MURDOCH SET FOR CHINA TV CLEARANCE; MUST ENSURE COMMUNIST CHANNEL WIDELY AVAILABLE IN USA

FT.Com/Via DRUDGE ^ | September 4 2001 23:29GM | James Kynge and Robert Thomson in Beijing

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

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China offers access deal to News Corp and AOL

By James Kynge and Robert Thomson in Beijing

Published: September 4 2001 18:42GMT

China is set to allow News Corporation and AOL Time Warner access to its domestic television audiences in return for their agreeing to distribute a Chinese government-sponsored channel in the US.

International broadcasters have fought for more than two decades to gain access to the Chinese market. Approval would be a particular triumph for Rupert Murdoch, chief executive of News Corp.

Xu Guangchun, the Chinese minister responsible for radio, film and television, said that it was his intention to allow both companies access to cable viewers in southern China. "We should say that [broadcasting by News Corp and AOL Time Warner] in a restricted area in Guangdong province would be fine," Mr Xu said.

He said the only outstanding issue was whether News Corp and AOL Time Warner would ensure that a China Central Television channel would be widely available in the US.

It is understood negotiations are far advanced for a general entertainment channel from News Corp's Star TV network to be carried in Guangdong, China's most prosperous province, which neighbours Hong Kong. Permission to broadcast in China will be particularly sweet for Mr Murdoch, who has spent the past eight years repairing a reputation damaged by his 1993 statement that satellite TV represents "an unambiguous threat to totalitarian regimes".

He dropped the BBC from the Star network in 1994 after a series of unflattering documentaries on China's politics and social problems invoked the government's wrath. Earlier this year, James Murdoch, his younger son and head of operations for News Corp in Asia, pleased the Chinese authorities with strong criticism of the outlawed mystic movement, Falun Gong.

Foreign companies have been banned from directly broadcasting into China, apart from in some tourist hotels and foreign residential compounds.

China's intention to allow News Corp and AOL Time Warner access to the domestic television market represents an unprecedented liberalisation in one of its most closed industries.

AOL Time Warner said: "We've been in positive and constructive discussions with the Chinese government to get increased access for China Entertainment Television in China."

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Irony is that Free Republic helped Fox news in it's ratings
and now Murdoch wants to "feed" China propaganda to the USA.
In the not to distant future
Mrs. Sheeple tells her kids "Fox News says China is our friend
and I watched that new channel from China and the people are so happy."

[fretzer]

There is a network for patriots - Genesis Communications. Currently it is talk radio only - no TV. It is available on C-Band satellite (the best way), shortwave and via the internet. C-Band: Genesis Communication Network Galaxy 1 Transponder 17 Audio 5.58 MHz Horizontal Polarity Galaxy 9 Transponder 2 Audio 7.30 MHz Horizontal Polarity Internet: www.gcnlive.com www.m2ktalk.com Go and get an earfull.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

thanks, actually all I do anymore for news is Free Republic and talk radio.
TV is good for old sitcoms, that's about it.

[kevkrom]

Let me play the devil's advocate here for a minute... why does this cause anyone heartburn? Does China not have the right to ask whatever price they want to allow access to their market? Does Murdoch not have the right to enter freely into a contract? If Murdoch wants access to the Chinese market enough, he'll agree to those terms, otherwise he won't. This is the free market at work -- do FReepers have a problem with that?

And last, but certainly not least, why is increasing the number of sources of information, no matter how biased, a "bad" thing? I, for one, would think it to be a good thing to see what the Chinese government's "spin" on events is, in order to better understand how to counter their moves...

[fretzer]

Genesis *is* talk radio. They make Rush and KSFO sound like socialists. Among other things, AVIDD (American Veterans in Domestic Defense, avidd.org) has a radio show. Every day, they discuss land grabbing issues, constitutional rights, the UN take-over, common law and other issues that would interest nearly everyone in FR. Many of the activities at Klamath were reported live on Genesis. At this moment on Genesis, Alex Jones is interviewing Ted Nugent, author of "God, Guns and Rock'n'Roll". Mr. Nugent is fielding calls as to why the NRA has gone soft. Last night, Cris Gerner had the mayor of Laverkin, Utah on as the guest. They were discussing the UN-Free zoning ordinance enacted in Laverkin. Later today, Alex Jones will be interviewing the mayor of Virgin, Utah. Recently, Virgin Utah enacted a law requiring each heads of household to posess a firearm. These interviews normally last an hour, sometimes more. Needless to say, I rarely watch Fox.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"I, for one, would think it to be a good thing to see what the Chinese government's "spin" on events is"

In the not to distant future
Mrs. Sheeple tells her kids "Fox News says China is our friend
and I watched that new channel from China and the people are so happy."

[kevkrom]

So, you are afraid of information -- you'd prefer to practice censorship? Some people will believe anything they see, true, but it is not our responsibility to protect people from themselves.

[monkeywrench]

I believe they are the people's airwaves, overseen by the FCC. Maybe some of us are sick of spin, and would like some truth for a change. Who wants to be subjected to more lies?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"So, you are afraid of information"

Not at all
And I do NOT believe in cenorship
What I do object to is Murdoch agreeing to feed China propaganda into the US and dealing with China.
China is our enemy and helping them would make our Founding Fathers roll over in their graves.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

ping

[DrNo]

Paula, are you listening?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

ping

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

ping

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

ping

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

bump

[MeekOneGOP]

"We already have that distribution in the forms of ABC, NBC,and CBS nightly news"

And now Fox News

This expresses my reservations as well, Tonkin. The article also notes:

He said the only outstanding issue was whether News Corp and AOL Time Warner would ensure that a China Central Television channel would be widely available in the US.

My gosh, guys. CNN is enough, right? (plus the others you listed). Now we're gonna have CNN=CCT over here? All Commie(-murderers) All The Time?

I'm a bit itchy about all this myself. I mean, the Chinese Communists make Daschle/Gephardt/Clinton/(Condidit) look like Moe/Larry/Curly in comparison. Currently, we have DIMocRATS saying to Republicans "Oh, it's only just about SEX! So now, if this deal goes through what will we have? "Oh, he**, it's only about 17 lives that were taken over there in Beijing/Shanghai/Shenyang, wherever! They got 1.2 BILLION more!" These guys are murderers unlike what even bill clinton did - i.e. Vince Foster.

Sorry, guys - to me this is a little scary, creepy, etc.

[MeekOneGOP]

PS: Darn shame too - because I like FOX News Channel a lot! I'd like to think that FOX could get fair and balanced news TO Chinese IN CHINA, but that would be a little bit "Over the Rainbow"-like, huh? The Communists would NEVER allow full discussion - really!

;-(

[MeekOneGOP]

Oops! Operator error! See post #77!

[DBrow]

" I, for one, would think it to be a good thing to see what the Chinese government's "spin" on events is, in order to better understand how to counter their moves... "

You make an excellent point, and I agree with you that it is free trade.

It also is a deal with the devil! As far as spin, there is a great deal of coordination between the broadcast media, print media, school curricula, and "the news" already*. Allowing the Chicoms into our media marketplace will, I fear, just be another way to amplify spin, another way to promote propaganda and dezinformatzia and tout it as "another viewpoint", when it will only be the same viewpoint from a calculated angle. If NPR or PBS does a piece on missile defense, ChicomTV can chime in with the "truth" about the terrible Chinese guidance systems that are so unreliable.

Free trade must be balanced with patriotism and a knowlege of history.

*Schoolkids across the US were taught about Frida Kahlo, the Mexican Communist bisexual artist and activists, and right after that NPR did a piece on her, and she was brought up several times on PBS. Now, the Post Office is printing a commemorative stamp, how timely! What a series of coincidences!