ftm is introducing a new daily column of media news, complimenting the twice weekly feature articles on major media issues. Tickle File items point out media happenings, from the oh-so serious to the not-so serious, that should not escape notice...in a shorter, more informal format. 

We are able to offer this new service thanks to the great response to our Media Sleuth project in which you, our readers, are contributing media information happening in your countries that  have escaped the notice of the international media, or you are providing us information on covered events that others simply didn't know about. We invite more of you to become Media Sleuths. For more information click here.

The Tickle File is a time honored journalistic tradition. Invented in 1761 by Urs Tickes, editor of a long disappeared Swiss newspaper, it is an effective tool for organizing article ideas.

To each journalist Tickes would hand 10 file folders saying "Halten Sie Ihre Ideen organisiert und Ihre Schreibtisch sauber, verdammt!"

Unfortunately Tickes met an unfortunate demise. While personally escorting a shipment of 10 million file folders from Sweden, the boat was sunk and all, including Tickes, was lost. Rumors of involvement by a militant Swiss journalists guild - Die organisierte Gesellschaft des Rechtgehirns, durcheinandergebrachte schweizer Journalisten - were never proven.

The legend of Tickes continues...

Here is the ftm Tickle File with notes from the ftm team...and you!

Tickle File Week of October 9, 2006

So Much For French Films, TV Programs On Turkish TV

Even against the advice of the European Commissioner responsible for  EU enlargement negotiations, let alone Turkish lobbying, France has decreed a new law that makes it unlawful for anyone in France to deny that the mass killings of Armenians  in Turkey during World War I was genocide.

That’s a particularly emotional issue in Turkey so the Turks are hitting back. The state broadcasting watchdog has recommended that French films and television programs no longer appear on Turkish television until the French law is declared invalid.  French films are the third most popular, behind American and Turkish films.

The  broadcast watchdog says that French films, TV series and music make up about 10% of Turkish radio and television content.

Bloomberg Not For Sale

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says that the financial services company of which he owns 70% and which carries his name is not for sale although he admits there have been recent offers.

Bloomberg says his future life after he gives up being mayor in 2009 is to concentrate on philanthropy. He says he realizes that at some point either he, or his estate will need to sell, but he hopes that comes “later rather than sooner.”

Merrill Lynch holds a 20% stake in the company.

Bertelsmann Launches €50 million Digital Media Fund

Bertelsmann, Europe’s largest media conglomerate, has set up a special technology fund to spot early new technologies that can help the core business and to provide investment capital to those new companies, taking minority shareholdings in return.

“Technology continues to play an increasing role in all Bertelsmann divisions as digital media, the web, and mobile access continue to con verge on a global scale,” according to Richard Sarnoff, the New York based President of the fund.

Many companies tried this same strategy when the Internet was an infant. Reuters, for instance, established what it called the Greenhouse Fund that invested in many start-up companies, including, at a very early stage, a company where the two founders  insisted on calling themselves Chief Yahoos.

The Greenhouse Fund became so successful it almost went to IPO status, but then the Internet bubble burst and when it was done there wasn’t much left.

US Surfers Watch Some 7 Billion Video Streams Monthly

US consumers watch about two video streams a day, according to Media Metrix, a company that specializes in measuring web use. And the favorite video streaming site by a 2 – 1 margin is MySpace.

It has been YouTube getting all the publicity since Google announced its purchase for $1.65 billion, but according to Media Metrix  My Space served 1.4 billion streams representing 20.1% of US web streamed video in August compared to YouTube’s 688 million representing 9.9% of the market.

Since News Corp paid $580 million for MySpace just last year, do these figures mean that MySpace has really grown in value in around 12 months, or does it mean Google overpaid, or something in between?

YouTube didn’t even come in second. That belongs to Yahoo which through its various sites streamed 823 million videos for 11.8% of the month’s total.

Google Results Continue To Astound

Google’s third quarter figures do all the necessary talking:

• Net income rose to $733.4 billion from $381.2 million

• Income per net share was $2.36 compared to $1.32

• Revenue increased 70% to $2.69 billion

Conclusion: Google is running full speed ahead whereas Yahoo reported that its 3rd quarter sales growth was the lowest in four years. eBay also reported numbers higher than Wall Street expected. Thus Yahoo’s problems appear to be just that – Yahoo’s problems.

NextRadioTV Q3 Jumps Another Third

Consolidated revenue for the four NextRadioTV companies was reported at €36.5 million, up 32.2% against the same period last year, 87% of which was from radio advertising sales. NextRadioTV owns and operates French radio channels RMC, RMC Info, BFM and TV start-up BFM-TV.

Q2 progression was 36.2%.

Former BK TV Owner Linked to US Congressional Corruption

Serbian millionaire and former owner of BK TV Bogoljub Karic paid a lobbying firm owned by Republican Congressman Curt Weldon’s daughter $20,000 a month in 2003. The result was Weldon intervening with the US State Department and the CIA to overturn a ruling baring Karic and his brother entry visas to the US. US Embassy officials were “horrified” when Weldon turned up in Belgrade with Karic for an official visit.

Karic won the BK TV license as a supporter of the late dictator Slobodan Milosovic and finally lost it when the Serbian government decided enough was enough. 

Dow Jones Buys Out Reuters’ Share of Factiva

Reuters has announced it is selling its 50% share of Factiva, the news search archival service, to partner Dow Jones for $160 million.

For Reuters, it gets out of a non-core business; for Dow Jones, it continues the business model of being less reliant on its print activities. Factiva will come under the Dow Jones enterprise media unit headed by Clare Hart, who, before her promotion to that role, was the very successful president and  ceo of Factiva, so the search unit will be in very safe hands.

Reuters is by far the number one news source within Factiva and the Agreement calls for Reuters to continue a commercial relationship by continuing to provide its news services.

Google To Own 25% Market Share of All US Internet Advertising Revenue

Web research company eMarketer is forecasting that by the end of the year Google’s ad revenue will exceed $4 billion giving it about 25% of the expected $16 billion Internet advertising spend this year.

Google’s revenue this year is expected to grow some 65%, according to eMarketer, whereas Yahoo is expected to grow “just” 17.5%.

Universal Sends out A Message: “Revenue Share Or We Sue”

Universal Music, which has already struck an advertising revenue share deal with YouTube, has served notice that if other sites do not make similar agreements then it’s off to court.

Universal has filed suit in California against two video-sharing websites, Bolt.com and Grouper, charging copyright infringement.  Universal said each site hosts thousands of its music videos and yet it is not receiving any compensation for their use.

The suit against Grouper is of particular interest since Sony Pictures in August agreed to buy that site for $65 million (€50 million).

Buyout Group To Double Its Money On Three-Year Axel Springer Investment

An American buyout group that bought a 20% stake in German publisher Axel Springer from Deutsche Bank three years ago is set to sell half of that stake for the price that it paid for all of it.

Hellman & Friedman will still retain 9.4% of Axel Springer once the sale is complete. Deutsche Bank had originally a 40% share of Axel Springer when the Kirch Media Group defaulted on a loan, and the bank in turn sold half of that to the American buyout company.

Mathias Döpfner, chief executive of Axel Springer, said the company was pleased the shares would enter the market since that will increase liquidity which should help the share price increase.

Irish Privacy Bill Threatens Press Freedom?

Media groups have asked the Irish government to reconsider a proposed privacy bill that would restrict publication of information in numerous public documents, enable individuals to get court orders in secret to prevent certain items from publication, and would allow individuals to secure injunctions to prevent pursuit by journalists as soon as they are aware they are being investigated.

The World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum wrote the Irish prime minister and justice minister that the proposed law would “inhibit the way newspapers carry out their legitimate and important function to society.

“We are seriously concerned that the Privacy Bill poses a significant threat to press freedom and would, if enacted, make unlawful the publication of much material that is clearly in the public interest,” the letters said.

ftm quotes:

"Give the government the tools to punish those it doesn't like or silence what it doesn't want to hear, and you undermine democracy. Give people the tools to choose what they see and hear, and you enhance democracy."

CBS and Viacom Executive Chairman Sumner Redstone, accepting the Media Institutes’ Freedom of Speech Award.

General News Event Video Hits New Record

In September MSNBC said it delivered 88 million online video streams, made all the more remarkable because there was no one single event during the month that caused any spike on a particular day. The most popular day was September 5, the day after Australian crocodile hunter Steve Irwin died from a Stingray attack.

The President of MSNBC.com said, “The fact that the largest video month ever on MSNBC.com happened in a month without a major news event speaks volume for the growth in popularity of online video.”

Toronto Star Publisher and Editor Are Out

In a surprise announcement, Toronto Star publisher Michael Goldbloom and editor-in-chief Giles Gherson, have resigned. No official reasons were given but Goldbloom cited in his staff note that advertising sales and newsstand sales have been declining. Torstar Corp., the Star’s parent company, had previously blamed weaker than expected advertising sales at the Star being partly responsible for the group’s 28% profit decline.

The Star is Canada’s largest newspaper, selling about 350,000 copies on weekdays and 500,000 on Saturdays. Torstar also owns Harleqin Enterprises, publishers of romantic novels, which is also undergoing restructuring by cutting 4% of its global workforce in a bid to save $3 million Canadian.

Citgo Launches Classic Damage Control Ad Campaign

Venezuelan President Chavez Called US President Bush “The Devil” in speech at the  United Nations General Assembly a month ago, and even Bush’s political opponents said that was an insult too much. Some protesters are going further, however, and are urging Americans to boycott Citgo Oil Company, owned by Venezuela.

So the company has launched a classic damage control ad campaign to tell Americans that by not buying Citgo gasoline they are hurting the oil company’s 4,000 US employees and the owners of 13,000 independently-owned gas stations across the country.

The first ad appeared where it would be seen by those in political power – in the Washington Post -- and other newspapers across the country will be used. TV spots are also being prepared.

One question that does arise from all this – even with the boycott campaign most Americans have no idea that Citgo is owned by Venezuela. Could the ad campaign actually do more harm than good?

UNESCO Condemns Media Deaths In Iraq

The United Nations organization entrusted with defending the freedom of the world’s press has warned that the “ferocious and systematic attacks” on the media in Iraq undermines any attempt to establish democracy.

The UNESCO warning came after last week’s assault on Baghdad’s Shaabiya satellite TV station in which 11 people were killed including the channel’s Director-General. It was the second assault on an Iraqi TV station in as many weeks.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) puts the media death toll at 152 since the war began in 2003. With 14 media personnel dead this month alone the IFJ warned the attacks were “a terrible assault on press freedom and democracy in Iraq.”

British Newspapers Focus Attention On US and India as Their Top Growth Markets

With the Times and The Guardian already printing around 10,000 copies a day in the US as promotions for their web sites, the UK media is also taking aim at India. The Financial Times would like to print an Indian edition if it can get around strict foreign ownership rules, and the Times, with two staff correspondents in India, is aiming to greatly increase its Indian readership, particularly for business news, via the web.

Most of the Times’ online readers now come from the US, representing 4 million of its 9 million monthly web readers. India now places fifth in the table of countries that most read the web site but Times editor Robert Thomson points out that India today has only 450,000 broadband connections but that is expected to grow to 25 million connections within four years.

And what will set the Times apart from its US competitors who may want to expand there such as possibly the Wall Street Journal? Thomson believes it is the Times’ coverage of foreign policy and global business that will make the difference – but the real advantage for the Brits, of course, will be their cricket coverage.

Print Titles Increase By 550 In Past Five Years

An analysis of new print publications over the past five years shows that some 550 new titles have appeared, according to a new report to be issued by the World Association of Newspapers at its November World Editor and Marketeer Conference.

The new entries range from niche titles targeted to wealthy readers to publications aimed at low-literacy audiences.

Azerbaijan regulator suspends foreign broadcasts

The Azeri radio and TV regulator continues to raise eyebrows at the OSCE and media rights organizations. Last Friday (October 13) the National Radio and Television Broadcasting Council suspended “unauthorized broadcasts” of the ANS TV and radio companies.

Media watchers in the region, including Internews, suggest the Azeri government wants ANS TV and radio to drop programs provided by BBC and VOA.

The regulator, however, suggested that foreign broadcasters could buy their own licenses “in line with international norms.”

ANS’ president Vahid Mustafayev admitted that the required licenses were lacking, blamed the regulator for holding up that process since 2003 and called the inaction “disrespectful”.  He also said the company has been repeatedly audited by Azeri tax authorities.

Greece Faces Fines For Digital Failure

The Greek government was sent a “reasoned opinion” from the Competition Directorate (October 16) suggesting strongly that compliance with the 2002 directive opening competition in broadcast transmission services better happen soon. The EC took Greece to the European Court of Justice in April 2005 to force Greece to harmonize its laws with the EC Competition directive.

Greece did change some of its laws but specifically excluded broadcasting. Greece is the only EU Member State to maintain a government monopoly in broadcast transmission services.

“Greece must complete the long over-due transposition of this Directive as concerns broadcasting transmission services,” said Commissioner Neelie Kroes in a press release accompanying the formal request to get moving.

Failure to comply with Mrs. Kroes subtle subpoena will send a new request to the Court of Justice to impose fines.

Expansive Slovak Radio Survey

New station Jemné Melodie debuted with 4.3% and 6th place in the national survey.

1. Rádio Expres - 21.6% - 20.2%

2. SRo 1 Rádio Slovensko - 19.5% - 19.1%

3. FUN Rádio - 9.6% - 8.7%

4. Rádio Okey - 7.3% - 6.9%

5. SRo 4 Rádio Regina - 6.1% - 6.5%

Median SK: mid-April to mid-August, compared with same period 2005

notes:

Another disposable radio format takes to the air, researched to find the “hole” in a market. Jemné Melodie sounds terrible, looks terrible (pink logo) and can’t catch a buzz in the Bratislava market. One of the public stations from Austria scores higher.

Russia’s TV3 Looking For New Partner

TV3, considered Russia’s last independent television channel, has put off a London IPO float scheduled for last May, according to Interfax. Reuters reports the IPO is dead.

TV3 is owned by Independent Network Television Holdings and current shareholders include News Corp and a gaggle of private equity companies like Credit Suisse First Boston and Delta Private Equity. An IPO would allow current partners to cash-out but this is probably a bad year to try to raise the reported $300 million sought. Russia is an extremely hot media market.

TV3 closed last year at a $13 million loss and is about $80 million in debt: small change for big media companies, Russian or otherwise. Gazprom-Media, Prof Media and CTC Media seemed to have begged off. Foreign media companies with interests in Russia, like News Corp and MTG, should be the likely candidates. But the unnamed company spokesperson quoted by Interfax said a “strategic investor” is sought. That always means silent partner with barrels of cash.

How Do You Earn $480 million On A $11.5 million Media Investment?

There are times when a venture capitalist makes it big, really big, and for Sequoia Capital that translates into YouTube.

Sequoia is said to have invested $11.5 million in YouTube between November, 2005 and April of this year, taking a 30% stake in the company. Google’s $1.65 billion purchase of YouTube   means Sequoia is set to reap 42 times its investment within a year.

Sequoia, whose tagline is “The Entrepreneurs Behind the Entrepreneurs” focuses primarily on very early-stage US West Coast technology companies. That’s usually means a big gamble, but once in a while there really is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Tribune Management Makes The Ultimate Sacrifice: The Corporate Jet Is Gone

Tribune has said it needs to make $500 million in savings to help pay for its junk status debt, so senior management is doing its bit – it has sold the corporate jet.

The plane, bought in 2000, was for business and personal use of senior executives.  No word on how much the company got for the plane or whether its three pilots are still with the company.

Sweden’s Press Shows Its Power

Within a week of Sweden’s new center-right government being sworn in the trade minister is out because the media uncovered that in the 1990s she employed a nanny and didn’t pay employment taxes.

And the culture minister, who oversees the country’s broadcast networks, is in trouble since she hasn’t paid the 1500 kronor (160 Euro) radio and TV license fee for some 16 years.

The trade minister, Maria Borelius, and her husband are in the upper crust of Sweden’s wealthy, so it didn’t go down well, either, when the media found out that their summer home is owned by an offshore company which means it wasn’t paying property tax.

Not exactly an auspicious start for Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt’s first week in office, but a great week for a free press.

notes:

Can we have a count of how many politicians actually pay the license fee?