post-Christian culture. In Sweden, a creative think-tank is producing a virtual “Second Life” environment where Millenials from around the world can gather in this virtual community to connect with HCJB Global.
  Contact: wpeders@aol.com

AFRICA

• SOUTH AFRICA
  The Association of Christian Broadcasters (ACB) in Southern Africa is offering training in Sales & Marketing at the TWR training facility in Croydon, Johannesburg, 9-10 September 2009. Radio Tygerberg is a well known Christian Radio Station in South Africa – and Station Manager Hardus Zevenster will share the concepts used. ACB has also scheduled a one-week Radio Production Training Course from September 28 – October 2, led by Paul van Egdom.
  Contact: djhotchkiss@telkomsa.net

• NORTH AFRICA
  HCJB Global is installing portable studios and training local believers to develop their own radio projects in areas that are less than 1% Evangelical. Shortwave and direct satellite broadcasts are providing access to the Gospel where there are barriers to its proclamation. In the Gulf region, with a population of 30 milliion, there are between 300 and 1000 believers, but media ministries are regularly listened to by 45,000 households.
  Contact: Wpeders@aol.com

• SOUTH AFRICA
  Go-Tell Communications has announced that a documentary is being shot in South Africa called “Sex in our Cities“. It deals with the proposed legislation to decriminalise prostitution in South Africa, and features interviews with an ex-policeman, a former prostitute and a Christian group formed to educate people about the dangers of such decriminalisation. Go-Tell has also launched a new website www.go-tell.org which is interactive and user-friendly.
  Contact: keith.strugnell@go-tell.org or admin@go-tell.org
  

• WEST AFRICA
  OneStory is partnering with TWR to bring the gospel to unreached people groups in West Africa through a practical series of orality programmes. More than 65% of people living in West Africa are illiterate and considered to be oral learners. The goal of chronological Bible story telling is to spread Bible stories using indigenous methods so that an oral Bible can be made accessible to everybody. Several OneStory teams based in West Africa have recorded sets of chronological Bible stories for groups in their first languages and preferred communication styles. The programmes will be in the Fulani, Senoufo Supyire, Senoufo Synera and Tuareg languages, reaching people in Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali and Niger.
  Source: TWR Africa Newsletter

• SOUTH AFRICA
  The Prison Broadcasting Network in South Africa is 10 years old. Over 100 offenders have been trained in skills ranging from radio, television and music production; to computer literacy and sound engineering. Alongside their training they also received personal ministry and counselling. PBN radio broadcasts were heard by an estimated 22,000 individuals behind bars. During the broadcasts many gave their lives to Christ and received prayer. The next PBN project is establishing a dedicated prison TV channel, requiring prayer, staff, financial backing and favour from Correctional Services.
  Visit: www.prisonbroadcast.org.za

• MOZAMBIQUE
  Good News Media is currently running 21 bush schools with 26 teachers and 2,840 children in Mozambique. According to legislation, the children must be educated in Portuguese. Most of them hear Portuguese for the first time when they go to school, so they have to learn it as a second language. Good News Media are allowed to teach the children about religion. Their main goal is to help the children with reading skills. The methods used are narrative (storytelling) and a lot of repetition and coaching. In an oral environment, these methods are the most effective.
  Visit: www.biblemedia.co.za
  

ASIA

• FEBA IS 50 YEARS OLD
  In 1959, a small British group of supporters of the Far East Broadcasting Company, an American missionary radio organisation, took up the fund-raising challenge of broadcasting to India from the Seychelles. Taking on the project as FEBA (Far East Broadcasting Associates), Douglas Malton, now President, John Wheatley and Malcolm Fidge led the funding and construction of the new radio station. Studios and offices were built on a mountain side, with the transmitter on the beach at Anse Etoile. The engineers erected antenna masts and aerials around a coral reef 4,000 ft offshore. Tapes of evangelical messages were sent by sea from the UK and Australia to FEBA’s Seychelles’ studios to be broadcast from Britain’s first missionary radio station, until 2003, when short wave broadcasts were transferred to other stations. After 50 years, FEBA’s radio ministry continues to reach audiences throughout Asia.
  Visit: www.feba.org.uk

• ASIA
  Radio Stations in Australia, along with local Radio Announcers, get reactions from people they talk to locally, as to how their programmes are being received. It is more difficult for International Christian Radio Stations broadcasting from Australia. So, CVC has built 3 new programme production studios throughout Asia. For the Chinese service, studios and programme content comes from Singapore; the English service has some of its programmes coming from India - and the Indonesian service also has local people preparing programmes. CVC has also expanded its news correspondents in several other countries around the world.
  Source: CMA Squawk

• ASIA-PACIFIC REGION
  The Asia-Pacific region has 3.5 billion people – 60% of the world’s population, with 80% of unreached people. Shortwave radio is an effective means of reaching the vast expanses of China, India and Bangladesh. Culturally relevant programmes addressing social issues and current events prepared in those countries in 20 languages, are helping people with the challenges of day-to-day living. The mobile phone industry is focused on developing these highly populated global regions with mobile devices that will in the future enable HCJB’s media to reach some of these previously unreached regions.
  Contact: wpeders@aol.com

• CHINA
  China’s population is currently estimated at approximately 1.3 billion and about 700,000 of them are living with HIV. HIV/AIDS was also the country’s leading cause of death last year among infectious diseases, killing about 7,000 in the first 9 months of 2008. One of the major causes of these infections is through the illegal sale and collection of blood in some villages. The situation is made worse as proper hygiene and medical procedures are not strictly adhered to. To help meet the immediate needs of China’s HIV/AIDS victims, TWR-Asia has established on-the-ground ministries to educate people about HIV/AIDS and communicate the love and hope found in Jesus Christ.
  Visit: www.twr.org/asia

AUSTRALIA

• UCB
  UCB, in association with Rhema Broadcasting Group NZ, Hope 103.2 Sydney, 1WAY FM Canberra and Rhema FM Geelong, has completed a series of events featuring Bible Teacher Dr Chuck Missier, speaking on current events and prophecy. Almost 10,000 people attended the 15 meetings across Australia and New Zealand. Dr Missier’s “66/40″ Radio programme is heard daily on UCB’s Vision Radio Network. UCB has released a DVD recording of one of the events through www.ucbdirect.com.au
  Source: CMA Squawk
  

GLOBAL

• INTERNET
  With the ever-increasing utility of the Internet in the 21st Century, TWR’s ministry has expanded from radio to the World Wide Web. Today, programmes in 40 language areas are streamed through Webcasts, with more on the way. Since people around the globe have Internet access it has become a major source of effective ministry.
  Visit www.twr.org

  
  

• SIGNIS
  In 2007, Faith Satellite Radio and SIGNIS collaborated in an effort to reduce the digital divide by providing faith organisations in Africa with a new and innovative way of broadcasting. Now in 2009, they have entered a new phase to expand services by offering data and multicasting services to developing countries around the world. FSR’s services will no longer be limited to Africa; but now will be able to include the parts of the world unreachable without Digital Services. SIGNIS supports a number of projects aimed at the development of Radio Broadcasting. For many people in Africa, Latin America and Asia, radio is still the easiest and most direct means of communication available.
  Contact: info@signis.net
  

LATIN AMERICA

• SEMILLA
  A Global framework has emerged among Christian leaders for addressing the need to equip and launch Christians out of the church and into the culture. Bill Bright of Campus Crusade and Loren Cunningham of YWAM agreed in 1975 that God showed 7 Spheres of influence: Family, Church, Government, Education, Business, Arts and Media. ”Semilla”, which previously focussed just on Latin America, believes that the time has come to partner with Global Leadership Networks through Transform World to foster more effectively the building of nations around the “7 Spheres Vision“.
  Visit www.semilla.org
  

MIDDLE EAST

• ARAB CHRISTIAN TV
  A grant of £15,000 (US$24,000; €17,500) to an Arab Christian TV ministry has been used to help make a range of programmes, broadcast by various Christian channels in the Middle East and North Africa. One of these is a series called “What Christians Really Believe”, which tackles some of the issues that are recurring points of criticism against Christians. The programmes correct misconceptions that many Muslims have about Christianity, and also equip Christians to respond when they are challenged by others. An Egyptian viewer writes: “The facts and information I acquired from this episode (about the forgery called the Gospel of Barnabas) allowed me to answer many accusations and questions I would not have been able to answer before. God bless you.”
  Source: Barnabas Aid

• EGYPT
  

  Official Country Name	Arab Republic of Egypt
  Region	Africa
  Population	69,536,644
  Languages	Arabic, English and French
  Literacy Rate	51.4%
  Size	1,001,450 sq. km
  GDP	98,725 (US$ millions)
  Number of TV Stations	98
  Number of TV sets	7,700,000
  TV Sets per 1,000	110.7
  Number of Radio Stations	59
  Number of Radio receivers	20,500,000
  Radio Receivers per 1,000	294.8
  Number of individuals with computers	1,400,000
  Number of individuals with Internet access	450,000
  Internet access per 1,000	6.5

  
  

NORTH AMERICA

• USA
  US regulator, the Federal Communications Commission (FFC) is to begin a full enquiry into the state of the country’s children’s programming. FCC Chairman, Julius Genachowski, said that the inquiry would reassess the availability and quality of children’s programming and the technologies that allow parents to filter TV. Genachowski also said that one of the commission’s immediate priorities would be to ban interactive links to commercial products from children’s shows. “Video content for our nation’s children should treat them as more than little consumers,” he said at a Senate hearing. “We will conduct an inquiry on how the agency can best protect children.”
  Source: C21Media.net

• USA
  Marketplace Ministries celebrated 25 years of work through “Chaplains in the Marketplace” in Dallas this month. Founded by former Billy Graham Team Member Gil Stricklin, Marketplace Ministries has over 2400 Chaplains serving Business and Industry in the United States. In 2008, National Committees in the UK, Mexico and Canada also established “Marketplace Chaplains” in national businesses.
  

DIARY DATES

• SOUTH AFRICA: The African Enterprise Leadership Training Centre is to lead a Conference in Pietermaritzburg, from 19-21 October 2009, to introduce the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelisation, Cape Town 2010. It is being organised under the auspices of the Lausanne Movement, TEASA, African Enterprise, WENSA (World Evangelisation Network of South Africa) and Operation Mobilisation and is for Church Leaders, Missiologists, Teachers, Theologians and Leaders of parachurch and Mission Organisations. Contact: registrar@ae.org.za




• MALAYSIA: The Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Broadcasting and Space (APSCC) 12th Annual Conference & Exhibition will take place from 29 September – 1 October 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Mutiara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Themed “Connectivity, Convergence, Communication“, the APSCC 2009 Conference will focus on the growing Asian satellite market and identify new business breakthroughs ahead of the industry, with leading speakers drawn from the Asia-Pacific region.
  Visit: www.apscc.or.kr/event/apscc2009.asp/

• FRANCE : The Radio Gospel Paris Organisation fundraising event has been moved to September 26, following prayer and discussion. Two French Christian artists, Marcel Boungou and Pierre-Nicholas, will give a concert on September 26. It is hoped that the event will contribute to the funds required to initiate an application for a temporary FM Licence in Paris.
  Contact: contact@radiogospel.fr

• UK: The Christian Broadcasting Council (CBC) Conference will be held at the De Vere Latimer Place Conference Centre, Chesham, Buckinghamshire on Friday 27 November 2009, entitled “Successful Strategy for God’s Voice in the Media“. Speakers will include: Charlynne Boddie, Dennis Wrigley, Heads of Independent Christian Media, Andrea Minichiello Williams, Rev George Hargreaves and Prof William Wagner.
  Contact: info@cbc.org.uk www.cbc.org.uk Tel: +44 870 209 6105

• ETHIOPIA
  Ethiopia’s first FM English Language Radio Station began pre-test broadcasting in June. The Station, run by Paconet Media plc is owned by Addis Alemayehou and his wife, Martha Wondimu. Addis is the chief of VEGA Ethiopia, a USAID programme that assists private companies to exploit the AGOA (African Growth Opportunities Act). The station will work with other local media organisations for content development. The target audience is emerging foreign investors and expatriates in Addis Ababa – the seat of the African Union (AU), United Nation Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and Africa’s largest diplomatic community.
  Source: East African Business Week

• SOUTH AFRICA
  Dr Emmanuel Mbennah has been commissioned as TWR Africa’s International Director in Johannesburg, South Africa, succeeding Rev. Stephen Boakye-Yiadom. Lauren Libby, International President gave the message at the Commissioning Service.
  Contact: hcombe@twr.org.uk
  

• AFRICA
  Many Radio/CD players are being delivered to Morocco and Algeria, along with a CD of programmes. TWR-Africa also distributes wind-up radios to Namibia, where electricity is nonexistent in many rural areas and batteries are too expensive. Wind-up radios fit this need and people in these nations can now hear broadcasts in their own languages.
  Source: Listening Word
  

ASIA

• CAMBODIA
  TWR-Asia is airing five programmes over 13 FM Stations in Cambodia to address issues faced by church leadership, women, children and young people. TWR began ministry in Cambodia in 2000, and have a new Media Centre and 19 staff. They also work with 51 co-ordinators who manage children’s listening clubs and radio distribution. In 2008, around 600 radios were distributed.
  Source: TWR Snapshots

• NEPAL
  According to Christian Freedom International (CFI) Nepal is now home to an estimated 800,000 believers and there are approximately 170 churches in the capital, Kathmandu. HCJB Global staff have recently worked with local partners to install two Christian radio stations in Nepal. HCJB’s Australia shortwave station in Kununurra also airs a daily 15 minute Nepali programme to South Asia.
  Source: www.hcjb.org

AUSTRALIA

• DIGITAL RADIOS
  Sales of Digital Radios are expected to soar in Australia, after many metropolitan radio stations including ABC and SBS began DAB+ digital broadcasting at the beginning of July. Digital radio signals are available in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth so far, but regional broadcasters are discussing plans for trials in Canberra, Hobart and Townsville by the end of the year.
  Source: Australian IT News

• COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
  Draft Community Participation Guidelines for community broadcasters have been released by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), and include suggestions for encouraging community participation in operations and programming. They can be reviewed on the ACMA website www.acma.gov.au and any submissions should be sent by 31st August 2009.
  Source: Christian Media Australia
  

EUROPE

• FINLAND
  The Cabinet of Ministers of Finland have issued a free-to-air, terrestrial, nation-wide Television Licence to Family Channel of Finland. The Channel will be carried by all 87 television towers and all cable networks as “must carry” providing free 100% coverage to every home in Finland. The channel is owned and run by Christian Media people and businessmen. Its I.D. on air will be “STV” – Suomi TV, meaning Finland TV. Hannu Haukka has been appointed as Managing Director/CEO. A national terrestrial television broadcast licence for a Christian group is rare in Europe. Only Evangelische Omroep (EO) in Holland has a similar licence. There were 9 competitors for two licences. They included BBC World News, Disney, Discovery, Eurosport, and two large commercial TV channels in Finland, none of which received a licence. Family Channel was granted a maximum long-term licence extending to 2016. It will carry between 3-9 hours per week religious programming on the channel.
  Contact: hannu.haukka@irrtv.fi
  

• EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
  Joseph Daul has been re-elected to the Chairmanship of the European People’s Party Group (EPP) in the European Parliament. Daul has chaired the Group since January 2007. He expressed his determination to continue work on implementing a programme based on the priorities of the EPP: values, social market economy, security, immigration policy and Europe, and said, “The EPP won the European Elections. It is up to us to drive the European agenda in the 5 years to come.”
  Source: www.eppgroup.eu

• IRELAND
  Ireland has set 2nd October 2009 as the date for the country’s repeat referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. Irish voters rejected the Treaty in the first referendum last June by 53.4% to 46.6%. Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has said that legal guarantees have been given to Ireland on issues which concerned voters in the first round.
  Source: European Voice

• GERMANY
  ERF Medien’s new 24-hour satellite TV channel “ERF Eins” is now airing “Joni and Friends” each Sunday evening at 8.00pm with German voiceovers. The American Joni Eareckson-Tada has been a quadriplegic for over 40 years. In a 1967 diving accident she broke her back at age 17. She has written 35 books, including her autobiography, “Joni” which has been translated into 40 languages and has sold over 3 million copies. Joni also enjoys painting, guiding the brush with her mouth and signing each piece “PTL” – “Praise the Lord“. In 1979 she founded the “Joni and Friends International Disability Centre ” a Christian relief organisation for the disabled. The new TV series is to encourage disabled viewers and their families and to sensitise others to the dynamics of life with disability.
  Email: lothar.ruehl@erf.de

• UK
  OFCOM has launched a review of its Broadcasting Code which sets rules for TV and radio stations. The Code covers areas such as the protection of children, harm and offence, fairness,  privacy and commercial references in programmes. The consultation will ask whether not-for-profit organisations should be permitted to fund programmes about their own activities or interests. These programmes, called “Public Information Programming” would cover subjects in the public interest but could not deal with controversial matters. Currently such programming is not permitted. The revised Code will also include mandatory changes as a result of new European legislation (the Audio Visual Media Services Directive).
  Source: www.ofcom.org.uk

• UK
  The Digital Britain Report says that the UK government has earmarked £200m of the money handed to the BBC to help with digital switchover and provide universal broadband access by 2012. This money will be enhanced by other sources, including contributions from private and public sector organisations who benefit from increased connectivity, consumers who upgrade and the value of wider coverage obligations on mobile operators arising from the wider mobile spectrum package.
  Source: Broadcast

• TURKEY
  Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan is trying to revive a European Union entry bid that is facing new signs of hostility from some Member States. Membership talks are almost at a standstill, raising doubts over whether Turkey’s dream of joining the EU is possible. In the June European Parliament Election, EU “enlargement fatigue ” and hostility to Turkey became a campaign issue in a number of countries. Demands of the EU, such as reforming the military-inspired constitution, have fallen prey to political infighting – and an alleged plot by the Turkish army to undermine Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted AK Party, if proved authentic, would confirm critics’ fears of the “old Turkey ” with generals meddling in politics. The EU unanimously agreed in 2005 to open accession talks with Turkey, a large, relatively poor Muslim country of 70 million people, but since then reforms have slowed to a halt and the bloc now appears divided about accepting them.
  Source: Reuters UK
  

• UK
  After more than 30 years, John Beyer has announced his retirement from the Directorship of Mediawatch UK. He said, “There remain many challenges in the digital age, not least the need to regulate the internet and to place effective controls over online material that causes offence and harm”. Mediawatch-UK was founded in the 1960s by the late Mary Whitehouse and campaigns for decency and accountability in the media. A new Director will be appointed in the next few weeks.
  Visit www.mediawatchuk.org

• POLAND
  Radio CCM is searching for more helpers to train as e-coaches for the Polish Internet Courses “WhyJesus?” and “Looking for God” led by TopChretien in France and Evangelische Omroep in Netherlands.
  Contact: Henryk Krol hkrol@ccm.pl

• EUROPEAN COMMISSION
  EU Leaders have backed Jose Manuel Barroso for a second term as President of the European Commission. His priorities are a Europe “which refuses all types of protectionism but which is clearly determined to protect and promote European interests in the world.” He also says that he believes in a Europe as a political project built on a strong partnership between Member States and the European Institutions. The European Parliament’s Plenary Sessions began on 14th July. when Jerry Buzek was elected as President.
  Source: Robert Schuman Foundation

• ARMENIA
  Armenia is getting its first IPTV service after local telecoms company Ucom partnered with technology firm Ericsson. Ucom will begin rolling out the new service from July, with a range of broadcast channels and video-on-demand.
  Source: C21Media.net

• UK
  The Church of England is turning away trainee clergy for the first time in history after £1.3 billion of its investments were wiped out in the financial crisis. Up to a dozen graduates of theological colleges will miss out on their ordination and may end up on the dole as there are no parish jobs for them. The Church has previously given all graduates placements in parishes as curates, which they need before they can become ordained as priests. But now, to the anger of senior clerics, a spending squeeze means the number of junior clergy posts has been reduced and some trainees may leave the church.
  Source: Mail on Sunday

• FRANCE
  French Telecoms Regulator ARCEP says that 6.2 million French homes now have IPTV subscriptions – an increase of 36.8%. France telecom was France’s largest IPTV provider, with its Orange TV brand having 2.2 million digital TV subscribers.
  Source: C21Media.net

• UK
  GBS Radio has decided that the teaching ministry of the “Discovery” programme should both continue, and be expanded to reach and teach many more people. The literature ministry through the “Discovery ” booklet will also be made more widely available and their presentation changed in line with this aim. To move in this direction, GBS is recruiting volunteers and beginning Deputation work to Churches.
  Contact: enquiries@gbsradio.org.uk
  
  

GLOBAL

• MYSPACE
  MySpace is to axe 300 further jobs, reducing its international workforce to just 150, and closing at least 4 of its offices outside the United States. London, Berlin and Sydney will become the primary regional hubs. CEO Owen van Natta said that the company had become too big and cumbersome to be sustainable.
  Source: C21Media.net

• GOOGLE TO LAUNCH OPERATING SYSTEM
  Google is developing an operating system for personal computers, in a direct challenge to market leader Microsoft and its Windows system. Google Chrome OS will be aimed initially at netbooks, the low-cost portable computers, and will be on sale around the middle of 2010.
  Source: BBC News

MIDDLE EAST

• TURK-7 TO MERGE WITH SAT-7
  During its tri-annual meeting in Beirut, Lebanon, the SAT-7 International Board voted to integrate TURK-7 fully into the ministry’s network of TV channels by January 2010. David Middleton, TURK-7 Executive Director, said, “We at TURK-7 are excited about this merger. SAT-7, with its similar ethos, its years of experience in Christian broadcasting and its significantly larger operational and support staff, will help raise us up to a higher level of broadcasting“. TURK-7 was created as an independent Turkish Christian television ministry in 2003. Based in Istanbul, the ministry uses locally-based Christians and other TV professionals to create both original programming and dubbed programming. It is largely funded by a group of 28 partners, half of which are local churches and ministries. SAT-7 is a founding member of the partnership.
  Contact: Ruth Lancaster, Tel: +44 1249 765865 or press@sat7trust.org

• JORDAN
  Blooming Productions in Jordan are producing 28, five-minute spots for SAT-7 Kids, to teach them basic Arabic letters and Bible verses at the same time. They will begin airing this summer.
  Visit www.sat7.org

• ARABIC BIBLE DOWNLOADS
  Middle East Media has made the Bible available in Arabic as a free download for mobile phones and there has been a consistent 10,000 downloads every month over the last year.
  Visit www.bebalash.com

NORTH AMERICA

• USA
  Last month, the USA made the transition from analogue TV signals to digital without visible major hitches. On Friday 12th June more than 900 full-power TV stations shut down their analogue signals and are now broadcasting only in digital. The switch was due to take place in February but was delayed by Congress after regulators reported that some five million US households were unprepared.
  Source: USA Today

• USA
  Dr M.G. “Pat” Robertson, the Broadcast Leader and Founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) is also the Founder and President of Regent University in Virginia Beach. Robertson recently announced his plans to retire as the University President effective July 1, 2010. Regent’s Board of Trustees has appointed a search committee that will name a new president, expected to join the university no later than autumn 2010. Dr Robertson will continue to serve as the university’s Chancellor and a member of the Board of Trustees.
  Source: Inside NRB

• USA
  The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has produced a radio spot for NRB as part of their “Radio Heard Here” campaign, an initiative to “reignite the passion for radio“. As part of NAB’s “Radio 2020“, the “Radio Heard Here” initiative is designed to “change consumers’ and advertisers’ perception about radio’s future“.
  Source: Inside NRB

• USA
  

  Official Country Name	United States of America
  Region	North & Central America
  Population	278,058,881
  Languages	English, Spanish
  Literacy Rate	97%
  Size	9,629,091 sq. km
  GDP	9,837,406 (US$ millions)
  Number of TV Stations	1,500
  Number of TV sets	219,000,000
  TV Sets per 1,000	787.6
  Number of Radio Stations	10,322
  Number of Radio receivers	575,000,000
  Radio Receivers per 1,000	2.067.9
  Number of individuals with computers	161,000,000
  Number of individuals with Internet access	95,354,000
  Internet access per 1,000	342.9

DIARY DATES

NETHERLANDS: The World Congress of Families V will be held at the RAI Centre in Amsterdam from 10-12 August 2009. Visit www.worldcongress.org