Across the globe, there is a constant feeding frenzy for news and information - something the Internet has played a major part in creating and growing. In addition to online content, satellite television’s boom has made it easy for people outside of “target” markets for broadcasts to be reached - which is where companies like Orbit come in. As their company profile states, the Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network provides digital broadcasts to viewers in the Middle East, Northern Africa, and most recently, Europe.
Much like the American military’s Armed Forces Network, Orbit has a few “mishmosh” channels that combine some of the top programming from a variety of stations, from entertainment to news to family shows. The Orbit News channel is of particular favor with subscribers, as it is a combination of American over-the-air news programming combined with some cable news shows.
A few weeks ago, shortly after the new year began, Stefan Pitschner, the webmaster of Orbitforum.net, noticed something different in the Orbit News channel - it no longer carried any CBS News programming. Removed from the schedule was “60 Minutes,” “Up to the Minute,” “Early Show Live,” “48 Hours,” “CBS Evening News” and “Face the Nation,” with no prior notice to subscribers as to what had happened. FOX News was now on the docket, a network that had never previously been part of the programming package - and viewers were upset, voicing their displeasure on the Orbitforum.net message boards.
Pitschner relates that FOX News has a “really bad reputation” in Europe and that even with the problems at CBS in recent months, their programming is still viewed much more positively than that of FOX.
While no public statement has yet to be made about this change, a spokesperson from Orbit responded to TMD’s request for information in this matter. Based on the company’s statement, it appears that there is a contractual issue between Orbit and CBS. Orbit spokersperson Alia Shaikho informed TMD that “Fox News Live programming has been added to our ongoing news programs on a temporary basis and mainly airs at off-peak hours.” It does not appear that the “60 Minutes Wednesday” problems had any bearing in this decision, however. In addition, Orbit is “currently in discussions” with news networks from countries including the U.S. to obtain news programming to add to their schedule. A representative from CBS Broadcast International was has not responded to multiple inquiries regarding the removal of their network’s broadcasts from the Orbit News service.
It is most curious that the liberal / conservative media angle has stepped out of the American boundaries and into the Middle East and Europe - some of which could be described as “left of center” when it comes to politics. Inasmuch as possible, it also appears that Europeans have knowledge of the public perceptions of American media outlets, even though they didn’t previously have access to all of them on a regular basis. Is this more of a statement of American “push” on the worldwide media, or are viewers in other countries just more in tune with what is going on outside of their own nation?
2 responses so far ↓
1 Compudoc // Jan 28, 2005 at 1:10 am
I think the “global village” is expanding faster than we imagine, and that viewers from around the world can get their news just as easily from U.S> sources as well as their own. It does give varied perspectives, which is good to allow people to make good decision.
Like with the KTAL/CableOne feud, Orbit need to put CBS stuff back on until the contract talks are fixed or they break down totally. Don’t punish the viewers for a business reason.
2 Jeff Littlejohn // Jan 30, 2005 at 12:32 pm
The majority of Orbit News viewers are probably American contractors in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East, many of whom are Republicans.