Eagle TV
Encyclopedia
Eagle TV is a television
broadcaster in Mongolia
. The station focuses on independent news, uncensored live audience feedback, and Protestant Christian programming.
Terry moved to transform the TV station’s struggling news and Christian programming in keeping with his vision of political freedom and the advocacy of Christianity. This proved to be a magnet of controversy as the station was opened to uncensored live commentary from viewers and launched the nation’s first live international news coverage. Uncensored public commentary was a radical change in Mongolia’s media and political landscape. Newspaper articles and criticism from public officials on Mongolia’s State run television were countered by Eagle TV openly advocating increased freedom of speech and press through television, and it launched a strategy to increase public input into Eagle TV’s on-air operations.
At the same time, unbeknown to Eagle TV’s viewers, the shareholders were embroiled in long-standing and severe disagreements over issues of contribution and control of the newly dynamic TV station. One month after achieving its highest-ever ratings, the shareholders abruptly closed the station as a result of legal threats and corporate infighting. The government of Mongolia, controlled by the former communist party, reacted by revoking MBC’s broadcast license, preventing the station from re-launching its operations.
After the station's closure, AMONG Foundation formed Eagle Broadcasting Company, appointing Tom Terry as Managing Director, and charging him with re-launching Eagle TV as a cable TV channel. About half a year later the new Eagle TV began broadcasting on SANSAR Cable as Mongolia’s first all-news cable channel.
Eagle TV launched a 24/7 news format with uncensored public commentary during live newscasts as a cornerstone of the station. In addition, it launched the nation’s first live coverage of in-country breaking news including the only all-day live coverage of Mongolia’s 2005 presidential election.
In light of the increasing popularity of Eagle TV’s cable operations, the former business partners AMONG and MMC negotiated their further cooperation over most of 2005. The talks resulted in an agreement in September 2005 for the Mongolian side to acquire the broadcast license for terrestrial Channel 8, and Eagle Broadcasting Company to have exclusive use of the channel for ten years, and exercising exclusive control over all television content during that period. Based upon the agreement the Mongolian government restored the license for Channel 8, paving the way for Eagle TV to return to its former channel.
On October 22, 2005, Eagle Television launched its Channel 8 broadcasts with live all-day coverage of U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
’s visit to Mongolia.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
broadcaster in Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
. The station focuses on independent news, uncensored live audience feedback, and Protestant Christian programming.
History
From 1994 to 2002 Eagle Television was operated on terrestrial Channel 8 by Mongolian Broadcasting Company (MBC). MBC was a joint venture of the American nonprofit, AMONG Foundation, and Mongolia Media Corporation (MMC). In 2002, the American Tom Terry took over the management of MBC and Eagle TV.Terry moved to transform the TV station’s struggling news and Christian programming in keeping with his vision of political freedom and the advocacy of Christianity. This proved to be a magnet of controversy as the station was opened to uncensored live commentary from viewers and launched the nation’s first live international news coverage. Uncensored public commentary was a radical change in Mongolia’s media and political landscape. Newspaper articles and criticism from public officials on Mongolia’s State run television were countered by Eagle TV openly advocating increased freedom of speech and press through television, and it launched a strategy to increase public input into Eagle TV’s on-air operations.
At the same time, unbeknown to Eagle TV’s viewers, the shareholders were embroiled in long-standing and severe disagreements over issues of contribution and control of the newly dynamic TV station. One month after achieving its highest-ever ratings, the shareholders abruptly closed the station as a result of legal threats and corporate infighting. The government of Mongolia, controlled by the former communist party, reacted by revoking MBC’s broadcast license, preventing the station from re-launching its operations.
After the station's closure, AMONG Foundation formed Eagle Broadcasting Company, appointing Tom Terry as Managing Director, and charging him with re-launching Eagle TV as a cable TV channel. About half a year later the new Eagle TV began broadcasting on SANSAR Cable as Mongolia’s first all-news cable channel.
Eagle TV launched a 24/7 news format with uncensored public commentary during live newscasts as a cornerstone of the station. In addition, it launched the nation’s first live coverage of in-country breaking news including the only all-day live coverage of Mongolia’s 2005 presidential election.
In light of the increasing popularity of Eagle TV’s cable operations, the former business partners AMONG and MMC negotiated their further cooperation over most of 2005. The talks resulted in an agreement in September 2005 for the Mongolian side to acquire the broadcast license for terrestrial Channel 8, and Eagle Broadcasting Company to have exclusive use of the channel for ten years, and exercising exclusive control over all television content during that period. Based upon the agreement the Mongolian government restored the license for Channel 8, paving the way for Eagle TV to return to its former channel.
On October 22, 2005, Eagle Television launched its Channel 8 broadcasts with live all-day coverage of U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to...
’s visit to Mongolia.
External links
- Official Site
- AMONG Foundation U.S.-based former owner of Eagle Television in Mongolia.