ITV

Tag: thumbs down

  • Chinese govt gives the thumbs down to FDI in TV

    MUMBAI: China has further tightened its media industry. It has banned any cooperation between domestic TV and radio channels with foreign companies.

    According to a regulation issued by the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (Sarft), the media watchdog, local TV and radio stations should not rent their channels to foreign companies and also should not cooperate with foreign companies in running channels. Media reports indicate that SAFRT also bans any cooperation with foreign companies in regular and live programmes. Other kinds of cooperation with foreign companies should first be approved by the Sarft’s provincial branches.

    A report in Xinhua states that four months ago, the Sarft had issued a circular to make clear that foreign companies should not be involved in operating TV and radio channels, although it allowed foreign companies to set up joint ventures in TV, film and radio programme production.

    The regulation means that the government has tightened its control over the cooperation between Chinese media and foreign companies, Beijing Morning Post commented. It said that the Qinghai Satellite TV station in western China had ceased its cooperation with News Corp which started early this year.

  • Old, rich, married Americans give telemkting the thumbs down

    WASHINGTON: Here is a piece of information that should make people in the business of telemarketing goods and services sit up and take notice. Two-thirds of Americans have indicated their willingness to sign up for the newly established “Do not call” registry. This is a single registry which will exempt US households from many types of telemarketing calls.

    These results are contained in a survey of 1,000 Americans which was conducted from 27-30 June 2003 by WirthlinWorldwide, a strategic opinion research and consulting firm. A Centre For Media Research report indicates that households that say they are most likely to sign up are older and higher-income Americans as well as those that are married.

    Older Americans have had more than their fill of telemarketing calls. 56 per cent have said they definitely will sign up for the new “Do not call” registry. In addition, 83 per cent of America’s highest income households, those with more than $60,000 in household income and a disproportionate amount of buying power, indicate they are considering registration (63 per cent definitely will, 20 per cent might).

    The survey also confirms that married consumers, especially those with children, are more likely than the average to put their name on the list. Nearly six in ten married consumers say they definitely will sign up, while those that are single or without children are less likely to register. The percentage figure for both is in the thirties.

    A related Reuters report states that telemarketing companies will have to pay over $7,000 per client to purchase the new nationwide “do-not-call” list of phone numbers. The US Federal Trade Commission(FTC) set the $7,345 fee that helps fund the do-not-call list. The restrictions on telemarketers starts from 1 October.

    From that date the FTC can start taking legal action against companies that make telemarketing calls to registered consumers with penalties of up to $11,000 per call. Meanwhile telemarketers are challenging the list in court. America’s Direct Marketing Association has said the list is too expensive and telemarketers should have to pay only once.

    The do-not-call registry has grown to nearly 29 million phone numbers since the FTC started letting consumers sign up last month, and the agency expects the list eventually will grow to 60 million numbers. Telemarketers that buy the list will have access to the numbers starting on 1 September says the FTC. They can buy the whole list or pay $25 per area code for part of it.