THE term “state media” is an oxymoron.
The two are separate, irreconcilable entities. They are often adversarial and serve as a counterweight to each other.
If retained by government, these media entities are nothing but propaganda platforms.
Ironically, both have the same patrons – the people.
Quite tragically, government-owned mass media entities -- mainly television and radio networks -- by the very nature of their operations, do not attract private advertisements ( their main source of income) and are generally poorly managed and inefficient.
Unless managed professionally and insulated from pressure or influence by a sitting administration like the British Broadcasting Corp., these state media outfits are not expected to turn a profit. In fact, they are losing propositions.
Thus, the Finance department is on the right path in preparing the sale of the government’s stakes in sequestered broadcast networks RPN-9 and IBC-13, according to Presidential Spokesman Herminio Coloma.
“We have already forwarded our recommendation to the Privatization Management Office,” Coloma was quoted by a broadsheet as saying. “The Commission on Audit is now reviewing the books.”
However, he said the government intended to retain only one channel, PTV-4.
RPN-9 and IBC-13, which were sequestered after the fall of the late President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, are scheduled for full privatization by 2013.
“The position of the Aquino administration is that there should really only be one government network that will be operated as such,” Coloma said.
Bidding out the government’s 20.8-percent equity in RPN-9 is supposed to relieve the administration of some P2.7 billion in debt owed by the network.
The first phase of RPN-9’s privatization was completed in March 2009, when the Privatization Council approved the conversion of the government debt to block timer Solar Entertainment into equity. Solar then obtained 34 percent of RPN-9.
In July last year, the Supreme Court also ruled with finality that the propriety interest of Far East Managers and Investors Inc., a company associated with the late Roberto Benedicto, be duly recognized.
That resulted in the Benedictos getting 32 percent, and the government share being reduced further to 20.8 percent.
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