-Caveat Lector- http://news.ft.com/ft/gx.cgi/ftc?pagename=View&c=Article&cid=FT3 DU5E08RC&live=true&useoverridetemplate=ZZZ99ZVV70C&tagid =FTDO9DHMZJC China offers access deal to News Corp and AOL By James Kynge and Robert Thomson in Beijing Published: September 4 2001 18:42GMT | Last Updated: September 4 2001 23:29GMT 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." -- Best wishes The evil that men do lives on the front pages of greedy newspapers, but the good is oft interred apathetically inside. -Brooks Atkinson (1894-1984) _Once Around the Sun_ [1951], "December 11" <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
