• EUROPEAN COMMISSION
  The European Commission has called on Social Networking Companies to improve child safety policies. According to an EU Study, 50% of European teenagers give out personal information on the web – which can remain online forever and be seen by anybody. At the Safer Internet Day, held in February 2010, the Commission’s message to teenagers was, “Think before you post!“. It also welcomed actions to protect children using social networking websites taken by the 20 companies who signed the Safer Social Networking Principles in 2009.
  Source: European Union

• NORWAY
  Kids and Media are partnering with Intuitive Media (UK) to offer safe social networks for children. They have launched a UK site www.kidsandmedia.co.uk, which has been listed on the UK Internet Watch Foundation’s list of useful sites. They will develop both a Dutch and Danish version this spring, and will launch a newsletter in the next few weeks. In April they will launch a US site.
  Visit www.barnevakten.no and www.kidsandmedia.co.uk

• UK
  The BBC has confirmed plans to cut £100m (US$149m) from its annual overhead by cutting web budgets by 25%, foreign acquisitions by 20%, capping sports rights and closing Radio Stations 6 Music and the Asian Network. It has also pledged to put an extra £600m into its programming spending, ending years of expansion into new sectors by the corporation. BBC Online will be halved in size by 2013, with its £122m budget and staff levels cut by a quarter.
  Source: BBC News & C21Media.net

• BULGARIA
  Central European Media Enterprises (CME) has acquired News Corporation’s Bulgarian free-to-air channel, pay cable networks and radio assets for US$400m. CME sealed a deal to buy free-TV channel BTV, the BTV Cinema and BTV Comedy cable channels and 74% of radio firm CJ OOD which operates a number of radio stations in Bulgaria. The deal is subject to the approval of the Bulgarian Commission for the protection of competition. CME recently sold its Ukrainian channels Studio 1+1 and Kino for US£300m.
  Source: C21Media.net

• EUROPEAN UNION
  Wireless subscribers in the EU now have the ability to ask their Mobile Phone carrier to disconnect their service if they incur too many data charges. Phone providers must also inform subscribers when they have reached 80% of capacity. Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for Digital Agenda said, “Protection against data roaming bill shocks is a useful step towards building customers’ confidence to use mobile networks to surf the internet when travelling around Europe. Such confidence is essential if people and businesses are to use the internet to its full potential.”
  Source: DailyTech

• UK
  UK Christian Charity, CARE, has launched a website, www.makethecrosscount2010.net/ to encourage churches to get involved in Christian policy issues in the run-up to the General Election, including organising Hustings meetings to meet with prospective MPs. CARE helps to bring Christian insight to issues and campaigns of public policy, including Family Policies,  Child Protection, Bioethics, Human Rights and Religious Liberty. CARE is also active in the European Union, led by David Fieldsend in CARE’s Brussels office.
  Visit www.care.org.uk
  

• ESTONIA
  TWR is to upgrade its AM transmitter in Tartu, Estonia from 100 to 200 kilowatts. TWR Russia produces a 2 hour block of radio programmes which is aired daily in the evenings with a repeat in the morning, as well as 3 hours a week of direct transmissions, including Family, Health, Christian Life, Pastoral, Children and Youth Programmes.
  Visit www.twr.org

• GREECE
  Radio Kanali 7 in Nicosia will broadcast “radio spots” by Ignatius Meimaris on the subject of “Relationships from a Christian Perspective“. Meimaris leads the Interbalkan Institute for Education and Economic Development in Greece, running Business Seminars and a Consultancy.
  Email: ignatios_meimaris@post.harvard.edu

• UK
  According to Screen Digest, nearly 60% of TVs sold in the UK in 2012 will have a broadband connection, which will give an installed base of 8.8 million connected TV sets and make online video more accessible. Sky plan to turn on the broadband connection in the back of Sky+HD boxes this year. Print Media is also exploiting video online shows. The Daily Telegraph has an average print circulation of 700,000 but now has 30 million online users and journalists have been told to add video to their stories and to “put the story and interactivity into the video itself”. When Tony Blair was giving evidence at the Iraq Inquiry, the site streamed proceedings live with a “credibility meter” and live-chat facilities – and received more than 250,000 responses during the stream.
  Source: Broadcastnow.co.uk

AFRICA

• JAPAN
  France 24, the English News Channel from TF1 and France Television, has gained access to some 55 million mobile phone users in Japan. The company has a new distribution deal with NTT DoCoMo, whose programming is available free to the Japanese mobile operator’s subscribers both live and on-demand via 3G.
  Source: C21Media.net

• CHINA
  A Baptist World Alliance (BWA) delegation has just returned from a four-city tour of China at the invitation of the China Christian Council. The delegation was BWA President Dr David Coffey from the UK; Dr Chu Wood Ping, President of the Asia-Pacific Baptist Federation from Hong Kong; Douglas Inglis from the Baptist Union of Scotland and Blake Killingsworth of BWA Emerging Leaders Network in the United States. The Team visited Beijing, Nanjing, Hangzhou and Shanghai. The official figure for the Christian Church in China is 16 million believers but it is thought that in reality there could be as many as 80 million - many in unregistered Churches. Contact: bwapresident@tiscali.co.uk

• CAMBODIA
  TWR is broadcasting in Khmer to women, youth, children and the Oral community in Cambodia, through a combination of FM radio programmes and on-the-ground follow-up. Programmes include “Happy Children’s Garden” – a 15 minute weekly programme; “It’s Yours” – 30 minutes for young people; “Learning through Listening” – communicating Biblical messages through storytelling and songs and “Women of Hope” – a 30 minute weekly programme for women.
  Visit www.twr.org

• TURKMENISTAN
  The first Christian TV programme in Turkmen was broadcast on 18 January 2010 on the Turkish TV channel Kanal Hayat, run by IBRA Media and its partners. It was called “Diri Sozler” which means “The Living Word“. Two programmes are broadcast each morning and then repeated in the evening.
  Contact: info@ibra.se
  

AUSTRALASIA

• Building extensions are underway at 4CRB’s studios in Queensland. The $250,000 expansion will allow the Gold Coast station to establish an extensive local news service. Around 18 volunteers will be involved in producing Local News for the station.
  Source: Squawk, Christian Media Australia

• RHEMA FM Newcastle, NSW, is celebrating the renewal of its licence for another five years – following submissions from churches, individuals and community organisations. It was the first Rhema station established in Australia in 1985 and was awarded its full-time licence in 1999.
  Source: Squawk, Christian Media Australia

EUROPE

• EUROPEAN UNION
  The new body of Telecoms Regulators (BEREC) met for the first time in Brussels in January. With 12 fixed and 10 mobile telecoms companies offering services in EU Member States and many service providers operating across borders, BEREC will play an important role in strengthening the single telecoms market. Consistent regulation across Europe is expected to help ensure fair competition. In 2008, Europe’s Telecoms sector revenues accounted for 351 billion Euros.
  Source: European Union

• UK
  TWR is to launch on DAB Digital Radio on 1st April 2010. They will broadcast on the MXR Multiplex in the North West of England reaching from Nantwich as far north as Windermere. They currently broadcast on Astra Satellite Channel 0138, Freesat channel 790, online at twr.org.uk and at selected times on short and medium wave.
  DAB is now received by over 85% of the UK population. Russell Farnworth, CEO of TWR UK said, “This is a major and exciting development for TWR – and an important first step towards national DAB coverage.”
  Email: hcombe@twr.org.uk

• EUROPEAN UNION
  The President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek has launched a Twitter account: http://twitter.com/jerzybuzek. He is the first President of the European Parliament to use Twitter – and already has an active Facebook account: www.facebook.com/jerzybuzek. Buzek said, “It is a pleasure and a need to use all forms of communication. The European Parliament is increasingly influential and must be increasingly present. Modern technology, including Social Media gives people the opportunity to interact and have their say.”
  Visit: www.ep-president.eu/view/en/the_president.html

• UK
  The UK Government has decided to allow paid-for Product Placement on British Television. In a written statement, Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said that continuing to legislate against such funding would damage the industry’s finances. The new rules exclude alcohol, tobacco and certain food products. Product Placement will also remain banned in News, Current Affairs, Children’s, Consumer and Religious programming.
  Source: C21Media.net

• EUROPEAN COUNCIL
  The President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy (Belgium), took part in a recent seminar entitled, “Which language, which culture in a universe of the digital and entertainment?” organised by the Alliance Francaise. He said that Europe is a result of a dual movement of unification and diversification “because diversity is our historical wealth; universality is our political message.” The EU has not adopted a single language because the Member States “want to be together; they do not want to be one.” The President promised to, “manage as best he can the tension between unity and diversity both on a political and a cultural level.”
  Source: Robert Schuman Foundation

• UK
  UK Independent Broadcaster ITV has appointed Adam Crozier as its new CEO. Crozier will replace Michael Grade and will take up his role later in 2010. He formerly worked for Royal Mail, the Football Association and Advertising Agency, Saatchi & Saatchi. ITV Chairman, Archie Norman, said, “Adam is a very strong leader with a great track record in delivering transformational change. He has worked successfully in talent-driven organisations, with government and regulators, and has a thorough understanding of the media, advertising and branding industries.”
  Source: C21Media.net

• ROMANIA
  After sixteen years of working in the Romanian Christian Media and four years after the launch of the first Romanian Christian TV Channel, Alfa Omega TV has experienced much growth in Romania and Moldova. It is now faced with the need to extend its production capabilities. It is looking forward to moving to a new location, the Alfa Omega Communications Centre, a building that requires further funding for studio equipment and offices. Alfa Omega TV distributes weekly Christian programmes to 39 local secular TV stations as well as broadcasting 24/7.
  Contact: tudor.petan@alfaomega.tv

• UK
  The Bible Society is organising a series of Conferences in the UK during February and March 2010, in preparation for the 2011 launch of “Biblefresh“, a national initiative to restore lost confidence in the Bible. The series has been planned to coincide with the 400th anniversary celebrations of the King James’ Bible next year.
  Visit www.biblefresh.com

• SPAIN
  According to ACPress.net, the Spanish Government still plans to approve its revision of the Law of Religious Freedom before the summer, so that it goes to Congress in the current parliamentary session. However, indications are that the government will run out of time and it is therefore more likely that the Bill will be approved by the Council of Ministers towards the end of spring 2011. The most controversial point of the Bill will probably be the more detailed regulation of the presence of Religious Symbols in public buildings and at State ceremonies.
  Source: ACPress.net

• UK
  The Festival Church Trust has launched a new community Radio Station, “Mountain FM” – for people in the South Wales valleys. At the moment it is restricted to Webcasting, but will develop further as soon as a new Licence can be obtained. It has chosen a slogan of “Lifting you higher” and plays music with a “feel-good” factor and suitable for family listening. The station is based in a Church and supported by local Churches. It will also interact with Foodbank Ebbw Vale, a community project which supports clients in crisis situations.
  Visit: www.mountainfm.co.uk

• GERMANY & UK
  UK’s news and factual content producer ITN is moving into foreign-language production for the first time, producing a German showbiz channel for video-streaming portal YouTube. The new channel will be known as Promi411 and will feature celebrity news from around the world, gathered and packaged by a German producer for ITN.
  Source: C21Media.net

GLOBAL

• THE FUTURE OF IPTV
  According to Terry Back, Digital Media Partner at Grant Thornton UK, there will continue to be a steady erosion of the traditional broadcast audience, as young people seek programmes on their laptops using applications like the BBC iPlayer and downloads, rather than using traditional TV schedules. Since the beginning of TV, the power of broadcasters as gatekeepers has been absolute, until slightly reduced by satellite and cable. This will be further reduced by IPTV. Broadcasters are now fighting back and using their financial strength, brand awareness, back catalogue, industry knowledge and ability to both innovate and forge technology partnerships to maintain their position, ahead of smaller players and content producers, who tend to have agility and imagination but less financial resources. Most IPTV Channels have so far been unable to break viewers away from the dominance of established broadcasters.
  Source: C21Media.net

• BSKYB
  Nearly half a million customers signed up to BSkyB’s HD TV package in the last 3 months of 2009, following a pre-Christmas marketing push. The number of households in the UK receiving Sky+HD passed the 2 million mark, with 482,000 net customer additions in the quarter, an increase of 1.3 million in the past 12 months, lifting profits by 4%. Nearly a fifth of customers take broadband and telephone services as well as TV channels.
  Source: Broadcastnow

• SONY PICTURES
  Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is laying off 6.5% of its workforce – 450 of its approximately 6,800 staff – in a second round of job cuts that will start in March. The cuts will affect all divisions of the company, including the television and digital production wings. SPE is blaming piracy and a downturn in DVD sales for the cuts. Co-Chairman Amy Pascal said, “Our industry is affected by two things. It’s affected by the economy and technology. Over the last two years, they have changed people’s DVD-buying habits, which has had a huge effect on our company and the industry at large“.
  Source: C21Media.net

• TWITTER
  Micro-blogging site Twitter has hired a second executive from Al Gore’s Current TV Channel, in an effort to foster stronger relationships with established media companies. Robin Sloan, formerly VP of Strategy at Current TV, will join Twitter at the end of February and will work with former colleague Chloe Sladden, Twitter’s director of media partnerships.
  Source: C21Media.net
  
  

MIDDLE EAST

• SAT-7
  Rita Elmounayer, Executive Director for the SAT-7 Arabic and SAT-7 Kids Channels says that “the broadcast media play a vital role in shaping the minds of people at an early age. It’s important to shape children’s minds with the love of God, rather than with the messages of hate and violence kids see on so many other TV Channels.” Rita, and the team working to create programmes for SAT-7 Kids, seek to create a safe media zone where children can learn more about God’s love for them. Many viewers have written to say how glad they are to know that they can trust their children with SAT-7 Kids. Recently, Rita began using the slogan, “Where your Kids are Safe” as a way to attract new viewers to the channel. “In many areas, like Iraq and around Palestine, many children can’t play outside, so we want to provide a refuge for them, where they can learn about God’s love and also have educational, intellectual and even physical activities.”
  Visit www.sat7.org

• FEBC
  FEBC have been using one hour of daily broadcast time given by an Iraqi Church with an FM Licence. Hoping to get a separate Radio Licence and frequency, their application has been working its way through bureaucratic channels for almost three years. FEBA staff were sent to Northern Iraq in 2009 to receive additional training, to prepare them to write and broadcast multiple programmes. Now the new FM Station is on the air.
  Contact: info@febc.org

• LEBANON
  

  Official Country Name	Lebanese Republic
  Region	Middle East
  Population	3,627,774
  Languages	Arabic, French, English, Armenian
  Literacy Rate	86.4%
  Size	10,400 sq. km
  GDP	16,488 (US$ millions)
  Number of TV Stations	15
  Number of TV sets	1,180,000
  TV Sets per 1,000	325.3
  Number of Radio Stations	46
  Number of Radio receivers	2,850,000
  Radio Receivers per 1,000	785.6
  Number of individuals with computers	175,000
  Number of individuals with Internet access	300,000
  Internet access per 1,000	82.7

NORTH AMERICA

• SOCIAL NETWORKS
  Elisabeth Murdoch spoke at the NATPE Conference in Las Vegas and told TV companies they need to embrace social networks – and warned that resisting them would be akin to having ignored the switch from black and white TV to colour. She said that the key to the future is following the viewers. “We in the television business have to catch up with what our audience is doing”, she said. “That means not running from social networking but embracing it as a way to drive viewers and revenue. Social networks are a tool with which we can tell our stories.” She also said that Twitter and Facebook were bringing about a profound paradigm shift in the way audiences engage with content.
  Source: Los Angeles Times

• NATIONAL RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERS
  The NRB holds its Annual Convention from 27 February to 2 March 2010 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Centre. Harvey and Marlies Thomas will represent FEB at Booth #226. Other FEB Members will be represented, including CNL TV at Booth #420, with CNL Pastor Maxim Maximov, and International Director Mark Patterson. The NRB Programme includes an International Reception and Luncheon and Keynote addresses from American Christian Leaders Del Tackett, Al Mohler, Kay Arthur, Tony Perkins and Chuck Colson.
  Visit: www.nrbconvention.org

• FOCUS ON THE FAMILY
  Focus on the Family are producing a “Focus on Marriage” Simulcast Event on Saturday 27 February 2010, which is intended to bring a fresh perspective to encourage couples to stay strong in their commitment. This follows National Marriage Week, from 7-14 February 2010.
  Contact: family@mail-family.org
  

DIARY DATES

• SLOVENIA: Jonathan Frank, Chief Executive of FEBA will be a Plenary Speaker at the next FEB Conference from 11-14 NOVEMBER 2010 at the City Hotel, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Register and pay online at www.feb.org




• UK: One day Conference, “Awake, Arise O Church!” Saturday 20th March 2010, 10.00-4.30pm, Emmanuel Centre, 9-23 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3DW, with Speakers including Baroness Cox on “How to get involved in Public Life” and Andrea Williams on “The State of the Nation“.
  Visit www.ccfon.org/awake.php

• UK: Internet Evangelism Day will be held on Sunday 25 April 2010. Churches are encouraged to use Internet Evangelism Day resources to create a presentation for members – and to help the world-wide church understand the issues and use the Web to share the gospel. Resources include free downloads of video clips, powerpoint, handouts, drama scripts, music and posters.
  Visit www.internetevangelismday.com
  

• AZERBAIJAN
  The European Union has adopted a resolution urging the Government of Azerbaijan to restore FM broadcasts of Radio Free Europe, Voice of America and the BBC World Service. Azerbaijani authorities cancelled the FM radio licences of several international radio stations at the beginning of 2009, depriving listeners of independent sources of information. The ban was criticised by international rights organisations, but the Azerbaijani government defended it as a measure needed to bring the country into conformity with European standards.
  Source: Radio Free Europe

• ARMENIA
  EuroVision Chairman David Hathaway has been asked by Armenian pastors to hold a Nationwide Mission in June 2010, based in the capital city of Yerevan. In his 2009 Mission, only personal invitation and word of mouth was possible – but 5000 crowded into the 4000-seater arena. The Mayor of Yerevan has granted permission to use the stadium holding over 25,000. The Armenian churches are 100% committed to this project and are actively involved in the preparation of and participation in this Event.
  Contact: office@eurovision.org.uk

• NEPAL
  The Gospel for Asia Website is featuring a video interview with missionary Manja Tamang, who was released last June after being imprisoned for 9 years in Nepal on false charges of murder. His story has led to a growing work among convicts. The story is also featured in the GFA online “Send” magazine.
  Visit www.gfa.org

AUSTRALASIA

• Christian Radio Stations receive more support from donors than any other type of station in Australia’s Community Broadcasting Sector, according to a Community Broadcasting Database (CBD) survey. Christian Stations receive an average of $180,086 annually per station, and have the second highest number of Donors, with an average of 648 people donating to each station, behind only Ethnic Stations which average 2,351 donors per station. The National average number of donors per station was 203. This positive pattern of giving is familiar in the USA – but is in strong contrast to Europe and most of Asia.
  Source: Squawk, Christian Media Australia

• The Internet Course “WhyJesus?” is now available nationwide in Australia after Why.Jesus.net (Netherlands), Australian Christian Channel, The Careline and Christian Media Australia joined together in the project. The Website has been renewed, e-coaches have been trained and a nationwide network of Churches has been set up to provide good “follow-up” for participants of the course. Advertising campaigns on TV, church networks and Google, invite people to sign up for the course. Each participant is provided with a personal E-coach who is available over a period of 5 weeks to answer their questions. They are then invited to take part in an Alpha course or attend a local church.
  Visit www.whyjesus.com.au

• Christian Media Australia (CMA) has joined with five other Sector bodies on a 5 year plan to create the “World’s most Innovative Accessible Community” Media Sector. Subject to funding being allocated, the group will look at four areas of community broadcasting: Content, Infrastructure, Co-ordination and Training. Under the plan, Community Stations will be developed to operate as community digital hubs on cross media platforms by 2015. The proposal encourages increased media literacy through the provision of stonger local community-owned and operated broadcasting stations; increased opportunities for active participation in local media production; accessible multi-platform media operation and production facilities; extended accredited media skills training and increased diversity in multi-platform media content.
  To download the full submission visit www.cbaa.org.au/content.php?folderid=78

GLOBAL

• UK CONSUMERS IN ‘DIGITAL ELITE’
  According to an OFCOM report, the UK is one of the world’s most advanced countries in terms of Digital communications. The UK Regulator said that people in the UK watched more TV and sent more texts than most countries, but had slower broadband. The UK has the highest proportion of households with digital TV on their main set – at 88%. The OFCOM report compares the UK with countries including France, Germany, Italy, the USA, Poland, Spain, Netherlands and Sweden. Across European countries, the average time spent watching TV was 3.5 hours per day compared to the USA which averaged 4.6 hours a day. The UK was the 2nd highest texting nation in the world, with the volume of outgoing messages estimated to be 83 billion a year, second only to the US where 830 billiion texts were sent. UK consumers enjoy the cheapest prices for mobile phones and broadband, and lead the world in online advertising. However, only 10% of UK homes had broadband speeds of over 8Mbps compared with 37% in Netherlands, placing it 21st out of 30 countries for network speed.
  Source: BBC News

• MICAH 2010 GLOBAL CAMPAIGN
  Micah Challenge has called on Churches around the world to join a global campaign of Prayer and Promise, MICAH 2010, which aims to release half a billion people from extreme poverty. Micah Challenge International Director, Joel Edwards, has invited Christians to unite for a day of prayer and promise on October 10, 2010, to mark ten years since nations promised to get serious about poverty, when they agreed to the Millennium Development Goals in Johannesburg.
  Visit www.micahchallenge.org
  
  

MIDDLE EAST

• SAT-7 TURK
  On January 1st 2010, SAT-7 TURK began its first broadcasts as a full member of the SAT-7 network of channels. It began six years ago as an independent ministry under the name  TURK-7. The launch marks the end of a merger process with SAT-7 and the beginning of an expansion for the Turkish broadcaster. David Middleton, SAT-7 TURK’s Executive Director says, “Being part of a larger organisation provides us with great support that we didn’t have before.” In 2010 they will double their hours of production and gradually become a 24/7 channel by 2011.
  Visit: www.sat7turk.com

• SAT-7 PARS
  SAT-7 PARS, the Christian satellite TV channel for Farsi speakers in the Middle East, has celebrated its 3rd anniversary by producing 3 live programmes in December. 2009 was a difficult year for the PARS team, partly due to the situation in Iran following the elections, and the anxiety of viewers.
  Contact: office@sat7trust.org
  

NORTH AMERICA

• 3D SERVICES
  ESPN and DirecTV are to launch stereoscopic 3D services in the States in the first half of 2010. According to USA Today the dedicated sports network will launch ESPN 3D on June 11, following 2 years of testing. It will kick off with a game from the Football World Cup. Meanwhile, DirecTV is expected to confirm a 3D service at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, aiming to launch in 2011. Discovery said it is forming a joint-venture company with Sony and IMAX to deliver a 3D dedicated 24 hour service next year, showing films, nature programmes and other suitable content. Sky will launch a 3D service in the UK during 2010. Source: Broadcast

• NATIONAL RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERS (NRB)
  NRB has launched a new feature on its Website – “The Media Source“. It’s a compilation of news items which will be updated several times daily and will include articles, press releases and public notices. Dr Frank Wright, President & CEO of NRB said, “We are confident that this will be a ‘go-to’ source every day, on news affecting the industry and religious broadcasters in general.”
  Visit www.nrb.org
  

DIARY DATES

• 
  

SLOVENIA: The next FEB Conference will be 11-14 NOVEMBER 2010 at the City Hotel, Ljubljana, Slovenia with the Theme “Getting Connected?” Terry Ascott, CEO of SAT-7 will be a Plenary Speaker. Register and pay online at www.feb.org

• GERMANY: SIL are holding a Minority Language Focused Outreach Consultation in Muecke, near Giessen, Germany from 27-30 September 2010. They invite Media specialists including radio, TV and internet; IT technicians, translators of minority languages in the Eurasia region; small language centred associations looking for recording or IT help, and Ministry leaders. Contact Steve Baughman: steve_baughman@sil.org
  

• NEPAL
  Two FM Stations led by HCJB and local Partners went on air in Nepal in 2009. Partners have requested three more stations.
  Source: HCJB Global Voice & Hands

• CENTRAL ASIA
  Turkish and Azeri Programmes on TV channel Kanal Hayat are being produced by IBRA to be broadcast in the Turkmen language at the beginning of 2010. Turkmen is spoken by approximately 5.5 million people in Turkmenistan as well as Turkey and Iran.
  Contact info@ibra.se

• INDONESIA
  The Far Eastern Broadcasting Company (FEBC) has established a Media Training Centre to train Christian Broadcasters in Jakarta, Indonesia, following a good response to FEBC programmes including their new Mandarin programme, launched for the large Chinese population living in Indonesia.
  Visit www.febc.org
  

AUSTRALASIA

• Gold Coast’s 107.3FM recently relocated to new Main Beach Studios. The move doubles its floorspace and gains an extra studio. Broadcasting across the road from one of Australia’s best beaches is also proving to have benefits for the Staff!!
  Source: SQUAWK Christian Media Australia

• Sydney’s Hope103.2 has launched its brand new online radio station “Christmas Hope” and a new iphone application which will enable listeners to stream any one of their four online radio stations. “Christmas Hope” will be online at www.christmashope.com.au until December 31st.
  Contact Andrew Morris: Andrew.morris@hope1032.com.au

• 99.9 Live FM in Townsville held “A New Day” on 30th November. The station asked listeners to give the gift of A NEW DAY of Hope by becoming a ministry partner, funding one day of Radio Ministry a month.
  Source: SQUAWK Christian Media Australia

EUROPE

• NORWAY
  Norway’s King has honoured Aage Nevland. Former Secretary General of Family & Media in Norway, and Founding Board Member of FEB, Aage Nevland, has been awarded the King’s Medal of Merit in Silver. Aage is a Radio Mission Pioneer. He entered Christian radio work in 1957 and was part of the pioneer phase of Norea Radio. In 1979 he became Secretary General of Family & Media, a position he held for 22 years. Since 2001 he has been in active retirement. He is still active in the P7 Kristen Riksradio and has produced 2600 programmes in the series “Through the Bible” in Norwegian. The Medal was presented by Dagfinn Hoybraten, MP and Leader of the Christian Democratic Party.
  Contact: Geir Magnus Nyborg gmn@fom.no

• ITALY
  Italian Mobile TV usage will expand rapidly over the next five years, delivering expected revenue of US$685m by 2010, according to new research. Italy is one of the most advanced Mobile TV markets in Europe, with the DVB-H broadcast Mobile TV standard already accounting for 1.2 million users. It is estimated that this number will double to 2.5 million by 2015, by which time the total number of users will be 5.1 million, according to a report from Coda Research Consultancy.
  Source: C21Media.net

• UK
  United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) has begun broadcasting nationally in the UK on DAB Digital Radio. UCB follows Premier Radio into the UK National Christian Radio scene. UCB UK was previously available on digital radio in some areas but can now be heard across the whole UK, including Northern Ireland.
  Contact Paula Cummings: pcummings@ucb.co.uk

• SPAIN
  Spanish Telecoms giant Telefonica has agreed a €470m (US$707.7m) deal with media group Prisa to buy 21% of Spain’s largest satellite platform, Digital+. Telefonica will pay Prisa €240m and cancel out €230m of debt. Reports last year suggested that Prisa had received initial offers from BSkyB and Vivendi. Telefonica will have the right to appoint two members to the board of Digital+. The two companies have also agreed to explore collaboration in developing other Audiovisual ventures in Spain.
  Source: C21Media.net

• UK
  Marketplace Chaplains Europe is now working in England and Scotland. They contract with Businesses to provide Chaplain Care Teams. Teams include a man and a woman and represent the different language groups of the Business. Chaplain Care Teams are permanently on call, in addition to worksite visits. In its first year of service, over 50% of Clients’ staff or families had access to the Chaplains. Business Leaders report that they see a reduction in staff absenteeism, and improvements in staff team work and morale.
  Contact Jonathan Martin, Marketplace Chaplains Europe: jonathanmartin@mchap.co.uk www.mchap.co.uk

• FRANCE
  French Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) channels are increasing production of original programming and upping their acquisitions. As a result, reality television is making a comeback, although DTT operators don’t have the same budgets as the big terrestrials. This autumn has seen W9 launching 15 weekly episodes of the French version of mainstream format The X Factor, produced by FremantleMedia France. Endemol France has picked up Temptation Island – a series cancelled by TF1 – with a Virgin 17 Commission. Adventure Line Productions has created a new reality TV show in the vein of The Bachelor for TMC. All French DTT channels claim to have increased their original programming because original content is seen as vital in building their identities and enlarging their Audiences in a highly competitive market.
  Source: C21Media.net

• UK
  British Christian Media has a new programme on Satellite TV and the Internet. “Out of the Box” is a 10 minute programme with testimonies, original songs and special events, showing the wide scope of Christianity in the UK.
  Contact: admin@britishchristian.tv

• EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
  As part of the new EU Telecoms Directive, MEPs have agreed to set up a European body bringing together all 27 National Regulators – the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) – to be established in Spring 2010. They also plan to turn the Citizens’ Rights Directive into national legislation in the 27 Member States by 26 April 2011.
  Source: European Parliament Press Office

• NORTHERN IRELAND
  According to Trevor Birney, Managing Director of a Belfast Production Company, and formerly Editor for Current Affairs at Ulster Television, Belfast has been left out of the “Digital Britain” Public Service Broadcasting Review and will not receive seriously needed funding into local news and current affairs. “Scotland, England and Wales will all get a multi-million pound project to experiment with new and innovative digital newsgathering models. Northern Ireland will get a packet of crisps!” said Birney. Local Culture Minister, Nelson McCausland has asked for firm proposals on how Northern Ireland will be included in Digital Britain.
  Source: Broadcast

• UK
  According to the Digital Radio Development Bureau, (DRDB), sales of digital radios in the UK have broken the 10 million barrier ahead of the peak Christmas sales period. It took 8 years to reach the first 5 million sales in 2007 but the second 5 milliion has been achieved in just 30 months. DRDB CEO Tony Moretta said, “This is a significant moment for everyone in the digital radio industry: broadcasters, manufacturers and retailers. 10 million sales is an incredible achievement for any technology, and it proves that digital radio is here to stay.”
  Source: Radio Magazine

• NORWAY
  The Norwegian versions of the websites “LookingForGod” and “WhyJesus?” were launched on December 1st 2009. They hope to use the internet to lead searching people step by step to God and to local Churches. On the first day 500 people visited the websites and 20 people emailed their commitment to Christ. The Norwegians brought together several Christian organisations and TopMission and Agape NL presented the plan. “LookingForGod” is a website which explains who God is, and how someone can choose to become a follower of Jesus. “ConnaitreDieu” was the first website created by the French organisation TopMission. “WhyJesus?” is an internet course for people who want to take their journey forward and get to know Jesus better. The course was developed by the Evangelical Broadcasting Organisation (EO) in the Netherlands and handed over to Agape Netherlands this year.
  Email Jan-Willem Bosman jwbosman@agape.nl

• UK
  BBC Radio 4’s “Thought for the Day” will remain closed to atheists and humanists, after the BBC Trust rejected accusations that the Radio 4 Today agenda-setting programme is in breach of editorial guidelines. The Regulator said it was a matter of discretion for the Director General and the BBC Executive to decide whether to keep the religious slot as it is, or to change it to include non-religious perspectives. The ruling followed complaints from lobby groups, who said the policy of only allowing speakers from mainstream faiths amounted to discrimination. Average Daily Audience is over 5 million.
  Source: Broadcast

• EUROPEAN COUNCIL
  Herman van Rompuy took up his post as the new permanent President of the European Council on 1st December. He is the Christian Democrat Prime Minister of Belgium and has experience as a reconciler between different cultural and linguistic groups in Belgium. The UK Labour Party’s Baroness Catherine Ashton has been appointed as the new High Representative for Foreign and Security affairs. She was the UK European Commissioner responsible for International Trade.
  Source: Care for Europe

• UK
  Regulator OFCOM reports that complaints about TV programmes have more than doubled in the last four years. Chief Executive Ed Richards told the UK Parliamentary Culture Committee that “there has been a steady increase, even after ‘major incidents’ had been stripped out of the figures.”
  Source: Broadcast

GLOBAL

• TRANS WORLD RADIO BECOMES “TWR”
  Trans World Radio has announced an official change of name to TWR. The ministry will also adopt the global positioning statement, “Speaking Hope to the World” to fortify their new identity. CEO Lauren Libby explained that while their commitment to Radio broadcasting remains, the name Trans World Radio no longer fully conveys the wide scope of the organisation. TWR is a multi-faceted media ministry which will maintain radio as a keystone communication component, but will also employ a strategic integration of new media platforms, and seek to enlarge its broadcasting footprint.
  Visit www.twr.org

• GOOGLE TO DOMINATE ONLINE ADS?
  According to Michael Comish, CEO of Blinkbox, Google is aiming to dominate the market for online Video Advertising. Recent events, including a deal to show Channel 4 Programmes on YouTube and Google’s announcement of an auction-based video ad platform, demonstrate this strategy. Four factors determine success in online advertising: the Size of the audience (reach), Technology, the strength of Relationships with the advertisers and Inventory. As Google’s dominance grows in each of these areas the company will gain more advertising revenue. Google has recently completed a deal with Twitter to integrate real time data into its products.
  Source: Broadcast

LATIN AMERICA

• ECUADOR
  HCJB’s 56 years of shortwave broadcasting from Pifo, Ecuador, has ended but the mission has refocused its efforts on satellite networks, local radio and internet, production and distribution, radio planting and radio training. Shortwave continues from other locations.
  Visit www.hcjb.org

• BOLIVIA
  
  

  Official Country Name	Republic of Bolivia
  Region	South America
  Population	8,300,463
  Languages	Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
  Literacy Rate	83.1%
  Size	1,098,480 sq. km
  GDP	8,281 (US$ millions)
  Number of TV Stations	48
  Number of TV sets	86,500,000
  TV Sets per 1,000	108.4
  Number of Radio Stations	321
  Number of Radio receivers	5,250,000
  Radio Receivers per 1,000	632.5
  Number of individuals with computers	140,000
  Number of individuals with Internet access	120,000
  Internet access per 1,000	14.5

  
  

MIDDLE EAST

• SAT-7
  SAT-7, the satellite television network for the Middle East and North Africa, has been honoured by the UK’s Christian Broadcasting Council with a Gold Exploits Award in recognition of their pioneering work since 1995 in giving the Church of the Middle East and North Africa a voice and a visible presence through its broadcasts. This award was particularly directed at SAT-7’s founder and CEO, Terence Ascott. Roy Kemp, SAT-7 International Treasurer and Chair of the UK Board, received the award in front of many of the founders and pioneers of Christian Broadcasting. Olave Snelling, Chair of CBC commented: “We wanted to say thank you to the pioneers of Christian Media who have gone out into the UK and the world, for the remarkable work they are doing.”
  Email: catherinerawlings@sat7trust.org

• HCJB
  Paid airtime on two shortwave transmitters is now delivering a powerful signal across North Africa with programming in Arabic, Tachelhit, Hassaniya and Pulaar. HCJB Global staff helped to train radio production teams in the region. An estimated 1 million households tune in weekly to broadcasts sent via satellite, shortwave, local stations and online.
  Source: HCJB Global Voice & Hands

NORTH AMERICA

• USA
  North American IPTV start-up TV2Moro has launched a subscription pay-TV service to serve Arabic communities in the US and Canada. The service is available through a set-top box and includes channels such as Al-Jazeera English, Al Hayat 1 and 2, and Orbit Al Yawm. A further 10 channels will be added in the near future.
  Source: C21Media.net

• USA
  Dave Jones, Vice President of the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association has just completed 31 years with the Organisation. FEB joins friends from around the world in saying, “Congratulations Dave – and thanks!”
  Visit www.palau.org

• USA
  The National Religious Broadcasters’ Convention will be held from February 27 to March 2nd 2010, at the Gaylord Convention Centre in Nashville, Tennessee. Speakers include Chuck Colson, author and Founder of Prison Fellowship; Kay Arthur, Founder and CEO of Precept Ministries International and Del Tackett, President of Focus on the Family Leadership Institute. There will be “Bootcamps” and Workshops including one on Internet Evangelism.
  Visit www.nrbconvention.org
  

DIARY DATES

• 
  

SLOVENIA: The next FEB Conference will be 11-14 November 2010 at the City Hotel, Ljubljana, Slovenia with the Theme “Getting Connected?” David Shearman, Senior Pastor at the Nottingham Christian Centre will be the Bible Teacher. Register online at www.feb.org

• SOUTH AFRICA: The Association of Christian Broadcasters (ACB) Conference will be held at the Ocean View Hotel, Strand Cape from 9-11 March 2010. The Theme is “Raising your Game” and Registration Forms are now available.
  Contact: djhotchkiss@telkomsa.net

• UK: The “World Changers” Conference will be held on Saturday 20th February 2010 at the Faith Life Church in Cambridge, UK. Speakers will include Andrea Minichiello Williams from Christian Concern for our Nation (CCFON).
  Contact Dr Lisa Nolland: ls.n@talktalk.net

EUROPE

• NETHERLANDS
  New Dutch Media Laws mean that activities that are not directly related to a Dutch TV / Radio Programme, are no longer allowed within the Dutch Public Broadcasting System. EO’s “WhyJesus? ministry has therefore joined with Agape Netherlands (part of Campus Crusade for Christ International). Agape has been involved in the “LookingforGod” website and other evangelism websites and a close partner of EO for a number of years. Continuing the ministry under the umbrella of Agape is expected to give new impetus to the WJ? concept internationally and to the “Stepping Stones” strategy.
  Contact: Jan-Willem Bosman jwbosman@agape.nl

• UK
  The UK government’s Consultation on the process of introducing Product Placement in UK programmes has been launched. Outgoing ITV chairman Michael Grade says it will put broadcasters on a “level playing field” with international rivals. Introducing branded ad partners in programmes could generate between £25m and £35m a year for UK broadcasters within 5 years. Alcohol, junk food and gambling industries may be restricted or banned from placing their products in shows. Parties have until 8 January 2010 to submit their responses on the parameters of product placement. The Consultation will also decide whether there should be a “specific prohibition” of product placement in Religious Programmes, Current Affairs and Consumer Shows. UK Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said that Product Placement must have “adequate safeguards to address concerns that relaxing the rules will threaten the trust of viewers and the integrity of programming”.
  Source: Broadcast

• EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
  The European Parliament and the Council of Ministers have reached an agreement on the EU Telecoms Reform, after negotiations brokered by the European Commission. The reform substantially strengthens competition and consumer rights on Europe’s telecoms markets. It facilitates high-speed internet broadband connections to all Europeans and establishes a European Body of Telecoms Regulators to complete the single market for telecoms networks and services. Following final votes in Parliament and Council in November, these reforms could come into force in early 2010.
  Source: www.europa.eu

• SWEDEN
  Popular music-streaming service Spotify has signed a deal with Scandinavian IPTV provider Telia that will make Spotify available on TV for the first time. Telia, which has some 532,000 IPTV subscribers in its Swedish market, will bundle Spotify to its ISP and mobile customers, and into its set-top boxes from digital TV. The company said, “This is a big step towards being able to offer Swedish homes the very best in digital entertainment services.”
  Source: C21Media.net

• NETHERLANDS
  A new Dutch Children’s Channel was launched on 12 November on cable platforms CAIW and Lijbrandt Telecom. Pebble TV will be free of advertising and will offer a schedule of non-violent entertainment. Pebble is funded by private investors. A separate feed for Dutch-speaking Belgium is being developed.
  Source: C21Media.net

• UK
  The BBC is set to bring iPlayer to Freesat, with closed beta testing beginning on the platform before the end of November. The trial will be a major step towards making iPlayer available on TV sets – one of the key aims in the proposed Project Canvas. BBC future media and technology controller Rahul Chakkara said the broadcaster was keen to bring the catch-up service to “other platforms and devices.” “Our success with BBC iPlayer on Virgin Media has shown that there is an appetite among our audience for BBC iPlayer on the television,” he said. The iPlayer service on Virgin Media now accounts for 200 million programme views – more than a quarter of all iPlayer viewing.
  Source: Broadcast

• LISBON TREATY
  The ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by the Czech Republic was finalised on 3rd November 2009. In the morning the Czech Constitutional Court rejected the appeal lodged by conservative senators and declared that the treaty was compatible with the Czech Constitution. Several hours later President Vaclav Klaus signed the text. The Treaty will come into effect on 1st December 2009 and amongst other significant changes will create the post of President and Foreign Secretary of Europe.
  Source: European Voice & Robert Schuman Foundation.

• UK
  UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB’s Sky Mobile TV service has developed an application that allows iPhone and iPod Touch users to access live streamed TV on their handsets. Users will have to sign up for a Sky user ID before getting access to services and will have to pay £6 a month.
  Source: C21Media.net
  

• EUROPEAN COMMISSION
  Senior MEPs are casting doubt on whether the next European Commission will be in place by 1st January, with mid-February being more likely. As a result of the Lisbon Treaty being agreed, a permanent President of the European Council must be appointed, as well as a High Representative for Foreign Affairs, who will also be a Vice President of the Commission. Jose Manuel Barroso, the Commission President, has said he needs decisions on those names before he can finalise the composition of the new Commission and put forward his team of commissioners for approval by the European Parliament.
  Source: European Voice

• SERBIA
  ELION Christian Media are searching for basic equipment for their broadcast ministry, including a video camera, software for audio and video editing, subtitling software and a good computer.
  Contact: Sasko Bogeski elionmedia@gmail.com

AFRICA