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Bertelsmann chief executive Thomas Rabe will accept inquiries from qualified buyers for the RTL Group subsidiary French M6 Group of television and radio channels, reported the Financial Times (September 22). Billionaires have just one day to put their best offer forward as Bertelsmann “tests the waters.” This comes as something of a surprise, but then again not.
Bertelsmann and RTL Group have no need to shed M6 Group. It’s well-run and quite profitable. Bertelsmann, itself, doesn’t need the money. Understanding that, Herr Rabe made clear two years ago a strategy of creating “national champions,” big players with strength sufficient to ward-off video-on-demand streamers and softening TV ad revenues. Where this strength could not be forged, he also said, Bertelsmann would back out as it has already in smaller markets. (See more about Bertelsmann/RTL here) (See more on media in France here)
Herr Rabe told the FT he’d been “inundated with expressions of interest” after the French Competition Authority clamped spin-off demands on a merger with TF1 Group, a subsidiary of French conglomerate Bouygues. Bertelsmann and Bouygues chucked that fusion last Friday, grumbling all the way. “We will decide on the basis of the test whether to sell or not.” (See earlier report on M6/TF1 merger here) (See more about mergers and acquisitions here)
Presumably, billionaires are consulting the lawyers and accountants, maybe astrologers and other politicians. Their first challenge is stacking the money high enough. M6 Group, quite profitable, will not come cheap. The second will be managing unknown terms demanded by the Competition Authority, largely in the political realm. Then, not to be dismissed, the M6 Group licenses expire next May and, according to French media law, once that date is passed and licenses renewed the stations cannot be sold until 2028.
Notorious Russian Federation media regulator/censor Roskomnadzor added a warning to editors following the “partial” mobilization of conscripts destined for Ukraine ordered by president Valdimir V. Putin (September 21). That announcement went down as expected in Russia; over a thousand demonstrators across the country detained, border points with Finland and Georgia crowded, airplane tickets from Russian territory to anywhere, including Serbia, sold out.
Russian news editors, said the Roskomnadzor message (September 21), quoted by Dutch media news portal Villamedia (September 21), are obliged to to check reports on the mobilization “for truth” before publication. “Dissemination of false information entails liability,” it said. Stiff fines would be imposed or media blocked for failing to refer “exclusively (to) federal or regional executives.” Fines could reach RUB5 million, about €80,000. (See more about media in the Russian Federation here)
The Russian Federation Prosecutor General’s Office also warned reporters “against participating in unauthorized rallies,” noted independent Russian investigative news portals OVD-Info and Mediazona (September 21). Several arrests and detentions of media workers were reported from St. Petersburg and Moscow to Perm and Yekaterinburg. Worryingly, facial recognition technology seems to have aided the security services in tracking down certain reporters who were not close to the demonstrations.
On his way home at a Moscow subway stop Sergei Prostakov, contributor to the Caution Media YouTube channel of opposition media figure Ksenia Sobchak, was detained after the facial recognition system linked his name and photo. “I noticed they had a photo of my graduate (school) card taken in 2012,” he said in a social media post. He was released several hours later without charge.
Pressure on media rights activists and reporters continues in Hong Kong. This week Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) chairperson Ronson Chan was charged with obstruction of a police officer, reported South China Morning Post (September 19). He was due next week to take up a six-month fellowship with the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford.
Hong Kong authorities - and their Chinese overlords - have pressed HKJA to disclose operational information. The group often makes note of various round-ups and arrests of media workers in Hong Kong. Mr. Chan had previously worked as an editor for pro-democracy news outlet Stand News, which was “dissolved” in December after a police raid and numerous arrests. (See more about media in Hong Kong here)
Mr. Chan is deputy assignment editor for online news portal Channel C. He and a photographer were stopped and searched after reporting on a resident’s meeting at a public housing estate in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong earlier this month, reported the Guardian (September 7). Police contend he was “uncooperative” and refused to present identification. He, on the other hand, asked the undercover officers to show ID and warrants. “I would feel ridiculous If I can’t go to the UK due to this charge,” said Mr. Chan on arriving at the Mong Kok police station for charging. He is set for another court appearance later this week. (See more about press/media freedom here)
Mr. Chan announced the Reuters Institute fellowship appointment six months ago, noted Hong Kong Free Press (May 19). “I will speak and act cautiously in the United Kingdom, and return to Hong Kong after half a year’s study as planned.”
UPDATE: In a less-than-surprising move Hong Kong authorities, subjects of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), granted bail to Ronson Chan last week allowing him to accept the Fellowship at Reuters Institute at the University of Oxford, reported Hong Kong Free Press (September 23). He will board the international flight this Thursday. He pleaded not guilty in a magistrate’s court (September 22) to a charge of obstructing police officers. He was required to post a HK$10,000 bond, about €1300, and report contact points in the UK to Hong Kong police.
“He is a distinguished and experienced journalist with much to share, and everyone here is looking forward to hosting him,” said Reuters Institute director Rasmus Nielsen in a statement. Mr. Chan will still face trial next May on his return from Oxford. An opinion poll conducted annually for the Hong Kong Journalists Association, which Mr. Chan chairs, indicates 97% believe press freedom in Hong Kong has “gotten worse,” reported AFP (September 24).
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