Re: [Swprograms] OT: BBC World gears up for American launch

[jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

I take issue with two assertions in the story and have a comment on Al 
Jazeera.

1.  Cable providers are not in any way strapped for bandwidth.  On 
their digital tiers, they are adding channels all the time.
2.  If BBC World can't get on, it will be for one of two reasons:  
Discovery doesn't have the "muscle" to leverage BBC World onto the 
operators' line-ups along with other Discovery networks; or CNN and 
Fox (i.e.: their respective corporate owners) are successful in 
convincing the operators' that more news programming is "unnecessary".

As for Al Jazeera International, in light of the Bush Administration's 
attitude toward the network in general (heck, they reportedly 
discussed blowing it up with the British), stateside operators may be 
just the least bit queasy about adding that one.

Just my 2c

John Figliozzi

----- Original Message -----
From: Sandy Finlayson <sfinlayson@xxxxxxx>
Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:41 am
Subject: Re: [Swprograms] OT: BBC World gears up for American launch

> Note the scepticism in the following article on how successful 
> Discovery will be in getting the cable and sattelite providers to 
> agree... I suspect the comment about viewers appetite for 
> international news is true...it is also very sad....
> 
> 
> SF
> 
> http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6301780.html?
display=Breaking+News
> 
> Discovery To Distribute BBC 
> 
> 
> By Anne Becker -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/25/2006 10:58:00 AM 
> 
> Discovery Communications will distribute international news 
> network BBC World News in the U.S. Discovery will now seek cable 
> and satellite carriage for the 24-hour international news channel, 
> which already reaches 128 million homes in 200 countries but has 
> not been available as a stand-alone network in the U.S.
> 
> The pairing brings the first international news network to 
> Discovery's portfolio, which includes 27 entertainment networks, 
> and builds upon Discovery's current partnership with the BBC to 
> distribute BBC America.
> 
> American viewers have had access to daily half-hour BBC World News 
> programming on 229 PBS stations under a 1998 deal with Public 
> Television station WLIW New York. As of now, the programming will 
> still air on PBS.
> 
> BBC World programming has also run on BBC America, which reaches 
> some 43 million homes through digital cable and satellite 
> distribution. Discovery has distributed BBC America since its 
> launch in 1998 and runs a BBC World News block weekdays from 6 
> a.m. to 9 a.m. and a half-hour program at 6 p.m. BBC World News, 
> owned by BBC subsidiary BBC World Ltd., launched in 1995.
> 
> Discovery will try to gain carriage for the international news 
> network at a time when cable and satellite companies are already 
> strapped for bandwidth and skeptical about viewers' appetite for 
> international news. 
> 
> Upstart 24-hour global news network Al Jazeera International has 
> had a difficult time eking out U.S. distribution for its upcoming 
> spring launch. The network has inked carriage deals in several 
> other countries, including an 8-million home deal with BSkyB in 
> the U.K., but after months of talks has not yet announced one 
> carriage agreement in America. Plus, many cable and satellite 
> providers already carry CNN International.
> 
> Discovery has no carriage deals to announce as of yet for the 
> network, but a company representative said distributing BBC World 
> News is "a high priority" for the company's affiliate sales group, 
> which is in talks with cable and satellite providers. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: swprograms-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:swprograms-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Mike
> Barraclough
> Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:03 AM
> To: swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [Swprograms] OT: BBC World gears up for American launch
> 
> 
> BBC World gears up for American launch
> 
> John Plunkett
> Wednesday January 25, 2006
> 
> The BBC's international rolling news channel, BBC
> World, is finally on the verge of launching in the US
> after years waiting to secure distribution.
> 
> BBC World now has the chance to make its debut in the
> world's largest TV market and compete with CNN and Fox
> News on their home patch, after the BBC signed a
> distribution deal with US factual programming giant
> Discovery Communications.
> 
> Discovery will now begin negotiations with US cable
> and satellite operators to secure distribution for BBC
> World, which will be called BBC World News in north
> America.
> 
> The corporation has long sought a Stateside platform
> for the news channel, which launched 11 years ago and
> is watched in more than 200 countries.
> 
> Full article (registration required)
> http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,1694616,00.html
> 
> 
> 	
> 	
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