Dirty tricks team representing the Philippines Australian transplants Jacinta James and Lani Pillinger - AXN photo

Indian actresses Sunaina Gulia and Dimple Inamdar didn't forget the dirty tricks incident in the first leg of the Amazing Race Asia and served up some pay back - AXN photo

Singapore Rebel Pals Claire Goh and Michelle S. Ng were served up some pay back - AXN photo

Video Beat MAX - DOWN & DIRTY AMAZING RACE ASIA

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

This week the theme of the episode airing Thursday December 2nd is showing scenes from programs that didn't air - STAR WORLD'S ARROGANCE IN LOSING THE PLOT - Recommended TV Listings

Tuesday November 30, 2010

THE MASTERMIND OF CABLE TELEVISION

It's down and dirty time on the Amazing Race Asia as the three finalist teams have been decided. The finals will include team from Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia. Who are they? More on that subject will be featured in our next edition since the finals will be telecast next week Thursday December 9th. This week the theme of the episode airing Thursday December 2nd is showing scenes from programs that didn't air therefore we will review some of the teams that were eliminated and what strange events jumped out of certain programs.

In our most recent NR Top 10 ratings Trouble Is Brewing on Amazing Race Asia was ranked third on our charts. Ironically what that column pointed out was dirty tricks some teams played on each other. Of the three teams involved only the Singapore team survived to make it to the final three.

The AXN Network the producers of the show is based in Singapore. If you think its favoritism then this weeks behind the scenes episode should be interesting.

Teams to look out for that didn't make it to the finals are the two Indian actresses who were the first to be done dirty. They were victims of the Singapore teams dirty tricks when the Singapore girls Claire Goh and Michelle Ng had airline employees lie to other teams that there were no seats on the plane forcing the other teams to take a later flight. The Indian team was later eliminated.

Dirty tricks team representing the Philippines Australian transplants Jacinta James and Lani Pillinger (aka Party Girls) went into a planes cockpit and talked the pilot into delaying another plane with other race contestants on board. In the world of ethics it's conduct worthy of elimination but somehow later encouraged by the shows host Alan Wu at the pit stop.

In the last episode featuring the final four there were two tasks that focused on what teams thought about other teams. One question was to put the photo of the team up on the board that they thought was the least deserving to win. Hands down James and Pillinger were chosen. It was much to their surprise when the arrived at the task to see what the other teams thought of them.

In an archery task their photo was chosen as a target by two teams. They were bewildered and wondered why everyone dislikes them. They eventually finished last and were eliminated and out of the finals.

The bottom line is that there are only two more weeks of agony in searching for the start time of AXN programs since they decided to air their shows off the top or the bottom of the hour which is an industry standard since television began over 60 years ago. We are firm believers in the respect of a viewer's time. It's up to the viewer if they are a sheep that follows and is led around or a Shepherd who is in control of their own time and is not led around by a television network.

STAR WORLD'S ARROGANCE IN LOSING THE PLOT

Disrespecting your viewers and their intelligence reeks of ignorance and arrogance. If there was a trophy for those traits Star World would win it. If it's a mess you're looking for this is it that being Star World's starting programs before the hour.

The situation that Star World is placing themselves in is counting on viewers to leave a program that they've already been watching to catch a Star World show that starts before the hour. Conversely when a Star World program starts after the top of the hour viewers must decide if they want to commit to waiting or go to another channel. In both cases it could cause Star World to lose market share. The before the hour start is currently being promoted by the channel.

Their haughty actions give the impression that they are trying to PIMP their website and force feed visitors by selling them products or having a viewer participate in a contest or promotion. Given their programming promotions Star World prides itself on having STYLE perhaps they should focus on having PROFESSIONALISM and RESPECT for their viewer's time.

When we emailed AXN why they went off the hour and changed their schedule they were professional and respectful enough to reply. We queried Star World on their decision in changing their start times for programs after or before the top or bottom of the hour.

We emailed Star World's PR Director Fina Wong Thursday, November 18th and she failed to reply. The lack of courtesy is an example of the channels pompous attitude and lack of respect for their viewers. Wong's email address is on their website for the purpose of being contacted. Given the networks unprofessional and irresponsible behavior the question is why bother to put that information on the site if they don't follow through.

The following are the questions that we asked Wong and Star World:

1. What prompted Star World to go to a STAGGERED SCHEDULE rather than starting your programs as the top and bottom of the hour as you have done in the past?

2. What research did you do to come up with your decision?

3. Prior to your change what percentage of your viewing audience do you feel have computers?

4. Of those with computers what percentage do you think use the Internet to find out what time a program starts?

National Radio text is published in five languages, English, Thai, French, Russian and Khmer (Cambodian language). Any of our foreign language material and our Roman Wanderaugh columns is legally available ONLY on our National Radio site. Our sports, entertainment and feature programming has been broadcast on over 1000 radio stations.

TV SCHEDULE

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia/Thailand time zone. Check our chart or your local listings for time in your area.

NOTE TIMES OF THE SAME TELECAST IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

© Copyright: National Radio. Any use of these materials, whole or in part, is prohibited unless authorized in writing by National Radio. Contact: nationalradio@yahoo.com All rights reserved.