German service providers Deutsche Netzmarketing (DNMG), Mediapool Content Services (MCS) and IP Broadcast (IPB) have agreed on a cooperation to give the more than 200 network operators organised in DNMG free access to independent Ukrainian news channel Ukrainia24.
The move enables the DNMG partners to offer the channel to the households they serve.
The distribution rights are granted by MCS. IPB provides the network operators with the broadcast signal via the internet using HLS, SRT protocol, rtp+fec or various connection options in German data centres. DNMG takes over the communication with the network operators and coordinates the distribution on the networks. The three companies offer their services free of charge.
With this Germany-wide cooperation, people from Ukraine and refugees based in Germany have a simple, free way to access news from their home country in their native language.
“Words can hardly capture the suffering that must be happening in Ukraine. It is time to act now. As an association of more than 200 network operators in Germany, it is our opportunity to help in these times by perhaps having a small positive impact on the war for information and making active disinformation campaigns by the Russian side more difficult,” said Damian Lohmann, Senior Manager Partner Relations at DNMG.
MCS Managing Director Dr Ralf Heublein added: “Providing refugees and citizens in Germany with a migration background with programmes from their home country serves the right to freedom of information anchored in the German constitution. The availability of these offerings is therefore an important matter for us.”
IPS Managing Director Stefan Hofmeir said: “Europe must stand together in these difficult times. This also includes ensuring that independent TV reporting from the war zone can be received as widely as possible. That is why we are happy to supply the channel from Eastern Europe.”
