Media News - Monday, January 09, 2012

Media in Slovenia to charge for online access

Slovenia is following Slovakia in a project for media to earn revenue by charging a single fee for access to their online sites. In May, all major Slovak newspapers and others went behind one common pay wall and offered unlimited access to areas considered exclusive in a project known as Piano, for a single fee of EUR 2.90 a month. The Slovak Piano Media company, which is in charge of the project says it has been a success. It is planning to expand to at least three other countries this year. The 2011 figures have not been made available. Piano Media said in a statement Monday a trial period in Slovenia will start Jan. 16, with the participation of eight major publishers, including the biggest daily paper, Delo. Users will be asked to pay EUR 4.89 a month. (AP)

Bahrain opposition group plans satellite TV station

An opposition group in Bahrain has announced plans to set up a satellite television channel and a newspaper. The Information Affairs Authority (IAA) was unable to comment on the case, but sources confirmed authorities were reviewing an official application from Al Wefaq National Islamic Society. It is seeking to publish a daily Arabic newspaper and set up an Arabic TV channel as part of efforts to ensure its message gets out. “Al Wefaq decided to launch its daily newspaper and TV channel as it feels there should be room for opposition groups to air their views,” said former Al Wefaq MP Jawad Fairooz. He said the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry report called for greater freedom of speech and expression especially in the media. It also called for Bahrain to relax its censorship laws and allow the opposition greater access to television and radio broadcasts as well as the print media. “Our website which was earlier blocked by the authorities is now up and running,” said Mr Fairooz. “We want to highlight our views and opinions using these media channels.” IAA Press and Publication acting director Yussef Mohammed Ismail said earlier this week that Bahrain aims to protect freedom of expression and boost the country’s media without encroaching on the rights of citizens. (Gulf Daily News via Media Network)

Danish media group takes over Norwegian broadcaster TV 2

Danish media group Egmont has become the sole owner of Norwegian commercial broadcaster TV 2, Egmont and Norwegian media group A-pressen said Monday. Egmont bought A-pressen's 50-per-cent-stake in TV 2 for NOK 2.1bn (USD 348m) in cash, the groups said in a joint statement. Egmont, which has operations in about 30 countries, publishes books and magazines and is also involved in film, cinemas, interactive games and TV. Egmont was a co-founder of TV 2, which launched in 1992. The Danish group said it wanted TV 2 to continue its focus on news, sports and entertainment, as well as online content. The headquarters would remain in Bergen, western Norway. A-pressen chief executive Thor Gjermund Eriksen said the Norwegian media group would focus on its local and regional newspaper business. A-pressen has a majority stake in 49 local newspapers and 46 online newspapers in Norway. It became a part owner of TV 2 in 1995. (DPA)

Zimbabwe’s radio VOP sues broadcasting authority over license denial

A second aspiring Zimbabwean broadcaster denied a commercial radio license last year has taken its fight to the courts, challenging the broadcasting authority's decision. The suit by Radio Voice of the People, operated by VOX Media comes on the heels of another legal action by KISS FM against the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe or BAZ. The two were unsuccessful in their bids for licenses after the broadcasting authority invited applications for two commercial permits. Both say the process was flawed and want the courts to set aside the issued licenses and start afresh. VOP attorneys argue the broadcasting board breached laid rules by not disclosing its scoring and evaluation process for prospective broadcasters. Appeal papers charge that "the respondent committed committed a gross irregularity by failing to give substantive reasons for its refusal to grant the application (VOX Media) a free to air national commercial radio license." Many others have criticized the license awards to Zimpapers, publishers of state-controlled newspapers and AB Communications, both with close links to President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party. The Movement for Democratic Change formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has also tabled a motion in parliament to have the two permits rescinded and the broadcasting board reconstituted. Unlike the other applicants, Radio VOP already broadcasts to Zimbabwe from a Madagascar transmission station under Radio Netherlands sponsorship, a fact many critics say hindered its chances. (VOA News)

Israeli journalist to launch political party

One of Israel's best-known TV news presenters has turned his back on journalism to launch his own political party. Yair Lapid, who is also a best-selling author and columnist, has become very popular since be began running news shows in the 1990s. For the past four years he has been the anchor of Channel 2's top-rated weekend news programme. Polls suggest that Lapid, the 48-year-old son of a former justice minister, would attract many secular voters. It could even mean that he could lead the second-largest party after prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu's Likud. Elections in Israel are due in late 2013 but governments in Israel rarely serve their full terms. Lapid's move from journalism to politics mirrors that of his late father, Joseph Lapid, a newspaper columnist and TV personality who also started his own party. Like his father, Lapid opposes Israel's ultra-Orthodox religious establishment but little is known about his overall political views beyond being regarded as a moderate pragmatist. He has clearly spooked some sitting politicians. A bill - nicknamed "the Lapid law" - seeks to require journalists to go through a six-month "cooling off" period before they enter politics. (The Guardian)

‘Europe’s biggest’ free wi-fi zone set for London

Mobile operator O2 is to provide free internet to "millions" of residents and visitors in central London by launching Europe's largest free wi-fi zone. The service will be rolled out across the boroughs of Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea in 2012. It will be powered by a system installed on street furniture. O2 said the deal, which will have no cost to the taxpayer, will enable visitors to "make the most of what London has to offer". Councillor Philippa Roe, cabinet member for strategic finance at Westminster City Council, said: "Westminster welcomes over a million tourists a day, is home to 250,000 residents, employs over half a million people and sees 4,000 business starts-ups each year. "Visitors to London will easily be able to share their pictures and updates of the Olympic events across social networking sites." O2 will begin installing the Metro wireless network across Westminster this month, initially being available in limited areas before being rolled out across both boroughs. London is catching up with other major cities. In Paris, several hundred individual wi-fi zones offer free connections in public parks and municipal spaces. New York also offers free wi-fi in parks and last year began to install wireless internet access at several of its subway stations. London's service will be powered by equipment attached to lamp-posts and other existing structures on London's streets, and should be completed by March. (BBC News)

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