TV3-8TV-Channel 9 owner gobbles up ntv7

There is yet another disturbing and disgusting development looming in the Malaysian media scene, but trust the mainstream media to be ignorant of it or take the couldn’t-care-less attitude towards it.

Ever heard of Media Prima (MP)? If not, it is time you pay close attention to it. You see, it will soon own all the non-governmental free-to-air (FTA) TV channels in the country. It already owns TV3, 8TV and Channel 9 (which is scheduled to resume broadcast early next year). And before long, it will also gobble up ntv7 (together with wowFM radio station).

Mainstream press not bothered

What is most troubling about this home-grown version of media monopolisation is that the mainstream press is not the least bit troubled by it. None bothered to solicit reaction from civil society or NGOs raising concerns about it.

About the middle of last week, the mainstream media indicated that MP has secured the privilege of being the first to negotiate a purchase of ntv7. theSun and New Straits Times reported on 14 July that MP’s privilege resulted from its offer to help restructure the debt of Natseven, owner of ntv7. Just business as usual, and both papers presented the story as just another run-of-the mill business news.

It was also the approach taken by Errol Oh even though he offered the most coverage of the story in The Star’s BizWeek Section on 16 July. But even as merely business news, the story was glaringly one-sided.

Oh quoted Jason Teh of SSB Securities, who commented on the current situation of having four competing FTA channels for advertising – the two government owned channels of TV1 and TV2 channels, MP’s TV3 (together with 8TV), and Natseven’s ntv7. This, for Teh, has created an “unhealthy competition” as it “has adversely affected the profit margins of all operators.” Reporter Oh just left it at that as justification for MP’s move to gobble up ntv7.

Consumers will suffer

But what about the consumers? When MP ends up monopolising all private FTA channels, does that not give it the power to dictate advertising rates? How is that healthy for advertisers and ultimately the consumers? Keep in mind that advertisers pass on the advertising costs to consumers who pay for them through their purchases. MP’s monopoly of the private TV channels will mean higher advertising costs to advertisers and, in turn, higher prices of goods and services to consumers. Why is the negative impact on consumers not part of business reporting?

Furthermore, none of the mainstream media raised any concerns about how the MP’s impending purchase of ntv7 will mean the latter will have sole control of all the non-governmental FTA channels.

Hello?? Whether you are a journalist or citizen, does the situation not stir in you the slightest concern over the fact that Malaysians tuning into private FTA channels will receive TV news, views and entertainment from just one corporation?

Tremendous power

Just think. When MP bags ntv7 and controls all private FTA channels, it will wield tremendous power over the TV news, views and entertainment Malaysians receive. On top of that it also currently owns, among others, a 43 per cent stake in publisher The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd, radio broadcaster Max Airplay Sdn Bhd, content creator Grand Brilliance Sdn Bhd, event manager Tiga Events Sdn Bhd and outdoor advertiser The Right Channel Sdn Bhd. Is it healthy to have just one corporation controlling much of what we read and watch?

Yes, we also have TV1 and TV2. Yes, they are state-owned channels but the BN government has long made use of them to serve only their interests when both these channels should be serving all other groups and political parties as well since they are publicly funded. Besides, what is private about private channels when they will all be in the hands of one owner?

Freedom under threat

What is especially disturbing is that ntv7 is actually more willing to cover non-BN views than TV3 and 8TV. An analysis of their coverage of the general election last year showed that TV3 is a lot more biased than ntv7. The fairer news coverage promised by ntv7 is now under threat when it is gobbled up by MP.

Given that MP’s impending purchase of ntv7 did not bother any of the mainstream reporters, the question of governmental regulations regarding MP’s impending monopoly was obviously not raised at all. But should the government not draw up regulations to check and prevent the monopolisation of the media, on which the public routinely depend for news, views and entertainment?

Is it not important to have many different media owners so that there will be healthier competition for advertising, which will help prevent further increases in the prices of goods and services? Is it not important to have many different media owners so that Malaysians will have a better chance of receiving more diverse news and views to help them to be better informed and contribute to a more progressive, democratic Malaysia?

If all that is too hard for journalists to grasp, then how about this: does not having more different media owners help them secure more freedom from the media owners in order to do their work with more credibility and integrity? Or are the journalists all too happy to be told what to report?