MEDIABLAB DAILY DIGEST APRIL 15; GREEN MEDIA RED HOT; FOX NEWS GOES KINKY
April 15th 2008 02:42
GREEN MEDIA WILL BE RED HOT THIS YEAR ACCORDING TO TRADE SHOW EXPERTS
AFP reports that shows on the environment are this year's hot favourites with television program-makers worldwide and are set to dominate prime-time viewing.
The news agency reported from the influential MIPTV trade show, which gathers more than 13,000 executives from the TV, internet, telecoms, advertising and video game industries , and said the show kicked off with an opening Green Day.
"Green TV is absolutely red hot," Paul Johnson, director of the TV division of the show's organisers Reed MIDEM, said.
Media giants are also capitalising on public interest in the planet's health and using the internet.
News Corporation has launched a new TV channel on its MySpace site, the world's largest social networking site.
Meanwhile, says AFP, the green wave is breaking away from the more traditional documentary format and spilling over into popular TV genres, including drama, reality and kids shows.
LAS VEGAS CASINO OWNER IN TAKEOVER BID FOR ISRAEL’S SECOND BIGGEST NEWSPAPER
The Jerusalem Post reports that Sheldon Adelson has stepped up his pursuit of Ma'ariv newspaper, Israel's second-biggest newspaper, and offered US$50 million.
But he wants to take over the paper as a clean slate, and be required to continue to employ only those staffers he wishes to retain, with the rest to be paid off by the outgoing ownership, which is controlled by the Nimrodi family and Russian-Israeli millionaire Vladimir Gusinsky.
The significance of Adelson's "clean slate" demand, it is speculated, is that he may wish to acquire Ma'ariv less with the idea of maintaining it, and more to use it as a platform for Israel Today.
Ma'ariv Holdings also announced this week that it is holding negotiations with Ha'aretz about unspecified "cooperation." Ha'aretz, citing its publisher, Amos Shocken, said the two sides had been discussing working together in circulation, classified and local weeklies. The Post has been told, however, that Ha'aretz is also interested in acquiring Ma'ariv, and has offered $30 million.
Adelson is chairman and chief executive officer of Las Vegas- based Las Vegas Sands, the world's largest casino company by market value.
AUSTRALIA’S NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK ROLL OUT GATHERS GOVERNMENT MOMENTUM
Australia’s Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, announced the release of the Request for Proposals to roll-out and operate the National Broadband Network.
“This is a major step towards delivering on the government’s election commitment to enable world-class, high-speed broadband for all Australians,” Senator Conroy said.
“The National Broadband Network will represent the single largest investment in broadband infrastructure in Australia’s history. The Australian government has committed up to $4.7 billion and to considering any necessary regulatory changes to enable the roll-out.”
The Request for Proposals details the scope of the National Broadband Network, which will:
deliver minimum download speeds of 12 megabits per second to 98 per cent of Australian homes and businesses;
have the network rolled out and made operational progressively over five years using fibre-to-the-node or fibre-to-the-premises technology;
support high quality voice, data and video services including symmetric applications such as high-definition video-conferencing;
earn the commonwealth a return on its investment;
facilitate competition in the telecommunications sector through open access arrangements that allow all service providers access to the network on equivalent terms; and
enable uniform and affordable retail prices to consumers, no matter where they live.
The Minister also invited industry and public interest groups to provide submissions on regulatory issues associated with the National Broadband Network, and called for submissions on policy and funding initiatives to provide enhanced broadband to rural and remote areas.
“The Australian Government is committed to improving broadband for all Australians, including the two percent of homes and businesses which may not be covered by the National Broadband Network,” Senator Conroy said.
Submissions on remote broadband will be accepted in parallel to proposals to roll-out the National Broadband Network. This consultation process seeks to explore options for those remote areas outside the coverage of the network.
“The Government has already committed $95 million for the Australian Broadband Guarantee for the 2008–09 financial year,” Senator Conroy said.
“This process will explore long-term options that ensure rural and remote areas of Australia have access to the best available broadband services through future-proof telecommunications infrastructure. This could include enhancing the Australian Broadband Guarantee program to achieve outcomes comparable to the National Broadband Network.”
RECORD UK LIBEL WRIT SLATED OVER MISSING MADELEINE MCCANN ALLEGATIONS
It was bound to happen sooner rather than later. With the hysteria that many media outlets whip up over sensational and emotional international crime stories, caution about libel goes out the door in favour of circulation-gaining front page scoops.
But then comes the bill.
A suspect in the case of missing British toddler Madeleine McCann is to sue 12 top British media outlets, his lawyers said today, in what could be the country's biggest ever libel claim – and that will be a big bill.
Robert Murat, 34, denies any involvement in the disappearance of the McCann girl, who vanished from a holiday apartment in the Portuguese beach resort of Praia da Luz on May 3 last year, nine days short of her fourth birthday.
The British expatriate, a self-employed property developer, lives 100 metres from the apartment.
A statement from the London-based law firm Simons Muirhead and Burton confirmed they were representing Robert Murat, and named the television broadcaster Sky, the national newspapers the Daily Express, the Sunday Express, the Daily Star, the Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, News of the World, The Sun, plus The Scotsman, London daily the Evening Standard and morning city freesheet Metro.
Litigation expert Caroline Kean said if Murat successfully argued that the articles inferred he was involved in the abduction or murder of Madeleine, then his claims could result in a British record payout.
"You could expect at least 200,000 pounds per paper, per claim, and that would clear two million pounds ($A4.23 million)," she told The Observer newspaper.
The largest British libel award stands at 1.5 million pounds ($A3.17 million).
Last month, the McCann parents Gerry and Kate,won a libel settlement and an apology from Express Newspapers over suggestions that they were involved in her disappearance.
The group paid 550,000 pounds ($A1.16 million) in damages to their Find Madeleine fund.
STAND BY FOR SUPREME WEIRDNESS: KINKY FRIEDMAN PARTNERS WITH BILL O’REILLY ON FOX NEWS
It doesn’t get much weirder than this: oddball alleged US country music singer and crime novelist Kinky Friedman will now star on American national television every Monday night on The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News.
The Kinkster, whose self-penned songs include, ‘Jesus, Kick me Through the Goal Posts of Life’, and his classic, ‘They Ain’t making Jewboys like Jesus Anymore’, will serve as a political correspondent on the show, shining a different, cigar-laced light on the presidential campaigns and other current events.
Now in its eleventh season on the air, ‘The O'Reilly Factor’ on the Fox News Channel has been the dominant number one rated cable news program in the USA for seven straight years. Bill O'Reilly is an analyst, author of six books and award-winning journalist.
The O'Reilly Factor airs Mondays on Fox News; check your local TV listings for show times.
The transcript for each of Kinky's appearances will be posted at www.kinkyfriedman.com/news.
FORMER CNN STAFFERS TRAIN CHINA CENTRAL TELEVISION REPORTERS AND PRODUCERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING
The Internews’ Earth Journalism Network has just completed a training course in environmental reporting for China Central Television reporters and producers.
Internews issued this press release:
“With audience ratings that reach as high as 800 million people, China Central Television (CCTV) is one of world’s largest broadcasters. It is also the predominant media organisation in a severely environmentally challenged country that has the most people on the planet.
“Now CCTV’s reporters and producers will be better able to cover those challenges, thanks to the broadcaster’s first ever environmental workshop carried out and supported by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network in collaboration with Environment News Trust in Beijing in March.
“Led by US trainers currently and formerly based at CNN, 40 Chinese TV journalists engaged in some intense training and fascinating discussion.
“’We have had a wonderful experience of getting an overview of current environmental issues and various angles of environmental journalism,’ said Zhang Xin, human resources management director at CCTV. “The active response from participants convinces us that the workshop is an effective and fruitful way to enhance the mutual understanding and cooperation between Earth Journalism Network and CCTV… We look forward to more exchanges between our two sides in the near future.’”
“Among the participants were journalists from CCTV Channel 1, CCTV-2 (Economic Affairs), CCTV-9 (International Affairs, in English), CCTV-10 (Science and Education), CCTV-12 (Society and Law), from the TV news magazine World Insight and from GreenSpace, a half-hour primetime program on the environment.
“Some of the journalists produce news stories on the environment and other issues that are broadcast directly to the Communist Party leadership, and not made available to the public.
“Gary Strieker, CNN International’s former chief environmental correspondent who currently produces his own programming at Environment News Trust, was the lead trainer for the workshop. He was joined by CNN executive producer Peter Dykstra and Earth Journalism Network executive director James Fahn.
“The CCTV reporters and producers received training on environmental issues such as biodiversity and pollution, along with journalistic training on topics such as the use of sources. Participants learned various techniques to create compelling stories and discussed the elements of good and bad stories. They also explored how to confront the challenge of the internet to the mass media and how to use it to the advantage of TV journalism.
“The most riveting debate focused on the content of the pieces, since they often covered issues that are controversial on Chinese television. A piece on the Three Gorges Dam, for instance, discussed some of the negative impacts and also featured an interview of anti-dam activist Dai Qing.
“An extended excerpt from CNN’s Planet in Peril, meanwhile, showed graphic footage of the use of endangered wildlife for traditional medicines and the impact industrial pollution is having on people’s health.
“Reaction from the CCTV journalists was mixed. Some were clearly shocked by, for instance, the wanton disregard of environmental health captured by the CNN piece. Others said they had already seen the show, even though it was not aired publicly in China. The Three Gorges Dam story drew criticism that it was too one-sided against the dam, although Strieker commented that he had also been criticised by Western environmentalists who felt the piece was too pro-dam.
“The piece also helped reveal some of the preferences of Chinese TV journalists. Several felt that the opinions of an educated urbanite such as Dai Qing carried more weight than the pro-dam views of local people interviewed near the dam. But as one of the Chinese participants noted, ‘Foreigners may value local views over those of remote experts.’
“Some participants also complained that the US-produced stories contained ‘too much emotion.’ They felt it was wrong to link environmental issues to human rights and argued for a more factual, scientific presentation of the issues.
“Overall, the journalists were enthusiastic about the training. There was a general consensus that Earth Journalism Network and CCTV should team up again for future workshops, including more targeted trainings. This will take place after the Beijing Summer Olympics.
“Internews and Earth Journalism Network are also conducting separate environmental media development activities in China with the support of the International Center for Communications Development on issues such as climate change and environmental health.”
AUSSIE MEDIA BOSS ‘FESSES UP TO $200 MILLION MISTAKE
Australia’s Seven Network chairman Kerry Stokes has finally admitted to what most people in the media already knew – that Seven's $200 million C7 litigation was a "mistake".
The Australian reported that Stokes, the majority owner of Channel Seven who is now campaigning for two board seats on the board of West Australian Newspaper Holdings, believed Seven's legal action against most of his rival media groups was the reason the shareholder's assocation has not supported his latest board tilt.
"It's hard to have 20-20 hindsight," Mr Stokes said in an interview published at the weekend by The Sunday Times Magazine in Perth.
"You rely on advice independently and our board took that advice. We made a mistake."
TECH CHANGES IN JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, HONG KONG AND TAIWAN BROADBAND AND CABLE MARKETS
Future Broadband Markets Strategic Report published by Informa Telecoms & Media reports that South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong are “seeing a growing trend whereby DSL and cable subscribers are upgrading or churning to new technologies, such as fibre-to-the-home. In South Korea, a fall in DSL subscriptions was offset by a rise in cable and apartment-LAN subscriptions. LG Powercomm, which launched cable and LAN services in the third quarter of 2005, s driving South Korea's broadband growth with its heavily discounted offers.
“In Japan, the ADSL base of local incumbent NTT East began to fall in the first quarter of 2006, while NTT West began to see a decline in ADSL subscribers a quarter later. Both operators are seeing strong gains in fibre-to-the-home customers, however.
“Taiwan was the only market to see a net loss in broadband customers, as the incumbent Chunghwa Telecom, which maintains a stranglehold on the DSL market, began to lose DSL customers, though its fibre-to-the-building subscriber base is rising.”
MAGAZINE ABUT NORTH KOREA LAUNCHED TO PUSH CHANGE
Bloomberg claims that the first magazine about North Korea reported by North Koreans from inside the country will start publishing a Japanese version this month to try to force change in one of the most isolated countries in the world.
Rimjin-gang, the name of a river that flows between North and South Korea, will feature reports on North Korea only using accounts from people based in the country, according to Jiro Ishimaru, a Japanese journalist who founded the magazine.
The magazine uses reports from refugees who agreed to go back to North Korea and report on conditions there.
They were given cameras to record life in the country. Material for the magazine is smuggled out of North Korea and delivered to editorial staff in Osaka.
The Japanese-language magazine will be published quarterly, and an English version will start in June. A Korean-language version started publishing last year.
Ishimaru, who has covered the country for nearly two decades and is author of the ‘The North Koreans.’
SINGTEL TO LAUNCH A PORTAL TO RIVAL YAHOO AND SINGAPORE PRESS HOLDINGS
Media Asia reports that Singapore's largest telco, SingTel, which also owns Optus in Australia, is planning to take on Yahoo and Singapore Press Holdings in the city state's crowded online media market with the launch of an information portal.
The site will feature local news, music and travel content, and will also be and information source for the mobile phone as well as the computer.
The project is as yet unnamed.
The platform will be free to access, and will use a revenue model based on display and classified advertising, targeting mostly small- to-medium sized companies. It is also expected to feature a search facility.
According to Media Asia, SingTel declined to comment on the launch.
MYANMAR LAUNCHES SECOND FM RADIO STATION IN MANDALAY
Myanmar is to get its second FM radio station next week, according to Te Myanmar Times, and it will service the second largest city, centrally located Mandalay.
The station, to be officially launched next Monday, April 21, soft launched on April 3 on 91.9 FM.
The Mandalay City Development Committee said the station would be free of advertising for the first six months and would broadcast regional news and cultural programs to listeners within an 80-kilometre radius of the city. It will be run jointly by the national broadcaster, Myanmar Radio and Television, Mandalay City Development Committee and the Forever Group, an Asia-Pacific Broadcasting union member.
The station will initially broadcast for five hours a day, and listeners have been invited to take part in a contest to design a logo for the station.
Myanmar's first FM station, City FM, was launched in the largest city, Yangon, in January 2002 and broadcasts from 6am to 10pm daily.
PAKISTAN TO LIFT RESTRICTIONS ON INDEPENDENT MEDIA
Pakistan’s newly elected government introduced a bill in Parliament on Friday to lift the controversial curbs on the independent media imposed by President Pervez Musharraf last year, according to a report in the New York Times.
Lifting restrictions on the media was one of the main campaign promises of the parties opposed to Musharraf that won an electoral majority on February 18 and now control parliament.
Those parties have also pledged to revoke other aspects of the state of emergency President Musharraf imposed on November 3 in an effort to control the political fallout from his hugely unpopular moves to oust the independent judiciary and muzzle an independent media. The emergency decree allowed the government to seal the offices of independent television networks, confiscate their equipment, revoke licenses arbitrarily and stop live coverage. Television journalists also faced heavy fines and up to three years in jail for broadcasting anything deemed to defame or ridicule the head of state or the army. The bill seeks to repeal these measures.
BAHRAIN WANTS TO ATTRACT BROADCASTING INVESTMENT BY EASING RESTRICTIONS
Khaleeej Times reports that Bahrain wants to attract investment in the broadcasting media through a bill that gives full freedom to television and radio stations, including the right to tackle all topics except those against God, Islam or His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
The bill does not interfere in the administration affairs of TV or radio stations, except stressing on the recruitment of Bahrainis who are above the age of 30 and having journalism degrees and five years experience in the media sector as executive managers.
The broadcasting media draft law, which will be discussed by the Consultative Council (Shura) after the approval of the parliament, aims to regulate the activities of public and private TV channels and radio stations based in Bahrain.
According to the bill, the licences for new TV and radio stations will be approved by the Cabinet, while registration will be completed by the Ministry of Information. The frequencies and airwaves of TV and radio stations would be leased to networks, not sold, and unlicensed stations would be banned.
CHINA UNBLOCKS CANADIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION’S WEBSITES
China has unblocked the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s websites, a week after the broadcaster’s president formally complained to Chinese officials.
French-language website Radio-Canada.ca had been blocked for six months while English site CBC.ca had been cut off since January.
The broadcaster’s president, Hubert T Lacroix had formally complained in writing about the blockage last week, asking the ambassador why the websites were blocked and to ‘take steps to ensure that this policy is reversed.’
He wrote that Chinese government officials in 2006 promised to ‘provide services of an Olympic standard to athletes, officials, spectators and the media in order to facilitate their participation and enjoyment of the Games.’. CBC is the official Canadian broadcaster of the Games.
GERMAN PUBLISHERS UPSET BY STATE-OWNED POSTAL COMPANY’S PLAN TO LAUNCH A NEWSPAPER
Thomson Financial reports that German newspaper publishing houses are opposing plans by Deutsche Post World Net AG to launch a free newspaper, said Wolfgang Fuerstner, managing director of VDZ, a publishers association.
Deutsche Post's board member Juergen Gerdes said in an interview with Financial Times Deutschland on Wednesday that the German mail services company wants to increase revenues from advertising as a way of offsetting declines in its core mail business, and will launch a free newspaper with a print run of 1 million.
“We won't take lying down that Deutsche Post, as a state-owned company with unique competitive edges, threatens press diversity in distribution,” Fuerstner told Handelsblatt. He said VDZ will make use of all possible legal and political means, including legal action through the European Union courts.
Gerdes, who heads Deutsche Post's mail operations and German parcel operations, said the company targets revenues in a three-digit million euro range from advertising by entering the free newspaper market.
Fuerstner put the total market at euro820 million (A$1.4 billion.)
Gerdes said Deutsche Post is seeking to cooperate with publishing houses for printing and editorial content.
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