Wednesday 02 March 2011, PM
BBC - Peston's Picks: Murdoch's offer to sell Sky News
As a result News Corp is likely to get the green light for the takeover from Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary, possibly as soon as tomorrow. Since then, however, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp has made a proposal designed to remedy the harm identified by Ofcom from the deal. So in what News Corp sees as a significant concession and sacrifice, it has offered to sell Sky News. - bbc.co.uk
www.bbc.co.ukBBC - BBC Internet Blog: BBC Media Player update: fix for LSO "Flash cookies" issue
In coming weeks we'll be rolling the player out across the whole of BBC Online to enable smoother, better quality playback experience for users. I am pleased to say that all LSO issues are now resolved with this release. Although the new Media Player has broadly similar functionality to the current version, the design has changed significantly, as has the codebase, and this is a good opportunity to explain our decision for taking time to rewrite the Media Player and highlight the improvements made. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukDon't get left behind - Evening Times - News - Editor's Picks
On June 22, the analogue television signal will be turned off and people without the equipment needed to receive digital television will be unable to watch their favourite programmes. Every viewer, even those who already have Freeview boxes, will have to retune their digital equipment. For those viewers who have not yet enjoyed digital TV, the digital revolution means more channels, a wider choice of programmes and enhanced digital services, such as the red button, which can offer more choices of coverage with additional live football matches and alternative commentary. - eveningtimes.co.uk
www.eveningtimes.co.ukAvaaz - UK: STOP RUPERT MURDOCH
In 48 hours, nearly half the British mass media could be bought by one of the world's worst media moguls. He undermines democratic government across the world by threatening elected leaders with vicious and often false media coverage unless they do his bidding. Britain plays a key role in Europe and the world. - avaaz.org
www.avaaz.org
Careful of those figures, eRadio - James Cridland
Moving on from yesterdays example, the above is a quote from the usually excellent eRadio newsletter to get yours, register towards the bottom of this page at RadioToday. Its difficult to read this paragraph any other way. As Grant says, the vast majority of listening 81.8, he says on a digital radio is to a radio station thats also available on analogue. - james.cridland.net
james.cridland.netBBC - About the BBC: In broadcasting, the future is not what it used to be
In 2005, most predictions suggested up to half of TV viewing would be time-shifted. Broadcasters were to be assaulted from all angles - the internet, tech start-ups digital television and citizen journalists. Today asynchronous viewing accounts for as little as 10 of total TV viewing. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukWednesday 02 March 2011, AM
BBC's global iPlayer app to cost less than $10 a month - Media - guardian.co.uk
The international iPlayer iPad app will also give subscribers access to BBC archive programming. In addition, in January 162m programmes an average of six per household were downloaded via the iPlayer in the UK. His figures showed viewers born in the 1960s and 1970s when they were aged 10 watched around 21 hours a week of television for total television, compared with 16 hours a week for those born in 1995. - guardian.co.uk
www.guardian.co.ukLuke Johnson and Paul Jackson team to bid for new national TV channel - Media - guardian.co.uk
Luke Johnson the former Channel 4 chairman is one of the key names behind Local6's bid. Their group, Local6, is the ninth bidder to publicly declare an interest in running the channel, which is intended to provide a national spine for Hunt's initiative to create a new network of local TV services. Johnson, the entrepreneur and former Pizza Express owner, stepped down as Channel 4 chairman at the end of 2009. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukITV profit triples after TV ad surge - Media - guardian.co.uk
The X Factor helped to boost ad revenues at ITV. ITV, which said that it planned to reinstate a dividend payment at its interim results in July, has seen its share price rise 2.6p, just over 3, to 88p in early trading off the back of the positive results. The broadcaster said that the strong market has continued into the first quarter with revenues on track to be up 12, with April set to be up between 8 and 12 thanks to the Royal Wedding and Easter. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.uk
Rupert Murdoch to fund hived-off Sky News in bid remedy - Telegraph
The media giant made a 700p-a-share, 7.8bn bid for the remaining shares in June, which was rejected. A deal valuing BSkyB shares at somewhere between 800p and 850p a share is expected. A full-blown sale of Sky News has been viewed as difficult, as the satellite channel is losing more than 30m a year. - telegraph.co.uk
www.telegraph.co.ukBBC Radio 4 Extra is coming - James Cridland
Radio 4 Extra will not be fundamentally different to Radio 7, Tim writes. My initial feeling is one of disappointment whenever I tune into Radio 7, its some to me unfunny 1950s radio comedy, or an inpenetrable bit of drama. In a sense, this is a small tweak to BBC Radio 7 and a name-change, rather than a rather more far-reaching rebuild. - james.cridland.netjames.cridland.netUK broadband less than half of advertised speeds - March - 2011 - Which? News
This is an increase from May 2010, when the average speed was 5.2Mbps. But the number of broadband customers on packages with high advertised speeds has also increased since May 2010, with average advertised speeds now reaching 13.8Mbps. Ofcom's research involved more than 18 million separate service performance tests in over 1,700 homes during November and December 2010. Whichhas submitted a response calling for greater clarity, so that prospective broadband customers can make an informed choice based on realistic speed advertising. - which.co.uk
www.which.co.ukTuesday 01 March 2011, PM
Dan Sabbagh: News Corp-Sky deal announcement nears - Media - guardian.co.uk
Certainly the City, lifting BSkyB shares 6p to 793p, is straining for a deal - at somewhere rather more than 700p that Rupert Murdoch originally proposed. News Corp has been talking progress for several days, and various people are trying to lead journalists to the notion that the company has offered up a structural rather than behavioural solution to solve the plurality problem caused by having the Sun, the Times and Sky News all in the one basket. 5.21 Typically, structural undertakings require the sale of one of the overlapping businesses. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukBe prepared for the big switchover - Entertainment - East Anglian Daily Times
Traditional TV transmission is being switched off, so arts editor Andrew Clarke set out to explore this potentially confusing new television landscape To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in. If you do, on July 20, 2011, you will be left staring at a blank TV screen. The traditional analogue signal is being switched off and will be replaced by a stronger digital TV signal which will theoretically extend the Freeview coverage to areas which currently do not get it places like rural East Anglia. - eadt.co.uk
www.eadt.co.ukTwo more join bidders for national TV channel - Media - guardian.co.uk
Jeremy Hunt is planning to create the new national channel to support his initiative for a network of local TV services. Hunt is planning to create the new national channel to support his initiative for a network of local TV services. The company is hoping that, as with Scotland where a group of local media operators is making a bid as the Scottish TV Network, there will be an opportunity for separate contractors to run their own distinct services. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukChannel 6 bidders explain why Local TV will work - Press Gazette
-www.pressgazette.co.ukBBC - Press Office - Title
The archive will allow fans to download the last 500 complete episodes and will list the choices music, books and luxury of every guest since 1942. Classic editions will also be broadcast on Radio 4 Extra, curated by Kirsty Young, who will update and contextualise each interview. In addition, the station the relaunched Radio 7 will broadcast special, hour-long versions of episodes from the past year with previously edited material. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukBBC - Radio 4 Blog: New digital programmes - and a new name for Radio 7
Radio 4 Extra will not be fundamentally different to Radio 7. The vast majority of the programming will remain much-loved archive productions, and we will continue to focus on comedy, drama and entertainment rather than offering news or current affairs... Continue reading this post on the BBC Radio blog... - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukTuesday 01 March 2011, AM
Don t be fooled. 24-bit will not fix computer audio - Gadget Writing
Were trying to fix the degradation of music that the digital revolution has caused, says Iovine. First, he implies that 24-bit digital audio is necessary for good sound We record our music in 24-bit. Second, he says that the PC has become the de facto home stereo for young people but that sound is an afterthought for most computer manufacturers. - gadgets.itwriting.com
gadgets.itwriting.comMonday 28 February 2011, PM
BBC - Research and Development: Universal Control
TVs and set-top boxes STBs are starting to gain connections to the home network and to the Internet. Increasingly, they also have WiFi connections that give them access to the home network as well as to the Internet. Tablet devices like the Apple iPad are selling so well that a significant number of consumer electronics manufacturers are now rushing to get competing products onto the market. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.uk
Which? responds to 'up to' broadband review - February - 2011 - Which? News
28 February 2011 Which responds to 'up to' broadband speed advertising review Which says current 'up to' broadband speed claims in advertising are not enough to communicate realistic speeds that can be achieved by a reasonable number of consumers. However, broadband speed tests have found that the headline speed is usually unachievable in practice, and the majority of people receive no more than a fraction of the theoretical maximum. Whichbroadband expert Ceri Stanaway says 'Which has long been concerned about the way broadband speeds are advertised and has been campaigning for change. - which.co.ukwww.which.co.uk
Piracy is the Future of TV: commercial TV sucks relative to illicit services - Boing Boing
Uniformity in each of these areas across services will make all services of this kind - will make TV viewing on the Internet as a practice - more appealing to all potential users. In fact, legal services can model their protocols directly on established pirate standards, as they are hardly secret.7 Offer a Premium Service for Personal Archivists At the moment, piracy provides the best means for individuals to build personal libraries of television content, for all of the reasons given above. Legal services should consider how to serve this niche even better than pirate communities do. - boingboing.netwww.boingboing.netMonday 28 February 2011, AM
Ofcom - The Ofcom Broadcasting Code
The Code Guidance can be found here http//stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/guidance/programme-guidance/bguidance/. Programmes broadcast prior to28 February2011are covered by the version of the Code that was in force at the date of broadcast. Previous versions of the Code can be found here http//stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/broadcast-codes/. - stakeholders.ofcom.org.ukstakeholders.ofcom.org.ukJeremy Hunt stakes his reputation on local television - Media - The Guardian
It was a mantra that followers of Jeremy Hunt had become bored of hearing in the run-up to the general election. Except what it has become is something rather different, in effect a Channel 6 a new ITV1-style free-to-air service in an era when many thought network television was for the birds. Though whether this actually meets the aspirations of creating a genuine set of city-based local TV services remains to be seen. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukGeorge Entwistle: a BBC director general in the making? - Media - The Guardian
George Entwistle, the controller of BBC Knowledge, is surprisingly chipper given that the corporation faces possibly the most trying financial circumstances in its 83-year history. However, Entwistle appears to be going places in the organisation possibly all the way to the top, some BBC colleagues believe which may explain his upbeat outlook. He mixes straight talking with a smattering of BBC corporate-speak. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukWhat future for product placement? - Media - The Guardian
From today, broadcasters have the green light to charge brands to appear in top-rating shows. However, fears that Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole will start nursing giant-sized Diet Cokes in front of millions of viewers are unlikely to be realised anytime soon. In fact, as of day one of the introduction of media regulator Ofcom's new product placement rules it is almost impossible to identify a single confirmed deal of any sort. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.uk
The YouView revolution will not be televised just yet - Media - The Guardian
So you can see why, irrespective of whether it really does revolutionise viewing habits, they see YouView as quite so significant. For the other key shareholders principally the internet service providers BT and TalkTalk there is almost as much at stake. BT has spent a reported 800m on BT Vision, and it does now work and thanks to Ofcom does now have premium sport but to say it has failed to meet expectations rather understates the case. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukSunday 27 February 2011, PM
BBC Trust fail to understand commercial radio output - James Cridland
Im pleased about the BBC Trusts recent series-stacking announcement. That said in the approval paper, the BBC Trust makes the following pronouncements about commercial radio at the bottom of page 4 1. There is a limited amount of on-demand content offered by commercial radio 2. - james.cridland.netjames.cridland.netSunday 27 February 2011, AM
BBC North: it's not grim, but it is still 160 miles away from HQ - Media - The Observer
BBC Breakfast's Sian Williams and her colleagues are grumbling about being marooned in Manchester. BBC Breafast presenter Sian Williams is angry about being moved to Salford. Why on earth are BBC Breakfast presenters, including Sian Williams, right, still cutting up rough - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukLord Patten's role could be to take the BBC into Europe - Media - The Observer
Chris Patten needs to bring his eurocentrism to the BBC. Which doesn't mean that there won't be grilling and goadings as Lord Patten proceeds to anointment. Patten knows all about Europe and today's world. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukITV on schedule to report pre-tax profits of £300m - Business - The Observer
ITV is expected to report that its pre-tax profits tripled in 2010, on the back of a resurgent advertising market. It is expected to report that advertising in the first quarter of 2011 is up 10. The company's strong position net debt will have more than halved to about 300m, with forecasts that it could be wiped out altogether by the year's end, and more than 700m in the bank has led to speculation over how it might use its financial muscle. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.uk
We're such a feeble nation that Murdoch was bound to triumph - Will Hutton - Comment is free - The Observer
Rupert Murdoch has always had an eye for a great deal. When he bid 7.2bn for the balance of BSkyB he did not own, he got in before other shareholders tumbled to how valuable the company was becoming. On Friday, a report in the Financial Times suggested that he is finally close to his goal an announcement could be made as soon as this week. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukSaturday 26 February 2011, AM
Patten is named as choice to lead Trust - TV Radio, Media - The Independent
He will appear before the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee next month in a pre-appointment hearing. A former Conservative MP and Cabinet minister, he lost his seat in the 1992 election. - independent.co.uk
www.independent.co.uk
Top 10 Best Android tablets to look out for - February - 2011 - Which? News
How we test tablets Using an Android-based tablet is usually a slick experience a flexible platform for downloading and using the many apps available from Google Play. However, as weve found out, not all Android tablets weve tested are up to scratch. Our lab testers put each tablet through a detailed examination and series of carefully chosen tests to replicate how you use a tablet, testing important features such as battery life, screen quality and ease of use. - which.co.ukwww.which.co.ukMedia UK v5 is coming - Media UK
See all James Cridland's articles There's a new, shiny, Media UK round the corner. Other companies call their versions after desserts, or Muppets characters, but Media UK prefers good old-fashioned numbers. The live Media UK version, as you read it today, is v4.1102221228 - the minor version number is derived from the date and the time the codebase was last updated at 12.28pm on 22nd February. - mediauk.comwww.mediauk.comFriday 25 February 2011, PM
BBC - BBC Internet Blog: What's On BBC Red Button 26th February - 11th March 2011
The quiz features 10 questions based on moments from the brand new series of Nuzzle Scratch. The first two instalments are a two part series Henry Moore Carving a Reputation 1898 1945. The show will run until the end of May 2011. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukObjectivity could go as British Forces Broadcasting Service contracted out - UK news - The Guardian
The decision, part of attempts by the Ministry of Defence to make savings, has raised concerns that large military contractors with no experience of objective news reporting or radio and television production could bid to run the service as a money-making scheme. Critics of the decision expressed concern that the values and ethos of the broadcasting station would be lost. Contractors thought to be interested in bidding include Babcock, Serco and BT. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.uk
C4 prepares to submit for local TV network - News - Broadcast
25 February, 2011 By Balihar Khalsa Channel 4 is understood to be preparing a submission to host the new national TV channel delivering local content. It takes just 2 minutes and offers full, instant access to the Broadcast website along with a copy of the magazine delivered every week. - broadcastnow.co.uk
www.broadcastnow.co.ukBBC - Research and Development: Prototyping Weeknotes #51 (25/02/11)
We start two new projects in earnest this week. That project started, as they often do, with a long meeting first thing on Monday morning. Tristan discusses how he remembers what to watch and the rest of the team, including Chris N, Duncan and Kat, start thinking about how they do the same. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukLord Patten confirmed as 'preferred candidate' for BBC Trust chairman - Media - guardian.co.uk
Lord Patten is being lined up to succeed Sir Michael Lyons. Barring a major reversal the former Hong Kong governor is expected to take up the BBC chairmanship after the hearing next month, once the appointment has been signed off by the Queen. Patten is being lined up to succeed Sir Michael Lyons, who is stepping down in at the end of April. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukDTG :: News :: Switchover Help Scheme helped half a million go digital
The number of older and disabled people who have received help to switch to digital TV this week passed the half a million mark. The 500,000th Switchover Help Scheme customer had their digital TV equipment installed this week, about two and half years after switchover began. The Switchover Help Scheme offers people aged 75 and over and people with certain disabilities practical help to switch one TV to digital in the run-up to switchover in their region. - dtg.org.ukwww.dtg.org.uk
World Service closures begin - News - Broadcast
It takes just 2 minutes and offers full, instant access to the Broadcast website along with a copy of the magazine delivered every week. - broadcastnow.co.ukwww.broadcastnow.co.ukFriday 25 February 2011, AM
Government hunts for 'plan B' on internet piracy proposals - Technology - guardian.co.uk
The working group, which will comprise rights holders, internet service providers and search engines, is being formed after culture secretary Jeremy Hunt referred the Digital Economy Act's section 17 on website blocking to Ofcom for review. The issue of site blocking has been one of the most contentious elements of the DEA and the referral further raised the temperature of the debate, with some rights holders concerned it was a move to kick the measure into the long grass. On the latter issue it was decided to form a working group to look at ways of making the proposed system more palatable. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukMedia Talk: Reporting from the front line
download.guardian.co.ukCameron tries to get Big Society adverts on TV for nothing - Advertising, Media - The Indep
For all those struggling to cope with those listless minutes between the end of Emmerdale and the start of Coronation Street, help may soon be at hand the Big Society is coming to the small screen. It is thought that the 60-second segments, to be shown on ITV, Channel 4 and Five, would aim to encourage people to get involved in their local community, showcasing specific projects. Officials from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport have approached the three commercial public service broadcasting channels who are currently discussing the proposals. - independent.co.ukwww.independent.co.uk
Murdoch reported to be close to BSkyB deal - Media - guardian.co.uk
If an agreement is accepted by the culture secretary Jeremy Hunt, a 15-day consultation will follow. To find out more information about driving traffic to your content or to place this widget on your site, visit outbrain.com. We welcome your feedback at userhelpguardian.co.uk or feedbackoutbrain.com. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukThursday 24 February 2011, PM
BBC - The BBC Radio Blog: Series catch-up for speech-based radio programmes is here
Thursday 24 February 2011, 1813 Andrew Caspari Ever since 2002, when we started offering listeners the chance to hear radio programmes on demand via the original Radio Player, listeners have consistently asked to be able to catch up on all the episodes of series whilst that series is on air. There is nothing more frustrating, they told us, than getting interested in a serial in the third week and not being able to catch up on the first two parts which disappear after 7 days. In fact we became quite concerned that people might not even start listening to a serial if they felt they would not be able to keep up. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukBBC iPlayer - Help - Why is iPlayer buffering on Freesat?
If you're experiencing buffering or poor performance of iPlayer on your Freesat receiver, please get in touch with us using the 'Contact Us' formbelow. We'd particularly like to know the make and model of your receiver, the name of your ISP, and whether or not you have a problem viewing on other devices such as laptops using the same connection. - iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.ukiplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.ukNigel Dacre to bid to run new national TV channel - Media - guardian.co.uk
Nigel Dacre is bidding for the channel through his consultancy Inclusive Digital. Dacre is bidding through his company, Inclusive Digital, a consultancy which he hopes can work with, or help organise, a consortium. Separately, Channel 6 announced on Thursday that it had signed agreements with the universities of Sunderland and Cardiff to collaborate on the launch of local TV services in their areas. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukAll about plug-ins for Windows Media Center
One of the great benefits of the community of enthusiasts that has grown around Windows Media Center is the number of plug-ins developed to enhance the experience in WMC. Plug-ins also called addins, and lately even apps bring new information and features to the Windows Media Center environment. Over the years, plenty of enthusiast websites have written about their top 10 or must-have plugins for WMC. - windowsteamblog.comwindowsteamblog.compick a page