Latest from Broadcast Pro
Broadcast Pro
a day ago
- Science
- Broadcast Pro
Saudi Arabia launches student experiments to ISS
The Madak Space competition was created to help space enthusiasts turn their ideas into practical experiments in the ISSs microgravity environment. The Saudi Space Agency (SSA) has announced that the winning experiments from its Madak Space competition have been launched to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of an international mission that lifted off from NASAs Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. This achievement underscores Saudi Arabias commitment to scientific innovation and developing emerging talent in the growing field of space sciences. The mission carries 10 student-designed experiments developed by participants from Saudi Arabia and across the Arab world. Selected through the Madak Space competition, the projects explore microgravitys impact on diverse fields such as the arts, plant biology and engineering. The initiative was organised by the SSA in partnership with the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation Misk and the Ilmi Science Discovery and Innovation Centre to encourage young people passionate about space science to turn their ideas into practical research. The competition drew more than 80,000 registrants from the Arab region, reflecting strong enthusiasm for scientific exploration and innovation. Submissions were divided into three thematic tracks, giving students the opportunity to tackle challenges across multiple disciplines. The launch marks a significant step in Saudi Arabias broader strategy to strengthen its role in international space programmes while fostering a knowledge-based economy. It also aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to prepare a new generation to contribute effectively to the future of the space sector and drive the countrys scientific and technological progress.
Broadcast Pro
a day ago
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Survival of the Smartest: Cloud Playout as a Strategic Weapon
Cloud costs are often lower than traditional systems when factoring in hidden expenses like maintenance, energy and infrastructure, while eliminating up-front capital investment and enabling new monetisation models insertion and personalised content delivery. Market consolidation, multi-platform content delivery, economic and political turmoil, and rising cost pressures are forcing broadcasters to rethink their strategies. Adaptability and innovation are no longer optional – they're essential. Enter cloud-native playout: transforming how broadcasters manage operations, control costs and stay competitive. From 'Lift and Shift' to Cloud-Native Excellence The initial days of cloud adoption may have projected a grim picture, because broadcasters migrated their traditional on-premise systems to the cloud using a 'lift and shift' approach. Simply running existing playout software on virtual machines in the cloud without any architectural adaptation led to inefficiencies and reliability issues. Disappointment and doubt followed. Cloud costs sky rocketed, negating the advantages that the cloud had been sold on: resource efficiency, reducing costs, flexibility and scalability. The landscape has since transformed dramatically. Cloud-native solutions have rewritten the script by leveraging containerised, microservices-based architectures. The new outlook? Enhanced scalability, rock-solid reliability and profound cost savings. A microservices-based architecture allows discrete functions like graphics, switching and audio to operate as independent services, each capable of scaling based on demand. This ensures that all components of the playout system are agile and adaptable, making it possible to dynamically adjust capacity during peaks, such as major sports events, without compromising performance. Plus, remote operations help teams easily manage playout channels from anywhere using accessible web-based interfaces. Dispelling Persistent Cloud Myths Early mis-steps in cloud adoption have left people thinking that cloud technology is too expensive, unreliable or insecure. In reality, cloud costs are often lower than traditional systems when factoring in hidden expenses like maintenance, energy and infrastructure, while eliminating up-front capital investment and enabling new monetisation models such as dynamic ad insertion and personalised content delivery. Reliability has also become a nonissue, with today's cloud-native systems offering built-in redundancy and top-tier uptime. Security concerns have similarly faded, as cloud providers now offer advanced encryption and threat protection that often surpass in-house capabilities. The Strategic Advantages of Cloud Playout Broadcast executives considering a move to cloud-native playout systems want proven results, and cloud technology delivers across every operational dimension. Scalability and flexibility enable broadcasters to launch pop-up channels in minutes and dynamically allocate resources, scaling up for live events and down for file-based content to reduce costs and improve agility. Cost control is achieved through a pay-as-you-go model. Reliability and availability are ensured through redundant cloud architectures offering up to 99.9999% up-time, with dynamic failover and pre-emptive error detection safeguarding against service disruptions. Operational efficiency is boosted by automation that streamlines tasks, allowing smaller teams to manage more channels while simplifying multi-platform delivery. Finally, future-readiness is built in, where cloud-native systems empower broadcasters to meet rising audience demands, launch new services quickly and stay competitive in a fast-changing media landscape. As market consolidation continues and multi-platform demands grow, staying competitive means adopting tools that prioritise adaptability, cost control and operational excellence. The most successful broadcasters will be the ones who see cloud playout not just as a technology investment, but as a strategic imperative.
Broadcast Pro
a day ago
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Dubai Press Club announces second edition of Arab Podcast Programme
The fivw-week programme, which will start on July 7, aims to empower both emerging and established podcasters with the skills and tools needed to thrive The Dubai Press Club has announced the launch of the second edition of the Arab Podcast Programme, a five-week training initiative aimed at empowering Arab content creators and expanding audio storytelling across the region. Set to begin on 7 July, the programme is part of the Club's broader efforts to advance the Arab media industry and enhance digital media skills in line with the region's evolving content landscape. Building on the success of its inaugural edition, the programme reflects the Dubai Press Club's ongoing commitment to fostering innovation in Arabic media and supporting creators with hands-on experience. Through comprehensive training, participants will develop professional skills in all stages of podcast production—from concept development to monetisation—enabling them to produce high-quality content that resonates with Arab audiences. Mona Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council and President of the Dubai Press Club, stated that the initiative aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the directives of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to invest in Arab media talent and provide them with the tools needed to thrive in the digital era. She highlighted the programme's role in strengthening Arabic content online and moving the region from content consumption to content creation. Al Marri also emphasised Dubai's leadership in media innovation and talent development, noting that the initiative offers a supportive environment for emerging Arab podcasters to gain creative, technical, and industry expertise. Maryam Al Mulla, Acting Director of the Dubai Press Club, said the new edition has been refined to meet the needs of the region's fast-growing podcast sector. It features enhanced training modules and includes the participation of leading Arab podcasters, ensuring that participants receive guidance grounded in real-world experience and market understanding. Programme Director Mahfoudha Saleh added that the initiative reflects Dubai's vision for shaping the future of Arab media and aims to develop globally competitive audio content. She noted that the focus is not only on technical training but also on storytelling and audience engagement. The programme will conclude with a special session featuring graduates from the first edition, who will share how the initiative helped them shape original Arab audio content. With a mission to inspire and equip a new generation of podcasters, the Arab Podcast Programme continues to reinforce Dubai's role as a media innovation hub and a catalyst for digital transformation in the Arab world. Interested individuals can register for the programme through the Dubai Press Club's official website.
Broadcast Pro
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Karlovy Vary IFF adds Iranian film ‘Bidad' as final Crystal Globe Competition title
The film tells the story of young singer Seti who refuses to accept the fact that women in Iran are not allowed to perform in public. The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has announced that Iranian feature Bidad, directed by Soheil Beiraghi, will complete the line-up for its main Crystal Globe Competition. This brings the total number of competing films to 12. When the festival first revealed its official selection in early June, organisers disclosed that an Iranian title will join the competition but withheld its identity to protect the safety of the film's director and crew. In a statement, the festival explained that the secrecy was necessary until Beiraghi and his team could leave Iran without risk of repercussions. Bidad, which will have its world premiere at Karlovy Vary, follows the story of Seti, a young singer who refuses to accept Iran's ban on women performing publicly. Defying religious laws, she takes her music to the streets, where her performances quickly resonate with a younger generation determined to challenge the country's repressive rules. As her popularity grows, Seti becomes a symbol of resistance and hope. Beiraghi created the film independently, acknowledging that it will not have passed Iranian censorship due to its critical portrayal of the regime. Despite working outside the official system, he was still investigated by authorities while making the film. The festival expressed relief and excitement after receiving confirmation just days ago that Beiraghi and his team were safely en route to Europe. Now free to share the film publicly, Karlovy Vary has unveiled Bidad as the final entry in this year's competition slate. Bidad marks Beiraghi's fourth feature, following Me (2016), Cold Sweat (2018) and Unpopular (2020). He will personally present the premiere during the festival.
Broadcast Pro
a day ago
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Starlink resumes in several African cities after months-long pause
This comes after a seven-month suspension imposed in October 2024 to ease severe network congestion resulting from overwhelming demand. Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, has reopened new customer subscriptions in several high-demand African cities after a pause that lasted over seven months. Users across Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana and Zimbabwe have reported renewed access to the service's sign-up portal, indicating that Starlink is gradually lifting its restrictions on residential orders in previously congested urban areas. Cities now seeing open registration include Nairobi and its outskirts, Lusaka, Kano, Port Harcourt, Warri, Accra and various parts of Zimbabwe. However, some major urban centressuch as Harare, Lagos and Abujaremain under access restrictions due to ongoing bandwidth limitations. The suspension of new sign-ups in November 2024 was prompted by overwhelming demand that exceeded the networks capacity in multiple African metros. At the time, Starlink issued a notice stating that the system was saturated and unable to accommodate additional users, affecting cities like Nairobi, Kiambu, Lusaka, Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Warri and Accra. While Starlink has not officially confirmed the resumption, the removal of the sold-out notification on its website for several cities suggests backend infrastructure improvements have been made to alleviate congestion and expand capacity. The company now appears to be cautiously rolling out access in areas where the network can accommodate new users. The reopening marks a significant step in Starlinks evolving presence in Africa, as it seeks to meet the continents growing demand for reliable, high-speed internet. Although capacity challenges remain in certain key cities, the partial resumption of service signals progress in addressing network strain and reaffirms Starlinks role in expanding digital connectivity across the region.
