The Free Speech TV network (FSTV), widely perceived as a progressive broadcast provider, has undermined and provoked its daily evening news show to cancel production. "The International News Net" (INN), now in its seventh year as a premiere source of high-quality, in-depth daily reporting on world affairs was forced to quit through a pattern of discriminatory revenue and scheduling practices. These include selective blocking of the viewer donor base, discriminatory revenue-sharing, and exclusion from prime-time scheduling in key communities.
TVNL COMMENT: I worked with INN and these guys are the real deal. This is an alarming turn of events and the public should take notice. - Jesse Richard - Founder, TvNewsLIES.org
The INN evening newscast, and its "parent" FSTV network are both viewer-supported. But FSTV has now refused requests from INN, as well as major donors, and guests for the newscast to be scheduled at reasonable air times for the west coast -- where financial support for both the network and the show have traditionally been strongest.
Moreover, FSTV has arbitrarily allowed on-air fundraising and prime time access for other daily informational programs. As a result of FSTV policies, unfairly favored programs are growing disproportionately -- while INN faced extinction having been denied similar fair and equitable programmatic and fiscal considerations.
Ironically, FSTV has used the highly-reputed INN "brand" to raise money for itself, but does not allow INN, its so-called "broadcast partner," to appeal for funding within its own news program -- or even to share in the revenues gained from an annual two-months of on-air fundraising in which INN has been a prominent magnet for FSTV viewer support.
INN has delivered via its own satellite uplink up the hour news. INN has provided exclusive daily broadcast rights to FSTV for its hard-hitting and highly-informed one half hour-long program of news and interviews with top sources, including award-winning journalists, activists, independent producers, filmmakers, and politicians every Monday through Friday since 2004. Before that I.N.N delivered a weekly news in review to FSTV since 2002.
INN believes the world of alternative media, the global news community, and information consumers have been severely damaged by these practices. Without an independent platform such as INN to challenge and inform a media establishment that thrives on monopoly and discriminatory practices, hundreds of journalists will have one place less to tell their vital stories. And, equally tragically, millions of viewers of this valuable service will be denied their independent daily global newscast as provided by INN.
Relevant quotes
',the interview was professional, well handled, and in depth. Their staff is so small I am astounded they actually pull this off for you every day,' - George Galloway Brittish MP commenting to FSTV.
'for both programming and content reasons, I can't justify making the move you suggest. I realize that this might cause you fundraising hardship, - Eric Golatis FSTV programming Director.
',I agree with you that there are advantages to an early evening time-slot on the west coast,' - Jon Stout FSTV general Manager.
For more information, please contact:
INN:
Lenny Charles: Creator, Producer, on air 917-293-8509
Claire Brown: Interviews and guest database 310-479-9698
Val Van Cleve: news 212-431-5987
Tom Kiely: Creator, on air interviews 917-837-1211
FSTV:
Jon Stout FSTV general manager 303-442-8445x116
Eric Golatis FSTV program director 303-442-8445x108
Than Reader FSTV operations manager 303-442-8445x102
Ashley Seymor FSTV development 303-442-8445x128
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