Thinker's posts, page 7

SBS and RTL will launch new channels in the Netherlands

As has been pointed out, that really depends on how you mean "national channels" differ from others. Many local versions of channels like Discovery and MTV are quite popular in the Netherlands and can rival some of those in the list above.

I'd say the number of general entertainment channels isn't completely dependent on the number of inhabitants in a country. If there is a possible niche with a certain critical mass, it will be exploited. Smaller countries tend to have more channels per capita, but the money spent on each channel will obviously be smaller.



Cable penetration is very high in the Netherlands, so I assume many would think of the channels on analogue cable as "free" or "national" channels, even if you have to pay to get them.

Scottish Independence

The possibility of a devolved BBC was discussed on the Media Show today.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04hyy19

I think the idea of having Scottish license fee income ringfenced for BBC Scotland for them to spend as they choose is an interesting one. It would allow a devolved BBC and create a bit of dynamism without breaking up the institution.

Having the license fee decided by the devolved assemblies sounds a bit more tricky, although it could have allowed the Scots to be spared from some of the cuts forced by the license fee freeze.

Big changes to BBC Production

More important than the removal of the 25 percent for indies is the scrapping of the 50 percent quota guaranteed for in-house productions. In the end, this will probably mean more programmes from indies. Allowing BBC Production to produce for others is probably partly a remedy for this potential loss in commissions, but it would also open up a lot of opportunities as gottago explains above

In a way, this could be the final step in the transformation in the TV production system from the old completely in-house model to a more open market that started with the launch of Channel 4 and continued with the imposition of indie quotas on BBC and ITV in the early 90s.

Big changes to BBC Production

Some rather seismic changes are on the horizon for BBC production and commissioning, as outlined by Tony Hall in a recent speech. He wants all commissioning quotas to be abolished, including the 25% reserved for indies. He also wishes BBC Production to be able to produce programmes for other broadcasters and for it to be split off from the rest of the corporation, essentially turning it into a commercial operation like BBC Worldwide.

This is in response to recent consolidation among indies that means many of them no longer qualify to produce within the quota that has been earmarked for indies.

http://tbivision.com/news/2014/07/bbc-quotas-to-be-scrapped-after-mega-mergers/302202/

Full speech here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/speeches/2014/dg-city-university

Freeview: The DTT Thread

Digital UK has published a consultation on various changes to the EPG. Most notably, LCN 300-599 will be used for IP delivered channels. The Red Button streams will move from LCN 300+ to 600+.

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/industry/About_DTT/consultations

International News Presentation: Past and Present

KHAS-TV Channel 5, the NBC affiliate in Hastings, Nebraska, was forced off the air last week due to some sort of ownership rules. The NBC affiliation and its local programming was instead transferred to KSNB-TV on Channel 4 which until then had been an affiliate of various minor networks. The station is still branded as "News 5", despite now being on channel 4.

The first newscast on the new channel:



A piece from the last newscast before the switch:

International News Presentation: Past and Present

To be fair, MDR Aktuell looked almost as terrible until they updated it about a year ago.

German news presentation is usually very conservative, and Bavaria is the most conservative part of the country. There's nothing wrong with some restraint in presentation, but then you need an engaged designer who can make something great with limited ingredients.

BR's neighbours in Austria, ORF, use almost the same idea for their intros, yet it looks so much better:



First bulletin with this design: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxKRbFlcspo

Eurovision 2015 - 60th Anniversary Edition

Austrian media are reporting that in addition to Vienna there has already been offers from Graz and Klagenfurt to host next year's contest.

http://derstandard.at/1399507153742/Song-Contest-kann-ORF-und-Co-20-Millionen-aufwaerts-kosten?ref=article

Has the BBC had its day?

The commercial broadcasters wouldn't necessarily need to be subject of the same scrutiny as the BBC. I imagine to money could be given to support specific projects and that the scrutiny wouldn't extend beyond that project and how its goals are achieved.

I know a similar system exists in Denmark where a portion of the license fee is used to fund certain programming on commercial broadcasters. It's called "Public Service Puljen" and works like the BFI funding for films in the UK.

Has the BBC had its day?

To be fair to Mr Portillo (a phrase rarely uttered), I think his argument was that it is unfair to give the entire license fee to the BBC and that producers of other worthy public service programming should be able to compete for a part of it. Obviously, there are some unanswered questions and holes in that argument...

He had an opportunity to flesh out his case on the Moral Maze a couple of years ago:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01n6rsm

Channel 5

Looking back to 2010, it appears that sale was closed relatively quickly. The agreement was announced on 23 July, and Desmond took over operations almost immediately. Within a couple of weeks he was overhauling the management.

Back then, there were barely any competition concerns, which there may be in this case. For that reason and others stated above, this sale may perhaps take a little bit longer to close.

International Presentation

There was an interim channel called DT (Dimosia Tileorasi) which started broadcasting about a month after ERT was closed down. There's some info in the old ERT closure thread:
http://www.tvforum.co.uk/thenewsroom/ert-state-broadcaster-closing-39284/page-10

The new NERIT is using some of the people behind the old DT service, but will apparently be more formally structured like a public broadcaster.