Deutsche Welle (DW) has been added to the portfolios of two additional partners in Asia.  DW’s Director of Distribution, Petra Schneider announced recently that Germany’s international broadcaster has signed a carriage deal with Mongolia’s first IPTV operator, Univision, as well as with China’s leading daily Global Times.

“This is a huge step forward for DW in Asia. It’s not just about gaining ground in these fast-growing markets, but also about gaining dynamic new partners with which we can grow,” said Schneider. “With our new partner in Mongolia, DW-TV ASIA+ will be accessible to a larger number of viewers who are looking for the best and most reliable news and information.” DW-TV ASIA+ will provide Univision’s IPTV network with a wide range of English language programming, including news, lifestyle, magazines, documentaries and in-depth features.

DW will also be providing video contact for Global Times’ VOD service v.hanqiu.com. “The 30 programs chosen reflect the lifestyle and passions of the people in China: healthy living with in good shape, the latest cars and how they match up with drive it!, the most fascinating developments from science and technology with tomorrow today and the glitz and glamour of European living with euromaxx,” added Schneider

The deal with Univision marks DW’s first entry into Mongolia. DW also has a VOD deal with Ku6.com, one of the most valuable on-line video brands in China. According to Schneider, DW sees this as just the beginning and aims to make deeper inroads in the region.

Univision is Mongolia’s leader in mobile phone operations with triple play services (IPTV, Internet and phone) using the world’s best technology throughout Ulaanbaatar.

v.hanqiu.com is a video channel created to feature premium Internet video news, interviews, surveys, dramas and other original programming. Operated by Global Times, China’s leading English newspaper, it has more than 50 million page views (PV)  daily.

 

Online
As part of an agreement with the second-largest TV manufacturer, LG Electronics will begin programming apps for DW that will be available on so-called smart TVs. These apps will make it possible for customers to access multilingual content from DW right from their living room.

Latin America
DW is now available GVT, a pay TV platform from Vivendi, dramatically increasing its presence in Brazil. On October 1, DW was made available on the pay TV platform, which makes use of a hybrid broadcast (DTH/IPTV). This is the first platform of its kind in Brazil. It makes it possible to receive programming via DRH and, at the same time, use interactive elements like video-on-demand via IPTV. GVT offers more than 140 channels in three different packages – and Vivendi is expecting a lot of growth in this sector in the next year.

Africa
DW has signed an agreement to work with DBS TV in Cameroon, a station that is based in Douala and available in Africa, Europe, North and South America. Along with taking on DW programming, DBS TV will work with Germany’s international broadcaster on a weekly coproduction in the future.

Asia
TempoTV in Indonesia has integrated several of DW’s television shows into its line-up, including In Focus, Bundesliga Kickoff, European Journal, Kino, Global 3000, in good shape and tomorrow today. TempoTV is available nationwide and specializes in educational programming. It is available on AORA – a DTH satellite platform – and reaches approximately 400,000 subscribers.

Also in Indonesia, IPTV provider Groovia has been broadcasting DW-TV ASIA+ since July after signing an agreement with DW. Groovia has more than 100 TV channels.

Europe
DW’s is now available on Crystal TV – an online provider. The platform makes it possible for customers with PCs, Macs, smartphones, tablets and iPods to access video DW’s video live stream.

 

Deutsche Welle and Al Hayah TV have officially started their cooperation tby producing the first episode of Shababtalk in Cairo. The coproduction is one of four new, regionalized talk shows that focus on the Arab world.

Shababtalk is a talk show for the future, which brings together young representatives from the democratic movement in Egypt with their German counterparts from youth organizations, political parties and other associations. The 30-minute show will alternate being produced in Berlin and Cairo each week and broadcast on DW-TV ARABIA and Al Hayah TV.

“I am especially pleased that we are able to work with Al Hayah TV on Shababtalk. It brings a new focus to the dialogue on regional issues – and DW-TV and Al Hayah TV are on the forefront of productive cooperation between Europe and North Africa,” says Christoph Lanz, Director of DW-TV. “It is extremely important to exchange information and learn from one another in today’s day and age. With our new talk show, we will be providing a weekly, lively contribution to the transformation in Egypt – and beyond.”

“We aren’t just talking about dialogue – we are making it happen,” says Naser Shrouf, DW’s Head of Distribution for Africa/ Middle East. “Shababtalk shows how the media can get involved in the exchange of information between cultures and examines the ideas that the leaders of tomorrow are bringing to the table.”

This new coproduction is just part of Deutsche Welle’s international strategy. By introducing new, regionalized productions, the broadcaster is helping improve the connection to its viewers around the world.

Along with Shababtalk, DW-TV ARABIA is also introducing a range of new talk shows, each covering a different facet of modern life.

DW and Palestine Public Broadcasting Commission (PBC) signed an agreement of cooperation on Thursday, September 15. Samah Khader, General Director of International Relations, and Mahmoud Mizher, General Director of Administration and Finance, were on hand at DW’s headquarters in Bonn to clarify the details. PBC TV will now be including several DW programs in its line-up, including in good shape, In Focus, Kick off! and Kick off! Countdown, as well as selected episodes of euromaxx. PBC’s radio station will also begin broadcasting some of DW’s radio programming covering topics like science and technology.

This partnership will increase DW’s presence in the Middle East. PBC TV is available in Palestine, but also in several neighboring countries due to its inclusion in the Arabsat and Nilesat networks. Palestine Radio is available in Palestine, Israel, Jordan and parts of Egypt.

DW is now offering its distance-education program Learning by Ear to listeners in Tanzania via mobile phone following a new agreement with Vodacom Tanzania – the country’s largest mobile provider with more than 10 million customers.

By using the “Music Radio” program, Vodacom customers now have access to all of the Learning by Ear episodes as audio on demand – on all types of mobile phones. They just need to call a predetermined Vodacom number to tune in – practically turning their mobile into a remote control. No download is necessary.

Learning by Ear, Deutsche Welle’s multimedia distance-learning program, examines the challenges that young Africans face and engages listeners in an informative and entertaining way. The programming is a lively mix of in-depth reports, radio dramas and feature stories that will provide listeners with an opportunity to get the necessary skills to succeed in Africa today and to discover a whole new world of knowledge. Episodes are currently being broadcast by more than 270 partners in Africa.