ASA Concerns

The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) is and Independant body set up by the Advertising Industry to police itself and ensure standards of Taste and Decency within Advertising are upheld.

The ASA has particular areas of concern - here are extracts from their Website that explain how they are approached -

Taste & Decency - About 20% of all of the complaints received by the ASA are about advertisements that have caused offence. Judging these complaints is a delicate task, and the ASA interprets the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing, which states that advertisements should not cause serious or widespread offence, and that special care should be taken not to offend on the grounds of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or disability. A lot will depend on the medium used and the context of any particular advertisement, and the ASA conducts regular research to gauge public opinion on these issues.
http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/focus/issue/Taste+and+Decency.htm

Social Responsibility -

•The use of shocking images that could cause undue fear and distress
•The depiction of scenes that could encourage people to behave in an irresponsible
or unsafe way
•The advertising of products, or their consumption, in ways that can be harmful to
health
•Advertising to children that could make them feel inferior, encourage them to pester
their parents, or result in their physical, mental or moral harm
http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:1lII8L7cRgIJ:www.asa.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/5FBBCC12-53CD-4655-ACAF-4C911B8AD1A0/0/social_responsibility_20050928.pdf+advertising+standards+social+responsibility&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=uk

Children - The effects of advertising on children, and the use of children in advertisements, are particularly sensitive issues. The CAP Code includes a number of requirements and special rules covering 'pester power', direct appeals to children, and parental permission to buy.
http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/focus/issue/Children.htm

Microphones - The Neumann D-01 - Polar Patterns

Directional characteristic:
15 remote controllable polar patterns, from omni to cardioid to figure-8

OMNI
Cardiod
Figure 8

Microphones - The Neumann D-01

The Neumann D-01

We Chose the Neumann D-01 because Neumann are the De-Facto Standard when it comes to top-end Studio Condenser Mics and the D-01 (although not yet released) will be a Technological Breakthrough when it's finally available .....(blimey this is sounding like a sales pitch !!)

The thing about this Mic is that it has a built in Digital Encoder that converts the Analogue Signal into a Digital one within the Mic and transmits it via a Standard Balanced XLR Cable as a 24 Bit Signal.

Costs ; Likely to be between £3000-7000 depending on Accessories (Cradle, Software etc..)Comms&Sound.com, Soundlightltd.com, mveducation.com

Application ; High-end Studio Condenser Mic for Vocals & Instruments

Meets professional audio production requirements and permits recording with no “bottlenecks” or loss of signal quality. Unreleased yet but to be used as a high-end analog studio microphone.
Analog studio microphone. Uses digital technology though so gives fantastic dynamic range.

Type ; Condenser Mic

Used with Mac or PC as a remote controlling center for recording. Features an extremely wide dynamic range of more than 130dB. Phantom powering.

Connector ; Standard 3 Pin XLR Connector - which can carry Analogue Audio and/or 24 Bit Digital, AES/EBU

Polar Patterns ; (see seperate post for diags..)

Directional characteristic: 15 remote controllable polar patterns, from omni to cardioid to figure-8 OMNI Cardiod Figure 8

Pro's & Cons ; Hard to say as the Mic is not released yet - but a Common Misconception with Studio Engineers Recording a Single Vocal or Instrument is to put the Mic into Cardiod Mode and wonder why the Sound becomes thin and 'tinny'. This is because Neumann Mics (and other Condenser Mics) historically use Phase Cancellation to achieve a Cardiod Response and this can affect the quality of the sound - so the Rule is use Omni unless you have good reason not to !

Frequency Response ; 20 Hz to 20 kHz

Frequency response refers to the way a microphone responds to different frequencies. It is a characteristic of all microphones that some frequencies are exaggerated and others are attenuated (reduced). For example, a frequency response which favours high frequencies means that the resulting audio output will sound more trebly than the original sound.

Radio Show Treatment

Radio Programme Treatment

Premise ;

A Half Hour Radio Documentary Exploring the world of the Professional Tribute Artist, what motivates them to do what they do, how much effort they put into their work and why the Audience goes to watch Tribute Acts.

The Programme will Interview a number of Artists, their Management, their Audience and play examples of their work.

“I wanna see a f**kin’ show!!!” – Booking Agent

Genre & Characters

The Programme will be a Documentary format with Interviews, Soundbytes & Performance Clips from a number of Tribute Artists which could include ; Elvis, John Lennon, Elton John, Suggs (Madness) & Sting. These will be enhanced with Interviews with a Tribute Artists Booking Agent – who with years in the Business will have plenty of insight and some great stories to add to the Show.

Added to the clips above will be short Interviews with Audience members at a Tribute Show to find out why they go and see the Bands & spend their hard earned money on them – these will not just be complimentary comments – the aim is to get people to really say what they feel !

Pace, Mood & Style

The Pace will be fairly quick moving and will be light hearted. Artists will be asked to provide background & anecdotes on what motivated them to become Artists and to provide funny stories from Gigs. They talk about how they achieve the sound & look of their idol & how much detail they go into with their Costumes. Audience will be asked to give Interesting Quotes & Insight and Rate the Artists they’ve seen.

Closing Statement

Recap the Show and get some really great quotes from featured Artists to close – leave with a Positive view of the genre and give details of any upcoming shows.

Discovery

I know - not relevant here but couldn't resist it !

Discovery Channel - Audience

Here is an extract from an Article from the 6th of June 2007 - it appears the Discovery Channel has been struggling for Ratings but has recevied an enormous Boost from Oprah Winfrey and the 'Cute' Factor of Snow Leopards - shows that not just British Audiences are suckers for cute Wildlife Films ! Further Series are in the making and could benefit the BBC and the British Audience as well.

(Fortune Magazine) -- Just when Madison Avenue felt the Discovery Channel had lost its way because of mind-expanding fare like "American Chopper," salvation came this spring in the form of a snow leopard and talk-show diva Oprah Winfrey. The leopard was just one of the stars of "Planet Earth," a $25 million co-production with the BBC.
And Winfrey was so taken by advance footage of the 11 episodes that she repeatedly commanded her viewers to tune in for the March 25 premiere: "You, everybody you know, everybody in your family, should watch this show - because we all live on planet Earth."

The Oprah Effect helped the average Sunday-night airing of "Planet Earth" draw 5.1 million viewers - nearly twice as many eyeballs as the typical "O'Reilly Factor." An edition of the DVD is No. 1 on Amazon. A second season and a movie are in the offing

Discovery - Future of Programme Delivery

Discovery Channel is already looking to a future Audience by setting up 'Discovery On Demand' where Programmes can be bought online by Subscription. This is a good move because you would expect their Audience to be the kind of people to use this facility and they can also Target and gain useful Specific Programming Information for what people really watch and want to see.

Here's the UK Subscription Rates ;

Discovery On Demand gives you access to the best of Discovery on your PC. Watch a wide range of full-length Discovery programmes - with all the ad breaks taken out!
There are two ways of subscribing, through either a monthly package at £3.50 per month, or annually at £35.00 (please note that one month is the minimum period).
http://www.discoveryondemand.co.uk/broadband/broadband.jsp?site=uk&template=subscribe

Here;s an example of a Free Clip - a lot of the Content is Web Exclusive and cannot be seen on TV

http://www.discoveryondemand.co.uk/broadband/broadband.jsp?site=uk&template=freeclipplay&clip_id=59

Discovery - Future Concerns - Genetic Engineering

I found this article that outlines concerns raised for the future of Genetic Engineering and the effect this may have on the Human Race and the 'Designer Baby' Scenario - it's certainly food for thought ! just how far in this field of Research is it morally acceptable to proceed ?

Many people have serious concerns about this research. Firstly because of the fear of viruses crossing from animals into humans, just like the HIV virus is believed to have spread. Another concern is the treatment of these animals. People are questioning whether we should be using animals as mini factories to produce what we want. Many argue that animals should not be treated as mere commodities for us to manipulate.
The technology being used to create these genetically-modified animals could one day be used to genetically alter humans. In the future, couples could decide which gene they would like taken out or put in, before they have a child, resulting in, what some see, as the nightmare ‘designer baby’ scenario.
People fear this could divide the human race, creating a genetically superior master race and a genetic underclass, left to the mercy of nature. This could just be science fiction, but what is very likely in the near future is that parents will choose to have undesirable disease-causing genes removed from their embryos, creating healthier children. Only time will tell what the long-term consequences of this will be.
http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/science/dna/genetic_engineering/index.shtml

Discovery - a Short Clip about Laughter Yoga

I found this short clip on YouTube and it really is ground-breaking Stuff !!

I mean, laughter ??!!! , good for you ???

Strewth - would never have worked that one out !

DISCOVERY - Audience & Format \ Types of Programmes

The Stats below show the top 10 Programmes on Discovery for the week 30/09/07.

Click on the Image to view it Larger !

http://http//www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklytop30&requesttimeout=500&flag=viewingsummary



The Programmes would appeal to Educated Men\ Women aged about 25 + and are mostly Factual Documentaries with Voice-over. Programmes tend to be in the areas of ; Nature \ Wildlife, Science, History,Health & Lifestyle, Travel, Engineering, Reality & Crime.

Wahey Broadband !!

Finally got my Broadband at home !! Great to be online again ..........

DISCOVERY - Background

The Discovery family of Channels cover a wide range of Audience Demographics and Age Groups - also there are Channels Dedicated to Spanish Speakers as well .

Here's a few examples of the Channels around the World ;

Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media and entertainment company. Discovery has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in more than 160 countries and territories with 1.3 billion cumulative subscribers. DCI’s over 100 networks of distinctive programming represent 27 network entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Military Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Discovery en Español, Discovery Kids En Español, Discovery HD Theater, FitTV, Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir), Discovery Home & Health and Discovery Real Time. DCI’s other properties consist of Discovery Education and Discovery Commerce, which operates more than 100 Discovery Channel Stores in the U.S. DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States. (Discovery Communications Inc)

DISCOVERY - UK Ownership

In the UK Ownership seems to be a Corporate Maze - try and navigate through this to see who actually 'owns' the Channel !! .... .... I've left a lot of text there because it's curious to see the tangled web of ownership behind the TV Companies.......

UK Gold is Britain's most successful satellite channel outside BSkyB. Stakes held by BBC and Telecommunications Inc (TCI). TCI is a US corporation whose subsidiary in Britain is Flextech, which owns The Family Channel, Playboy, Bravo, Discovery and The Sega Channel and has a 20% holding in Scottish TV; TCI, through its UK subsidiary Tinta, also is part-owner of TeleWest, the UK's largest cable operator. (An interesting recent development (early 1999), which highlights the extraordinary complexity of the global media, is Murdoch's move to full ownership of Fox/Liberty, buying out John Maolne's US-based Liberty Media. Liberty Media own a controlling share in Flextech, which probably means that we will see a close co-operation between BSkyB and Flextech's UK-based pay-TV operation in the near future.) In addition, TCI owns the largest cable operation in the US (but is nevertheless also behind two US satellite systems), has a presence in eighteen countries (including France's Canal+) and interests in more than a hundred programme outlets, including Ted Turner's Turner Broadcasting Sytems and many Japanese outlets. TCI is also a major investor in Bill Gates's Microsoft Network. Not unlike Murdoch's UK-based News International, TCI (run by John Malone) has never shown a profit (and therefore not paid taxes). As an example of the complexity of media ownership, consider the Federal Trade Commission's permission for the merger of Turner Broadcasting Systems and Time-Warner: the FTC had concerns about the monopoly implications of the deal as TCI owns 7.5% of Time-Warner and 22% of Turner. As Time-Warner and Turner account for around 50% of US cable subscribers, the FTC required TCI to transfer its shares in Time-Warner to another company spun off from TCI's control and also to require some cable systems to carry another news service in addition to CNN.

http://www.cultsock.ndirect.co.uk/MUHome/cshtml/media/mediaown.html

So the Answer is Flextech - a Subsidiary of the American Company TCI.

Congrats if you managed to read all of the above !!

DISCOVERY - Who owns the Company ? - USA

Discovery Communications Inc is the US Company who own the Channel - the content is Licensed and Syndicated throughout the world by Digital and Cable Operators ;

DCI’s ownership consists of four shareholders: Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Cox Communications, Inc., Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company’s Founder and Chairman. (Discovery Communications Inc)

DISCOVERY - Funding & Revenue & Distribution

The company first began as a single network – the Discovery Channel – in 1985, with 156,000 subscribers. Today Discovery’s 101 worldwide networks reach more than 1.3 billion subscribers in over 160 countries and territories and 35 languages. (Discovery Channel International)

Discovery therefore is Funded and Receives Revenue from Subscribers - 1.3 Billion of them !

Programmes are Distributed via Cable & Satellite Networks to Subscribers and can be purchased on-demand Online.