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Every radio broadcaster worth their salt has explored the new world of new media. Websites for stations are, by now, in their 4th or 5th generation. Mobile apps are the big thing. The technology is, of course, easy. Just set loose a few geeks in the basement and feed them pizza. How mobile technologies are used to benefit the brands will soon be discovered.
Austrian public broadcaster ORF is well into the development of Android and iOS versions of the FM4 website, release expected this year. The mobile app will replace the FM4 “fan” app, essentially a live stream, developed by “fans” and “given” to ORF. “It was high time we got active,” said ORF director for online and new media Thomas Prantner to derStandard.at (March 1).
After a complaint from private broadcasters the Austrian Federal Administrative Court allowed last year that ORF can develop mobile apps only when the same contents are also available on websites and mobile-only new media offerings are not allowed. Private broadcasters association VöP welcomed the decision as a “barrier” to ORF’s “boundless expansion.” For its part, ORF said it was “meticulously compliant with the existing law.”
Audience measurement is not all that difficult to understand. The ways and means of estimating television viewers are well established, reviewed often and generally accepted by all stakeholders. And yet, newcomers find this all something of a surprise.
The new general director of Polish public television TVP, Jacek Kurski, has set his sights on Nielsen Audience Measurement, the media research company measuring television viewing. “Today, viewership is measured by one foreign private company that recognises viewers as aged 16 to 49,” he said to notorious right-wing weekly W sieci (March 1). “And my purchasing power is many times greater than my children. Who agreed to such an absurd solution, suitable for private broadcasters?” He also complained about the panel size.
Actually, age groups captured for television audience estimates was agreed by ad agencies, media buyers and broadcasters, public and private, in the 1990’s. Nielsen also reports the more general persons age 4 and older. In February Nielsen audience estimates TVP main channel TVP1 ranked number one among persons 4 years and older, 12.17% market share, down year on year from 12.71%. Among persons 16 to 49 TVP1 placed 3rd with 7.98% market share, down from 8.57%. (See more about media in Poland here)
Mr. Kurski recently “slipped the demographic,” as we say, having reached that milestone of 50 years two weeks ago. This known to produce, in some, those special “senior moments.” He was elevated to the TVP post after years as a professional politician along with other nativist ideologues mandated to upend the Polish media sector with particular attention to “foreign” influence.
It takes a lot to rile the Finns. Chief editors at 21 media outlets unloaded in a joint statement about “fake news” that “offer manipulated, intentionally misleading information.” The targets of the editor’s ire, unsurprisingly, are digital newcomers.
"Now we’ve hit the threshold," said Finnish editors association chairman Arno Ahosniemi, quoted by YLE News (March 1). "Many colleagues are of the opinion that we had to intervene in this situation." The editors noted inflammatory coverage of immigration issues as well as personal attacks on journalists. (See more about media in Finland here)
“The discussion climate in Finland has rapidly changed,” said the statement. “Especially in social media, it has become common to violate, disparage, blacken and lie directly. Those calling themselves news media poison the public debate and atmosphere in society by deliberately misleading the public with false information. The boundaries of good taste and decency has long since passed.” (See more about press/media freedom here)
Finland is, without argument, the world’s leader in press and media freedom. The country repeatedly tops the rankings of both Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) and Freedom House. Media organizations - unnamed websites excepted - subscribe to journalistic guidelines policed by the Council of the Mass Media.
"We have a lot of good to defend," said Helsingin Sanomat chief editor Kaius Niemi.
Collaboration is the busy buzzword in this ever more complex media world. Partnerships and alliances with specific purpose can add necessary expertise and, naturally, scale. Competition is so last century… or last week.
Austrian competition authority BWB is taking a look at a marketing alliance announced last week by television broadcaster Puls 4, owned by ProSiebenSat.1 Media Group, and Amazon Media Group. Puls 4 will be the exclusive representative in Austria for Amazon’s display and video ads. The BWB “wants to look at the details,” said a spokesperson to derStandard.at (March 1). “For the time being there is no formal assessment.” Not all that long ago Austrian private broadcasters association (VöP) declared Amazon, along with Google, YouTube, Facebook and Apple, the “big five potential threats.”
A slightly different ad marketing alliance of Swiss public broadcaster SSR-SRG, telecom Swisscom and publisher Ringier was approved, more or less, by the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) and media regulator OFCOM/BAKOM this week. The Swiss competition commission (ComCom) approved the deal last December amidst considerable angst from regional publishers and broadcasters about the participation of SSR-SRG, which dominates the country’s television and radio broadcasting. In its statement OFCOM/BAKOM indicated it will be watching the development of the joint venture for “market impairment.” The regulator also said SSR-SRG cannot employ at this time targeted ad placement on its linear digital TV channels.
In Norway an alliance of media concerns to counter the ad-selling power of Google and Facebook suggested by Schibsted chairman Ole Jacob Sunde was criticised by competition authority director Lars Sørgård, reported aftenposten.com (February 25). “When competitors have plans to cooperate, it could quickly end up in conflict with the law,” said Mr.Sørgård. “On the contrary, competition can help speed up restructuring.”
This week the Czech Parliament convenes (March 1) to consider an amendment extending current law on slander and defamation to “legal persons.” Publishing or broadcasting speech considered defamatory, including online, could lead to forfeiture of legal status from one to 10 years or outright “bans.” Supporters of the amendment say the measure is necessary to counter “large firms with… teams of lawyers.” (See more about press freedom here)
Criminal defamation laws applied to media outlets are universally denounced, rightly, by press freedom advocates. These “don’t insult the dictator” measures have a chilling effect on the free flow of ideas and, most often, critical voices necessary for democratic interaction. Penalizing media workers and outlets for reporting - even mentioning - information inconvenient for the powerful is on the rise in many countries. Hate speech is another matter but, oh, so close.
Leading media trade bodies have expressed considerable concern. “The threat of draconian punishment will lead to fear of opening controversial subjects and ultimately significant restrictions on freedom of expression, a basic prerequisite for the work of the media,” said internet development association SPIR. The Czech Publishers Union appealed to the Chamber of Deputies to reverse course, which it said is “contrary to current European trends.” Private broadcasters association APSV, echoing the same positions, said the measure would have “a negative effect” on broadcasters. (See more about media in the Czech Republic here)
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