The Channel | 2008 | Issue 1

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THE CHANNEL | JANUARY08 | 05
GUNDA CANNON EDITOR
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The views and opinions
expressed in The Channel
are not necessarily those
of the AIB.
The Channel cannot
accept responsibility for
errors and omissions,
although the utmost care
is taken that information
is accurate and up to
date.
…to a brand new Channel. The focus in this
issue is on international news channels. Since
CNN started in 1980, the number of 24x7
INCs has risen at a rapid pace. CNNI, Sky,
CNBC, BBC, Zee, Al Jazeera, Fox, Star,
Phoenix, YTN, NDTV, Aaj Tak, Channel
News Asia, Al Arabiya, Russia Today, Telesur,
Al Jazeera English, France 24 and Press TV
have followed. More are in the pipeline.
Each aims to offer a different view of the
world, reflected in their news content.
Does this dovetail with what one of our
interviewees said, that "Objectivity does not
exist in international news"? The proverb says
'you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot
make it drink'. Indeed, the viewer decides
which button to press. There is great choice –
he/she is in control. Broadcasters change rather
more slowly than audiences, so it's a race to
match the habits of a very technology-savvy
consumer. Also, the definition of 'watching
TV' is evolving – no longer just explicit eye-
contact with a screen but more often a kind of
background noise on the mobile, always on,
and watching only intently when something of
interest is shown.
The exciting aspect about international
broadcasting is that it is about gadgets and the
advance of technology but, ultimately, it is
focused on living human beings in all parts of
our world. They may be listening and watching
in the digitally most advanced country on
earth, South Korea, where connectivity is
everywhere and being put to good use: the
intelligent floor in a hospital will alert a nurse
to the fact that a patient has had a fall. In The
Channel we also report on the other end of the
spectrum: launching a community radio station
in a remote village in Papua which, as a by-
product, now provides electricity for the
villagers for the first time.
Change is so rapid in this business that by the
time the next Channel issue appears a lot of
what we've reported will be old hat. As long as
that change goes in the direction of freedom of
choice, of media that are not controlled and
policed, of people talking to each other and
fair partnerships, that's fine by me.
WELCOME
The
definition of
'watching TV' is
evolving ”
“
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accepts no responsibility
for errors, omissions or
the consequences
thereof.
© 2008 The Association
for International
Broadcasting
The AIB is a non-profit
making company limited
by guarantee and
registered in England.
WELCOME | THE CHANNEL