MUMBAI: A group of international broadcasters have said that media freedom faces its greatest challenge since the Cold War, with internet blocking, satellite jamming and the return of shortwave jamming.

The statement issued on behalf of the representatives of Audiovisuel Ext?rieur de la France (AEF), Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) [Australia], The BBC [UK], the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) [US], Deutsche Welle (DW) [Germany], Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) [Japan] and Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW), said: "The jamming of satellite broadcasts has become a regular occurrence as regimes seek to block certain services from the being received. This jamming affects areas stretching from Northern Europe to Afghanistan and as far south as Northern Africa. We have also seen internet blocking of services and cyber-attacks on media organisations of all over the world, shortwave jamming and disruption and interference with FM broadcasts. Media Freedom has not faced such a concerted campaign of disruption since the end of the Cold War."

Marking World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, the broadcasters called on all nations to recognise the legitimate role played by international broadcasts in offering free access to global media and coverage of events.

During the Cold War, the jamming of radio broadcasts to east of the Iron Curtain was commonplace. European and US broadcasters worked hard to overcome this in a game of cat and mouse. From the late 1990s, digital satellite broadcasting has flourished, delivering a wide range of programmes in many languages to communities across the globe. Audiences have been able to benefit from international broadcasts that provide a different perspective on news and cultures.

Shortwave jamming of BBC World Service English broadcasts to China for the first time ever this year is an unwelcome return to the oldest method of interrupting programmes. The jamming is so extensive and powerful that is affecting services to neighbouring Asian nations. This is contrary to the international regulations that govern radio broadcasts. The BBC has recently suspended some broadcasts in Sri Lanka following repeated disruption and there has been a long-running campaign of disruption and intimidation against the BBC in Iran.

BBC Global News director Peter Horrocks said, "Despite repeated jamming, recent figures show that our BBC Persian audience has nearly doubled to 11.8 million adults weekly - up from 6.7million in 2012. This huge rise shows that attempts to discredit our journalism and to intimidate our staff are failing, and ordinary Iranians are turning to the BBC for independent news they can trust."

The BBC adds that it has been working with fellow broadcasters and the satellite industry to counter jamming and secure media freedom. This involves seeking long term technical solutions and short term ?fixes? so that services can continue to be received during major political events and times of tension. All of the leading international broadcasters are working with the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and other UN bodies to recognise the profound affects that jamming is having on audiences and the industry.

MUMBAI: The chairman of newly-created All3Media America, Stephen Lambert, creator of formats such as ?Wife Swap?, ?Secret Millionaire? and ?Undercover Boss?, will be sharing his vision of this rapidly-evolving sector in a keynote address at MIPFormats.

MipFormats will be held in Cannes from 6-7 April, ahead of MipTV (8-11 April). The two-day event will feature a programme of conferences and screenings, as well as a digital library for the 250 international buyers in attendance.

As All3Media America chairman Lambert is spearheading the new Los Angeles-based production hub for All3Media Group, the global group of independent production and distribution companies present in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Australia.

Lambert is the founder of Studio Lambert, which he launched in 2008 and which has since created and produced more than 20 series on both sides of the Atlantic.

MipTV?s dedicated format forum will also play host to the MipFormats International Pitch event for creatives to showcase innovative concepts for non-scripted entertainment formats. On the heels of the success of the 2012 edition, Warner Bros. International Television Production is back as exclusive sponsor of this competition, committing up to ?25,000 to develop the winning project.

The 2013 jury will include The Gurin Company?s Phil Gurin; SBS Broadcasting BV?s Remko van Westerloo and TV 2 Danmark?s Sune Roland Jensen. The call for entries is open, until 11 February.

The 2013 MipFormats conference programme will also feature contributions from international buyers including Sony Pictures Television?s Lisette Van Diepen; FremantleMedia Vasha Wallace, Red Arrow International Henrik Pabst and Channel One Russia?s Natalia Egorova.

The MipFormats Future Report will present a snapshot of current trends in the format business, and forecast how it is likely to change in 2013/14. Speakers lined up for this session include Keshet Broadcasting?s Keren Shahar. Kinetic Content?s Chris Coelen and Monster AS? Trond Kvernstrom.

Meanwhile, the MipFormats Boot Camp sessions will offer a schedule of workshops on creating, protecting and selling formats, as well as providing insights into audience expectations addressed by international experts including: Casa Strada Productions Mike Morley; Absolutely Independent Patty Geneste and The Wit Virginia Mouseler.

ITV Studios is the global sponsor of MipFormats 2013.