MEDIABLAB DIGEST APRIL 30: CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR LOSES FAITH IN DAILY EDITION: GOES WEEKLY
October 30th 2008 02:27
MURDOCH BAGS EUROPEAN AND TURKISH OLYMPIC BROADCAST RIGHTS – US NEXT?The Chicago Tribune reports that Rupert Murdoch's media group is securing its third Olympic deal this year in Europe and soon could challenge for “the most lucrative prize of all” – the US broadcast rights.
The Turkish rights to the 2014 and 2016 Games have been awarded to Murdoch's Fox Turkey.
GERMAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER LAUNCHES WEB VERSION OF AUTO MAGAZINE IN CHINA
Prominent German newspaper publisher Axel Springer is expanding its digital initiative by launching www.autobild.com.cn, a Chinese version of its automobile magazine Auto Bild.
Publicitas wrote that the company said it will continue to venture into the international internet market,
CNBC PROFITS FROM WALL STREET’S LOSSES
Media Life reports that CNBC averaged a best-ever 502,000 viewers this month during its business day, when investors tune in at work and while the markets are open. That was up 92 percent from 262,000 last year. Among adults 25-54, it averaged 150,000, its best month since March 2001 and up 97 percent from last year’s 76,000.
Media Life said, “The network, which usually segues into reruns or pretaped programming in primetime, introduced live segments during the worst of the crisis, when the Dow was plummeting by hundreds of points per day and the federal bailout was being pushed through Congress. It debuted a new primetime personal finance show, On the Money, which helped lead to more gains.”
The big gains come a year after News Corp’s competing Fox Business, but CNBC remained the dominant destination for financial news.
THAILAND’S SECOND-RANKED TV STATION DOES A RETHINK ON ATTRACTING AD REVENUE
To cope with falling ad spending, Channel 3, Thailand’s second-ranked TV station, will apply a new strategy aiming to take away market share from rivals, said Surin Krittayaphongphun, an executive of Bangkok Entertainment, a subsidiary of BEC World Plc.
The Bangkok Post reported that Surin, vice-president for marketing and sales, predicted Thailand's advertising industry would increase 3 percent next year against a contraction this year. The financial crisis in the US and Europe will force parent companies there to tighten their belts.
''Channel 3 will adjust its advertising airtime sales strategy to attract advertisers to stay with the station,'' he said.
Thailand’s top-rated Channel 7 had a 30 percent share of the market in the first nine months of this year; Channel 3 28 percent; the army-run Channel 5 had 20 percent; Modern Nine had 18 percent; and NBT (formerly Channel 11) had 3.6 percent.
Surin said that since ad budgets would be tight, advertisers would spend more efficiently, so stations have to improve their programs to boost ratings.
CNN HAWKS SOON-TO-BE-LAUNCHED NEWSWIRE SERVICE TO NEWSPAPERS
Editor and Publisher reports that CNN is courting newspapers – and possibly competing with The Associated Press – with a new wire service the cable network plans to launch soon, with plans for an all-expenses-paid, three-day summit in December to show off its news gathering capabilities.
In a letter to numerous newspaper editors, CNN says its new CNN Wire will “provide stories of interest to your newspaper and online readers – breaking news, national, international, business, politics, consumer, medical, and more. We are talking to a variety of newspapers and newspaper groups, large and small, about this project.”
The letter, sent last week from Joe Middelburg, CNN Newsource Sales' vice president of sales & affiliate relations, add, “Like most major news organisations, CNN has its own internal wire service to provide original reporting on world news. With a worldwide staff of 3,800 people, 22 international bureaus, soon to be 15 domestic bureaus (including Seattle), 900 North American TV broadcast affiliates, a web site, and a radio network, we are able to maintain a strong flow of up-to-the-minute stories. We now believe we have the base to offer this service to other news organisations.”
THAI GOVERNMENT TO BUILD INTERNET FIREWALL TO BLOCK WEBSITES THAT INSULT ROYALS
BBC News reports that the Thai government is planning to build an internet firewall to block websites deemed insulting to the country's hugely popular royal family. The Information Ministry says it has received many complaints about such sites, most of which are based abroad.
Thailand's royals are supposed to be above politics and are protected by strict laws which prohibit criticism. But the government has been accused of being hostile to the monarchy, a charge it denies strongly.
The Information Ministry says it plans to spend millions of dollars erecting the digital firewall around the country to prevent Thailand's internet users from accessing the controversial sites.
BBC Bangkok correspondent Jonathan Head says the firewall appears to be a response to pressure from the army to stamp out any criticism of the monarchy. The governing party and its patron, exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, have denied claims by opponents that they have a hidden Republican agenda for Thailand.
HIGH PROFILE CAMBODIAN TV JOURNALIST BACK ON JOB
Cambodia’s high-profile journalist Soy Sopheap announced his resignation from the TV station CTN on Monday October 20, when he announced to Cambodge Soir Hebdo newspaper that he was not able to accomplish his work and that he was unworthy of his position as the station anchorman.
One week later, on Monday October 27, the journalist announced his return to CTN to take over his old position.
“I will return at the latest on Wednesday. I will continue the programs I was leading. Now, I am linked to CTN just like I am to my family,” Soy Sopheap explained. He compared the problem which took place to “a small storm at the end of the rainy season, and now it has disappeared.”
Cambodge Soir Hebdo reported, “It was not a surprise that Soy Sopheap’s u-turn coincided with Prime Minister Hun Sen’s return from China. On many occasions, the anchorman acted as a go-between in political affairs. He participated in the reconciliation talks between Sam Rainsy, Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Hun Sen to resolve various political crises. Soy Sopheap is an intimate friend of Hun Sen.”
AUSTRALIAN ROLLING STONE LAUNCHES ON MYSPACE
The Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine is launching on Myspace according to the publisher “as part of an ongoing strategy to get closer to current and prospective readers.”
Following the recent purchase of Rolling Stone, ACP Magazines relaunched the title with a revised format and a renewed focus on local Australian talent.
ACP said, “Along with the announcement of a new website launched under ninemsn’s entertainment destination ‘The Fix’ before the end of the year, the Myspace presence is yet another example of ACP Magazine’s commitment to refreshing the brand and increasing its relevance in Australia.”
The page went live yesterday, coinciding with the on sale of the December issue of Rolling Stone, which features an exclusive Pink cover shoot.
Editor-in-chief Matt Coyte said, “Myspace will be Rolling Stone’s open forum to communicate with readers above the traditional letters page in the magazine. With so many things to distract Gen Y we can’t afford to rely on getting and keeping their attention just once a month. We have to be able to speak with them in their space and on their terms and they need to feel they can do the same with us.”
Holler Sydney designed the page and were an essential part of the team consulting on the project while Myspace partnered to build the page in-house.
MORE LAYOFFS AT MAJOR US MAGAZINES
MediaDailyNews in the US reports that Time Inc. plans to reduce as many as 600 jobs. McGraw-Hill said it would cut 270 positions across the company, including 140 jobs at the Information and Media unit, which produces BusinessWeek.
Also, Wenner Media, the publisher of Rolling Stone, Us Weekly and Men's Journal, laid off seven people from the editorial and corporate sides of the business
PUBLIC COMMENT INVITED BY REGULAR OVER IMMINENT AUSTRALIAN DIGITAL RADIO LAUNCH
The Australian Communications and Media Authority is inviting comment on proposals that will increase the coverage that Australia’s planned digital radio services are able to achieve in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney when they commence next year.
Chris Chapman, ACMA chairman, said, “ACMA’s release of these proposals should provide for improved digital radio coverage, addressing concerns raised by industry in consultation on the initial plans.”
CHINESE AUTHORITIES TELL MICROSOFT TO RECONSIDER ITS ANTI-PIRACY TOOLS
AFP reports that China has told US software giant Microsoft to reconsider controversial new anti-piracy tools that cause computer screens to turn black if a pirated program is identified, state media reported.
"Whether the 'black-out' method should be adopted is open to question," said Yan Xiaohong, vice director of the National Copyright Administration, according to a report carried by Xinhua news agency late Monday.
"Measures for safeguarding (intellectual property) rights also need to be appropriate. We've paid great attention to the 'black-out' issue."
Yan was speaking after Microsoft launched its Windows Genuine Advantage program, which turns computer desktops black every hour if the installed Windows XP operating system fails an authenticity validation test.
The move has caused an outcry among Chinese users, who have branded it as "unfair" monopoly tactics designed to make average Chinese pay prices that are far too high for average incomes, earlier state media reports said.
Yan said that the strategy of using a unified global price for some of Microsoft products was questionable, arguing the company's price policies "should fit the Chinese situation", according to Xinhua.
"The company adopted unified prices in the past without considering the income gap between developed and developing countries," he said.
However, Microsoft defended the "black-screen" action as a legal move meant to protect its copyright, adding it has in recent years set certain product prices at competitive levels that Chinese users can afford.
In 2007, 82 percent of all personal computer software sold in China was pirated, unchanged from 2006, but down from 92 percent in 2003, according to the Business Software Alliance, an anti-piracy organisation.
AUSTRALIA’S CONSOLIDATED MEDIA HOLDINGS NOW DECLARES ITSELF TO BE A PAY-TV COMPANY
The Melbourne Herald Sun in Australia reports that the day after media mogul James Packer loosened ties to Channel Nine's owner PBL Media, his Consolidated Media Holdings has declared itself to be a pay TV company.
CMH executive chairman John Alexander told shareholders at the company's annual meeting y that its 25 percent Foxtel stake and 50 percent Premier Media (Fox Sports) holding would define CMH's next chapter.
"The story and growth of pay TV in Australia is essentially the story of CMH," he said.
"CMH represents an opportunity for shareholders to take exposure to strategic investments in the high-growth subscription television sector in Foxtel and PMG, as well as an investment in the market leader for online employment classifieds, Seek."
CMH, which owns 25 percent of Channel Nine and ACP Magazines owner PBL Media, this week distanced itself from the company with Alexander, Packer and two other CMH directors resigning from its board.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR LOSES FAITH IN DAILY EDITION AND SWITCHES TO WEEKLY FREQUENCY
Online Media Daily reports that The Christian Science Monitor will shift from daily to a weekly print publishing format. In turn, the national newspaper plans to invest heavily in its web site.
"We're the first national paper to switch to a web first strategy," said John Yemma, editor of the newspaper, which is more than 100 years old and has won seven Pulitzer Prizes. "We need to make it first rather than secondary, so we can make it more of a go-to destination..
"Overall macro-trends definitely played a roll here. Every paper that I know is struggling with essentially a broken business model that includes unnecessary production costs, awful deadlines and a horrible carbon footprint."
As a result, by April of next year, the news organisation plans to be producing an enhanced, constantly updated version of its web site, CSMonitor.com, along with the launch of a weekly print edition and a daily electronic subscription version.
An independent publication funded by the Christian Science Church, the Monitor is currently posting net losses of US$18.9 million a year on $12.5 million in revenue, according to Monitor executives who expect that the print cuts will result in a decline in losses to $10.5 million within five years.
CHINA’S CENSORS STOP BLOCKING NEGATIVE NEWS AND NOW AGENDA-SET
The Thomas Crampton blog reports that China’s censors have evolved from blocking news to agenda-setting on potentially negative stories, according to Ying Chan, director of Hong Kong University’s journalism program.
Ying cites the stabbing of an American at the Drum Tower in Beijing during the Olympics. Instead of covering up the incident, state-run media led coverage, forcing market-driven media to follow with pick-ups.
This evolution is just one of the developments in China’s media highlighted in a collection of fifteen essays from some of China’s top journalists recently published by Hong Kong University.
The essayists, all guest speakers at the HKU China Media Project, write on topics ranging from the launch of Southern Weekend to the rise of the Chinese weblog.
The Turkish rights to the 2014 and 2016 Games have been awarded to Murdoch's Fox Turkey.
GERMAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER LAUNCHES WEB VERSION OF AUTO MAGAZINE IN CHINA
Prominent German newspaper publisher Axel Springer is expanding its digital initiative by launching www.autobild.com.cn, a Chinese version of its automobile magazine Auto Bild.
CNBC PROFITS FROM WALL STREET’S LOSSES
Media Life reports that CNBC averaged a best-ever 502,000 viewers this month during its business day, when investors tune in at work and while the markets are open. That was up 92 percent from 262,000 last year. Among adults 25-54, it averaged 150,000, its best month since March 2001 and up 97 percent from last year’s 76,000.
Media Life said, “The network, which usually segues into reruns or pretaped programming in primetime, introduced live segments during the worst of the crisis, when the Dow was plummeting by hundreds of points per day and the federal bailout was being pushed through Congress. It debuted a new primetime personal finance show, On the Money, which helped lead to more gains.”
The big gains come a year after News Corp’s competing Fox Business, but CNBC remained the dominant destination for financial news.
THAILAND’S SECOND-RANKED TV STATION DOES A RETHINK ON ATTRACTING AD REVENUE
The Bangkok Post reported that Surin, vice-president for marketing and sales, predicted Thailand's advertising industry would increase 3 percent next year against a contraction this year. The financial crisis in the US and Europe will force parent companies there to tighten their belts.
''Channel 3 will adjust its advertising airtime sales strategy to attract advertisers to stay with the station,'' he said.
Thailand’s top-rated Channel 7 had a 30 percent share of the market in the first nine months of this year; Channel 3 28 percent; the army-run Channel 5 had 20 percent; Modern Nine had 18 percent; and NBT (formerly Channel 11) had 3.6 percent.
Surin said that since ad budgets would be tight, advertisers would spend more efficiently, so stations have to improve their programs to boost ratings.
CNN HAWKS SOON-TO-BE-LAUNCHED NEWSWIRE SERVICE TO NEWSPAPERS
Editor and Publisher reports that CNN is courting newspapers – and possibly competing with The Associated Press – with a new wire service the cable network plans to launch soon, with plans for an all-expenses-paid, three-day summit in December to show off its news gathering capabilities.
In a letter to numerous newspaper editors, CNN says its new CNN Wire will “provide stories of interest to your newspaper and online readers – breaking news, national, international, business, politics, consumer, medical, and more. We are talking to a variety of newspapers and newspaper groups, large and small, about this project.”
The letter, sent last week from Joe Middelburg, CNN Newsource Sales' vice president of sales & affiliate relations, add, “Like most major news organisations, CNN has its own internal wire service to provide original reporting on world news. With a worldwide staff of 3,800 people, 22 international bureaus, soon to be 15 domestic bureaus (including Seattle), 900 North American TV broadcast affiliates, a web site, and a radio network, we are able to maintain a strong flow of up-to-the-minute stories. We now believe we have the base to offer this service to other news organisations.”
THAI GOVERNMENT TO BUILD INTERNET FIREWALL TO BLOCK WEBSITES THAT INSULT ROYALS
BBC News reports that the Thai government is planning to build an internet firewall to block websites deemed insulting to the country's hugely popular royal family. The Information Ministry says it has received many complaints about such sites, most of which are based abroad.
Thailand's royals are supposed to be above politics and are protected by strict laws which prohibit criticism. But the government has been accused of being hostile to the monarchy, a charge it denies strongly.
The Information Ministry says it plans to spend millions of dollars erecting the digital firewall around the country to prevent Thailand's internet users from accessing the controversial sites.
BBC Bangkok correspondent Jonathan Head says the firewall appears to be a response to pressure from the army to stamp out any criticism of the monarchy. The governing party and its patron, exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, have denied claims by opponents that they have a hidden Republican agenda for Thailand.
HIGH PROFILE CAMBODIAN TV JOURNALIST BACK ON JOB
Cambodia’s high-profile journalist Soy Sopheap announced his resignation from the TV station CTN on Monday October 20, when he announced to Cambodge Soir Hebdo newspaper that he was not able to accomplish his work and that he was unworthy of his position as the station anchorman.
One week later, on Monday October 27, the journalist announced his return to CTN to take over his old position.
“I will return at the latest on Wednesday. I will continue the programs I was leading. Now, I am linked to CTN just like I am to my family,” Soy Sopheap explained. He compared the problem which took place to “a small storm at the end of the rainy season, and now it has disappeared.”
Cambodge Soir Hebdo reported, “It was not a surprise that Soy Sopheap’s u-turn coincided with Prime Minister Hun Sen’s return from China. On many occasions, the anchorman acted as a go-between in political affairs. He participated in the reconciliation talks between Sam Rainsy, Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Hun Sen to resolve various political crises. Soy Sopheap is an intimate friend of Hun Sen.”
AUSTRALIAN ROLLING STONE LAUNCHES ON MYSPACE
The Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine is launching on Myspace according to the publisher “as part of an ongoing strategy to get closer to current and prospective readers.”
Following the recent purchase of Rolling Stone, ACP Magazines relaunched the title with a revised format and a renewed focus on local Australian talent.
ACP said, “Along with the announcement of a new website launched under ninemsn’s entertainment destination ‘The Fix’ before the end of the year, the Myspace presence is yet another example of ACP Magazine’s commitment to refreshing the brand and increasing its relevance in Australia.”
The page went live yesterday, coinciding with the on sale of the December issue of Rolling Stone, which features an exclusive Pink cover shoot.
Editor-in-chief Matt Coyte said, “Myspace will be Rolling Stone’s open forum to communicate with readers above the traditional letters page in the magazine. With so many things to distract Gen Y we can’t afford to rely on getting and keeping their attention just once a month. We have to be able to speak with them in their space and on their terms and they need to feel they can do the same with us.”
Holler Sydney designed the page and were an essential part of the team consulting on the project while Myspace partnered to build the page in-house.
MORE LAYOFFS AT MAJOR US MAGAZINES
MediaDailyNews in the US reports that Time Inc. plans to reduce as many as 600 jobs. McGraw-Hill said it would cut 270 positions across the company, including 140 jobs at the Information and Media unit, which produces BusinessWeek.
Also, Wenner Media, the publisher of Rolling Stone, Us Weekly and Men's Journal, laid off seven people from the editorial and corporate sides of the business
PUBLIC COMMENT INVITED BY REGULAR OVER IMMINENT AUSTRALIAN DIGITAL RADIO LAUNCH
The Australian Communications and Media Authority is inviting comment on proposals that will increase the coverage that Australia’s planned digital radio services are able to achieve in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney when they commence next year.
Chris Chapman, ACMA chairman, said, “ACMA’s release of these proposals should provide for improved digital radio coverage, addressing concerns raised by industry in consultation on the initial plans.”
CHINESE AUTHORITIES TELL MICROSOFT TO RECONSIDER ITS ANTI-PIRACY TOOLS
AFP reports that China has told US software giant Microsoft to reconsider controversial new anti-piracy tools that cause computer screens to turn black if a pirated program is identified, state media reported.
"Whether the 'black-out' method should be adopted is open to question," said Yan Xiaohong, vice director of the National Copyright Administration, according to a report carried by Xinhua news agency late Monday.
"Measures for safeguarding (intellectual property) rights also need to be appropriate. We've paid great attention to the 'black-out' issue."
Yan was speaking after Microsoft launched its Windows Genuine Advantage program, which turns computer desktops black every hour if the installed Windows XP operating system fails an authenticity validation test.
The move has caused an outcry among Chinese users, who have branded it as "unfair" monopoly tactics designed to make average Chinese pay prices that are far too high for average incomes, earlier state media reports said.
Yan said that the strategy of using a unified global price for some of Microsoft products was questionable, arguing the company's price policies "should fit the Chinese situation", according to Xinhua.
"The company adopted unified prices in the past without considering the income gap between developed and developing countries," he said.
However, Microsoft defended the "black-screen" action as a legal move meant to protect its copyright, adding it has in recent years set certain product prices at competitive levels that Chinese users can afford.
In 2007, 82 percent of all personal computer software sold in China was pirated, unchanged from 2006, but down from 92 percent in 2003, according to the Business Software Alliance, an anti-piracy organisation.
AUSTRALIA’S CONSOLIDATED MEDIA HOLDINGS NOW DECLARES ITSELF TO BE A PAY-TV COMPANY
The Melbourne Herald Sun in Australia reports that the day after media mogul James Packer loosened ties to Channel Nine's owner PBL Media, his Consolidated Media Holdings has declared itself to be a pay TV company.
CMH executive chairman John Alexander told shareholders at the company's annual meeting y that its 25 percent Foxtel stake and 50 percent Premier Media (Fox Sports) holding would define CMH's next chapter.
"The story and growth of pay TV in Australia is essentially the story of CMH," he said.
"CMH represents an opportunity for shareholders to take exposure to strategic investments in the high-growth subscription television sector in Foxtel and PMG, as well as an investment in the market leader for online employment classifieds, Seek."
CMH, which owns 25 percent of Channel Nine and ACP Magazines owner PBL Media, this week distanced itself from the company with Alexander, Packer and two other CMH directors resigning from its board.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR LOSES FAITH IN DAILY EDITION AND SWITCHES TO WEEKLY FREQUENCY
Online Media Daily reports that The Christian Science Monitor will shift from daily to a weekly print publishing format. In turn, the national newspaper plans to invest heavily in its web site.
"We're the first national paper to switch to a web first strategy," said John Yemma, editor of the newspaper, which is more than 100 years old and has won seven Pulitzer Prizes. "We need to make it first rather than secondary, so we can make it more of a go-to destination..
"Overall macro-trends definitely played a roll here. Every paper that I know is struggling with essentially a broken business model that includes unnecessary production costs, awful deadlines and a horrible carbon footprint."
As a result, by April of next year, the news organisation plans to be producing an enhanced, constantly updated version of its web site, CSMonitor.com, along with the launch of a weekly print edition and a daily electronic subscription version.
An independent publication funded by the Christian Science Church, the Monitor is currently posting net losses of US$18.9 million a year on $12.5 million in revenue, according to Monitor executives who expect that the print cuts will result in a decline in losses to $10.5 million within five years.
CHINA’S CENSORS STOP BLOCKING NEGATIVE NEWS AND NOW AGENDA-SET
The Thomas Crampton blog reports that China’s censors have evolved from blocking news to agenda-setting on potentially negative stories, according to Ying Chan, director of Hong Kong University’s journalism program.
Ying cites the stabbing of an American at the Drum Tower in Beijing during the Olympics. Instead of covering up the incident, state-run media led coverage, forcing market-driven media to follow with pick-ups.
This evolution is just one of the developments in China’s media highlighted in a collection of fifteen essays from some of China’s top journalists recently published by Hong Kong University.
The essayists, all guest speakers at the HKU China Media Project, write on topics ranging from the launch of Southern Weekend to the rise of the Chinese weblog.
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