Go back to the enewsletter Club Med Bali will com
Go back to the e-newsletterClub Med Bali will complete an ongoing full renovation project of the resort, and is relaunching as the perfect location for a Family, Wellness & Cultural holiday in 2017. Located in the serene and peaceful enclave of Nusa Dua, the unique and inimitable Premium All-Inclusive resort will offer a newly improved range of plentiful activities for guests from all ages and walks of life come 2017.Must-try experiencesA holistic holiday in nature for all members of the family, the new Club Med Bali is designed with “Must-Try Experiences” to inspire lifelong learning, appreciation for different cultures, a calm and collected state of mind and develop priceless memories with loved ones.“A key trend of the travel industry: more travellers are seeking unique experiences during their holidays, be it a cultural immersion or an offbeat wellness retreat,” shared Henri Giscard d’Estaing, CEO of Club Med. “The pioneer of the Premium All-Inclusive concept, Club Med is well equipped to offer our guests more than just a relaxing holiday – our exceptional locations and well-developed activities constantly undergo reviews and upgrading exercises to provide the best resort experience on top of our Premium All-Inclusive concept.”Guests can enjoy the following new activities together with their loved ones:Discover the mystical Balinese culture togetherA newly constructed Arts & Crafts studio offering cultural art activities,Delectable and authentic Indonesian cuisine and cooking demonstrationsInsightful encounters with traditional Balinese ceremoniesEnriching Bahasa Melayu language lessonsCultural evenings on the beach with entrancing Balinese dance and fire performancesIdyllic and contemporary Zen Pool space to unwind inSunrise and sunset yoga by the beachPeaceful meditation sessionsLush and exotic Balinese spa packages at the spa by Mandara SpaExciting water sports such as surfing, paddle boarding, snorkelling and more in the majestic and sun-dappled waves of the Bali seaBotanical track showcasing the lush and fragrant nature highlights of BaliIndulgent fresh seafood dinners at gourmet lounge, The Deck.The perfect learning playground for childrenNot forgetting the needs and wants of the little ones, Club Med Bali offers a comprehensive Kids’ Club programme and curated services that expose children aged four months to 17 years to the wonders of Bali’s rich culture and lush nature. Housed within the lively and vivid Family Space and run by specially trained Club Med GOs, educational activities such as dancing, petit chef cooking, painting and other arts and crafts serve to spark the children’s enthusiasm and imagination, as they run and play in organised sessions around the resort.A seamless fusion of modern and traditionalThe three-year renovation project saw existing facilities, such as the rooms, transformed into artfully designed areas with a blend of contemporary functionality and authentic Balinese style. New buildings such as the tranquil and luxurious Zen Pool, gourmet lounge The Deck, colourful and inviting Family Space and Splash Park were added to the resort to provide havens for both adults and children to be in their element.Along with a larger than life statue of the Buddha, numerous Balinese Temples occupy the resort grounds as well, lending a touch of spiritual Zen to the atmosphere. Providing a harmonious blend of cultural and progressive architectural highlights, guests are welcome to recline and luxuriate to the fullest during their stay at Club Med Bali.“For anyone looking for the ultimate destination to spend a family holiday on one of the world’s most truly magical islands, Club Med Bali has it all,” says Xavier Desaulles, Club Med’s South East Asia Pacific CEO. “With these latest additions, you can see that the new Club Med Bali has something for everyone, guaranteeing the perfect Family, Wellness and Culture stay.”Go back to the e-newsletter
ON THE second day of the Cyprus conference on Thursday, Turkey sought to gain a tactical advantage with its foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu telegraphing to the Greek Cypriots they should forget about the scrapping of foreign guarantees or full withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island post-settlement.“Greece and the Greek Cypriot side expect no troops and no guarantees. This is a dream they should awake from,” Cavusoglu told the Turkish press on the sidelines of the ongoing conference in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.The aggressive remarks came a day before UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to join the conference, sparking speculation that Ankara’s top diplomat aimed to force a ‘mini crisis’ ahead of the UN chief’s arrival and to position the process on a different track.Cavusoglu described the ongoing round of Cyprus negotiations as a “final” series of talks, according to Anadolu news agency.“We cannot continue negotiations forever,” Cavusoglu told reporters.“This conference on Cyprus is the final one and there should be a conclusion at this round in Crans-Montana,” he added, calling on the Greek Cypriot leadership to bring “acceptable proposals” to the table.Greek media claims about an alleged plan to cut Turkish troop numbers in Cyprus by 80 per cent were dismissed by Ankara earlier on Thursday, Anadolu said.Government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides demurred when asked to respond to Cavusoglu’s remarks, except to say that, given the talks are delicately poised, the parties involved should avoid airing such views.During a press briefing in New York, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, confirmed that Guterres was en route to Switzerland as scheduled.He declined to say how long the UN chief would remain at Crans-Montana.But UN Secretariat sources told the Cyprus News Agency that Guterres would spend at least two days there.Earlier in the day, a report in The Guardian suggested that “privately, the UK has been pressuring Turkey to accept full troop withdrawal”, to be replaced by a multilateral force, either EU- or UN-run, as guarantor.“Ankara has suggested it will propose reducing troop numbers by 80 per cent at the conference but has called a full withdrawal ‘unrealistic’,” the Guardian wrote, citing a well-briefed source as saying “it’s going to require patience.”The conference in the Swiss resort is taking place on two tracks, or tables: internal issues are being negotiated by the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, while taking part in the talks on the external aspect are the two sides in Cyprus as well as Turkey, Greece and the UK.It is widely acknowledged, however, that a breakthrough on security and guarantees is what will make or break this latest attempt at hammering out a Cyprus deal.Reporting from Crans-Montana, the CyBC’s correspondent cited Turkish-Cypriot sources close to the talks as saying their side was ‘not averse’ to considering the multinational force allegedly proposed by the UK, provided that the force included Turkish troops as well.The day’s work began at around 10.30am Cyprus time with negotiations between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot teams, discussing a range of issues.President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci joined the talks shortly after noon.The UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide met with Cavusoglu, and then twice with Akinci.Later, Eide requested an unscheduled meeting with Anastasiades and Akinci, which delayed the wider conference by an hour and a half.Christodoulides said that meeting was held because the UN official sought to take stock of developments up to that point.But reports said problems arose during the day due to the issue of the four freedoms relating to the status of Turkish nationals in Cyprus after a settlement.The evening conference – security and guarantees – got underway shortly after 8.30pm, concluding at around 10.30pm.On the way out, Anastasiades said there was no crisis but there had been some ‘complications’ over the four freedoms.You May LikeFigLeaf Beta AppHow to Become Fully Anonymous Online in Less Than 3 Minutes?FigLeaf Beta AppUndoFigLeaf Beta AppFigLeaf brings You 3 Easy Steps to Privacy on Your Terms…FigLeaf Beta AppUndoFigLeaf Beta AppGet Maximum Privacy with Minimum EffortFigLeaf Beta AppUndo Pensioner dies after crash on Paphos-Polis roadUndoTurkish Cypriot actions in Varosha ‘a clear violation’ of UN resolutions, Nicosia saysUndoRemand for pair in alleged property fraud (Updated)Undoby Taboolaby Taboola
Wednesday’s session of the House environment committee, scheduled for 11am, was postponed after chairman Adamos Adamou found only three of ten members had shown up.Adamou said he invited House Speaker Demetris Syllouris to the room where the session was supposed to take place, so that he could witness the image of a near-empty meeting of the environment committee.He added that Wednesday’s session was extremely important because one of the issues on the agenda had been the planned cutting down of trees in the Akadimias park in Aglandjia to make room for the new, wider road being built.The Akel MP said this was not the first time he raised the issue with the speaker’s office, which he claimed is due to the scheduling of other committee sessions at the same time, with deputies on both committees forced to skip one.Syllouris, Adamou said, pledged to raise the issue at Friday’s meeting of party leaders and demand the strict implementation of regulations that call for two-hour sessions and sanctions against MPs missing committees without an excuse.“I have no intention of continuing this process of worrying whether I am going to have a session of the environment committee or not, which is why I expect solutions on Friday so that the committee can function properly,” he said.In the room at the time the session was scheduled for were only Adamou, the Greens’ Charalambos Theopemptou and Akel’s Evanthia Savva.Akel’s third committee member, Nicos Kettiros, as well as Solidarity’s Michalis Yiorgallas, returned from a trip early on Wednesday and thus were excused from the session.Disy’s Yiorgos Karoullas and Annita Demetriou were at the time still sitting on the Education committee, which was scheduled to convene from 8 to 10am but ran late, as was Diko’s Christos Orphanides.Disy’s Solon Kasinis and Diko’s Charalambos Pittokopitis did not show up for the environment committee session.On the issue of cutting trees in the Akadimias park, Adamou called on the Forestry Department to cease operations scheduled for Thursday until the committee has had a chance to discuss the issue.He said planning for Aglandjia’s main avenues must be reworked to avoid undermining the public’s quality of life.On behalf of a citizens’ movement for the Akadimias Park, Petroula Petrou said that all organized groups opposing the planning for Larnacos and Aglandjia avenues have gathered 4.000 signatures from local residents against any interference in forest parks but have been completely ignored.You May LikeDr. Marty ProPower Plus Supplement3 Dangerous Foods People Feed Their Dogs (Without Realizing It)Dr. Marty ProPower Plus SupplementUndoPopularEverythingColorado Mom Adopted Two Children, Months Later She Learned Who They Really ArePopularEverythingUndoUltimate Pet Nutrition Nutra Thrive SupplementAdd This One Thing To Your Dog’s Food To Help Them Be HealthierUltimate Pet Nutrition Nutra Thrive SupplementUndo Concern over falling tourism numbersUndoTurkish Cypriot actions in Varosha ‘a clear violation’ of UN resolutions, Nicosia saysUndoOur View: Argaka mukhtar should not act as if he owns the beachUndoby Taboolaby Taboola
EAR, nose and throat (ENT) doctors of the private sector said on Thursday they do not intend to join the national health scheme, joining the ranks of several other private practices who have decided to opt out.In a statement, the Cyprus Society of Otorhinolaryngology called on its members not to register with the national health scheme (Gesy) noting that, as it stands, the scheme “is not viable and will result in the downgrading of healthcare services provided to patients.”The society said that a number of issues regarding the operation of Gesy remain vague, and that the demands they recently laid out for participation were not being met.Private-practice doctors will be called to enter into contracts with the organisation implementing Gesy.But primarily due to concerns over remuneration, to date a number of professional groups have either voiced reservations about participating or outright said they will not.Private doctors fear the financial package they are being offered to participate in Gesy is not enough of an incentive.Last week endocrinologists announced they would not be joining the scheme, citing a deficient budget that would lead to low-quality health services.Cardiologists, despite not being fully on board, said each would decide for themselves.Earlier, paediatricians and gastroenterologists likewise said they would not be joining.The ‘desertions’ have angered government officials, who hit back accusing interest groups of seeking to sabotage efforts at introducing a universal healthcare system and of blackmailing the government.However the health minister has put on a brave face, saying he is optimistic that the required number of private doctors would agree to join Gesy.An official said on Thursday that doctors’ registrations would be held in two phases. Those physicians registering with Gesy during the first phase would be offered more incentives than those holding out.Under the government roadmap, contributions for Gesy will begin as of March 2019.The first phase of the scheme is to be rolled out on June 1 of the same year. This concerns outpatient care provided by personal physicians, specialists, pharmacies and labs.Gesy will come into full swing as of June 1, 2020 with inpatient care. You May LikeDirectExposeWorld’s First Surviving Octuplets Are All Grown Up. Look At Them 9 Years LaterDirectExposeUndoPlarium I Vikings: Free Online GamePlay this for 1 minute and see why everyone is addictedPlarium I Vikings: Free Online GameUndoGundry MD PrebioThrive Probiotic SupplementCardiologist: This Is What Happens When You Eat GlutenGundry MD PrebioThrive Probiotic SupplementUndo Pensioner dies after crash on Paphos-Polis roadUndoIsraeli rape suspects freed, woman who alleged assault arrested (Updated)UndoThe Deniz boat incident showed clearly the intentions of the Turkish sideUndoby Taboolaby Taboola
Rep. Daniela R. Garcia voted in support of the state General Fund and School Aid budgets for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 today, sending both to Gov. Rick Snyder for his signature well before the Oct. 1 deadline.“There are many things we should be pleased about with these budgets: They’re fiscally responsible, they’re fair and they’re ahead of schedule again,” said Rep. Garcia, R-Holland. “We’re dealing with many important issues in the state of Michigan and I’m proud of the work we did in the House Committee on Appropriations to address many of these. The fact that House Republicans got done well before the deadline demonstrates a commitment to our communities so that local governments and school districts are not left wondering about their budgets this summer.”In reference to the General Fund budget, Rep. Garcia said: “We’ve increased our financial investment in roads and infrastructure, public safety, veteran care and health services. We have worked very hard in the Appropriations Committee to be fiscally responsible.”The School Aid budget allocates an all-time high $14.2 billion to Michigan school districts, continuing House Republicans’ commitment to education.“All eight public school districts and charter public schools in the 90th District will see a funding increase of $120 per student for the 2016-17 school year,” said Rep. Garcia. “We are continuing the trend of responsibly investing our tax dollars in our public schools and addressing the needs of our students.” Categories: Garcia News,News 08Jun Rep. Garcia: Budgets are responsible, invest in our future
Legislation ensures qualified voter file is kept up to dateLegislation sponsored by state Rep. Julie Calley to protect the integrity of elections in Michigan was signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder today.Calley’s legislation, Public Act 126 of 2018, requires the Secretary of State to keep the list of people who are registered and qualified to vote in Michigan up to date by checking it against U.S. Social Security Administration’s death records. It also requires continued participation in a multi-state program through which information is shared about the current address and registration status of voters.“Election integrity and security are vital concerns,” said Calley, of Portland. “We must do everything we can to ensure them that our qualified voter file is being held to the highest standard possible. When someone passes away or moves to another state, it’s important to update our voter rolls promptly to eliminate the possibility of voter fraud.”While the Secretary of State already utilized these resources to update the qualified voter file, Calley said it was not required law. This law ensures the practice continues in the future.In addition to Calley’s bill, Snyder also signed into law two other bills clarifying current practices of the Secretary of State. Public Act 127 of 2018, sponsored by Rep. Tom Barrett, spells out the procedure by which absentee voters can change their mind and spoil their absentee ballot. Public Act 129 of 2018, sponsored by Rep. Aaron Miller, clarifies the current list of acceptable forms of identification for election purposes.“Establishing these current practices as law ensures the Secretary of State and local election officials are all on the same page, and provides residents with confidence in the database of qualified voters,” said Calley, who serves as vice chair of the House Elections and Ethics Committee.### Categories: Calley News 03May Gov. Snyder signs Rep. Calley’s bill to safeguard election integrity
Rep. Pamela Hornberger today successfully secured state money to help with improvements at a Chesterfield Township park.The funding is included in a new state budget approved by the Michigan Legislature.The $50,000 allocation will help build a parking lot for Veteran’s Memorial Park on Community Center Drive between Hall Road and 21 Mile Road located in the township.“Adding a parking lot will improve a quiet neighborhood park dedicated to those who have served and sacrificed for us in the military,” Hornberger said. “It will create a safer environment for kids and everyone else using it because cars won’t have to park on neighborhood streets.”The park features a ball field and play area along with tributes to the military.The state budget for the fiscal year starting in October also includes increased support for road repairs, workforce development and K-12 schools, along with significantly increased investment in school security. Overall, however, the budget does not increase government spending.The budget bills, House Bill 5579 and Senate Bill 848, advance to Gov. Rick Snyder for his consideration.### 12Jun Rep. Hornberger secures state funding for Chesterfield Township park Categories: Hornberger News,News
Categories: Berman News 08May Rep. Berman accepting nominations for Outstanding Educator Award State Rep. Ryan Berman of Commerce Township is seeking outstanding educators throughout the 39th District to present with an Outstanding Educator Award.Each month, starting in May, at least one educator from Huron Valley Schools, Walled Lake Consolidated Schools or West Bloomfield School District will be presented with a tribute from Rep. Berman’s office. Any resident of the 39th District is invited to nominate a K-12 educator they believe goes above and beyond the status quo.“Educators deserve recognition and appreciation for the outstanding job they do inside and outside of the classroom,” Rep. Berman said. “I hope everyone gets involved and nominates those who are making positive impacts on our students.”To nominate an educator, please visit Rep. Berman’s website at www.RepBerman.com and click on the Outstanding Educator Award tab near the top of the page.If you have any questions or concerns please contact Rep. Berman’s office via email at RyanBerman@house.mi.gov or by phone at (517) 373-1799.
Rep. Daire Rendon joined the state House this week to approve a budget plan investing more in roads, schools and other programs that will make life better for Northern Michigan families.“This plan addresses what residents in our communities need most – better roads, better schools and career paths, and improved access to mental health care so important to families in crisis,” said Rendon, of Lake City. “It’s a plan that protects and enhances our Northern Michigan way of life. I will continue to fight for these priorities as the budget process moves forward with the Senate and the governor.”The plan approved by the House does not include any tax increases.Some of the highlights:Schools. The plan raises the state’s minimum per-pupil foundation allowance by $180 per student, which includes the vast majority of Northern Michigan school districts. All districts statewide will receive at least $90 more per student. This comes on top of the largest annual per-student increase of the past 15 years – which schools are receiving in the current budget year – while continuing to close the gap between the state’s lowest- and highest-funded districts. Early literacy and career training are special focuses as the overall school aid fund adds more than $200 million to surpass $15 billion. Roads. The plan ensures the taxes collected at the gas pump go to improve our roads – including the 6 percent sales tax motorists already pay. This change could add more than $800 million more per year to road repairs – without raising taxes – once fully phased in over two years. This change would be accomplished without sacrificing money for schools, local government revenue sharing or other essential public services. Categories: Daire Rendon News,News ### 13Jun Rep. Rendon: House budget invests in Northern Michigan roads, schools and mental health programs Promoting agriculture. The House plan supports family farms and increases funding for Michigan State University’s AgBioResearch and Extension programs. The research program helps find advancements in food safety, nutrition and other areas important to Northern Michigan agriculture and the entire state. Strengthening and protecting communities. The plan commits more resources to protect drinking water and clean up the environment. Local communities would get an increase in revenue sharing to enhance essential public services. More Michigan State Police troopers and state prison corrections officers would be trained. The House budget plan costs taxpayers about $1.3 billion less than the plan recommended by the governor, helped by several efforts to improve government efficiency.Rendon represents the 103rd District in the Michigan House, which includes Missaukee, Crawford, Kalkaska, Roscommon and Ogemaw counties. Promoting mental health and supporting families. The plan boosts access to mental health services, including $1 million for a statewide hotline to connect those in need with immediate help, and makes clear the Legislature supports funding to expand the psychiatric facility within the Caro Center. The plan also supports rural hospitals and continues to fight the opioid addiction epidemic.
ShareTweetShareEmail0 Shares January 7, 2014; Mother JonesA recent study published in Social Science Quarterly titled “Moving Pictures? Experimental Evidence of Cinematic Influence on Political Attitudes” found that people who watched one of two sentimental movies (either Francis Ford Coppola’s fairly polemical The Rainmaker or James L. Brooks’ more subtle As Good As It Gets) experienced “leftward shifts” in their attitudes, often becoming more supportive of the Affordable Care Act, or other “liberal” health care polices. According to Dr. Todd Adkins, the study’s principal author, “Viewers come expecting to be entertained and are not prepared to encounter and evaluate political messages as they would during campaign advertisements or network news.”So Mother Jones went looking for other studies where moviegoers were shown to have experienced an inadvertant turn to the right of left or otherwise after seeing a particular film. Below are excerpts of what they found:JFK destroyed your faith in the American political system In a 1995 study of viewers before and after seeing the film, Stanford psychologist Lisa Butler et al. found that seeing the movie JFK “doubled the level of anger” of viewers and “was associated with a significant decrease in viewers’ reported intentions to vote or make political contributions.” The researchers attributed this response feeling of helplessness.The Day After Tomorrow made you care more about global warming. Yale researcher Anthony Leiserowitz conducted a national survey three weeks after the film’s release, and found that 83 percent of film viewers said they were “somewhat” or “very concerned” about global warming, compared with 72 percent of nonwatchers.The Cider House Rules turned you pro-choiceA 2011 study by Kenneth Mulligan and Philip Habel at Southern Illinois University found that the “fictional framing” of the abortion issue in The Cider House Rules made audiences more supportive of safe and legal abortion. “Participants who were randomly assigned to watch [The Cider House Rules] were more favorable toward legalized abortion in the case of incest than those in the control group,” the authors wrote. In fact, they added, “the movie had a significant effect despite the fact that opinions on abortion tend to be deeply entrenched.”Malcolm X inspired you to be more concerned about racial discrimination and race relations. In a 1997 study in the Journal of Politics, Darren Davis of Michigan State University and Christian Davenport of the University of Colorado-Boulder examined the affect of the 1992 film Malcolm X (directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington) on African Americans in Houston. The study found the film, and the way it was reinforced in other media, to be “quite powerful in altering political attitudes” among the study subjects.All the President’s Men caused Republicans to favor more restrictions on the press. All the President’s Men is actually credited with boosting enrollment numbers at journalism school in the United States, due to the heroism of the two journalists. The film also affected the Republican and Democratic attitudes towards the press, according to a 1979 study by professors William R. Elliott, of the University of Oregon, and William J. Schenck-Hamlin, of Kansas State University. As you would probably guess, the study found that the movie caused liberal viewers to have a more positive view of the press and caused conservative ones to hold a more negative one.What movies would you nominate as political attitude–changing?—Ruth McCambridgeShareTweetShareEmail0 Shares
Share123TweetShare16Email139 SharesBy Michael Coghlan from Adelaide (Brexit Opinion) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia CommonsJune 26, 2016; Rolling StoneWriting for Rolling Stone, Katherine Cross warns U.S. voters against bitter or clueless ballot protests, which made up a small but considerable part of the “Brexit” referendum on whether the UK should remain as part of the European Union. In doing so, she is speculating, of course, about the direction Sanders voters will turn, which appears to be toward Hillary Clinton. The Brexit vote took the UK by surprise; approximately 70 percent of all voters, and 54 percent of pro-Brexit voters anticipated the referendum to fail. Brian Fung, reporting for the Washington Post, writes that in the UK, amid official resignations from government officials and an economy skidding off the road, the 250 percent uptick in Britons Googling to find out what the EU is after the vote to leave last week could be interpreted as an indication of an “Oh…what?” moment.“Even though I voted to leave, this morning I woke up and I just—the reality did actually hit me,” one woman told the news channel ITV News. “If I’d had the opportunity to vote again, it would be to stay.”(Then again, that surge amounts to about a thousand people, more reflective of researchers than a wave of regret.)International Business Times reports similar reactions. One man confessed he really had no idea that his “leave” vote would count, and is now “quite worried.” Even Kelvin MacKenzie, the former editor of the Sun, admitted to feeling “buyer’s remorse” after voting for Britain to leave the EU.Now, the bed has been made with a 52% to 48% vote, and those “regrexiters” will have to find reasons to throw away that bitter ballot. One petition, posted on a British government website on September 25th, now shows 4 million signatures. It reads, “We the undersigned call upon HM Government to implement a rule that if the remain or leave vote is less than 60% based a turnout less than 75% there should be another referendum.” The site says that Parliament considers all petitions that get more than 100,000 signatures for debate, and Government responds to all petitions that get more than 10,000 signatures.But has the die been cast too long to be withdrawn? The EU’s remaining 27 members will now decide how aggressive they will be in making demands to the UK should it pull the trigger on invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty of 2007 and proceeding to leave. After that will follow two years of negotiations about the terms of Britain’s future relationship with Europe. In other words, time remains for the British electorate’s fateful decision to play out. Cross’s argument against “protest votes” in general and the Brexit in particular concludes with this warning:For all those who think Bernie-or-bust is reasonable, I urge them to consider what has been awakened across Europe. Justice will not be served by bitter or clueless ballot protests—but darker forces will be very grateful for your support. And there will be no time for regrets.In a perfect world, the “protest vote” can be principled and true, but in our fractured world it can be lamentable. Thoughtful and intentional voting matters because each generation must fight for and win cherished rights, benefits, freedoms, and liberties. Every vote matters, which is why not voting to avoid the lesser of two perceived evils is just as problematic as the “protest vote.”—Ruth McCambridgeShare123TweetShare16Email139 Shares
Russian service provider Rostelecom is relaunching its IPTV service with the addition of new channels and availability of services across multiple screens.The new service, branded Interaktivnoe TV, will include 200 channels, including 17 HD channels, and will be available via PCs and tablets as well as TVs, according to project chief Andrei Kholodniy, speaking at a conference in Moscow.The service will cost between RUB220-280 (€5.60-7.20) a month depending on the package chosen. Viewers will be able to record up to three channels simultaneously, with the ability to pause and rewind. Video-on-demand will also be included, as well as a three-day catch-up service.The service includes new media portal Zabava.ru, which will provide access to over 60,000 e-books, 8,000 games and over a million music tracks as well as a catalogue of video titles and software products. Kholodniy said the company had struck agreements with movie studios Universal Studios, Warner Bros, Disney, Sony Pictures and 20th Century Fox, and music studios including Universal Music, Freestyle Records and Gala Records. Subscription packages are available for RUB99 a month, allowing unlimited access to a specific catalogue within the Zabava.ru portal.The new service is initially replacing Rostelecom’s existing IPTV offering in all regions except Moscow, where it offers internet and TV services under a separate brand.The interactive TV service will also include integration with social networks and ‘companion screen’ interaction, enabling users to share views on what they are watching with friends. Subscribers will also be given up to 7GB of storage in the cloud to back-up their own content, with the possibility to upgrade this.Set-tops for the new service are being supplied by Motorola Mobility. Rostelecom will deploy Motorola’s VIP1003 and VIP1963 IPTV set-tops. The VIP1003 is a compact, high-definition IP set-top, suited for single set-top deployments, while the VIP1963 is a high-definition IP DVR media center.Kholodniy said that he expected Rostelecom’s IPTV base to grow by about half a million in the remaining three quarters of this year, taking the company’s total to 1.4 million, up from 900,000 today.
TV technology consultancy firm Farncombe has launched a new security monitoring service designed to manage fraud and prevent online piracy for over-the-top content. The service offers close integration of web-scanning, behavioural monitoring and data centre protection in a package tailored for the TV market. It can works alongside CA and DRM technology and can accept data from any billing system, according to the company.One element of the service works by seeking out websites and social media that are attempting to drive traffic to pirated content, as well as the pirate sites themselves. A second element, behavioural monitoring, is used in addition to web monitoring to identify attacks on specific platforms, including abuse of streaming and download services and tampering with legitimate devices. The contract breaches detected can then be used to generate and enforce new business rules and policies. A third element involves detection of attacks on the hosting infrastructure itself.The offering is available as a managed service or a cloud-based facility, operated from Farncombe’s Security Operations Centre in London.“As the industry moves from a model of absolute technical security in broadcast pay TV towards supporting OTT delivery of premium content on a wide range of devices, a solution for deterring and detecting piracy and fraud has to be found,” said Andrew Glasspool, founder and managing partner at Farncombe. “Through our experience of protecting premium content over the last 20 years we know how easy it is to become aware of discrepancies and revenue loss after the horse has bolted. The Farncombe service offers revenue assurance through fraud detection, as well as the monitoring of piracy activity, which allow operators to meet the emerging monitoring requirements of content owners.”
Watching videos on tablet devices leads to greater overall TV viewing, according to new research from TDG.In its recent survey, 39% of 18-49 year olds that use their tablets to watch video said this had led to them watching more regular TV programmes, while 46% reported no change. Confounding broadcaster concerns that tablet viewing would cannibalise ratings, only 15% of respondents to TDG’s research said they watched less regular TV as result of tablet viewing.“This is a conclusion of particular relevance to those involved in the TV industry including networks, multichannel operators, and advertisers,” said Bill Niemeyer, TDG senior analyst. “The data clearly shows that watching online TV shows on a tablet drives greater TV viewing among the highly-desired and increasingly hard-to-reach 18-49 [year-olds]. At the moment, this is a win/win for TV networks that can monetise tablet viewing via advertising, pay-per-view, or subscription OTT revenue, while at the same time reaping the benefits of increased viewing of their regular TV programming.”
Catherine WiernikSwedish free and pay TV broadcaster TV4 Group has promoted Catherine Wiernik to programming director, general TV, taking on the role formerly held by Åsa Sjöberg. Sjöberg was last year named as content director for the group as part of a wider reorganisation of the Swedish broadcaster’s content department that also saw Wiernik named as head of the group’s acquisitions and formats unit.In her new role, Wiernik will be responsible for the activities of TV4’s general programming, acquisitions and drama units. She will report to Sjöberg.Programming will be headed by Jakob Hanssen, who will take over programming from Maria Mowbray in February, while within the acquisitions unit, Maria Lidén will take responsibility for free TV and Bo Thörnwall for premium TV. Drama will be headed by Josefine Tengblad.Wiernik said that the group was now focused on optimising digital rights across all platforms and windows, as well as finding suyergies between departments and create content that worked across linear and digital platforms.
Liberty Global-owned German cable operator Unitymedia KabelBW is adding Your Family Entertainment-owned kids channel RiC TV to its programming line-up.The channel will be available unencrypted on the cable network and on the Horizon Go mobile TV app. RiC TV is aimed at kids aged three to 13.Unitymedia KabelBW already broadcasts RiC TV’s sister channel Fix & Foxi. Content on the channel includes Marvin, das Steppende Pferd (Marvin, the Dancing Horse), Der Kleine Bär (The Little Bear) and Ferdy.The cable operator’s SVP of marketing and product management Christian Hindennach said that the launching of the channel on the platform provided an additional option for parents who valued non-violent, child-friendly content.YFE recently launched a version of the channel in Slovakia as a joint-venture with Bratislava-based Joj TV.
Dutch energy company Delta has tapped broadband cable technology provider Teleste to supply a DOCSIS 3.1-based optical broadband network. The system has been ordered as a turnkey project, including product delivery, installation and commissioning of the network, according to Teleste. Delta provides cable based services including television, broadband internet and fixed line telephony. The value of the agreement is about €3.8 million. The completion of this upgrade is expected by April 2016.Delta supplies energy, infrastructure and digital services and is owned by the municipalities of Zeeland, Noord-Brabant, Zuid-Holland and the provinces of Zeeland and Noord-Brabant. The company generates electricity, trades in energy and supplies gas, electricity and digital services to private and business clients in Zeeland and beyond.
Italian broadcaster Mediaset has reported revenues of €2.414 billion for the first nine months, up from €2.388 billion for the same period in 2014.In Italy, revenues were up to €1.741 billion, compared with €1.730 billion in the same period of the previous year. In Spain the figure was €674.7 million, compared with €658.2 million in 2014.In Spain, TV advertising sales rose to €659.2 million, compared with €628.3 the previous year.In Italy, gross advertising revenues reached €1.362 billion, essentially in line (up 0.2%) with the first nine months of last year (€1.36 billion).EBIT amounted to €83.1 million, compared with €107.5 million in the previous year. In Italy the EBIT result was negative €47.7 million, compared with positive €23.7 in 2014. In Spain the figure rose to €131.4 million, compared with €84.2 million last year.However, there was an improvement in the consolidated net result of negative €35.8 million compared with negative €46.8 million in the first nine months of 2014.
Rai has launched Rai Play, its free OTT service, which offers live streams of a range of its channels.Launching the service this week, the Italian pubcaster said it has been working on Rai Play for over a year.It will offer live streaming of all of Rai’s main services including Rai 1, Rai 2, Rai 3, Rai Sport, and kids offerings RaiYoyo and Rai Gulp.Italian viewers will also be able to access catch-up and on-demand content via the service across multiple genres of programming including docs, drama and entertainment. It is available over the top or via dedicated iOS and Android apps.RAI general manager Antonio Campo dall’Orto said: “We can give Italians an additional service, which includes the ability to watch programmes whenever they want, even those who at that time are not on the air, in addition to other services around content.”
Swiss service provider Net+ has tapped Viaccess-Orca (VO) to power to its new multiscreen TV service.The Net+ Mobile TV offering is powered by VO Player and offers a unified viewer experience across Android and iOS devices, as well as via web browsers on PCs and Macs.VO Player is compliant with the DVB-Sub subtitle format and also includes digital rights management (DRM) for video-on-demand and live content.“Competition amongst OTT providers is intense,” said Romain Lonfat, head of TV at Net+. “To monetise our multiscreen offering, we needed a secure video player that allows us to deliver popular programming, including advanced capabilities like time-shift TV and graphical subtitles, with a short time to market.”Benoit Brieussel, vice president of sales for VO Player at Viaccess-Orca, said: “The OTT multiscreen environment is always changing, and it’s important that operators differentiate the user experience and ensure a fast time to market for their services.”“VO’s secure video player is extremely flexible, secure, and high-performing, allowing Net+ to deliver compelling experiences on all connected devices from a single platform.”
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