Broadcasters finally set deadline for program rating system
After more than a year of debate and some alleged stalling, TV broadcasters last week finally agreed on how to create a voluntary rating system for programs and when such a system will be implemented.
Cajoled by industry watchdog the National Radio and Television Council (KRRiTV) to find some way of alerting the viewing public that a program contained violence, sex or explicit content, seven major broadcasters agreed last week to begin labeling programs (all except for news programs) on March 31. Because the KRRiTV has no legal authority to force broadcasters to participate in the effort, TV stations will mark programs on a purely voluntary basis.
Almost a year ago major TV broadcasters Polsat, Telewizja Polska (TVP), TVN, Canal+, PTK, Wizja TV and TV Niepokalanow signed a "friendly pact" pledging to create some sort of rating system. Months passed and little progress was made. Broadcasters finally managed to come to an agreement and set a deadline after the KRRiTV threatened to begin a public discourse on how broadcasters were unwilling to help parents protect their children from viewing violent or sexual programs.
Broadcasters reached a consensus only last week, said Piotr Szukalski, a spokesman with TVP's press office. The only remaining issue to be clarified was the criteria used to determine what kinds of programs need which labels.
Under the proposed rating system, broadcasters would label each program with one of three colors. A green sign would mean that an upcoming program is acceptable for every viewing age. Yellow would mean that children should consult their parents before watching a program. Red would warn that an upcoming program is for adults only.
Voiceless VOA
This summer, Washington-based Voice of America, a historic radio station financed by the U.S. government, will cease broadcasting in Polish. VOA began airing its programs in Polish in 1942. For 50 years, it was seen as one of the few sources of untainted information available in the country.
The Polish program is only one of many Central European broadcasts to be pulled, said Maciej Wierzynski, head of VOA's Polish section. Other countries on the list include Hungary, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria.
"The management says it's only downsizing, but in fact all those sections will be closed down," Wierzynski said. "To me it's an unclear decision because this year's budget is even slightly higher as compared to last year."
VOA's management told its European staffers that it decided to close down the Central European sections because it wanted to flow the money into new internet services and television. "A multimedia studio is already being built. Such an undertaking needs a lot of money," Wierzynski said.
Wierzynski questioned whether the new ventures were a good idea considering that VOA has never produced "quality" television. He said that the money would be better spent improving radio broadcasts.
Unlucky 13
The Polish version of Hustler may be proof that 13, after all, is an unlucky number. Hustler's joint publisher in Poland, Warsaw-based Movex, last week said the magazine's 13th issue might be its last. Movex withdrew from a partnership it had with Poznan-based Slawomir Grotomirski Publishing House, saying that the magazine showed little chance of improving its poor financial results. Movex also said that the Poznan publisher had not been paying its bills.
"Last year, Slawomir Grotomirski ceased to invest in the company and since that time hasn't paid authors and agencies cooperating with Hustler," said Michal Grom, marketing director at Movex.
In addition, Grom said, advertisers have been unwilling to use Hustler. Despite the financial difficulties, Grotomirski has vowed to continue publishing the magazine for which it holds the Polish license.
More net spending
EuroZet Holding, owner of private national radio broadcaster Radio Zet, will invest at least $1 million this year in its internet ventures.
Radio Zet's existing internet services include a web site, an information service and links to a variety of entertainment sites. The on-line information service began operating in mid-January. "We want our info service to be the fastest one," said Katarzyna Miastkowska-Wujec, head of the internet project at EuroZet.
Wujec refused to disclose what additional internet projects Radio Zet planned to invest in. "We will try to do things that will enable people who enter www.radiozet.com.pl to have a good time," Wujec said. "We want to patent every idea we offer."
Justyna Wrobel contributed to this report
