Greece cuts down on private TV broadcasters

[Minoa]

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/greece-me ... KL8N1BC2W9

Now, I may be a staunch critic of so-called big media, but cutting the number of private TV licenses from eight to four is not going to improve press freedom.

Instead, the government should enforce editorial independence in all broadcasters, and support independent broadcasters. If a big media broadcaster was particularly too bad to keep on air, then supporting independent broadcasters to fill the void is a must. Either way doesn’t require cutting the number of private TV licenses from eight to four, but the lifting of the limits, which would mean more money in licensing fees.

This reminds me of the last major ITV franchise auction that the UK had in 1991. While it was controversial at the time because TSW and TVS took the ITC to court, the ITC (the regulator at the time) at least took quality into account when it awarded the Channel 3 licences (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_o ... e_auctions).

For example, TVS bid a whopping £59,800,000 when it tried to keep the South and South East franchise, but the ITC awarded it to Meridian for £36,500,000 because of the size of TVS’s bid would compromise their business plan. Another example was when London Independent Broadcasting tried to unseat LWT for £35,400,000, but they also failed on quality grounds and LWT remained on air for just £7,590,000.

The disqualification of heavily-endebted MEGA appears to echo the 1991 franchise awards.

[Baltenstein]

Syriza continues its great work.

Of course, a couple of years ago, when Prime Minister Samaras had shut down the first state TV channel, Syriza went absolutely bananas, called it an attack on democracy, rallied the people to protest on the streets and what have you.

Now they're not only shutting down one channel but four at once.

[The Serbian Empire]

Syriza continues its great work.

Of course, a couple of years ago, when Prime Minister Samaras had shut down the first state TV channel, Syriza went absolutely bananas, called it an attack on democracy, rallied the people to protest on the streets and what have you.

Now they're not only shutting down one channel but four at once.

Maybe someone should consider prohibiting Syriza from handling media licenses.

[Chinese Peoples]

I fail to see the economy in having multiple broadcasters. There are only so many pieces of news in any given field, so there isn't a need for an unlimited number of broadcasters; moreover, more broadcasters means more occupied frequency bands.

What we need to do is to scrutinize the media and make sure that they cover events properly and up to standard.

[Minoa]

Syriza continues its great work.

Of course, a couple of years ago, when Prime Minister Samaras had shut down the first state TV channel, Syriza went absolutely bananas, called it an attack on democracy, rallied the people to protest on the streets and what have you.

Now they're not only shutting down one channel but four at once.

I felt that MEGA was doomed from the start due to the debts, but Alpha, Star and Epsilon could have stayed on if they at least agreed to editorial independence and quality controls, which the 1991 franchise auctions took into account.

Even though the Internet is eating away much of the traditional media, television alone isn’t going to die.

[Greed and Death]

What did those other four broadcasters think would happen when they were broadcasting pro golden Dawn type programs

[Internationalist Bastard]

From the country where priests have government salaries, I aint that surprised.
On terms of media, I'd rather have everyone little tabloid spouting their worthless opinion then a few government sanctioned stations

[Constantinopolis]

Wow, Syriza actually does something good for a change. I'm genuinely surprised.

They're still spineless cowards who have capitulated to the demands of neoliberalism in every other possible way, however.

[Greed and Death]

From the country where priests have government salaries, I aint that surprised.
On terms of media, I'd rather have everyone little tabloid spouting their worthless opinion then a few government sanctioned stations

You religion's priest can have govnerment salaries if they show 1000 years of uninterrupted presence in Greece.

[Constantinopolis]

From the country where priests have government salaries, I aint that surprised.
On terms of media, I'd rather have everyone little tabloid spouting their worthless opinion then a few government sanctioned stations

You religion's priest can have govnerment salaries if they show 1000 years of uninterrupted presence in Greece.

You, sir, have just won the internet today.

[Internationalist Bastard]

From the country where priests have government salaries, I aint that surprised.
On terms of media, I'd rather have everyone little tabloid spouting their worthless opinion then a few government sanctioned stations

You religion's priest can have govnerment salaries if they show 1000 years of uninterrupted presence in Greece.

Actually yeah, I'm a Tengri Buddhist. Wheres the my salary? And while we're at it, the reparations?
I really just have a big problem with government paying for something like a priesthood

[Major-Tom]

Greece; once the leading figure of Europe, now the nation state equivalent of the kindergartner who eats glue.

[Constantinopolis]

You religion's priest can have govnerment salaries if they show 1000 years of uninterrupted presence in Greece.

Actually yeah, I'm a Tengri Buddhist. Wheres the my salary? And while we're at it, the reparations?

I'm not sure what "Tengri Buddhism" is (a type of syncretism between Tengriism and Buddhism?), but it definitely did not exist in Greece a thousand years ago.

I really just have a big problem with government paying for something like a priesthood

Then you have a problem with almost every government in the world, because most countries have some level of public funding for religion (not necessarily a single religion - often multiple ones).

[The Liberated Territories]

We should demote Greece to Middle Eastern status for these shenanigans.

[Greed and Death]

We should demote Greece to Middle Eastern status for these shenanigans.

Or return them to Turkey

[Uxupox]

I fail to see the economy in having multiple broadcasters. There are only so many pieces of news in any given field, so there isn't a need for an unlimited number of broadcasters; moreover, more broadcasters means more occupied frequency bands.

What we need to do is to scrutinize the media and make sure that they cover events properly and up to standard.

Why? It is always good to have multiple new sources. Not a limited amount.

[The Liberated Territories]

We should demote Greece to Middle Eastern status for these shenanigans.

Or return them to Turkey

Return them to Erdogan? Harsh, man.

[The Florists Union]

Or return them to Turkey

Return them to Erdogan? Harsh, man.

The filthy Rumlar have proven themselves incapable of rule without the wise guidance of the Sultan.

[Risottia]

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/greece-me ... KL8N1BC2W9

Now, I may be a staunch critic of so-called big media, but cutting the number of private TV licenses from eight to four is not going to improve press freedom.

Then again it could be a way to rise more money from the licensing auctions? And the Greek coffers could use a bit extra input.
So, frankly, if the Tsipras cabinet manages to get some in the barn, I think we can sacrifice a bit of media freedom this time - it's not like other sectors of the Greek society and other freedoms haven't been impacted rather harshly in the last years.

Basically, for me, it's a "whatever works" this time.

[Pirelin]

This is what happens when you overspend. Make Greece Great Again!

[Allanea]

Well... it's still more private broadcasters than the country I live in has.

[Socialist Tera]

Wow, Syriza actually does something good for a change. I'm genuinely surprised.

They're still spineless cowards who have capitulated to the demands of neoliberalism in every other possible way, however.

+1

[Draica]

This is what happens when a left-leaning regime assumes power. The freedom of the press is dispersed with in the name of fighting the illusionry boogeymen, often dubbed "the establishment" or "the oligarchs" or even better, "The Elites".

Ridiculous.

[Risottia]

"This auction is a parody," said Anna-Michele Asimakopoulou, a lawmaker with the conservative New Democracy party on Tuesday. "The government wants to control information ... and secondly it wants to create a system of corruption that can be controlled."

Hark who's talking!

[Pino Grand Fenwick]

The left junta must be reminded that communism died years ago. If it was up to them, there wouldn't be 4 channels left, only 1, the Propaganda one.