Technology has been as much at the battlelines in Afghanistan as the journalists who reported in the foreground of the bomb-scarred skyline.
Stratos, a satellite communication company claims equal credit for bringing the latest news to homes around the world in the form of television and radio broadcasts on the BBC. It was satellite technology that tided over most journalists in communicating their reports from one of the harshest, barren environments known. BBC Radio Technical Coordinator Keith Wood says using the Inmarsat GAN terminal to access Stratos‘ global network of earth stations has played an essential part in enabling the BBC to report the news as it happens. "As the equipment is fully portable it has allowed us to get in and follow the story close to the front line action in sound and vision at reasonable cost."

Reporting teams based in various locations like Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan used Stratos‘ Satelan service in a variety of ways, allowing them to send back reports in various forms, says an official release. Live video reports were sent daily over the Stratos Satelan service, which provides users with access to Stratos‘ wholly owned global satellite network via a portable GAN terminal and Inmarsat‘s network of satellites. This enabled viewers to witness reporters following the Northern Alliance in its quest to remove the Taliban government.

The method used for sending back the live video reports is to connect a GAN(x) terminal, which provides the user with a 64kb/s ISDN channel, to a customized version of a video phone designed specifically for use on the road and with the GAN terminal, claims Stratos. Reporters have also used a method called Store & Forward, by connecting the terminal to either a Toko or Voyager-lite, allowing the user to record their report, compress it and then forward it on to the news room. Radio reports were filed over the Satelan service, and live two-way radio interviews by connecting an ISDN mixer to the terminal.

A few days ago MTV Films announced that it, along with Amaru Entertainment, will present a first of its kind feature documentary. It closely examines late rap singer Tupac Shakur who helped shape Hip-Hop music.
The film will be directed and produced by vice-president MTV News and Documentaries Lauren Lazin. He has directed, produced, written and edited more than 40 documentaries for MTV and PBS. The documentary will delve into personal details of Tupac?s life which was filled with joy and trauma. His mother, Afeni Shakur, will serve as one of the executive producers. Five years after his untimely death, Tupac Shakur is more popular than ever. His recent album, Until the End of Time debuted at No.1 on the Billboard album charts.

The documentary will cover the ideas he conveyed to an entire generation through his music, poetry, journals, and personal letters. Fans can enjoy a Tupac concert, home-movie and video footage all of which have never been shown. Rare photos donated by his family will also be on display. His unreleased songs will be featured. The first official biography of Tupac?s life will be released from Pocketbooks/MTV Books.

MTV Films is the feature film development and production division of MTV. It releases films in conjunction with Paramount Pictures. Since starting in 1995, MTV Films has released movies like the ballet driven interracial teen romance, Save the Last Dance the biting political satire Election, and director Spike Lee?s documentary The Original Kings of Comedy.

Amaru Entertainment which includes a record company and a film production unit was founded in 1997.