Welcome to News Views, CASBAA’s news round-up culled from sources across the industry for the week ending Jan 9th. Curated by CASBAA, News Views keeps you in the loop. We always value your feedback, so tell us what you think!
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John MedeirosChief Policy Officer
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China’s TV content censorship rules have come in for a lot of comment lately. The case of a Hunan satellite TV drama that was suddenly pulled off the air attracted attention. No politics involved, apparently… just a case of old fashioned puritanical fear of too much flesh. (One Shanghai website opined that “the only solution is to make the breasts smaller, which would require a great deal of effort from the post-production team.”) But the specific case illustrates the general point that content regulation on the mainland is excessively strict. The reaction to the rules brilliantly illustrates the pernicious economic effects of stifling regulation: one consultant reported that increased censorship was likely the reason for a 25% decline in the number of TV dramas aired on prime-time Chinese TV last year. And finally, the spread of these broadcast censorship rules to the internet was derided as one of 2014’s 12 low points of China’s tech industry. |
Christopher SlaughterCEO |
For years, news channels have been unhappy (putting it mildly, perhaps) about audience measurement regimes that do not include out-of-home viewing figures. In the US, CNBC is finally doing something about it. Later this year, the business network will be handing the measurement of its daytime programming over to market research firm Cogent Reports. The jury is still out on whether the move will fix measurement, or just screw things up further. |
Kevin JenningsProgramme Director |
Dish TV in the US have announced they are launching a streaming TV service – for only US$20 per month which will include ESPN. Analysts are already asking how this will affect the cable operators long term as well as the channel bundling that currently dominates the market. Money magazine noted that consumers think they’ll be happy with unbundling… but they may end up paying more in the end! |
Mark LayVice President, Singapore |
If you don’t know what programmatic buying is, it’s time you did as it has been changing the way brands are buying advertising. And, for a lot of our programming members, advertising is a significant part of their revenue. But it may not be all peaches and cream for digital video advertising as it seems that “less than half of all online video ads are even seen by viewers”. |
Anjan MitraExecutive Director, India |
The Indian broadcast and cable industry (at least a majority of players) is wondering whether or not to applaud latest salvos from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, including a new tariff order for analog areas. Actually an amendment to an earlier tariff order, it tries to address concerns of broadcasters and consumers. However, most industry players chorus there’s `nothing new’. What is worrying industry more, especially DTH operators, is TRAI’s bid to further micro-manage business. TRAI has hinted that it may review the freedom given to DTH service providers in deciding subscription charges of HD channels.Reason? TRAI sources don’t see much difference between SD and HD channels. Ummm, ahem!! Another one, may be, for the courts to hold sway on at some later stage. |
John MedeirosChief Policy Officer
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In Thailand, the post-coup regime has been rethinking regulatory structures for broadcasting and telecommunications. There have been seminars, discussions and proposals, many concerning whether there should be one regulator, or two. And apparently, a decision: legislation was approved by the Cabinet that would keep the NBTC’s jurisdiction over broadcasting and telecom competition, but strip the Commission of authority over spectrum allocation, returning those “difficult” duties to the government ministry in charge. Well, spectrum has always been the apple of discord of regulatory policy in Thailand. (And spectrum auctions do make huge profits for the government.) One interesting little note is that part of the new legislation would also deal with online violations of intellectual property! Have to see what that’s all about… |
Kevin JenningsProgramme Director |
With Netflix launching a local Australia version there is concern overreports that they intend to clamp down harder on people who access the US version from overseas. Opinion seems divided whether this is an actionable threat or they are just going through the motions to appease local broadcasters who have already bought Netflix content on an exclusive basis. |
Mark LayVice President, Singapore |
Fortune is speculating that Yahoo could be interested in scooping up a cable network. Scripps and CNN are mentioned as possible targets. After a $30+ billion windfall from the Alibaba IPO, there may be nothing better to do than a little bit of shopping. |
Anjan MitraExecutive Director, India |
On a lighter note, this piece of news could make many salivate — India’s Shemaroo Entertainment and Net Mobile AG to distribute brandedPlayboy content on mobile platforms in South Asian countries. On a serious note, if such a service finally takes wings, it would seriously test in India the limits of government’s thinking on content delivered on TV, mobile, pads, Internet, movie screens and other such platforms. |
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