




      Audio-visual aids for media coverage of the opening of the Terraces 

The Baha'i World Centre is preparing a number of audiovisual tools to assist 
media in their coverage of the opening of the Terraces on Mount Carmel.  Listed 
below are the various options that you can offer to your national media.  Some 
of the audiovisual options could even be interesting enough to present to a 
journalist as news.  For example, the opening events will appear live on the 
Internet, enabling Baha'is around the world to log on to their computers and 
follow the events from their homes or local centers. 

1. Live satellite broadcasts 
There will be live satellite broadcasts of the major inaugural events on 22 and 
23 May.  By tuning into the satellite coordinates at specific times on those 
dates, television stations can record or air the events, either as part of a 
live broadcast or to obtain material for a news story to be aired immediately 
after the event or for a feature later on.  

The satellite feed will include the following elements:  
-  A test of the satellite link will be conducted on 15 May 2001, from 09:00 
   to 10:00 GMT. Television stations or satellite downlink vendors who wish to 
   do a trial run may contact the Comtec production company 
   (<comtec2@netvision.net.il>) for general inquiries and assistance with the 
   test.  
-  On the afternoon of 22 May (15:00 GMT) before the dedication, a 30-minute, 
   pre-prepared film about the history and significance of the Terraces will 
   be broadcast as an introduction to the opening events.   
-  On 22 May (15:30 to 17:00 GMT), the main dedication program will be 
   broadcast live.  The broadcast will include a world premiere concert 
   performed by the Israel Northern Symphony and well-known soloists at the 
   base of the mountain, as well as speeches by Israeli officials, and a 
   message from the Universal House of Justice.  The music will climax with 
   the lighting of the Terraces and the Shrine of the Bab. 
-  On the morning of 23 May, highlights of the 22 May program will be edited 
   into a 4-minute news story and broadcast before the morning program. 
-  On 23 May (07:00 to 08:00 GMT) a devotional program for the thousands of 
   Baha'i participants, followed by their silent ascent of the Terraces to the 
   Shrine of the Bab, will be broadcast live.  

How to use the broadcast:  
-  Contact a satellite downlink vendor in your area to arrange for broadcast 
   and/or recording of the feed.  If you need help locating a vendor, we 
   suggest logging onto one of the following web sites:  <www.tvnewsweb.com>, 
   <www.satcomresources.com/index.cfm>, <www.pamamsat.com>, or 
   <www.eutelsat.org>. 
-  Approach cable, public and commercial television networks and suggest that 
   they consider airing all or a portion of the broadcast.  
-  Recommend to news and public service directors, in radio, print and 
   television that they record the event and report on it.  
-  Check with hospitals, universities, colleges and hotels, as many of them 
   have low cost downlink satellite conference facilities for lease or free to 
   non-profit religious organizations.  
-  Organize a regional closed circuit viewing.  Consult with a satellite 
   downlink vendor about the cost of setting up a receive site in a convention 
   center.  You will need large screen projection and a PA system.  You may be 
   able to use a smaller consumer size satellite antenna to receive the 
   signal.  





 




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-  Arrange with a television or cable network to record the event (possibly 
   for a fee) for viewing at a later date.  
-  The material is copyrighted and may not be used for commercial purposes.  
   An official set of VHS tapes will be available for sale at a later date.  

Times:  
-  15 May 2001:  09:00 - 10:00 GMT  [Test] 
-  22 May 2001:  13:30 - 17:30 GMT  [Programmed events] 
-  23 May 2001:  05:30 - 08:30 GMT  [Programmed events] 

Coordinates by World Area Beam:  
EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST 
Satellite:  EUT W1   
Position:  10.0oE         
Txp:  B5/1 
D/L Freq.:  11,134.75H 
D/L Details:  Symbol Rate:  5.6320 Msym/s FEC:  3/4 
Contacts:  SATLINK ISRAEL:  MCR:  +972-2-5334992 

AFRICA 
Satellite:  INTELSAT 604 
Position:  60.0oE 
Txp:  38/38 
D/L Freq.:  4,182.5RHCP 
D/L Details:  Encoding:  SA Power Vu.  
           Symbol Rate:  5.6320 Msym/s FEC:  3/4 
Contacts:  GlobeCast Gray's Inn Road:  MCR:  +44-207-7530909 

ASIA  
Satellite:  ASIASAT 2     
Position:  100.5oE   
Txp:  8A/A1 
D/L Freq.:  3,926.5V 
D/L Details:  Encoding:  NDS 3000.  
           Symbol Rate:  5.6320 Msym/s FEC:  3/4 
Contacts:  SATLINK ISRAEL:  MCR:  +972-2-5334992 

TRANSATLANTIC 
Satellite:  NSS 803 
Position:  21.5oW    
Txp:  74/14 
D/L Freq.:  4,013.5RHCP 
D/L Details:  Symbol Rate:  5.6320 Msym/s FEC:  3/4     
Contacts:  GlobeCast Staten Island:  MCR:  +1-718-2894300 


NORTH AMERICA 
Satellite:  TELSTAR 6     





 




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Position:  99.0oW    
Txp:  C1 
D/L Freq.:  3,720.0V 
D/L Details:  Video:  ANALOGUE AUDIO FREQ. 6.2/6.8 
Contacts:  GlobeCast Staten Island:  MCR:  +1-718-2894300 

SOUTH AMERICA 
Satellite:  NSS 806 
Position:  40.5oW 
Txp:  12B/34 
D/L Freq.:  3,849.0RHCP 
D/L Details:  Encoding:  SA Power Vu  
           Symbol Rate:  18.800 Msym/s FEC:  3/4 
Video PID:  3460 
Audio PID:  3420 (channel 1) 
Audio PID:  3421 (channel 2) 
Audio PID:  3422 (channel 3) 
Audio PID:  3423 (channel 4) 
Contacts:  GlobeCast Miami:  MCR:  +1-305-3414500 

2. Live radio broadcast 
Certain radio stations will be able to obtain an audio signal originating from 
Haifa allowing them to broadcast the concert live on the evening of 22 May, or 
to record segments for a news story.  The concert will run from 15:30 to 17:00 
(GMT).  The Israel Broadcast Authority is sponsoring a live radio broadcast 
that will transmit the concert throughout Israel and will feed the signal to 
the European Broadcast Union (EBU).  The EBU has already offered the program to 
their subscriber radio stations throughout the world (mostly in Europe).  The 
Baha'is in each country should approach their major (subscribing) radio 
stations in order to encourage them to carry the program.  

3. Audio recording 
A professional audio recording will be made of the 22 May inaugural concert, to 
be used in the production of a compact disk at a later date.  

4. Live Web cast 
The events on 22 May will be shown on a live 'Web cast'.  Any one with Internet 
access will be able to watch or listen to the events live from official Baha'i 
Web sites (<www.bahai.org> and <www.bahaiworldnews.org>) and possibly other 
portals.  The video and audio feed of the concert will also be saved on the Web 
sites for future listening and viewing.  A live Web cast in Persian will be 
arranged by the Baha'i Radio Program Payam-e-Doost in Washington, D.C. 

You may wish to approach Web sites based in your country that offer broadcasts 
of similar events or music, to see if they are interested in setting up a link 
to the Baha'i Web sites.  The fact that Baha'is around the world will follow 
the inauguration on the Internet could also be an interesting angle for media.   





 




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5. Photographs 
Photographs of the event taken at 300 dpi resolution by official photographers 
will be scanned and included on the Baha'i World News Service Web site 
(<www.bahaiworldnews.org>), and possibly made available on the morning of 23 
May.  The quality of the photographs should be good enough for newspapers and 
most magazines.  

6. Video news release 
A short video news release to promote the opening to the media is now 
available in English, French and Spanish.  The Office of Public Information 
is mailing copies under separate cover to all National Spiritual Assemblies 
in the appropriate format (NTSC, PAL, or SECAM).  The video attempts to 
capture the interest of the media, and particularly television, with 
beautiful images of the Gardens and Terraces, accompanied by a news-oriented 
script, and can be shown to television journalists or producers or aired as a 
stand-alone piece.  In addition to the news release, the tape contains 
footage of the Terraces to give more material and background for media. 





 
