Nothing and Some More

Last year ad revenue reached an estimated $11.2 billion. With China opening up, the government has allowed News Corp., Disney, Star TV and AOL Time-Warner limited access. Rating companies like ACNielsen are getting their “people meters” into more homes, offering ratings proof that old entertainment formulas aren’t working. This February state broadcaster CCTV put out its annual New Year’s variety marathon, the usual five hours of patriotic songs and lame dance routines. Newspaper reviewers slammed it. In one poll, 62 percent of viewers called it unsatisfactory.

The issues Le Pen raises are real, and Europe ignores them at its peril.