World Briefs
FRANCE
State film, TV org names Hoss CEO
France's culture ministry has appointed Jean-Pierre Hoss, 53, as CEO of the Centre National de la Cinematographie (CNC), the state-controlled organization at the heart of France's system of support for film and TV.
Hoss, a member of Gaul's State Council, replaces Marc Tessier, who left the CNC after four years to take over the presidency of France Television in early June.
Hoss has spent over 20 years in civil service, most recently serving as an associate director of Air France. Previous audiovisual experience includes a stint as CEO of the Societe Francaise de Production (SFP), France's state-owned TV production giant.
INDIA
DTH coming, going
Rupert Murdoch's Star TV has shelved its direct-to-home (DTH) venture in India in the absence of any clear policy from the government. Star has also sev-ered its alliance with satellite operator PanAmSat.
Star's DTH operation in India had consisted of nearly 1,000 employees in 1996 when the project first bowed. Star has now reduced the org's staff to a skele-ton crew of nine. In December 1996 the United Front government promulgated a ban on the sale and distribution of satellite receivers.
Meanwhile, state-owned telecommunications conglom Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (VSNL) has announced plans to launch a DTH service in India. VSNL is reported to be in discussions with Deutsche Telekom, French Telecom and AT&T for a joint venture. The company has set aside $500 million for the project.
DD launches news net
Pubcaster Doordarshan (DD) will launch a round-the-clock news channel on Aug. 15, the country's Independence Day. The new terrestrial channel will join DD's three other webs -- DD 1, DD 2 and DD Sports. The news net will telecast in English and Hindi every hour.
TVI channel bows out
Indian news network TVI has ceased transmission following serious financial problems. The channel, owned by the Business India Publishing Group, had been broadcasting news and current affairs programs in English and Hindi since July 1995.
Fashion may see ban
The Indian government is considering a ban of French satellite TV network Fashion TV for its adult content. Activists in India have protested against the near-nude fashion shows on the channel, forcing the government to consider a ban. Fashion TV has been beaming fashion-related programming into India since December.
JAPAN
TW pulls cable plug
Pulling out of the Japanese cable scene, Time Warner has given up its 25% stake in a local cable system operated by Titus Communications to Media One (formerly US West), another partner in Titus.
Media One is now the major shareholder of Titus, with Toshiba and Itochu holding 25% stakes each.
Lee Daniels, president and CEO of Titus, said Media One has been supportive of Titus' aggressive strategy and vision throughout its history.
Titus now boasts 74,000 subscribers across Japan and is vigorously pushing telephony and high-speed Internet access, so far penetrating 7,000 households with telephony hookup and 5,000 with Internet access. Daniels predicts that both figures will easily surpass the 10,000 mark by year-end.
Chinese show off air
A Chinese-language program from Taiwan's CTN was discontinued on Japan's digital satellite platform, Sky PerfecTV, at the end of June.
In almost three years on air, the program, "CTN Chong Tien," had failed to generate enough subscribers and advertisers.
There are now only two Chinese shows, "Taifu" from Beijing and "Raku Raku China" from Hong Kong, on Sky PerfecTV.
JSB luring sat subs
Japan Satellite Broadcasting is offering 10,000 set-top boxes free of charge on a first-come basis until July 25 and has cut subscription fees for WOWOW satellite programs by 45% for those who sign up for the service by the end of September.
The JSB campaign is designed to fight a decline in subscriber gains as it fights to stay alive in the intensifying satellite DTH competition in Japan.
Sky PerfecTV and DirecTV Japan have each increased their subscriber count by about 5% every month.
