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The grand opening of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games brought out all the expected glory, fans in the stands excepted. Dignitaries were in place, speeches given. Songs raised. Athletes paraded along with students. And for the next two weeks, there will be color and excitement.
Just before the lovely ceremony started, another expected event took place in Beijing. A Chinese security agent manhandled Dutch public broadcaster NOS Beijing correspondent Sjoerd den Daas, reported Dutch media news portal Villamedia (February 4). While he was delivering his report live, the security agent grabbed his arm pulling him away from the camera. (See more about media in China here)
Mr. den Daas attempted to speak with the agent in Chinese but was ignored. “We are now being pulled out of here,” he said on air. “I’m afraid we’ll have to come back to you later.” A separate report suggested a second security agent attempted to seize the video camera.
“Sjoerd has often told and shown that it is difficult as a journalist in China,” said NOS chief editor Marcel Gelauff, calling the episode “a painful illustration.” “There is a far-reaching tendency to curtail freedoms, and this may be even stronger because of corona.” Mr. Gelauff also noted the broadcaster intends to continue coverage of the Winter Olympic Games “and also other subjects.”
Impatience is mounting in Europe with disinformation on media channels. Regulators are mounting inquiries and taking tougher stands. The concern is over false information on subjects related to coronavirus medical and health issues and extends, more generally, to disruptive narratives. The concerns are not necessarily new but now have been heightened by geo-political tensions.
French regulator Arcom initiated an investigation of RT France, the French-language offshoot of Russian state media platform RT, formerly known as Russia Today. This follows German federal regulator ZAK “prohibiting” RT DE from “continuing to operate without authorization.” The Russian Federation Foreign Ministry quickly retaliated by ordering closed the Russian offices of German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle, expelling its employees and banning its broadcasts.
The French regulator’s inquiry over “the processing of the channel’s information on certain subjects” was reported by French newspaper La Croix (February 4). As background, the newspaper noted “RT France presents itself as a critic of the liberal West. The tone (on the website) is much more controversial than on the (broadcast) channel… because they know they are monitored by the media regulator.” Arcom has not released an official statement but RT spokespersons, with the usual disingenuous abandon, howled about “principals of freedom of speech” being “abandoned.” (See more about disinformation here)
This followed federal German regulator ZAK ruling (February 1) that RT DE discontinue satellite TV as well as internet and mobile distribution of its programs because “the necessary media law is not available,” quoted by Süddeutsche Zeitung (February 2). RT DE failed to receive a broadcast license from Berlin-Brandenburg regulator MABB in December then tried and failed in Luxembourg. Russia-friendly Serbia granted RT DE a broadcast license, which ZAK did not accept. (See more about media in the Russian Federation here)
Having run out of road, the Russian Federation Foreign Ministry (February 3) ordered Deutsche Welle Russian service out of Moscow. "We have been told in no uncertain terms by the Russian Foreign Ministry that from (Friday) at 9am Moscow time we will no longer be allowed to work as journalists,” said DW Moscow bureau manager Yuri Rescheto. DW was also given the notorious “foreign agent” designation. The closure and expulsion marks the first time such drastic action has been taken against a respected international news outlet. Last year the Russian Foreign Ministry expelled BBC Moscow correspondent Sarah Rainsford but did not pursue other sanctions against the UK public broadcaster.
Reporting on health and medical issues is more serious than ever for publishers and broadcasters. Challenged with misinformation, disinformation and outright fake news are real and important stories related to the coronavirus, its variants, vaccines and public health policies. Two years into the pandemic legitimate reporters still have their hands full not only with complicated science. Authorities want to look over their shoulders.
The Hungarian Ministry of Human Resources (EMMI) wanted control over coronavirus reporting. The agency directed hospitals to limit media interactions to the state broadcaster MTVA and state news agency MTI. Reporters from independent news outlets were banned. “We will provide photos and recordings to the press with the help of MTVA and MTI given that the epidemic is still spreading widely,” said the agency, reported Hungarian media news portal Media1 hu (February 2). (See more about media in Hungary here)
One of those so informed was independent investigative portal Telex, which challenged the EMMI directive in court, assisted by the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (TASZ). Like all other Hungarian state agencies - as well as the state broadcaster and news agency - EMMI is thoroughly populated with Fidesz party appointees, thus following closely the policies of prime minister Viktor Orban, a coronavirus sceptic and opponent of public health restrictions. Coronavirus hospitalizations in Hungary have peaked every week this year, reported Hungary Today (February 1). (See more about Media and the Virus here)
The Metropolitan Court of Budapest ruled on the claim last week, reported independent news portal 24 hu (February 2), saying EMMI had “illegally expelled the press from hospitals.” The Court ruled “conclusively” that it is up to hospital administrators to decide who is admitted.” It rejected the argument that information from hospitals must be cleared through state media agencies.
As the coronavirus migrates from pandemic to endemic, the media world heads back to work. And merger and acquisition activity in 2022 will likely roar. It’s roaring already. Broadcasters, publishers and online platforms are rubbing their hands together, cozy with the finance world, anticipating more fun and many more changes.
This week, already, Grupo Televisa and Univision closed their merger agreement, announced by Reuters and everybody else (January 31). Appropriate regulatory approvals were granted last week. The merger plans were announced last April. It will be called TelevisaUnivision. The companies have been partners in a variety of projects for several years. (See more about mergers and acquisitions here)
Grupo Televisia is based in Mexico City, Mexico and is a prolific producer of Spanish-language media. Its operated television stations and telecom operations in Mexico will remain separate along with the Club America football team. Univision Communications, based in Miami, Florida, is contributing cable TV channels and networks plus a slew of Spanish-language media content. Alfonso de Angoitia from Grupo Televisa will be executive board chairperson, Univision’s Wade Davis becoming chief executive. Former Softbank chief operating officer Marcelo Claure as Softbank is a significant investor in the new company. And, so is Google. Both companies have recently added top rank executive talent, including from WarnerMedia, Netflix and Disney+.
First on the to-do list is, quite naturally, a streaming service. “Over the past year both companies have transformed themselves, reaching levels of financial performance and audience resonance that has not been seen for years,” said Mr. Davis, quoted by Hollywood Reporter (January 31). “The power and momentum of the transformed core business is truly unique and< will be a springboard for the upcoming launch of the preeminent Spanish-language streaming service.” The new company will become “a feared competitor,” said Sr. de Angoitia, quoted by El Pais (February 1).
The introduction of digital television created an even bigger media sector segment. TV viewers flocked to it. Within a few years analogue TV has all but been replaced. New digital broadcasters earned vast amounts of money. Some it that was a bit shady.
Latvia’s Court of Economic Affairs dropped all charges against nearly two dozen persons accused of large scale fraud in digital television licensing. Previously charged in 2008 were former prime minister Andris Skele, other government officials and executives with telecom Lattelecom, now known as Tet LLC. Money laundering was also noted. Prosecutors had asked for jail time, fines and confiscation of property. (See more about corruption here)
After his ruling Judge Kaspars Vecozols noted that due to the large number of accused, about 20 persons, finding a specific victim was difficult, reported Latvian news agency LETA (January 31). The crux of prosecutors arguments was a financing arrangement for Lattelecom that became a license fee. Lattelecom argued it was not a victim. The judge argued that without a victim there is no crime. The prosecution can appeal the decision to the Riga Regional Court. (See more about digital transitions here)
Generally referred to by Latvian observers as the “second digitalgate case,” its genesis followed by several years an earlier prosecution over the rush to bring digital television to Latvia. That case is ongoing before the Riga Regional Court but involves many of the same actors. In it former PM Skele and commercial TV owner Andrejs Ekis were confronted about an alleged “contract” between them in 2002 involving certain offshore entities in the pursuit of digital TV authorizations.
Latvian officials are slowing improving their standing on corruption issues. In the recent (January 25) Transparency International 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index, Latvia rose to 36th, tied with Israel. In 2012 Latvia ranked 54th, tied with Turkey. Its Baltic neighbors - Estonia and Lithuania - ranked 13th and 34th, respectively, in the 2021 report. The least corrupt countries, once again, were Denmark, Finland and New Zealand. The most corrupt in Europe are Hungary and Bulgaria, 73rd and 78th, respectively. Worst in the world is South Sudan.
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