Bloomberg to discontinue non-English television broadcasts

Friday 06th February, 03:05 PM JST

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9 Comments

some14some at 03:59 PM JST - 6th February

Bloomberg Television’s non-English news services, including Japanese programs, will be halted...

including or only Japanese programs? little mention of other non-English programs will be helpful, Kyodo !
soldave at 04:44 PM JST - 6th February

There's much more info about this story here:

http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/?p=13791
soldave at 04:44 PM JST - 6th February

Wondering how this is entertainment news though. Were they short of "best ...ists" today but had lots of business news?
yabits at 12:36 AM JST - 7th February

World: We just don't have much of value to say to you.

Or, as the welcoming preacher said in Blazing Saddles: "Son, you're on your own."
LIBERTAS at 05:37 AM JST - 8th February

Could it just be that because there's no economy any more, there's no economic news?
Fighton at 06:05 PM JST - 8th February

It goes like this, Bloomberg TV lose $20 million annually and relied on terminal sales to cover their cost. With the nasty lawsuit over gender discrimination by at least 100 current and former employees for either getting fired or demoted for being pregnant. Plus the lack of terminal sales due to the recession. You have to remember to subscribe Bloomberg terminal it cost ¥180,000 monthly, and companies can't afford to keep such luxury. Merrill Lynch dumped their share of Bloomberg stocks. This meant complete restructuring of the TV department, since they hired someone from CNBC to do the dirty work. For the remaining English channels, they will slowly fire full-time staff for free-lancers, because the freelancers to them are like condoms. Disposable.

It will get far uglier in the next few months. Sure wouldn't like to work at Bloomberg TV right now.
JeffLee at 08:04 PM JST - 8th February

I assume demand for econ. news would be even greater than before. Since the meltdown, there's more coverage of business and financial news by the major media than at any time I can remember.
ultradodgy at 10:27 AM JST - 10th February

Fighton - do you seriously believe that Bloomberg is cutting Japanese programs because "Merrill Lynch dumped their stock"?

Um, this would be the same Merrill that is essentially BK, right?

...and I would have to assume that the kinda bad economy out there might be hurting Bloomberg a bit more than the lawsuit from a few years back. Just maybe.
Fighton at 11:34 AM JST - 11th February

You're absolutely right genious.

When their TV department lose $20 million a year and their terminal sales (which Bloomberg TV heavily relies on to cover the minus $20 million annual cost) is declining. Since you don't need to spend 180,000 yen a month to get up to date information on the news and economy. Have you heard of Google? Companies are going to cut cost on unnecessary things and subscribing to Bloomberg Terminal is like paying off insurance for a Ferrari and how many people need to own a Ferrari?

Merrill Lynch dumping Bloomberg stocks did not help, but it isn't the main reason why Bloomberg TV dumped the non-English channels. Losing $20 million annually and the lack of Bloomberg Terminal sales are the main reason why. It's called survival. They are replacing full-timers for free-lancers, because free-lancers are like condoms. You can throw them away after using them. There's going to be much more firing going on, especially in Tokyo.

Anyway, Bloomberg TV is WAY OUT OF CNBCs league. They will have to clean house just to compete with CNBC.