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The United Nations, back in 1996, designated November 21st World Television Day. Some would say it must have been a slow work week. But, here it is, celebrating the most popular and lucrative mass medium.
Through the miracle of physics and - not to forget - the genius of experimenters many long forgotten television brought the world to many living rooms. Three generations of television watchers have been entertained, informed and pitched goods and services. There is fear, among some, that television’s eminence is fading, a new generation moving on.
Major TV support groups, welcoming World Television Day, note that young people in Europe still watch a lot of traditional TV. The medium, they say, is adapting, entering a “second golden age.” Platforms may change but TV remains the thing to watch. (See joint EBU, ACT and egta statement on World Television Day here)
“This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire,” said fabled US journalist Edward R. Murrow in 1958. “But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box. There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference.”
Brand strength figures significantly among every consumer metric. After all, a brand that people just can’t live without is richly rewarded, usually. Media brands on the great consumer shelf-space play an indispensable role.
Discount retailer Hema was again voted the brand people in the Netherlands can’t live without, in the annual EURIB (European Institute for Brand Management) Top 100 Essential Brands survey released this week. Hema primarily sells house brands - and lots of take-out food - in over 500 shops in the Netherlands. It’s a huge advertiser. In the EURIB online survey 69% of respondents said Hema is an essential brand. It’s been number 1 every year since the survey was launched in 2008.
Also a big advertiser is online retailer bol.com, ranked number 2. Ikea, known worldwide, ranked number 3, followed by health and beauty retailer Kruidvat and online payment and money transfer service iDEAL.
Dutch media brands perceived value is undergoing real change. Main public TV news show NOS Journaal ranked 8th (59%), the best of any TV or radio program. In 2013 it was ranked 2nd. The three channels of public broadcaster NPO fell sharply against last year’s results, blamed in the EURIB report on a name change “at a time when watching TV through traditional channels was already crumbling.” RTL Nieuws news program ranked 54th, lower at 38% from 44% (37th) year on year. (See more about media in the Netherlands here)
Gaining brand traction more than most is cable TV operator Ziggo, ranked 75th and voted essential by 35% of respondents, up from 28%. Ziggo was acquired by Liberty Global a year ago. Earlier this month Ziggo launched free-to-air sports channel Ziggo Sport.
Publishers have long offered readers diverse opinions, typically from writers with a particular gift with words. Big publishers will compete for the services of big name commentators. It’s the same with certain radio and television channels. The world is a better place with debate well crafted.
German publisher Axel Springer terminated its relationship this week with Die Welt columnist Matthias Matussek “with immediate effect,” said its spokesperson, quoted by meedia.de (November 17). No other details were disclosed officially. Previously culture editor at Der Spiegel, Herr Matussek has often expressed views that diverge from polite conversation; homophobic, racist and generally distasteful. (See more about media in Germany here)
Over the weekend he posted on social media a comment that “terror in Paris will move the debate over open borders and a quarter of a million unregistered young Islamic men in the country in a fresh new direction.” In postscript, he added a smiley face. Social media comments by employees raises perplexing issues for publishers, broadcasters and, frankly, every employer. (See more on social media here)
The social media outburst dismayed Die Welt editor-in-chief Jan-Eric Peters, who responded, in kind, that the newspaper “stands for other values, for freedom and humanity.” An editorial conference was called, deputy editor Ulf Poschardt in charge. Herr Matussek, reported various German sources, participated in person or by telephone, referring to Herr Peters with the colorful German term durchgeknalltes Arschloch.
After being fired Herr Matussek, through an attorney, denied being in the meeting or calling Herr Peters a crazy asshole. Sources with Axel Springer say they are confident about their understanding of the events.
Several Slovak broadcasters are asking for exemptions to music quota rules taking effect at the first of the year. Privately owned broadcasters will be required to inject 20% Slovak music into radio formats in 2016 and 25% in 2017. Additionally, 20% must be new music, none more than five years old. Dumping in the all-night shows is not allowed. Slovak music quotas for public broadcaster RTVS are higher.
Appeals for exemptions to the new rules have been circulating, mostly based on music format issues. Oldies and classic hits stations Radio Vina and Best FM are asking regulator Council for Broadcasting and Retransmission (RVR) for special consideration. “Bryndzové halušky (Slovak potato dumplings, a favorite national dish) aren’t served at Chinese restaurants,” explained Radio Vina program director Peter Hurajt, quoted by medialne.sk (November 10). The station plays tunes from the ’60’s to the ’90’s. (See more about media in Slovakia here)
A different argument has been lodged by hit music station Europa 2. “It would cause us harm since it directly interferes with the (Europe) 2 format in Europe,” said Lagardère Active Czech/Slovakia CEO Miroslav Hrnko to medialne.sk (November 16). Lagardère Active Radio International operates stations under the Europa 2 or Evropa 2 brand names in Slovakia, Czech Republic and Romania. Until fairly recently the Europe 2 brand was used in France, now known as Virgin Radio.
"I honestly think that this is a nonsensical step,” he added. “I don’t think it will help the Slovak (music industry), rather the opposite.” The Czech Republic has a local music quota for radio broadcasters as does, of course, France.
Meanwhile, public broadcaster RTVS has added a high-power FM signal in northwest Slovakia for alternative music, youth-oriented Radio FM.
Media’s power to influence public opinion is an evergreen topic, particularly rankings of what’s got it and what doesn’t. Since the pre-digital years of the last century the printed page (newspapers) felt the general onslaught of that glowing box in the living room (TV) but held tight power to mold, sway or disrupt public opinion. And now it’s those inter-tubes.
German State media authorities have, for several years, compiled data from public sources into a semi-annual media diversity monitor (MedienVielfaltsMonitor). The most recent report, released this week, shows something of a milestone. Public national TV channel ZDF has replaced iconic tabloid Bild as the single most influential media outlet, 4.6% and 4.4% share of the “national opinion market,” respectively. The next three are all TV: ARD public channel Das Erste (4.3%), RTL (3.6%) and Sat.1 (2.8%). All data for the current report was collected during the first half of 2015. (See more about media in Germany here)
The longer term trend shows television and newspapers slipping in influence, radio and the internet gaining. The “opinion forming strength” of television has dropped to 35.9% in the current report from 39.4% in 2009. Daily newspapers on aggregate fell to 21.0% from 26.1% during the same period. Gaining steadily since 2009 are radio channels and stations; to 19.7% from 17.7%. Without surprise, the internet’s opinion forming strength rose to 20.6% from 12.9% in 2009.
The top five German media providers - public broadcaster ARD, Bertelsmann/RTL, ProSiebenSat.1 Media, Axel Springer and public TV broadcaster ZDF, in order - hold 58.2% of public opinion formation, roughly split between the public and private sectors.
Terrorist attacks in Paris last Friday night drew immediate and robust news coverage across the world. Major news outlets continued to report unfolding events through the weekend and into this week. Early judgment from media watchers has focused on caution.
French national channel TF1 was broadcasting the France-Germany friendly football match, the terrorist’s bombing target that followed the rock concert and restaurant shootings. They continued the match broadcast without interruption even as news of the shootings had been widely reported elsewhere. Three bombs at Stade de France brought the match and broadcast to a halt.
“I think this was a responsible choice,” said TF1 deputy news director Catherine Nayl to Europe 1 (November 16). “With 80,000 people in the stadium, several million viewers, it would have been irresponsible to broadcast any information without knowing exactly what it was.” (See more about television news here)
German public network ARD also broadcast the match. Football commentator Tom Bartels, aware of the shootings elsewhere in Paris, continued, like the TF1 sports team. “It was just awful,” he said, quoted by rp-online.de (November 16). He noticed that French president Francois Hollande had been whisked from his stadium seat and mentioned “fireworks” when the first bomb exploded. Stopping the broadcast would have been the wrong call, he said. “Then panic would probably have erupted.” There would be no Jim McKay moment.
Caution was also evident on French all-news channels. BFM TV and i-Télé went with special coverage about half an hour after first reports of the shootings though both avoided mention of the ongoing hostage situation at the Bataclan theater. France 3 joined an hour later, France 2 a hour after that. In the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo newspaper and Hyper Casher deli targeted killings last January media regulator CSA censured sixteen French media outlets for broadcasting certain details “at a time when terrorists could still act.”
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