Broadcaster losses better than expected, dread remains - February 18, 2010
We are now accustomed to great cheering when a media company posts smaller than expected losses. Stock, however that’s viewed, generally rises. Mix in a contentious new media law and there’s no good news.

Public and Private Media Fight Over iPhone Apps - January 4, 2010
Nothing says you’re connected like having an iPhone app. Without one you are consigned to the media backwater, ignored if not forgotten and certainly uncool. Whether or not public broadcasters offer iPhone apps is now controversial.

Parsing Diplomatic Speech - August 23, 2009
Language in Brussels is delicate. Even with translations into each European tongue details are precise and precisely spoken. Misunderstandings are to be avoided; sensitivity above all.

New Rules Welcomed By All, With Fingers Crossed Behind Them - July 6, 2009
The latest round of the pitched battle between private and public sector media rang to a close as the European Commission issued revised rules on State funding. It’s all in the spirit of reducing uncertainty. But uncertainty remains.

Television is OK - April 20, 2009
Digital television is fast arriving, bringing more channels and more competition. TV on the Web is fast approaching, bringing even more channels and even more competition. With that stress and more, Eurovision TV director Bjorn Erichsen says, “Television is OK.”

Stacked Deck - March 9, 2009
Competition between public and private sector broadcasters plays on the airwaves everyday. More and more it’s played on new media platforms. Out of listeners and viewers attention the high stakes game threatens the very reason it was created.

Commission to public broadcasters: This is going to hurt - November 6, 2008
For a decade the European Commission has stepped carefully. Little, if anything, must harm public broadcasting. Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes has explained how the rules are going to be played. There will be a test. Answers will not be provided in advance.

Brand BBC’s Billion Pound Bonus - July 24, 2008
Timidity was long ago erased from the BBC stylebook. No universal brand reaches that pinnacle without occasionally reminding lesser mortals of the scale of things. Competitors scoff at their peril.

See also in ftm Knowledge

Public Broadcasting - Arguments, Battles and Changes – new

Public broadcasters have - mostly - thrown off the musty stain of State broadcasting. And audiences for public channels are growing. But arguments and battles with politicians, publishers and commercial broadcasters threatens more changes. The ftm Knowledge file examines all sides. 64 pages PDF (January 2010)

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