Mediagazer: Vietnam announces big fines for social media ‘propaganda’ (Reuters)

11:40 AM ET, November 28, 2013

Top News:

John Plunkett / Guardian:

'BBC should open more shows up to indies if it doesn't subsidise Channel 4' — Up to 75% of BBC's shows should be available to independent sector if it wants to defend licence fee, says All3Media chairman — All3Media chairman Steve Morrison has said the BBC should make up to 75% …

John Plunkett / Guardian:

BBC chief wants corporation to be ‘less British’ defending the licence fee — Tony Hall says the broadcaster must be more aggressive in promoting its cause before charter and licence fee renewal — Read Tony Hall's Voice of the Listener and Viewer speech

Discussion: bbc.co.uk

Mark Sweney / Guardian:

BT to add music service to TV offerings — Music video and karaoke offering backed by Universal Music — BT is to launch a music video and karaoke TV service backed by the world's largest music company, Universal Music. — The service will initially offer the equivalent of about 150 albums of music video promos.

Discussion: Variety

BBC:

Japan approves new state secrecy bill to combat leaks — The lower house of the Japanese parliament has approved a state secrecy bill that imposes stiffer penalties on civil servants who leak secrets and journalists who try to obtain them. — The move had been criticised by reporters …

Discussion: ABC, Daily Maverick and Global News

Kelefa Sanneh / New Yorker:

Why blockbusters still rule the entertainment industry. — In 1976, a music executive named Walter Yetnikoff launched a campaign that came to be known as Walter's War. He had recently become president of CBS Records, the parent company of Columbia Records, and resolved to rally his troops by providing them an enemy.

Megha Rajagopalan / Reuters:

China's rumor crackdown has ‘cleaned’ Internet, official says — (Reuters) - China's campaign against online rumors, which critics say is crushing free speech, has been highly successful in “cleaning” the Internet, a top official of the country's internet regulator said on Thursday.

Gavin J. Blair / Hollywood Reporter:

Amazon Launches Online Video Service in Japan — More than 26,000 imported and local films and TV shows are available on the Instant Video platform that will compete in the crowded Japanese Web video market. — TOKYO - Amazon Japan launched its ‘Instant Video’ online platform Tuesday …

Discussion: The Next Web, TechCrunch, The Verge, Home Media Magazine, Engadget, Electronista and Gigaom

Reuters:

Vietnam announces big fines for social media ‘propaganda’ — HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam will hand out fines of 100 million dong ($4,740) to anyone criticizing the government on social media, under a new law announced this week, the latest measure in a widening crackdown on dissent by the country's communist rulers.

Discussion: The Verge, Softpedia News, Kirk LaPointe's …, The Next Web and VentureBeat

Violet Blue / ZDNet:

Despite US opposition, UN approves rights to privacy in the digital age — Summary: Despite last week's US-led opposition to the United Nations' “Rights To Privacy In The Digital Age,” the resolution put forward as a reaction to US surveillance activities was passed. — Violet Blue

Discussion: United Nations, Scoop, @violetblue, The Nation, english.cntv.cn and Softpedia News

BBC:

Tehelka's Shoma Chowdhury quits over sex assault controversy — The managing editor of a top Indian magazine has resigned days after her boss was accused of sexually assaulting a female colleague. — Shoma Chowdhury of Tehelka magazine said it was a “damaging time” for the publication …

Discussion: @andrewbuncombe and India Real Time

Paul Steiger / ProPublica:

Why Reporters in the U.S. Now Need Protection — Last night, ProPublica founder and executive chairman Paul Steiger received the Burton Benjamin Memorial award from the Committee to Protect Journalists. Here are his remarks. — In recent days I thought a lot about the 16 previous recipients …

Discussion: @jcstearns and @davidbarstow

Wall Street Journal:

Charter Arranging $25 Billion in Debt for Time Warner Cable Bid — Debt Will Allow Charter To Include Large Cash Consideration — Charter Communications Inc. is arranging about $25 billion of debt financing as it pursues an acquisition of Time Warner Cable Inc., allowing it to include …

Discussion: Deadline.com

Liana B. Baker / Reuters: Incoming Time Warner Cable CEO could exit with $50 mln-plus after deal

Roy Greenslade / Guardian:

Telegraph group shelves ‘five pillars’ restructure plan — The Telegraph Media Group's planned reorganisation, known as “five pillars”, has been put into cold storage. — News of the initiative was reported by Media Guardian in September the day after TMG announced the appointment …