Quote:
Originally Posted by andy_m
Leaking information is a very good way of putting information into the public domain that you're not necessarily authorised to do but is to your advantage. Are you really that naive that you think it doesn't happen?
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Exactly, this is done frequently in business and by political parties.
I think Itshim is under the impression that all channel launches are some sort of top secret information. Most launches aren't commercially sensitive to be treated as such. Any channel launches that are sensitive ARE embargoed. The only times I have come across this was for the BT Sport channels, the return of the Sky basics and the discussions to bring the remaining Sky Sports HD channels to VM. I have known my main contact since university days and was unable to get any information from him.
For most other channels, it matters not if advance notice of their launch gets out.
If I can give some examples. Re: The Africa Channel. I gave the heads up to members about this impending launch and the new date when this was put back.
VM are aware that this launch was never going to set the world of broadcasting alight, so I doubt they could have cared less (and the subsequent comments on here about this addition appear to back this up!) The Africa Channel themselves were aware of this "leak" and weren't at all concerned- they even sent me a CD
When the forum was busy with speculation about BT Sports, however, it was a total lockdown.
Another member flagged up the impending launch of CBS Action as VM had included this in the forthcoming monthly list of channels in the channel guide.
Does Itshim think that VM would have done this if they were at all bothered? On the other hand, I doubt that any contract would allow them to give advance notice of Sky Atlantic.
To summarise, Itshim is right in the sense that VM will do all it can to stop any sensitive channel launch/information from getting out (that's not to say that it won't, leaks by employees of various companies can and do happen all the time). For most channel launches this is simply not applicable.