Wednesday 26 January 2011, AM
Jeremy Hunts balancing act as he mulls Murdoch BSkyB bid | Media | The Guardian
Jeremy Hunt, culture secretary, has said he will take more time to consider News Corp's BSkyB bid. Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor who resigned as Cameron's director of communications last week was also there, along with celebrity guests including Jeremy Clarkson. It emerged today that as soon as the festive period was over, Hunt had meetings with executives at the company to discuss its bid for Sky on 6 January and again last Thursday. - guardian.co.uk
www.guardian.co.ukOfcoms warning shows concern over the future impartiality of Sky - TV Radio, Media - The Independent
- independent.co.uk
www.independent.co.ukSky News independence to mirror that of News Corporation titles | Media | The Guardian
A year later, Evans who had been appointed to the editorship of the Times by Murdoch was sacked. News Corporation has not offered a specific undertaking at this point, but the company has told Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary, that it is willing to negotiate a concession that addresses the future running of Sky News. However, it is not willing to see the 24-hour news channel sold. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukBBC iPlayer - Help - Why am I experiencing difficulties when playing BBC iPlayer content and other BBC related videos?
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets CSS enabled. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets CSS if you are able to do so. - iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk
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BSkyB: Impossible undertakings | Editorial | Comment is free | The Guardian
The advice from Ofcom was pretty clear that Hunt should refer the bid to the Competition Commission for deeper consideration of the serious plurality issues in creating a huge unified media company, boosting its share of news consumption from 14 to 24. There will be many who will believe it, particularly after learning of the extremely ill-judged Christmas social contacts between News Corp executives and the prime minister. More benign observers will argue that Hunt is simply going the extra mile to lower the chances that the Rottweiler tendency within the Murdoch camp will succeed in judicially reviewing the process. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukRupert Murdoch cancels Davos visit to negotiate over Sky buyout | Media | The Guardian
Rupert Murdoch is to personally lead negotiations with Jeremy Hunt. It is understood that any promises made by News Corp would concern an offering of editorial guarantees on the independence of Sky News, although the former refuses to contemplate a sale of the 24-hour channel. Hunt's team said that its decision was motivated by a desire to be seen to be fair to all parties, and avoid a legal challenge by News Corp or the alliance of newspapers, including the Guardian, that has opposed the bid. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.uk
Murdoch given time to prove his BSkyB bid will not harm competition - TV Radio, Media - The Independent
This despite the UK's strong controls over the impartiality of news coverage. News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch's media empire, wants to take its 39.1 per cent stake in BSkyB up to full ownership. Vince Cable was stripped of his powers to adjudicate on the deal after unwise comments about Mr Murdoch. - independent.co.ukwww.independent.co.ukTuesday 25 January 2011, PM
News Corps BSkyB bid: the reaction | Media | guardian.co.uk
It is consistent to the approach the OFT or the European Commission would take, a policy to encourage merging parties to come forward as early as possible with any remedies. Referral to the Competition Commission is costly and extremely time consuming and often has a chilling effect on the deal. Hunt has received a clear recommendation from Ofcom and by his own admission has been unable to agree remedies with News Corp which would address public interest concerns. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukStatement on BBC World Service
They are all extremely important to their audiences and to the BBC. However, further information will be confirmed tomorrow at a press conference. - bbc.co.uk
www.bbc.co.ukBBC World Service to cut up to 650 jobs | Media | guardian.co.uk
BBC Bush House in the Aldwych where staff will hold a 'vigil'. There was also further detail on the impact of cuts on arts organisations across the country when the Arts Council admitted that it would probably turn down 600 applications for long-term funding as it finalises its budget for this year. The World Service is facing a 16 budget cut between now and 2014, imposed as part of the government's comprehensive spending review. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukHunt should steer clear of Murdoch decision so why hasnt he? | Jane Martinson | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk
Jeremy Hunt has given Rupert Murdoch more time to justify his planned merger of News Corp and Sky. Surely, the easier decision would have been to refer the News Corp boss's bid to an independent body set up for just this purpose, the Competition Commission. The siren voices of a referral come from the fact that it would be backed by expert opinion, from media regulator Ofcom and public opinion. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukTNA set for Freeview | The Sun |Sport|Wrestling
A spokesman for Sky the satellite operator 39.1 per cent owned by News Corporation, parent company of The Sun added Well be showing all the episodes fans have missed. - thesun.co.uk
www.thesun.co.uk
Internet TV Thinktank: Jeremy Hunt needs to think beyond the retro yellow button - Telegraph
2011 is the year connected TVs are finally becoming a reality for the normal TV consumer and not just the early tech adopters. According to TV analysts, this self-styled next generation of Freeview risks becoming obsolete if it fails to meet its summer 2011 launch deadline as the connected TV market is moving so fast. The broadcasters are very aware that there is a battle on the horizon for the domination of the living room and those parties which develop and take advantage of the best technology platforms will win out. - telegraph.co.uk
www.telegraph.co.ukBBC Trust chairman: what the role demands | Media | guardian.co.uk
This is a direct reference back to the bruising events of last October, when the BBC found itself dragged into the government's comprehensive spending review and hurriedly concluded a six-year funding deal without public debate, which will see the licence fee frozen at 145.50 and income cut by 16 in real terms over the next six years. This is a reference to the divide between Mark Thompson and the executive board, and the trustees, who favour selective service cutbacks, not more salami slicing, to deliver the BBC director general's 20 cuts target. BBC managers, they believe, will naturally want to obfuscate and protect their baronies. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukDelivering Quality First: plans for online radio
Yesterday we announced the next phase of Putting Quality First. As part of that announcement, we made the first mention of our upcoming 'Radio and Music product', which created a bit of confusion about our plans for online radio I hope this post explains in a little more detail. Yes, we do plan to build a new product for radio but this isn't to cut corners, or downplay what we do for radio online - as with everything we announced yesterday it's because we want to make the service better, not worse. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukOfcom's NewsCorp / BSkyB report : | OfcomWatch |
-www.ofcomwatch.co.ukJeremy Hunt buys himself time over News Corp decision | Media | guardian.co.uk
Jeremy Hunt ... handed a political hot potato over the News Corp/BSkyB deal. Photograph Nils Jorgensen/Rex Features Jeremy Hunt knows that in the end he is not going to win. Ultimately he can't duck the decision as to whether the News Corp-Sky deal should go ahead but, luckily for him, he doesn't have to decide just yet. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukMichael Crick: Is Lambert angling to move from CBI to BBC?
Was Sir Richard Lambert's speech on Monday something of a job application It must have come as something as a surprise kick-in-the-teeth to ministers, as previously they regarded the CBI boss as being on their side. The question of who becomes BBC Chairman is a subtle game. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.uk
Sky 3 to relaunch as Pick TV | 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.uk
www.broadcastnow.co.ukACS:Law ceases claims against illegal filesharers | Technology | guardian.co.uk
ACSLaw says it will no longer be chasing alleged copyright infringers. Andrew Crossley, the founder and lead solicitor at ACSLaw, announced in a statement to the patents county court in London yesterday afternoon that his firm would no longer be chasing alleged copyright infringers. The Solicitors Regulation Authority is currently investigating its practices as hundreds of the accused claim to have been wrongly identified. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukNews Corp lays ground for judicial review of BSkyB verdict | Media | guardian.co.uk
News Corp branded Ofcom 'one sided' in its submission to culture secretary Jeremy Hunt. In fact, on 7 January Ofcom fully disclosed all relevant communication between Ofcom and BIS in a freedom of information response. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukCan News Corp salvage the Sky takeover?
News Corporation has a couple of weeks or so to come up with a scheme to overcome the objection raised by Ofcom that the full takeover of BSkyB would reduce the number of providers of news and current affairs services to an unacceptable extent. To be clear, selling Sky News would not be easy, because it is a consumer of cash, not a profit centre. Finding a buyer with deep enough pockets to guarantee that Sky News could thrive in the long term would be quite a challenge. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukBRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC (BSY.L) Key Developments | Reuters.com
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. - reuters.com
www.reuters.com
Sky takeover bid decision delayed by Hunt - Business News, Business - The Independent
In the wake of findings from media regulator Ofcom, Mr Hunt said the proposed takeover might be against the public interest in media plurality and he was minded to refer it to the Competition Commission. If the undertakings are accepted, a 15-day consultation period will commence, when parties will be able to express their views. News Corporation said it believed Ofcom's analysis to be deficient in a number of ways and added that the level of plurality in the UK has increased since 2003, when the Communications Act was enacted. - independent.co.ukwww.independent.co.ukArqiva seeks investment partner for SeeSaw
Arqiva has announced that it is seeking an investment partner for its online TV service SeeSaw, following a strategic review. The move comes after a major reorganisation of Arqivas business units, announced last October. Weve been looking at SeeSaw as part of a wider strategic review and, following the success in launching a pioneering new service to both consumers and advertisers, we now believe the service needs further investment to reach its full potential. - dtg.org.ukwww.dtg.org.ukHunt to give update on News Corp BSkyB merger
In this letter I explained that I was minded to refer the case to the Competition Commission but that I would receive written, and if necessary oral, representations from them if they wanted to challenge my thinking. On 10 January I met with Ofcom to seek clarification on a number of aspects of their report. After considering these responses and consistent with section 104 of the Enterprise Act 2002 I therefore met again with News Corporation on 20 January to hear representations on the issues they highlighted. - dtg.org.ukwww.dtg.org.ukTuesday 25 January 2011, AM
Non-confidential version of BSkyB Submission dated 14 January 2011 [pdf]
- culture.gov.ukwww.culture.gov.uk
Government favours News Corp/BSkyB probe
C21Media.net is Everything about content in the 21st Century, from television to web, mobile, tablet and beyond. - c21media.net
www.c21media.net
Hunt plans competition probe over Sky bid | 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.ukNews Corps BSkyB bid: Hunt delays referral decision | Media | guardian.co.uk
It is understood that News Corp's undertakings relate to editorial guarantees for Sky News. However, if Hunt decides to accept News Corp's undertakings and put the proposal out to a 15-day consultation, it could be a matter of weeks. Hunt had planned to announce whether he was referring the bid to the Competition Commission by the end of the month. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.uk
Politics live blog - Tuesday 25 January | Politics | guardian.co.uk
Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary, has said that he is going to give News Corporation more time to find a way of making its bid for BSkyB acceptable. On the evidence available, I consider that it may be the case that the merger may operate against the public interest in media plurality. However, before doing so it is right that I consider any undertakings in lieu offered by any merging party which have the potential to prevent or otherwise mitigate the potential threats to media plurality identified in the Ofcom report ... - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.uk
Government plans competition inquiry over BSkyB bid - Channel4 News
A report by media watchdog Ofcom recommended that the proposed deal should be investigated further by the Commission. It also called on the government to review the law on media ownership generally. If the undertakings are accepted, a 15- day consultation period will commence when parties will be able to express their views. - channel4.com
www.channel4.comFor all its neuroses, the BBC should have self-confidence | Polly Toynbee | Comment is free | The Guardian
How they detest it, not just for particular faults, but because its very existence is an affront to everything they believe about markets. The sight of a sour old BBC presenter of yesteryear plugging his memoirs in the Daily Mail and attacking the hand that fed him rather well for 20 years might on an ordinary day not be worth noting. You might think that now the government has lopped off a great chunk of BBC revenue, it would go away. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.uk
Ofcom | Public Interest Test
-stakeholders.ofcom.org.ukWhat kind of programmes are available on BBC iPlayer?
If you are searching for a specific programme then please head to the BBC iPlayer homepage and use the search there to find the programme you are after. It may be that the programme has been delayed, or you can try entering a different search word or browsing the categories. In addition, certain programming can be subject to restrictions Films and sport To offer programmes on BBC iPlayer, we have to acquire the relevant rights from the people who make and appear in them. - iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.ukiplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.ukWhy 3D doesnt work and never will. Case closed. - Roger Eberts Journal
The 3D image is dark, as you mentioned about a camera stop darker and small. So 3D films require us to focus at one distance and converge at another. If we look at the salt shaker on the table, close to us, we focus at six feet and our eyeballs converge tilt in at six feet. - blogs.suntimes.comblogs.suntimes.comSecret film embarrases Currys and Comet - January - 2011 - Which? News
If you're not a member, subscribe to Which magazine now to try three issues for just 3. Comet and Currys did badly Not one visit to electrical giants Comet and Currys could be rated as excellent, so we went on follow-up visits with secret cameras to investigate further. There was also evidence in our visits of hard sell tactics - staff steered us towards buying cables we simply didnt need, or towards more expensive cables when cheaper ones would have been just as good. - which.co.uk
www.which.co.ukMonday 24 January 2011, PM
We re all Mark Thompson now. Emily Bell(wether)
The BBCs announcement today of its streamlining and focusing of its web strategy, 25 per cent budget cuts, the loss of 360 jobs, cannot have been a surprise to anyone, least of all its most ardent competitors. The out of control growth of the BBCs websites has often been posited as a commercial market impact problem for commercial rivals, but it is more of an editorial challenge than a regulatory one. After all, it is not clear exactly what the market is for it to impact. - emilybellwether.wordpress.com
emilybellwether.wordpress.comCameron-Murdoch meeting will not affect BSkyB decision, says No 10 | Media | guardian.co.uk
Rupert Murdoch with his son James, who had dinner with David Cameron over the Christmas period. The Guardian revealed last week that Cameron had been a guest of Brooks over the Christmas period. A Downing Street source denied last week that the meeting had taken place on Christmas Day, but declined to confirm or deny whether the prime minister had met Brooks over the Christmas period. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukThe BBC Radio Blog: Surround sound for streaming radio - the challenges
Simon Tuff, a senior engineer at the BBC, takes up the technological challenges being met in producing surround sound for online audio. Alan Ogilvie in the first surround sound blog post talked about some of the challenges we face when delivering surround sound online as well as some of the changes that make this increasingly feasible. In this second part I'll look at what broadcasters like the BBC are doing to create surround sound content for you to enjoy as well as some of the challenges this has created - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukRadio leaves the BBC iPlayer, and more - James Cridland
A large amount of tweets appeared after this announcement, unnecessarily worried and it even made Erik Huggers come out of Twitter retirement and post his first tweet for three months Audiences will still discover both live and ondemand audio in iPlayer. We will however build a new dedicated product for Radio and Music which looks a little confusing to me is it coming out, or staying in. BBC radio is mostly consumed live online 74 is live, rather than the 13 of TV viewing. - james.cridland.net
james.cridland.netMurdoch employs BP strategy
It goes like this company suffers a disaster company offers comprehensive financial settlement to victims of the disaster company admits to its own shortcomings, but implies that an entire industry has also engaged in similar flawed practices. That broadly describes the response of BP to the appalling oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Once they have the details, they will offer settlements to those celebs, politicians and others whose privacy may have been invaded - to cut out the requirement for huge lawyers' fees. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukAirCast Red Button TV Information System Launched - UK Broadcast Film and Television News
AirCast is a new information system that enables hoteliers to distribute information to their guests via one or more interactive TV channels dedicated to hotel-specific information. As AirCast is truly interactive, guests can quickly and easily access the information they want, when they want. The information that can be made available to guests via the TV is wide-ranging, including live feeds - such as News, Sports and Weather - together with standard hotel information and current promotions. - 4rfv.co.uk
www.4rfv.co.ukMonday 24 January 2011, AM
Local TV: a picture at last, but still poor reception | Steve Hewlett | Media | The Guardian
We've moved a long way from his initial ideas for a network of 80 local stations across the UK. His own inquiry, chaired by the investment banker Nicholas Shott and set up to examine the prospects for commercially sustainable local TV, put paid to that. Other things could be possible in future but that would depend on the availability of fast broadband to provide low-cost distribution. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukThe new BBC Broadcasting House: So what does 1bn buy? | Art and design | The Guardian
I am standing in the News Room of the BBC's gleaming and much-talked-about new building. With its vast pillars, spiralling staircases, and towering lift shafts painted red and orange, this cavernous, boldly modern space seems more like a submarine dock, the sort of place you might expect a James Bond shoot-out to take place, rather than somewhere for Huw Edwards to calmly read the news. The News Room may take up most of the basement and ground floor of the main wing of the 1bn new addition to Broadcasting House, but it is a surprisingly bright space, thanks to thefact that its glass ceiling is all but invisible, vanishing into the crevice-like atrium. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukYouView: mixed signals on new television platform
YouView will be different. One of the main criticisms of YouView from manufacturers and other platform operators is that YouView seeks to specify and control the user interface. However, the director general of the BBC observed that The user-experience and search and navigation environment will not unfairly exclude or favour some content players. He said anyone who meets the standard will be able to build YouView boxes, TVs and other devices which will encourage genuine competition in the consumer electronics market, just as it will in content and in the provision of broadband services and and encourage new entrants and new investment. - informitv.cominformitv.comFreeview viewers face retune as Dover transmitters changes signal
-www.kentnews.co.uk
The Andy Coulson affair raises the question who runs Britain? | Jackie Ashley | Comment is free | The Guardian
Westminster stories have a simple arc the scandal the uncovering therefusal to resign the resignation and closure. Sometimes the period from the first intimation of scandal to the resignation can be a matter of hours. So the Andy Coulson story seems on the surface to have a typical shape. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukStephen Glover: Does Cameron dare to disappoint Murdoch? - Stephen Glover, Opinion - The Independent
The most interesting question arising from Andy Coulson's resignation is whether it puts the Prime Minister in a better place. One or two have even speculated that David Cameron was happy to see his spin doctor go because he was generating so much unfavourable publicity for No 10. If Mr Coulson did end up in court, and were to be convicted, the uproar against Mr Cameron would know no bounds. - independent.co.ukwww.independent.co.ukSaturday 22 January 2011, AM
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