Re: [Swprograms] OT: Loss of NWI (was DX Listening Digest 5-127 etal)

["Rob de Santos AFANA" <rdesantos@xxxxxxxxx>]

Sandy, et al:

I think the relevant portion of that release is this:

> Burman said it became clear during those discussions that the 
> people running the U.S. satellite and cable distribution 
> world think there are already too many news and information 
> channels and that there's no market for another international 
> service. 

Which, if even partially true, would make it a tough sell.  The
distributors are the gate keepers and with nearly 500 programming
services available in the US, they can pick and choose.  The number of
"news channels" is set to grow further soon with the Al Jazeera English
language channel, and several others coming on the air.  (Any bets on
how many distributors pick that one up?? ;-) )  Let's not forget that
the BBC has claimed for some time to be trying to bring BBC World to US
audiences with minimal success.  Some existing channels, such as MSNBC,
are barely financially viable.  

"Current" is on the air for several reasons... one is the prominence of
the backers, two, by dumping NWI they had an existing carriage
arrangement that they could use, and three, they have sufficient funding
for the near term.  Whether their programming model works will be
apparent soon enough.  

Sad to say, but the folks on this list maybe the statistical exception
(I don't know for sure) -- those who do care about international events
and want multiple and diverse news sources.  

-Rob de Santos
Columbus, OH

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