European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 19, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Mtg Europe a video Oasis in a to desert by Dave Diehl . Bureau Paul King a former Pep Star and something of a teen idol is under no illusions about where music television is in Europe today. Quot it s still play ing to a Market that does t really . The 29-year-old video jockey and one time Lead Singer in the British band King has his feet firmly grounded in the reality of what Many Call the unreal world of mtg which is poised to take. Europe West of the urals by celestial storm. Worldwide mtg has conquered some 34 court tries and 110 minion households. But the Market King is talking about is the 250 million Homes in the new Europe potential customers wailing to. Receive mtg and other channels via the airwaves. Mtg Europe now has 14 million households. When King joined mtg Europe last year he knew from living in the United states that the Channel had a future. Quot i like the idea of what mtg in Europe could be Quot King. That idea is shared in no Small Way with the management of mtg Bill Roedy a 42-year-od american who Heads a tvs a european division based in London has Stellar visions for the 3-year-old Channel he thinks the european Market including what was the former East bloc is larger than the . Market is or Ever could be. The youth Market is undeserved by television Quot we re an Oasis in a Desort Quot Roedy . If the previous years Are any indication a and particularly last year when More than 600,000 new viewers tuned in a mtg Europe s dream could be realized. Roedy says the Quot irreverent and trendsetting Quot attitudes and styles of Young Vas like King and Maiken Wexo Are the secret to mtg s Success. Mtg Europe owned jointly by British news Baron Robert Maxwell s Mirror group Viacom and British telecommunications Britain a main. Telephone company Aims itself at the 16-34 age group no different from that of the original version in the United states now in its ninth year but Roedy is Quick to Point out that the London operation is decidedly european with a staff representing some 14 nationalities. Quot the Success is because of the european play list based totally on what the audience wants to hear Quot he adds. Vas like King and Wexo. 23, Are fast becoming familiar faces in Europe. They Are among seven Vas who broadcast out of a Small London studio and Headquarters in London s Camden town. Both realize they Are in the music promotion business. These Days a hit record needs a hit video. A hit video needs mtg. A i Don t think anyone can afford not to Quot have a video to go with a record King . A but he does t buy the argument that to be successful artists must be Good looking on camera. Quot the better artists usually make better videos Quot regardless of looks he says. The danish bom Wexo who had Zero to experience before she joined mtg in 1987, is like King in that she tries not to impart any Bas or preference Oil camera Quot i try to imagine myself at Home with a Bunch of friends and i m commenting on the videos Wexo she notes that she stops Short of judgment. Quot i never so that is Good or that is bad Quot King feels similarly Quot if somebody is doing something that i see is bad i just Don t say . King who Only a few years ago found himself on the Edge of super stardom with a million Selling single called love and Pride and a hit album in Europe and the United states knows he bears some social responsibility to the mainly Young audience he plays to Quot you have to be aware that you Are dealing with people at a susceptible age people who look to others to give themselves a yardstick Quot the native of Coventry England. Wexo though argues that mtg is nothing More than entertainment she believes social responsibility should be nurtured at Home. Quot i think teen agers spend too much Lime worrying about music and not enough time worrying about education Quot Wexo who has Hopes for a career in to news after her stint As a Vij. Quot Bui i Don t think that s the kids fault. I think if you teach them to criticize everything they see a not Only music but everything a then mtg is in no danger of doing any harm Quot what we re Selling is entertainment Quot she added. Quot we re there 24 hours a Day you can spend five minutes with us or you can spend 24 hours a Day with us Quot How does a West Point Grad end up in charge of mtg Europe see the next Page. Mtg Vij Paul King and the mtg logo. Maiken Wexo Vij at mtg Europe. Iii Roedy the american who Heads mtg Europe. Sunday August 19. 1913 to plus c
