Circom Report

CIRCOM Regional NewsmonthlylCR is the European Association of 380 Public Regional TV Stations in 38 countriesl Dec. 2003/No 50

RAI’s Paolo Morawski is new

CIRCOM Regional President Merry New CR Executive Committee members elected are: Jean-Marie Christmas Belin (), Angel Urreiztieta and (), Peter Sauer (). a Happy RAI’s Paolo Morawski is the New new president of CIRCOM Year Regional, succeeding Lefty Kongalides who was in the same to all position from 2001-2003. CR With an unanimous vote of the members European Board Morawski and their accepted the honor of leading families Kongalides, whose tenure as conference in Wroclaw. president ends December 31, The 9th President added that the CIRCOM Regional Morawski is the 9th CIRCOM years were the best of his career. Regional President in the associations Full of praise for the outgoing 20 years of activities following: Sergio president were also CR General Borelli (1983-89), Jean Suhas(1989- Secretary Marija Nemcic and 90), European Board member Jean- Marie Belin. New EC members Three new members entered the Executive Committee: Jean- New CR President Paolo Morawski Marie Belin (France), Angel ’s only regional television Urreiztieta (Spain), Peter Sauer association. (Germany). Judit Klein () Morawski was instrumental in will be a member for another the success of the annual CR year. The tenure of Elena Spanily conference in Grado, . (), Pierre Couchard Lefty Kongalides congratulates Paolo Morawski In a short speech Paolo thanked () and Zoran Medved Boris Bergant (1990-92),David Lowen everyone and underlined that he () ends by December 31. (1992-94), Harald Boe (1994-96), will “listen, listen, listen” to what Vice president is Piotr Borys Carlo Ranzi (1996-99), Reimar Allerdt the members suggest and ask and () who will also be (1999-2000), Lefty Kongalides (2001- he will do his best to carry on. responsible for the 2004 annual 2003).

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Member states slow in adopting EC launches website for the European Year EU’s new ‘anti - spam’ regime of Education thru sport

As from 1 November, the Member States must comply with the EU's new strict digital Euro 2004 in plus the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Athens will place Europe at privacy rules. In practice, only , , Italy and have met the deadline. centre stage as far as international sport is The EU's Directive on Privacy and Electronic user is given clear information about the concerned in 2004. Communications entered into force on 1 purpose of any such invisible activity and is For this reason, the European Union has chosen November 2003. Popularly known as the EU's offered the right to refuse it; to name 2004 the European Year of Education 'ban on spam' directive, the technology-neutral · Location data generated by mobile through Sport (EYES) with the slogan "Move your body, stretch your mind". regulations include provisions on security of phones can only be further used or passed on Around 200 events will take place in 28 networks and services, confidentiality of by network operators with explicit user communications, access to information stored on countries to promote links between education and consent. The only exceptions are the sport in Europe and to raise the European public's terminal equipment, processing of traffic and transmission of location data to emergency location data, calling line identification, public (in particular young people's) awareness of the services, and transmission of data to law importance of sport in developing their subscriber directories and unsolicited enforcement authorities, subject to strict personalities and social skills. commercial communications. conditions; Sports federations across Europe, including the Enforcement of the new laws is left to the · E-mail marketing is only allowed with European Olympic Committees, the International individual Member States. Several EU Members prior consent ('opt-in'). Disguised identities School Sport Federation and the International Ski are running behind schedule with the new and invalid return addresses are also Federation, are backing EYES. regime's implementation. Only Austria, outlawed. The new regime also covers SMS On 30 October, the Commission launched a new Denmark, Italy and Sweden had brought their messages and other electronic messages sent website dedicated to the European Year of national legislation up to the new standards by to any mobile and fixed terminal. Education through Sport (EYES). the Commission's 1 November deadline. The site provides information about education In February 2004, the Organization for Under the new regime: and sport, online games and news about upcoming Economic Cooperation and Development · Cookies and other invisible tracking devices events. (OECD) will host a conference to discuss the that can collect information on Internet users issue of multilateral co-operation in the fight may be utilised only if the against spammers and cookie use on the web. EU Environmental policy for Irish media

The future of Europe will be strongly influenced CE Media Division’s by decisions taken by the European Union. Journalists need to know about the current policy debates in the European institutions and their historical background. activities in November The European Journalism Centre in Maastricht, in co-operation with the European Commission's DG Environment, has designed a two-day Here’s a list of council of Europe’s Media Division activities this month: programme to help journalists to better know EU · Expert meeting on the draft amendments to to the Moldovan Law on Public National Broadcasting environmental policies before the EU Irish Company Teleradio -Moldova 31 October - 1 November, Strasbourg (France) Presidency. · Conference on digital television in Europe 3 November, Rome (Italy) The course “EU Environmental Policy for Irish · 60th meeting of the Steering Committee on Mass Media (CDMM) 4-7 November, Rome (Italy) Media” to be held in Brussels, Dec. 15-16, consists · Training seminar for civil servants of European standards concerning freedom of expression and of seminars and visits and is sponsored by the DG information, organised in the framework of the Joint Programme between the European Commission Environment. and the Council of Europe in Ukraine 13 November, Kiev (Ukraine) · 4th European Seminar on newsroom management, organised in co-operation with CIRCOM Regional, in the framework of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe 17-22 November, Strasbourg Clear – sighted about (France) · Follow-up training seminar for judges and other legal professionals, organised in co-operation with truth and reality the Executive Office of the President of Azerbaijan, in the framework of the Joint Programme between The BBC's head of television news has repeated the European Commission and the Council of Europe 19-20 November, Baku (Azerbaijan) his defence against claims of liberal bias within the · ''Know Thy Neighbour'': bilateral meet ing of newspaper editors -in -chief from and corporation, but said the charge was worthy of , organised in co-operation with the Free and Democratic Bulgarian Foundation, in the debate. In a lecture, Roger Mosey said the BBC framework of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe had to be "clear-sighted about the truth and about 18-20 November, Sofia (Bulgaria) reality". Mosey also praised the pioneering · 35th meeting of the Standing Committee on Transfrontier Television (T-TT) 20-21 November, achievements of Sky News as one of the few Strasbourg (France) bonuses in the advent of digital television, which · Training seminar for members of Economic Courts on Article 10 ECHR and journalistic freedom overall he described as a "genuine and responsibilities, organised in the framework of the Joint Programme between the European disappointment". Commission and the Council of Europe in Ukraine 26-27 November, Kyiv (Ukraine) Meanwhile, Mosey has been given a boost by · Conference on Freedom of expression, defamation, slander and insult, organised in the framework new figures which show the BBC's Ten O'Clock of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe 27-28 November, "The Former Yugoslav Republic of News is the most watched British news show of Macedonia" this year. An average of 5.2m watched the show, · Round table on media concentrations, organised in co-operation with the Institute for International up 500,000 on last year, while ITV's rival News at Relations, in the framework of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe 28 November, Zagreb Ten - which has suffered from frequent scheduling () changes - lost 150,000 viewers in the same period · Workshop on the rights of journalists, organised in the framework of the Stability Pact for South- to leave it with an audience of 3.5m. Channel 4 Eastern Europe 28 November, Bucharest (Romania) News enjoyed the best year, boosting its figures by · Training seminar for judges and other legal professionals on European standards and media a fifth to just over a million viewers. legislation, organised in the framework of the Joint Programme between the European Commission and the Council of Europe 28-29 November, Yerevan (Armenia)

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Russia plans 24 – hour BBC3’s Fightbox news channel

The All-Russia State Television and Radio Company (VGTRK) plans to establish a 24-hour news channel by the end of the year, VGTRK Deputy on the ropes Chairman Aleksei Malinin announced. RIA-Novosti reported the content will be made up mostly of VGTRK material, as well as reports from BBC3's £4m interactive show Fightbox, in which contestants fight with virtual warriors Euronews. they have developed online, has proved the digital TV youth channel's latest ratings flop, The channel will initially broadcast in Moscow, mostly via cable. According to MR Malinin VGTRK costing £136 per viewer per episode does not plan to make the channel a full-fledged The BBC spent fours years and an Blondes have been well received by many federal news channel, but will instead make it estimated £3m-£4m developing Fightbox - critics. available to satellite-television operators for inclusion in their program packages. but after three weeks on air the show has an However, BBC3's original programming average audience of just 22,000 viewers. has often struggled to attract decent ratings - Assuming each episode of the 20-part even by multichannel standards. Bulgarian TV Channel Fightbox series cost at least £150,000 to And some shows have failed to attract make, it amounts to a cost of £136 per viewer viewers and been panned by the critics. may be closed over per episode. Vinnie, the 20-part documentary about “Racial Intolerance” Fightbox has been broadcast each weekday footballer turned bit part movie actor Vinnie evening at 7.30pm since Monday October 13, Jones, was pulled after ratings slumped from Bulgaria's state Council for Electronic Media hitting a high of 56,000 viewers last 100,000 to just 10,000. (CEM) launched a procedure for closing down private Thursday, followed by a low of just 6,000 the Vinnie was described by one reviewer as Den TV channel after a "racial discrimination" scandal following night, a figure that it perilously "unrolling like the 100 Years War, only was prompted by a Den live broadcast, Bulgaria's close to a zero rating in the BARB audience slightly more slowly and with less Dnevnik daily wrote. The channel's management was already imposed a measurement system. immediate prospect of peace". BGN 15,000 ticket due to the controversial comment The Saturday night omnibus repeat, The channel's top rating shows have that German-descended TV host Nick Stein has made. Fightbox Stack, has fared slightly better, tended to be movie repeats, same night He criticized the refusal of a member of the Movement averaging 36,000 viewers. repeats of BBC1's EastEnders and premieres for Rights and Freedom (MRF), junior partner in the Fightbox has been described as a cross of US thriller 24 scheduled immediately country's ruling coalition, to speak in Bulgarian at a press conference. The member of the ethnic-Turks between Robot Wars, the popular show after the episode broadcast on BBC2. dominated party chose to speak in his mother language which has just switched from BBC2 to The BBC3 controller, Stuart Murphy, has instead, which aroused Stein's criticism. Channel Five, Gladiator and computer reorganised the channel's schedule this The following raid against Den was initiated the fighting game Tekken. autumn in order to make it more viewer Council's Chairman Raycho Raykov. However, he was Each episode of Fightbox features four friendly, with zones where the people can opposed by CEM member Georgi Lozanov, who claimed that closing down Den would be interpreted as contestants pitting computer-generated find certain types of programming on a political decision, Dnevnik revealed. fighters that they have developed the show's particular evenings. The TV channel's owner Denka Ivanova is set to be website against each other and a group of ready for appealing against an eventual court decision house combatants in a series of hand to hand in favor of the CEM.

combat situations. The action takes place in a real life indoor “The Farm” becomes most arena and is shot as a live event, with the crowd and viewers at home following the watched entertainment combat thanks to special effects that make the computer-generated fighters appear to be show on ’s TV2

in the studio. The second season of Strix's original in-house Fightbox began with 60 contestants, who format 'The Farm' finished on a high Nov. 9 as it will be whittled down to 16 for a quarter final The BBC said it did not judge a show's became the most watched entertainment programme round and just four for the grand final. success solely by its ratings and claimed the ever on Norway's TV2 television channel. The ratings The show is in one of TV's toughest slots programme had attracted 200,000 users in for the show have reached all time highs during the Fall and this Sunday's final programme of the season at 7.30pm, up against either Coronation the first four weeks of its launch on the was watched by 1,276,000 viewers, achieving an Street or EastEnders every night. associated website. average rating of 34.3, equivalent to a 61.1% share of And Sky One often grabs the top rating "FightBox on BBC3 and soon to be seen viewing. The show achieved a staggering 70.2% multichannel show in the slot, with repeats of on BBC2 is not just about the actual viewing share of viewing amongst 20-29 year olds. The Simpsons gaining around 500,000 figures. 'The Farm' was first aired in Norway in 2001 and was an instant success, making TV2 the most viewers. The programme brings together computer watched channel in Norway. Fightbox is also due to be repeated later gaming, internet and TV technology to The latest run of 'The Farm' on Swedish television this autumn on BBC2, where it will attract create a new and innovative entertainment is now in its eighth week and is delivering similar much bigger audiences. format," it said. outstanding ratings. The average number of viewers BBC3 was launched in February, taking The BBC said the format would be is up to 1,131,000 per programme and the average share of viewing is 34%. TV4 Sweden has recently over from BBC Choice, with a government- released as a computer game next February commissioned a fourth season, which will be backed remit and a £97m budget to provide a and that production had tested technology to recorded in South Africa for the first time. showcase for new talent and programme its limits. The African version of 'The Farm' will air in formats. "The format is also a key part of BBC3's Sweden next spring and Strix is in talks with a number New shows such as drama Burn It, commitment to start risk-taking shows of broadcasters regarding producing new series of the format in Africa. 'The Farm' has to date been aired in 7 animated sketch show Monkey Dust and online and then moving them to TV as seen European countries. comedy shows Little Britain and 3 Non previously with Celebdaq," it added.

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Cyprus state TV Bulgarian National Television lost the lead

The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, celebrating 44 years of operation established with Cyprus' 1960 independence, used to operate as a semi-governmental organisation in conditions of monopoly until Bulgarian National Television was founded in 1959. Its official launch 1990. Pluralistic radio and television were was on December 26 of the same year. introduced in Cyprus in 1990 and 1992 Presently Bulgarian National Television operates on the basis of the Law respectively putting an end to the state monopoly since the 1950's. In the Republic of for Radio and Television from 1998. Cyprus, there are two state and five private It is a national public broadcasting station. television channels with an island-wide It has four regional centers situated in the cities of Blagoevgrad, Varna, coverage and three state and six private radio channels with an island-wide coverage. There Plovdiv and Russe. are also about 40 local radio and TV stations. Since July 19, 2001 BNT has been The application of TELETEXT The state channels have lost the lead in the a licensed nationwide numbers of viewers and listeners to private technology will give additional channels. In the Turkish occupied area of communication operator and TV opportunities for the Bulgarian Cyprus, the Broadcasting Service is operating broadcaster with its Channel 1 as Satellite Channel. under the absolute ownership and control of well as the regional stations’ TV Bulgaria will turn into a real the Turkish-Cypriot administration. In fact, the programs – “Pirin”, “More”, “Plovdiv” Turkish authority-controlled radio and television television with its own content by is more than 80 percent fed from Turkish and “Sever”. financing its own production. national television. BNT is financed from a few Promoting Bulgaria on the Further, a number of channels from Turkey different sources – part of its budget satellite channel as an attractive and one from beam directly to Cyprus is granted by the state and the rest – while satellite television with the world wide place for tourism and recreation will coverage is becoming increasingly widespread. from commercial revenues. undoubtedly contribute to A transition towards the long -term interests of BBC racism expose financing through the foreign investors towards collection of license fees is the country. case dropped expected to be During the past several implemented. An undercover journalist who exposed years BNT programs won racism within police forces will not be charged The first broadcasting in prestigious awards at Prix with any offence, the Crown Prosecution Bulgaria was the live transmission of Danube Festival (), the Service announced yesterday. Mark Daly, who the parade on the occasion of the Golden Vityaz (Russia), Prix Nike works for the UK's BBC, was arrested after anniversary of October Revolution Greater Manchester police discovered he was (Portugal), Prix Jeunesse working as an undercover journalist. which was held on September 9 (Germany), Prix CIRCOM, Golden Six officers, from three northern forces, Square (now called Alexander Albena (Bulgaria), Bar resigned and two more have been suspended Batenberg Square) in 1959. (), Golden Cairo Film following the broadcast of Mr Daly's BBC In 1974 a second BNT channel documentary, The Secret Policeman. Festival (Egypt), Golden Rose The programme showed recruits making was launched. (), etc. racist comments and one of them disparaging It was created especially for the BNT also regularly participates the character of the murdered student Stephen purpose of promoting cultural with own programs in numerous Lawrence. programs. The Police Complaints Authority has international festivals such as Japan launched an investigation. Mr Daly had been On June 1, 1993 the First Program Prize, Monte Carlo International TV arrested before the footage was broadcast, on was given the name “Channel 1” and Festival, Thessaloniki International suspicion of obtaining a pecuniary advantage the Second Program – “Efir 2”. Festival for TV Documentaries, by deception, and damaging police property, In May, 1999 BNT started but the charges were dropped as there was International TV Festival for short- insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of broadcasting the “TV Bulgaria” feature films in Oberheim conviction against Mr Daly. Satellite Channel. (Germany), the International Greater Manchester police said no further On October 4, 1998 after the Documentary TV Festival in Cracow action would be taken: "We were shocked and closing down of “Efir 2” BNT saddened by what the documentary revealed (Poland), the FIAT International and are determined to ensure that we learn continued fulfilling its obligations as a Festival for archive materials, The from the insight obtained." public media through the Channel 1 Golden Prague International 24-hour program schedule and TV Festival, PRIX Italia, etc. Animal Planet Bulgaria Satellite Channel. BNT is an active member of the TV Bulgaria is a unique television European Broadcasting Union. gets makeover channel which broadcasts 100 % It is also a member of the Animal Planet is re-launching with a more Bulgarian programs. following international organizations: adult look and focus, complete with over 500 The channel transmits through hours of new programming and the introduction EGTA, IMZ, CIRCOM Regional and of theme nights. EUTELSAT and covers the whole FIAT. Themes include On the Edge, featuring territory of Europe, most of Ukraine, www.bnt.bg programming from Animal Planet hosts like Jeff the European parts of Russia, Corwin; Fame, highlighting rising animal actors; Western Asia and Northern Africa. The protectors, Unexplained and Unexplored; and Revealed.

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The 28th Golden Chest International TV Festival has turned into a real celebration for the TV professionals and Films from over 40 the public of the beautiful town of th Plovdiv. It was held from October 18 - 25 countries at the 28 welcoming films from over 40 countries from four continents which competed in Golden Chest Festival four categories – feature films and series for adults, for children and adolescents, Russian film director Karen Elephant”, etc. documentaries and the newly established Shakhnazarov, premiere of the Visit the official site of Golden category – “First Steps” – students feature controversial Dutch film “The Milosevic Chest – www.goldenchest.bnt.bg to works, documentaries and animation. Case”, as well as presentations of Syrian see the complete list of prizes and The parallel program included TV, the IAT Film School in Lisbon, the learn more about one of the most presentations for the world-famous Children’s TV Festival “Golden prestigious festivals in Europe which has over 30 years of history.

Golden Chest Int’l

TV Festival prizes The Golden Chest Grand Prix for Category One – Feature Film and Category Three – Documentary Films Series for Adults to the production of Bulgarian National Television The Golden Chest Grand Prix for Category Three – Documentary Films "Under the same sky", director Krassimir Krumov – Bulgaria. to the production of NHK, "Silent Village ", director Seigo Naito - Japan. The Special prize of the Jury for Original Achievements in TV The special prize of the Jury for Original Achievements in TV Feature Films TV to the production of Art Fest "Rhapsody in Documentary Films to the production of Adela Media and Film and TV White",director Stephen /Tedy/ Moskov - Bulgaria Productions “Whose is this song”, director Adela Peeva - Bulgaria The prize of the Municipality of Plovdiv to the production of Mentor The prize of Novote Plovdiv ex Equo to the production of Korean Cinema "Railway Romance",director Ivan Solovov - Russia Broadcasting System “New year’s day special: Snow falling on the The prize for Best Script to Shinichi Ishikawa for the film "The Dance mountains”, director Je-heon Lee – Korea and to the production of of Remembrance", NHK – Japan. The prize is bestowed by the Union of Bulgarian National Television “In the name of …”, director Damian Petrov Bulgarian Filmmakers. – Bulgaria The prize for Best Film Director to Ivan Nichev for the film "Journey Honorary Diplomas to the Productions of: Viktor Asliuk “We are living to Jerusalem", National Film Center/mdr/bnt – Japan. on the edge”, director Viktor Asliuk – Belarus, Blagoevgrad TV Center The prize is bestowed by the Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers. “Slavka” director Ognyan Gelinov – Bulgaria, Plovdiv Regional TV Center The prize for Best Director of Photography to Konstantin Zankov for “Young at heart” director Svetoslav Draganov – Bulgaria, aTV “Iraq – The the film "Warming up Yesterday’s Lunch", Galafilm – Bulgaria. 21st day”, director Elena Yoncheva – Bulgaria, RFF International “Bread The prize is bestowed by the Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers. over the fence”, director Stefan Komandarev – Bulgaria The prize for Best Actor to Egor Beroev for his role in "Railway Category Four - "Fist Steps" – Students Feature Films, Documentaries and Romance",director Ivan Solovov – Russia. Animation The prize is bestowed by the Union of Bulgarian Actors. The Golden Chest Grand Prix PRIX for Category Four – Feature Films, The prize for Best Actress is given to Maria Kavardjikova, Tzvetana Documentary Films and Animation produced by students to the production Maneva, Plamena Getova, Mariana Zhikich and Evgenia Alexandrova - "Let’s go home", director Lisa Monthe - Drama Institute Stockholm - the female cast of the film “One Calorie of Tenderness”, director Ivanka Sweden Grabcheva – Niki Film – Bulgaria. The Special Prize of the Jury for Original Achievements in Students’s The prize is bestowed by the Union of Bulgarian Actors. Cinematography Ex Equo to the production "40 Days of life”, director The prize for Music to Leonardo Rosenmann of "Jurij", director Radoy Nikolov – NATFA – Bulgaria and “In the name of the father”, Stefano Gabrini – RAI TRADE – Italy. director Julio Maria Pessoa – University of Sao Paolo – Brazil. The prize of The prize is bestowed by the Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers. Natfa “Krastju Sarafov” to the production "The portrait",director Lucie

Category Two – Feature Films and Series for Children and Adolescents Simkova – FAMU – . Special mentions to: “Tenue”, The Golden Chest Grand Prix for Category Two – Feature Film and director David Cardona – University of Buenos Aires – Argentine, “I have Series for Children and Adolescents to the production of , to tell you something ”, director Dragomir Sholev – NATFA – Bulgaria. "Nowhere at home – The Story of a child Evacuee”, director Kirsti “Cluck Cluck”, director Olaf Enke – HFF “Konrad Wolf” Potsdam – Tulonen-Seppaenen – FinlandINLAND – for the humanism in the Germany message of the film and the high professional quality of the realization. The prize on the name of Galia Bachvarova is awarded to Ivailo The special prize of the Jury for original Achievements in TV Feature Djambazov – director of the film participating in Category Two – “Rosy Films for Children and Adolescents to the production of Bulgarian Pelican Reserve”. The Jury of the Association of the Cameramen in National Television – CINEMAQ "Rosy Pelican Reserve", director Bulgaria awarded: the prize for direction of photography to Konstantin Ivailo Jambazov – Bulgaria – for the fascinating twists in the storyline Zankov for the feature film “Warming up yesterday’s lunch”, GALAFILM and the concerned appeal to protect nature. – Bulgaria The prize for best Child Actress to Marianna Kesseli for her role in, Diploma to Ivailo Penchev, director of photography of the film for children "Nowhere at Home – The St ory of a Child Evacuee", director Kirsti and adolescents “Rosy Pelican Reserve” – Bulgarian National Tulonen-Seppaenen – – for her compelling and talented Television/CINEMAQ – Bulgaria performance in the main role of the film. Diploma to Anton Bakarsky, director of photography of the documentary The special prize of the Jury of Children from the city of Plovdiv to film “Bread over the fence”, RFF International – Bulgaria the production of YLE, "Nowhere at home – The story of a child Evacuee", director Kirsti Tulonen-Seppaenen – Finland

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ECO 2004 in Ohrid, June 2-6 EU countries rank high th in media honesty list The 5 Int’l TV Festival A survey by the Institute for Public Relations in the US has shown that, if you want to bribe journalists, you will have the least success in on Environmental Protection Northern Europe. Finland tops the list, which ranks countries in various categories such as the and Culture Heritage freedom of the press and ethical codes for journalists. The 5th International Festival of TV Denmark, Austria, Germany and the UK also programmes, titled “ECO-2004”, is to be feature in the top ten most honest media. organized under the auspices of Co.Pe.A.M. Surprisingly, the survey demonstrates that the in Ohrid, June 2-6. French media is the second most easily The “ECO-2004” competition is designed corruptible in the EU. to attract editions / programmes from all According to the report the most dishonest genres (informative, factual, documentary, journalists come from Greece. Accession educational, science, school topics, countries more bribeable. programmes for children, animation, light Tapes should contain three copies of the Of the future EU states, Estonia's media is entertainment, and feature programmes) script in the original language, as well as ranked as the least likely to be corrupt, but it is still placed one below Greece. outlining themes dedicated on protection of three copies of translated script in English. environment and cultural heritage, as well. Along with the closing ceremony (June 5 Poland is the worst accession country for All public TV stations / producing – the international ecology day), the festival bribery in the media, featuring in 41st place. corporations are invited to send optionally up jury composed of international judges is The worst country in the world for media corruption, according to the survey, is China, to two editions / programmes following each going to institute four creative awards: the followed by Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. main category (one dedicated to the best directing, camerawork, script, editing, protection of the environment and the second as well as Grand Prix by Co.Pe.A.M. for the dedicated to the protection of the cultural best programme in general competition, Bulgarian cable heritage). UNESCO Diploma, Statuette issued by the There are no limits in conjunction with Macedonian Ecological Press Center. TV loses license footage of the relevant material. All tapes and scripts of programmes, The Council on Electronic Media, the state Only programmes produced after January together with the remainder of accompanied institution that regulates the media, revoked the 2002 are to be considered as eligible for the promotional material should be delivered by license of the private cable-television operator festival competition, which is all about April 15, 2004 (the latest) to the following Union Television for inciting ethnic hatred, news environmental protection and cultural address: website mediapool.bg reported. heritage. Macedonian Radio & Television (for “ECO- The council ruled that the anchorman of a call- All entries should be submitted on tapes – 2004”), Bul. Goce Delcev b.b., 1000 Skopje, in program on TV Den, which is run by Union BETA, SP, PAL, dubbed or subtitled in Republic of Macedonia. Television, had incited ethnic hatred by allowing . callers too much room to air their criticism that the government has granted too many rights to ethnic Turks and Roma. Union Television has announced that it will challenge the council's decision before a court. Too much sex on The Union of Bulgarian Journalists criticised the revocation of the license as too drastic and said such a decision must be justified before the UK’s TV say children journalists' guild and the public.

Two-thirds of children have seen TV shows which they thought had "too much sex," a study has found. Murdoch eyes And many have a "cynical" attitude towards saucy pop videos, claiming stars

such as Britney Spears are making up for a lack of talent by shedding their Russia’s NTV clothes. Moscow NTV, one of Russia's biggest national television networks, has been in discussions with Research among nine to 12-year-olds found the media were as useful as Rupert Murdoch and News Corp. regarding the mothers for finding out about sex and relationships. sale of NTV's satellite business. TV, newspapers and magazines were about dad hiding behind the Any sale, part of a broad restructuring by the thought to be far more helpful than newspaper. But very few said their television channel's parent company, Gazprom, fathers in exploring such issues. Only parents actually sent them out of the would probably not take place until after a board meeting later this month. NTV Plus is a satellite 34% thought dads were a useful source, room." subscription business with roughly 200,000 while mums and the media were both As part of the research the customers. ranked highly by 66%. youngsters were shown a number of The state-controlled network is unlikely to The report, commissioned by bodies pop videos including Britney Spears' I'm change hands until after presidential elections in such as the Broadcasting Standards A Slave 4 U, and the promo for Lady March 2004. A possible sale of Russian Commission, the Independent Television Marmalade by Christina Aguilera, Pink, television assets, amid a broad government Commission and the BBC, looked at Mya and Li'l Kim. crackdown on the free press, has highlighted how children interpreted sex in the One 12-year-old boy said of the how politicised and tightly-controlled TV has become. Russia has three major television media. Britney video: "She's selling us her networks, NTV, Channel One and Rossiya, and It found a majority of children (two looks basically. I think she's not got each is now directly or indirectly owned by the thirds) believed they had seen TV shows anything in between her ears - and her Russian government. or videos with too much sexual content. voice isn't really that good either." Rupert Murdoch, founder of News Corp., is Only 36% of those opted to stop Leading soaps EastEnders and seen as someone comfortable doing business watching. Coronation Street were mentioned by with state-controlled media markets. "Murdoch's Research director of the BSC Andrea some of the children as helping to got no problem doing business with the state," Millwood Hargrave said: "They talk clarify issues about relationships, rather said a person close to Gazprom-Media. "He can toe the party line, like he did in China. He is loyal about being embarrassed and they talk than youth-orientated shows such as and he gets the business, because he's looking Hollyoaks. down the road five or ten years."

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Snapshots from the Liege CIRCOM Regional EC conference

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AXN’s Euro rollout

Sony Pictures Entertainment has expanded the reach of its action-adventure channel, AXN, into six European countries: Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. Tom Davidson has been named as the channel’s GM, and will be based in Budapest.

RTL wing

Croatian TV license

TRT’s Fuat Kale new chief co-ordinator for BTM RTL Group, leading a consortium of local TRT’s Fuat Kale has been voted new chief co-ordinator of the “Balkan TV Magazine” project which partners, has won a 10 – year license for a was launched in 1994 and still going strong with the participation of the public TV stations of the nationwide, free-to-air private TV station in Balkans (Albania, FYROM, , Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Turkey and Greece). Lefty Croatia. Kongalides who was in the same position for seven years suggested Kale as a succesor who, Terms have yet to be finalized, but it is wholeheartedly, accepted. Kale is TRT’s Director of Co-production & Sales Dept. His office is in expected to be RTL – branded and will lauch Ankara. in the first half of 2004.

Moldavan watchdog wants EU’s new anti-spam Iraq broadcasting tender

violence off TV attracts bid from ITN regime in force

The Co -ordination Board of the Electronic Media in The EU's Directive on Privacy and Electronic ITN is preparing to bid for a lucrative deal Moldova decided that films and programs shown on Communications entered into force on 1 November to run a news channel in Iraq. The coalition television must carry warnings if they include violent or 2003. Popularly known as the EU's 'ban on spam' authorities have put out to tender a contract pornographic scenes, Infotag reported. directive, the technology -neutral regulations include worth $10m (about 8.7m euros) over two The decision follows the monitoring of nine provisions on security of networks and services, years to re-establish the country's shattered channels, which concluded that only the First Channel confidentiality of communications, access to broadcasting network. ITN Consulting, a of Moldovan Television and the ORT -Moldova channel information stored on terminal equipment, processing division of the London news organisation's of Russian Public Television do not carry such scenes. of traffic and location data, calling line identification, international wing, has a team in Baghdad Board director Ion Mihailo said "violence and a lack public subscriber directories and unsolicited assessing the contract. of morality" are often displayed on the other commercial communications. Enforcement of the The coalition wants to set up television channels, leading to "the perversion of our new laws is left to the individual Member States. news and general entertainment channels, and children". Several EU Members are running behind schedule similar radio stations. Mr Mihailo said the monitoring has uncovered a with the new regime's implementation. Only Austria, T he successful bidder will also be expected new phenomenon: violence finding its way into Denmark, Italy and Sweden had brought their to launch a national newspaper for Iraq. news programs. national legislatio n up to the new standards by the It is likely that ITN would enter a As an example, he cited the Pro-TV private Commission's 1 November deadline. In February consortium with a US engineering firm. Most Romanian channel's 5pm newscasts. 2004, the Organisation for Economic Co -operation reconstruction contracts are going to US As a consequence, the board is demanding that and Development (OECD) will host a conference to companies. the program be either cancelled or moved to a later discuss the issue of multilateral co-operation in the Much of the transmission infrastructure in hour. fight against spammers and cookie use on the web. Iraq has been destroyed and ITN would need a big company to help restore it. Festivals, Workshops and more Circom Report

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