Media monitoring of the latest news about the media and advertising markets of Central and Eastern Europe
The Projects Trying to Bring Balance to Czech’s Media Landscape
The Czech media landscape has significantly changed over the last five years. A wealth of new and independent journalistic projects – fact checkers, independent outlets and charities – has shot up, adding to the existing media landscape. Yet, while the development is certainly a welcome one, the factors that sparked it are somewhat less glorious.
March 2
#czech republic
'Adults only' ads and viral videos launched ahead of Russian election
With Vladimir Putin expected to win another six-year term on March 18, turnout has become a key focus for authorities.
March 2
#russia
Suspects released over Slovakia murdered journalist
even Italian businessmen were released by Slovak police yesterday, having been detained after they were named by murdered journalist Jan Kuciak in an incendiary report on alleged high-level political corruption related to the Mafia and allegations of misuse of EU funds.
March 3
#slovakia
Can Independent Media Save Journalism in Poland?
Fact-checkers, investigative reporters and foreign correspondents are essential to quality journalism, yet these roles are increasingly being cut by Poland’s mainstream media organizations due to financial pressure. To redress the imbalance, and to counter the growing politicization of the country’s press, many Polish journalists have set up their own independent media initiatives.
March 5
#poland
Lithuania: advertising for Philip Morris’ IQOS stirs up a debate
The Lithuanian Tobacco Control Authority thinks that IQOS should be subject to the same advertising restrictions as tobacco. For Philip Morris, this could hurt a product they are touting as the future of smoking.
March 7
#lithuania
Facebook removes Hungarian government video about ‘white Christians’
Facebook has removed a controversial Hungarian government video which claimed that “white Christians” are gone from parts of Vienna and the same could happen in Hungary.
March 7
#hungary
Why Ukrainian deputies couldn't solve problem with billboards and citylights?
No, it's not the scandals around new construction works or changes in law enforcement - it's about billboards, citylights and other attributes of outdoor advertising. So why the MPs could not make a step towards putting things in order with advertising?
March 12
#ukraine
The birth of a market: Russian Mail.Ru Group now accepts bitcoin payments for ads, several startups in the running
Mail.Ru Group, an LSE-listed leading Russian Internet company, has announced that its ad platform myTarget began accepting Bitcoin (BTC) and Bitcoin cash (BCH) as payment means for running ads on the group’s properties.
March 12
#russia
Russia threatens to expel British media if UK bars Russia's RT over spy poisoning crisis
Russia threatened on Tuesday to expel all British media after Britain warned it could strip Russian broadcaster RT of its UK operating license if the government finds Moscow was behind a chemical attack on a Russian ex-double agent in England.
March 13
#russia
EBU voices Lithuania concerns
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has expressed concerns about the increasing political pressure being placed on Lithuania’s LRT.
March 14
#lithuania
Lawsuit Challenges Google’s Ban on Crypto Ads in Russia
A lawsuit has been filed against Google in Russia after the company announced restrictions on cryptocurrency-related ads. Entrepreneur Vladimir Orehov demands a 2 billion ruble compensation from the Russian Google entity ООО «Гугл». He claims the ban will deprive him of opportunities to invest in crypto projects and find investors to fund his own business initiatives.
March 17
#russia
Poland moves to restrict TV beer advertisements amid industry criticism
The Polish government has approved a draft bill by the country’s Ministry of Health that would push TV beer advertisements to 11 pm. Under current law, these are admissible between 8pm and 6am.
March 19
#poland
OHCHR records restrictions of freedom of speech, media in Ukraine
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is concerned that incidents of violence against media workers and restrictions of the right of freedom of expression continue in Ukraine. In particular, for the period from November 16, 2017, to February 15, 2018, 10 cases of encroachments on freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of the media were recorded.
March 19
#ukraine
Bulgaria's Nova Broadcasting Group seeks regulatory nod to acquire Netinfo
Bulgarian media company Nova Broadcasting Group has filed for regulatory approval to acquire a controlling stake in Sofia-based digital media Netinfo, the country's competition watchdog said. The acquisition is expected to affect the local online advertising market, the regulator said in a statement late on Monday.
March 20
#bulgaria
Vogue Czech Republic and Slovakia appoints editor-in-chief
Vogue Czech Republic and Slovakia has today announced the appointment of Andrea Běhounková as editor-in-chief. The Czech and Slovak edition of Vogue will debut both digitally and in print in August 2018, published in partnership with V24 Media.
March 21
#slovakia
Russian Media Launch Boycott of State Duma Over Sexual Harassment Claims
Russia’s leading news outlets have launched a campaign to boycott the State Duma after its ethics commission dismissed sexual harassment accusations against deputy Leonid Slutsky.
March 22
#russia
Romania’s Hybrid Media Model
Back in the 2000s, Romania, like other Central and Eastern European countries, had a complicated media landscape. Media tycoons were funnelling unrealistic amounts of money into a constrained commercial press that had no way of providing a financial return. Foreign media investments were backing out, and high quality news segments were slowly starting to vanish.
March 22
#romania
Estonia targeting potential Brexit broadcast exodus
Estonia has emerged as the latest country to target UK-based broadcasters looking for a new home in the post-Brexit world, following an initiative by Ireland in February.
March 26
#estonia
Croatia's media watchdog approves sale of Nova TV
Croatia’s watchdog for electronic media said on Monday it had approved the sale of Nova TV to Slovenia Broadband, a unit of United Group, after it sold a local company.
March 26
#croatia
Lithuania's advertisement market grows 3.8% in 2017
The advertisement market in Lithuania widened by 3.8% to 111.2 million euros in 2017 year-on-year, Kantar TNS research company said in its annual research of the advertisement market on March 28th, cites LETA/BNS.
March 28
#lithuania
New women’s channel for Poland
Poland’s K2 Media has launched a new channel aimed at a mostly female audience. Known as Nobox TV, it offers a wide range of programming, 90% of which is produced in-house, that covers such subjects as DIY, cosmetology, herbal medicine, astrology, legal advice, sport and fitness. All told, it will premier over 370 hours of programming a year.
28 March 28
#poland
BBC launches Serbian digital news and social media in last of World Service expansion's 12 new language outlets
Based in Belgrade, BBC News Serbian will deliver exclusive social media-friendly and video content that contextualises world events for the region using “modern storytelling techniques”.
March 28
#serbia
Hungarian government rehashes UKIP anti-migrant poster in new ad
The Hungarian government has dug out a controversial photo used by Britain’s anti-immigrant UK Independence Party, and reused it to campaign for it own anti-immigration policy.
March 28
#hungary
In Balkans, Britain rejoins battle for influence
The West is fighting back against Russia in a battle for influence in the Balkans. But although the European Union has renewed its interest in the region, the latest charge is being led by Britain. Seven years after shutting down in Belgrade, the BBC on Monday reopened its Serbian language service, launching a website and unveiling partnerships with local media outlets. The move is part of a broader soft-power struggle in the Balkans, particularly Serbia, where pro-Russian media have been pumping out fake news stories
March 30
#serbia
Some media in Serbia spread the atmosphere of fear
Every fourth news headline in the Serbian most circulated media contains extreme speech that is against basic ethical principles of journalism and creates culture of fear among the general public, finds the latest research by Liber, the Belgrade Center for new media.
March 31
#serbia
Photo by Ozan Safak on Unsplash