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Radio Netherlands – the bad and the good news
Radio Netherlands is facing further cuts to its budget – 5.5 million euro spread over
three years to 2007. Radio Netherlands is already making savings of
€
2.3 million this
year.
€
2.1 million will be saved in 2005/2006 by a rationalisation of programme
distribution, involving a closer working relationship with other international
broadcasters. That leaves 1.1 million euro to be saved in 2007, and the State Secretary
will hold further discussions with Radio Netherlands as to how these savings can be
achieved. Radio Netherlands’ management says that the organisation will do its utmost
to ensure that further cuts in core journalistic activities are avoided.
The international broadcaster recently received a boost when results of a survey by a
Dutch market research company showed that the Dutch abroad value the service
provided by Radio Netherlands. The average respondent gave the Dutch international
service a rating of 7.4. Approximately one in four Dutch people listen to RN during
their stay abroad. The existence of the international service is considered by 72% of
the respondents as (very) important. Acting Director General Jan Hoek said: “These
great figures are a boost for Radio Netherlands. After a period of reorganisation, it is
good to know that the Dutch people value us so highly. Radio Netherlands cooperates
editorially more and more with the domestic public broadcasters. The 7.4 is therefore
indirectly also for our colleagues.”
Al Jazeera conference on media &
government
Al Jazeera Channel is hosting an
international media conference to discuss
issues at the core of the media profession
stemming from the industry’s experience of
covering the war in Iraq and its aftermath,
especially the re-emergence of the
paradoxical relationship between media and
governments. The conference will bring
together activemembers of the international
media corps from all areas of the industry
including print and electronic publishing,
as well as broadcasting, alongside academics
and policy makers. The event takes place in
Doha on 12 and 13 July.
Dutch PSBs want 2006 analogue TV close
Dutch public broadcasters have told the
government that they want to close down
analogue terrestrial transmissions of the
three national TV networks in 2006, two
years earlier than planned. The closure
will save
€
14m per year. According to
estimates, only 65,000 - 100,000 people
depend on these transmitters to receive
Nederland 1, 2 and 3 while they receive
their signals via cable or satellite.
DAB finally taking off in Netherlands
Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) may finally
be taking off in the Netherlands in 2004.
Public broadcasting’s DAB coordinator Hans
Bakhuizen said that by mid-November, 70
percent of the population will be able to
receive a DAB signal. By the end of July,
DAB coverage is due to be extended to
Hilversum, Amsterdam, The Hague and
Rotterdam. This will be followed in August
by Haarlem, Lelystad, Arnhem and Utrecht.
DAB receivers are not widely available in
Holland.
Long good-bye for Dutch longwave plan
After three years debate, the Dutch Council
of State has come out in support of the
North Sea Foundation, which has been
vigorously campaigning against a proposal
to construct a pair of 400-metre high radio
masts on an artificial platform in the North
Sea off the coast of Walcheren. The masts
would have carried the programming of
Delta Radio on 171 kHz longwave beamed
to the UK. Transmission company Crown
Castle International and Britain’s Wireless
Group were reported to have been involved
in the initial business plan.
English-language radio for Paris
English-language station Paris Live Radio
launched on 11 May via cable and
satellite in the French capital. The 24-
hour station broadcasts a mix of music,
news and information for the city’s tens
of thousands of native English speakers.
European tax rules threaten Athens Olympics coverage
Many Asian broadcasters may have to cut back their coverage of the Athens Olympic
Games if the Greek Government does not agree to provide refunds of
Value Added Tax (VAT), the ABU Secretary-General, David Astley,
has warned. In previous years, host countries have refunded VAT paid
on services and facilities connected with the production of Olympics
coverage on the grounds that the broadcast signals were being ‘exported’.
But Greece has still not confirmed commitments that it will refund
VAT paid on transmission charges, and has so far refused to consider
refunds on services such as hotel charges for broadcasters’ staff. Mr
Astley said the soaring Euro and the refusal to refund VAT payments
was unfairly slugging his members. “Collectively our members are investing hundreds
of millions of Euros to bring images of the Olympics, and the most famous of all host
cities, to the biggest television audience in the world,” he said. “Greece, and its people,
will benefit enormously, and for a long time afterwards, from the positive coverage
that will be transmitted by our TV stations. But most of our members do not have
offices in Europe, so they will have to pay this extra tax which will not be incurred by
the wealthier broadcasters.”
The World Broadcasting Unions – a grouping of the world’s eight regional
broadcasting unions – said TV broadcasters in many countries outside Europe may
have to cut back on their coverage of the Athens Games because of the VAT issue.
Media freedom in decline in former Soviet bloc
A new study, Nations in Transit 2004, released by New York based Freedom House
says that Europe is facing a widening and worrisome democracy gap. The report
shows that the enlargement of the European Union on 1 May formalized a new
divide between the stable, democratic nations of Central Europe and the Baltics and
the weaker post-Communist states that continue to lag behind in key areas of
democratic development.
The Nations in Transit survey, produced annually, provides comprehensive analysis
of transitions in 27 post-Communist countries (plus Kosovo) by tracking progress and
setbacks in electoral processes; civil society; independent media; governance;
corruption; and constitutional, legislative and judicial frameworks. Freedom House
found that the non-Baltic post-Soviet states have regressed druring 2003. Russia has
registered the most significant decline in scores since last year, with Azerbaijan,
Moldova and Ukraine also showing significant downturns. Continued poor performance
was documented throughout the Central Asian countries, which include some key US
allies. The overall backward movement exhibited among the non-Baltic former Soviet
states in key areas of democratic reform suggests a growing resistance or unwillingness
of government leaders to push forward with positive changes. Russia, in particular,
has failed to lead by example in the region, where its influence remains pervasive.
The study is available online at:
