aristar
A
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I have been in touch w.
A Davies
Over the Son / WSTV link from the beginning (1991) Love surwent came to the office with Richard l & Whing for HMG support (eg. FROM: R H G Davies
Bv
4
Mr Bunkey Moss Miwhing $18.
Mrs BD $18.
* pursuade HKG & modify local regs. on Information Department broadcasting in Canto rece - Subscripton services). We sent the BBC WST V
Forman! Letter of Comport at /DATE: 4 August 1993
a
as any token of our support. K. Samn day HKB 190/2
(See distribution below)
RECE
*GISTRY
1993
Ms S/
→ BU Mr Ridders
াढ
(1+
gets
work)
818
with Mr
then PA
ghorne Felevision file
BBC WORLD SERVICE TELEVISION AND NEWS CORPORATIONS CONTROL Sheldon,
OF STAR TV
Action Taken
1.
I attach a copy of a letter plus enclosure on this subject from Hugh Davies, BTC Hong Kong, who suggests that it should be seen by interested AUSS and Departments. As Mr Davies says, WSTV's news and current affairs channel on Star TV, broadcasting from Asiasat, makes a big contribution to the projection of Britain and British views wherever it
can be seen; and it would be a blow to our interests if the acquisition of a controlling interest in Star TV by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation were to result in WSTV being displaced from the Star network. In view of the importance of this subject I am also copying this minute to the Private Secretary, PS/Mr Goodlad and PS/Mr Lennox-Boyd (in these cases without the attachment).
2.
We have regular close contact with WSTV. After an
initial "business as usual, wait and see" reaction to the Murdoch deal they now say that they are seriously concerned about its implications for them. There is as yet no specific sign of trouble to which they can point. But some of the individual members of the old Star TV management whom WSTV regarded as sympathetic including Julian Mounter, who is mentioned in the enclosure to Mr Davies's letter have
already begun to leave. WSTV sense a climate of hostility to the BBC in News Corporation. Although their initial contract
to supply programming to Star still has a further 18 months
to run, they have no confidence in their long-term future with the company under its new controlling interest. Perhaps
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