Publisher Defies Gravity, Launches New Daily - August 18, 2011
Business decisions for publishers are based on the bottom line. It can be cruel. Sometimes, at least for the more entraprenurial, it’s instinct. And it’s always about timing.

Correctly Assessing Television Potential One Bone At A Time - August 15, 2011
Investors in television companies come in all sizes and styles. Some become operators, others players. The money in the television business just keeps on growing, which keeps investors on their toes lest one or two get broken.

Chaos Has Its Cost - December 14, 2009
Bankrupt public broadcaster spent millions on perks, bonuses and other fun as government cut revenue sources. Auditors looked down the rabbit hole and found too many consultants and outside lawyers. Meanwhile, there’s a new boss to be chosen.

As Big Broadcasters Fight For The Top, The Real Action is on the Web - October 26, 2009
Maybe the ‘long tail’ theory isn’t completely dead. Big broadcasters are adding as many brand extensions as they can to bulk up sagging audiences. New channels - offered by others – are attracting a lot of attention.

Assessing Market Potential - August 19, 2009
Commercial television investors enter markets based on several factors. Most certainly, the leading decision point is cost of entry. Revenue potential is a close second. Next is strength of competitors.

Public radio asks listeners for support - week of August 17, 2009
Is there a free coffee cup?

Poland pubic radio channel Trójki began broadcasting appeals for money (August 10) as financial difficulties afflicting the country’s public broadcasters take their toll on the pop music channel. A listener group founded the Trojki Lovers Committee to collect funds to promote young Polish artists and try to keep the channel on the air. ...MORE

Television to lead ad spending out of recession - week of March 30, 2009
Back to brand strategies

Ad spending forecasts continue to change week by week, always for the worse. ZenithOptimedia (ZO) reported (April 1) its latest new forecast for Poland and, predictably, says ad spending will drop 0.7% to PZL 7.7 billion in 2009. Last quarters’ forecast predicted a 0.2% decline from 2008 spending. ...MORE...

Many discussions about TV Puls - week of January 26, 2009
Only the shadow knows

Since News International fled its investment in Poland’s TV Puls last November media watchers have had their eyes out for more changes. TV Puls President Dariusz Dabski fueled that by telling news agency PAP (January 26) seven “parallel” discussions are taking place. “I believe that the closure of the transaction is still possible in the first quarter,” he said. ...MORE...

Who’s in charge? The circular firing squad surrounds public television - December 21, 2008
With new competitors popping up, ad revenues in peril and license fee revenues sagging public broadcasters agonize. Politicians either line up to take charge or run for cover. It’s a war out there.

News Corp hits the panic button in Eastern Europe - July 21, 2008
Established media companies venture into developing regions, looking for quick a turn-around or a good trading card. When turn-arounds take too long or cost too much it’s time to trade. With few traders in sight there’s always the panic button.

The mad rush to get online - May 18, 2008
The riotous charge into online, web-based media has broadcasters and publishers falling all over themselves. Actually, they are falling all over the bags of money necessary to change strategies. Those strategies are getting smarter.

Football focuses on Poland’s competitive TV market - February 25, 2008
Football matches are events made-for-TV. Broadcasters bid against each other for rights virtually assured of the advertising and audience bonus. For this summers’ Euro 2008 championships Polsat bought all rights freezing out public broadcaster TVP.

Get out the vote campaign worked, moans politician - October 29, 2007
Campaigns by public television to encourage election voting characterize civic responsibility. Democratic participation in elections is a good thing. Encouraging that participation is also a good thing.

TVN gives Poland the biznes - July 11, 2007
Poland’s TVN adds a business channel to its bouquet in cooperation with US network CNBC. TVN CNBC Biznes will launch this autumn…about the same time News Corp launches Fox TV in Poland.

Polish President Puts New Spin on Polish Plumber Jokes - April 10, 2007
Firing yet another public television president sets no precedent in either Poland or the new Member States. Polish President Lech Kaczynski ordered TVP President Bronislaw Wildstein out at the end of February moving ever more quickly to bring the broadcaster under State control. Wildstein’s successor, former Kaczynski aide Andrzej Urbanski, was nominated and appointed within a week.

ProKom’s Ryszard Krauze Spins Radio Assets…to Himself - May 21, 2006
Further consolidating and restructuring his varied businesses, Polish millionaire Ryszard Krause moved Mediabank SA, owner of radio station PiN 102 FM, from Softbank SA – of which he is CEO – to Prokom Investments – of which he is CEO. Finishing that in late April, Krauze then moved to the bigger plan: merging Softbank with Asseco and creating Poland’s biggest IT company.

See also...

Media in Poland

Poland is the biggest media market of the new EU Member States and the changes have been often surprising, sometimes radical and never ending. Publishers, broadcasters and new media are plentiful, talented and under constant stress. ftm has its eye on Poland. 43 pages PDF Includes Poland's neighbor Belarus, resources (March 2009)

ftm Members order here

Available at no charge to ftm Members, others from €49
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Flying Through Turbulence – Media in the New EU Member States

ftm reports on media in the 12 newest EU Member States. Will media find clear air or more turbulence? Country reports, company reports and broadcaster/publisher reports. 98 pages PDF file (February 2007)

ftm Members order here

Available at no charge to ftm Members, others from €49
Order