Latest news with #BroadcastingLaw
Civil.ge
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Civil.ge
Regulator Finds Violation in Channels Questioning GD Legitimacy, But Doesn't Fine Them
Communication Commission (ComCom), Georgia's state media regulator, found two TV channels in violation of broadcasting law for using language that questioned the legitimacy of the ruling Georgian Dream government. The regulator, however, did not impose penalties. The decision on complaints filed by the ruling Georgian Dream party against two critical TV channels, Formula TV and TV Pirveli, was announced on July 3, the channels reported, some two weeks after the review at ComCom on June 19. Under the new amendments introducing stricter content controls for broadcasters, sanctions on violations before June 1 — as was the case for two channels — are not subject to enforcement. The rulings, however, are feared to set dangerous precedents. TV channels reported early in June about being sued by Georgian Dream with the ComCom over using in their coverage terms such as 'regime,' 'regime's prisoner,' 'illegitimate parliament,' and 'oligarch' in relation to the GD government and its officials, both on air and on social media. The complaints were based on the amendments to the country's broadcasting law adopted in April, which granted the ComCom the authority to regulate media content and impose sanctions for violations, including for breaches of 'fairness and impartiality' principles. Georgian Dream claimed the new media laws were based on the 'British model.' The GD argued in the complaints that journalists from critical broadcasters did not separate facts from personal opinions. The review of complaints between ComCom and the channels' representatives took place online on June 19, amid protests at the ComCom building in Tbilisi in support of the broadcasters. During the hours-long review, ComCom Head Kakhi Bekauri thanked GD for filing the complaint and encouraged others to do the same. 'What we are witnessing now on TV under the new regulations… there are pretty many misdemeanors,' he said. The amendments to Broadcasting Law come as part of a broader legislative crackdown on freedom of the press and freedom of expression, including through two foreign agents laws and stricter regulations on receiving foreign funding. Critics argue that the legislation is aimed at silencing, censoring, and eliminating Georgian independent TV channels. The sanctions for content violations can range from verbal warnings to eventual revocation of the broadcasting license. The first such review, on complaints that don't foresee enforcement, 'aims to set some precedents,' Nodar Meladze of TV Pirveli said during the review on June 19. Also Read: This post is also available in: ქართული
Yomiuri Shimbun
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Fuji Media Holdings' Shareholders Meeting: Build New Corporate Culture Following Approval of New Management
Fuji Media Holdings Inc., which has been rocked by the sexual assault scandal involving former TV personality Masahiro Nakai, has received shareholder approval for its new management structure. The road to restoring trust in the company remains steep. The company needs to take thorough measures to prevent a recurrence of a similar incident and work to urgently improve its corporate value. Fuji Media Holdings, the parent company of Fuji Television Network Inc., held its annual general shareholders meeting, where all 11 candidates proposed by the company for the board of directors were approved by a majority vote. On the other hand, all 12 candidates proposed by U.S.-based Dalton Investments, which is an activist shareholder of the holdings company that strongly seeks reforms, were rejected. The candidates included Yoshitaka Kitao, chairman and president of SBI Holdings Inc. Kenji Shimizu, who became president of Fuji TV in late January this year, has been working to reform corporate governance. Shimizu made all the other directors — including Executive Managing Advisor Hisashi Hieda, who had been involved in the management of Fuji Media Holdings for many years — resign from their posts. The directors were probably chosen in line with Fuji Media Holdings' preferences because the reforms received positive feedback to a certain extent. Shimizu was also named the president of Fuji Media Holdings following the shareholders meeting. TV stations, which are allocated certain frequencies by the central government, are required to be highly public in nature. The Broadcasting Law stipulates that they should contribute to the development of sound democracy, and they also play a significant role as news organizations. In addition, to prevent undue influence from foreign countries, shares held by foreign investors must be less than 20% in terms of voting rights. In order to fulfill its responsibilities as a TV station, it is of utmost importance to work to ensure the stability of its business. However, since the beginning of this year, many major advertisers have suspended their commercial message placements, resulting in Fuji Media Holdings posting a net consolidated loss of ¥20.1 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. It is hoped that the new management team will completely change the old corporate culture and strive to manage the company in a highly transparent manner. Fuji Media Holdings must regain the trust of its sponsor companies, leading to a recovery in advertising revenues. Dalton Investments proposed that Fuji Media Holdings separate its real estate business and concentrate on its content business. However, Fuji Media Holdings considers the real estate business, which is expected to be highly profitable, as necessary to ensure business stability. Considering the public nature of a broadcasting station, management from a long-term perspective is important. Fuji Media Holdings' view is understandable. Fuji Media Holdings will continue to face off against activist shareholders from now on. According to its management plan announced in May, Fuji Media Holdings intends to strengthen its movie and animation businesses and promote overseas sales of its programs, among other steps. In order to broaden shareholder support, Fuji Media Holdings must focus on improving earnings. It will also be essential to build a corporate culture that emphasizes human rights and heightens awareness of legal compliance. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 26, 2025)
Yomiuri Shimbun
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Fuji TV Vows to Change Corporate Culture; President Calls Victimization of Others Unforgivable
The Yomiuri Shimbun Fuji TV President Kenji Shimizu, right, responds to reporters' questions at the company headquarters in Minato Ward, Tokyo, on Wednesday. Fuji Television Network, Inc. vowed to take measures to change its corporate culture, which was severely criticized by the third-party committee that investigated the sexual assult conducted by former TV personality Masahiro Nakai, in a report issued to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry on Wednesday. Their aim is to prevent a recurrence of such a problem. Another report presented by the third party at the end of March recognized a female announcer had been a victim of sexual assult done by Nakai in a situation that was an extension of her duties. Her position as an announcer was so weak that she felt she could not resist requests from the company's production and programming departments. In its report, Fuji TV said it put excessive importance on its slogan, 'If it's not fun, it's not Fuji TV,' which was established in the 1980s. It said it would dissolve and restructure its programming and variety program production bureaus. It will separate the announcers' office from the programming bureau and give the office more discretion regarding the appointment of announcers to programs. It will also take stricter disciplinary action against those who violate compliance and employee expenses policies. 'There was a way of thinking that victimizing others was permissible in order to make interesting programs. It's unforgivable somebody was victimized in the process of making a program. We will go back to basics of the Broadcasting Law and play a role as a public institution,' President Kenji Shimizu told reporters.
