BBC News - BBC West TV area goes all-digital

The TV transmitter which serves the BBC West area has been switched to a completely digital signal. The change to the Mendip Transmitter, just outside Wells, completes a process of switchover which began on 24 March. Anyone experiencing problems with the switchover should contact Digital UK on 08456 505050. - news.bbc.co.uk

news.bbc.co.uk

Digital economy bill second reading today: expect fireworks |Technology |guardian.co.uk

The election is being called today which would push this controversial bill through to the 'wash-up'. It's the big day for the digital economy bill - 6 April, second reading and perhaps some debate in the house of Commons. Gordon Brown is also expected to take a trip to Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen to dissolve parliament so there can be a 6 May election. - guardian.co.uk

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The Digital Economy Bill needs debate - James Cridland

The Digital Economy Bill is important for the UK radio industry. If a number of conditions are met, then it allows the government to choose whether to switch off FM and transition the major radio stations over to digital. Ive stayed conspicuously silent on this section of the Bill, and I dont intend to tell you what I think of this bit quite yet. - james.cridland.net

james.cridland.net

BBC Feedback podcast 02 Apr 10

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Which? Podcast - Freeview vs Freesat - our TV experts compare HD picture quality

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Elgato Netstream DTT networkable TV tuner Register Hardware

Why release a brand new tuner in the UK without supporting the free-to-air terrestrially broadcast HD TV platform The Elgato has two tuners on board, both fed from the one co-ax port, and so can transmit to two network clients simultaneously. It doesn't downgrade the broadcast video bitrate to do so, Elgato says, and I certainly so no drop in picture quality. - reghardware.co.uk

www.reghardware.co.uk

New Doctor shows hes right man for the job -TV Radio, Media - The Independent

This is what Doctor Who does or has done since 1966, when William Hartnell transformed into Patrick Troughton, complete with a new pair of pixie boots. These days, the Doctor's footwear doesn't regenerate with him. Audiences may be happy to accept a transdimensional police box piloted by a thousand-year-old man who can save the universe with a screwdriver but a pair of Converse trainers rearranging their molecules into some Doc Martens - independent.co.uk

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The only future for television in the UK is paid for | Steve Hewlett |Media |The Guardian

Most of the noise around Ofcom's 700-page pay TV review last week centred on cash. Most unusually, because this sort of thing doesn't often happen to a Murdoch company in the UK, Sky managed to occupy much of the public moral high ground in the ensuing debate about the price at which Sky will be required to wholesale its premium sports services to other operators. On the other hand, Sky will get significant new wholesale revenues from its new competitors and, crucially, the right to retail directly in its own name to 10m Freeview homes. - guardian.co.uk

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Freeview HD advice is hit and miss, finds Which? - Which? News

Freeview HD equipment has been available to buy since February. For example one Comet store only told researchers about Sky's HD service until they asked for other options. Nearly all the retailers Which visited correctly stated that researchers would need an HD ready TV to be able to watch channels in high definition. - which.co.uk

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Freeview aiming for 50% coverage

It was back on the 2nd December when Freeview first began broadcasting in high definition, initially in two locations, London and the North West of England. - techwatch.co.uk

www.techwatch.co.uk

Johnston s Local Pay Site Trial Has Been A Disaster | paidContent:UK

We could have told Johnston Press, when it announced the plans back in November, that people wont pay to read local newspapers online. But We could have told Johnston Press, when it announced the plans back in November, that people wont pay to read local newspapers online. - paidcontent.co.uk

paidcontent.co.uk

Sky v Ofcom: a real clash of the titans |Media |guardian.co.uk

Media coverage of Ofcom's pay-TV ruling against BSkyB yesterday failed to convey a real sense of the gladiatorial battle that is taking place between the protagonists. As a veteran of previous regulatory skirmishes involving BSkyB over the past two decades, this is the first time I have seen a regulator able to take on the broadcaster and demand that it change its business practices. To change the metaphor, if this had been one of Sky's pay-per-view heavyweight boxing matches, it would have been decided on points. - guardian.co.uk

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ITV Player and Teletext jobs next for Freesat red button extras

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Media Talk: Sky, Ofcom, and Simon Singh's victory for free speech

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How do you want to watch HD TV in the future? Its time to tell Ofcom |Media |guardian.co.uk

Freeview HD ad but what equipment will you be able to watch it on In order to unscramble this information, manufacturers of equipment and developers of software which receives Freeview HD signals must obtain a decoding table from the BBC, which is only given out if the manufacturer agrees to abide by certain conditions. You might be wondering why the BBC has submitted this request, and if you did, you're probably not alone. - guardian.co.uk

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OS OpenSpace, the quality mapping API from Ordnance Survey

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openspace.ordnancesurvey.co.uk

overpriced HDMI cables

If youve already splashed out on the huge flat-screen tv, a state-of-art Blu-Ray player, and a satellite dish with a monthly subscription that brings with it hundreds of channels, then it probably seems like its a small price to pay for HDMI cables. But, this is exactly the mentality that gets people to pay for this habitually over-priced bit of technological excess. The truth, as our infographic points out, is that there is absolutely no difference between the cheapest and most expensive HDMI cables, at least over shorter runs. - mint.com

www.mint.com

Regional TV news pilots unlikely to be signed off before election |Media |guardian.co.uk

The government looks set to fail in its attempt to get the ITV replacement regional news pilots signed off before the general election, placing the future of the project in doubt. It is understood that the standstill period has been extended by 10 days to 16 April, by which time Whitehall is expected to be in hiatus for the general election, making it impossible for the ITV news pilot contracts to be signed. This means the future of the independently financed news consortiums will rest on a Labour victory in the election, which is expected to be called for 6 May, as the Conservative party has vowed to scrap the project if it wins power. - guardian.co.uk

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Pestons Picks: Ofcom: We could have been much beastlier to Sky

Ofcom is trying to create the impression that it is intervening in Sky's commercial freedoms to the absolute minimum necessary to correct what it perceives as the satellite broadcaster's unfair competitive advantages. Now, I am unclear whether it is adopting this forelock-tugging tone to reinforce its legal case when Sky's appeal comes to court, or whether it thinks that the weight of public and political opinion is pro Sky and anti regulator, or whether it's just frightened of big burly Sky. BT, the acknowledged supreme master of gaming the regulatory system, implies not - in that its statement today whinges about how Ofcom could and should have cracked down harder on Sky. - bbc.co.uk

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Media: Simon Kelner on the Indie, Sky and pay TV - 31 03 10

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BBC News - Opposition mounts to UKs Digital Economy Bill

The plan to cut off persistent pirates has proved controversial The government has published a new draft of a controversial clause in the Digital Economy bill, in an effort to ease its progress through parliament. The Liberal Democrats said they will oppose any plans to rush the Digital Economy bill into law. The bill faces its second reading in the House of Commons next week. - news.bbc.co.uk

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Sky ruling: Culture secretary challenges Tories to back Ofcom |Media |guardian.co.uk

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Pestons Picks: Ofcom v Sky

Ofcom believes that millions of us make decisions on which TV service to buy and also which bundle of TV, broadband and telephony to purchase on the basis of whether we can get access to live sport and first-run Hollywood movies. Which is why it has concluded Sky derives an unfair advantage from its control of much of the top-rate live sport and films available in the UK. The media watchdog has today ruled that Sky has to sell its sports channels to rivals at prices that are between 10.5 and 23 below the existing wholesale prices - and wants the Competition Commission to force the Hollywood studios to sell on-demand rights to movies to companies other than Sky. - bbc.co.uk

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Competition issues in premium pay TV movies | Ofcom

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www.ofcom.org.uk

Ofcom orders Sky Sports price cut |Media |guardian.co.uk

The media regulator Ofcom today ordered BSkyB to reduce the amount it charges rivals to offer Sky Sports by more than 20. On the basis that most subscribers buy packages including the sports channels, the reduction for a bundle is 10.5 from 19.15 to 17.14. BSkyB, however, intends to apply to the Competition Appeal Tribunal for a stay on implementing the ruling. - guardian.co.uk

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High definition Freeview extension

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www.google.com

BBC News - Analogue TV end dates announced

Many portable TVs and video recorders still use the analogue signal A date has been announced for the end of analogue television in Scotland. It has now been announced that most of Ayrshire, Arran, southern Argyll and the Rosneath area of Dunbartonshire will switch off on 11 May next year. Some of Fife and Lothian will switch on 1 June and the rest of the central belt will follow a week later. - news.bbc.co.uk

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S4Cs Clirlun: its Welsh, but not as we know it | Media Monkey |Media |guardian.co.uk

The name may hardly trip off the tongue, but Monkey hears it is causing excitement in Wales because, explains Iona Jones, the Welsh-language channel's chief executive, it is a new Welsh noun, meaning high definition. S4C viewers were asked to invent a name and send in their suggestion the winner hails from Carmarthenshire. To find out more information about driving traffic to your content or to place this widget on your site, visit outbrain.com. - guardian.co.uk

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Regulator sets the fuse for shake-up of pay-TV -Business Analysis Features, Business - The Independent

After a three-year investigation, Ofcom finally revealed it was ready to publish its final statement on the investigation into the pay TV market in Britain at 7am today. Despite the hiccup at the 11th hour, the regulator hit the last day of its self-imposed deadline. Sky is the largest player in the pay TV market, with 9.5 million customers, followed by Virgin with 3.7 million. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

BBC on the hunt for new channel for Freeview HD - Media news - Media Week

Five had planned to provide a mix of its own programming and commissioned shows from on its own HD channel, but failed to provide media regulator Ofcom with launch details in time. The BBC acquired the right to use the unreserved capacity because it provides the Freeview multiplex that the HD channels are being rolled out on. Thomson's comments did not rule out an additional BBC HD service, but also suggested partnership possibilities for another broadcaster to create a wholly new offering if the interest is there. - mediaweek.co.uk

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HD goes Freeview - ITV Press Centre

- itv.com

www.itv.com

Freeview tweaks Sky in 12m ad campaign for HD services |Media |guardian.co.uk

Link to this video Freeview has unveiled a 12m advertising push to promote the launch of high-definition channels on its digital terrestrial TV service. The first ad in the campaign, a tongue-in-cheek take on BSkyB's HD promotions featuring slow-motion footage of action films and wildlife, features two men pretending to run against the backdrop of a giant owl swooping in for the kill. The campaign, by ad agency 18 Feet and Rising, will return in the key pre-Christmas sales period with a further 6m marketing push. - guardian.co.uk

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Men Motors goes to the scrapyard |Television radio |guardian.co.uk

It's too late for Virgin customers to pay their respects it disappeared without warning from the EPG at some point last week but anyone with Sky and Freesat still has a couple of days to drink it in before it's gone for good. You wouldn't realise by looking at it now, but in its time Men Motors or Granada Men Motors as it was when it launched in 1996 was a powerhouse. Granada Men Motors was as integral a part of mid-90s lad culture as Fantasy Football or horrible Ben Sherman shirts. - guardian.co.uk

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BBC News - Freeview to launch new HD service

Freeview is to launch a new free high definition HD TV service later. Freeview HD recorders will also be available later this Spring. Viewers will only need to update their equipment if they want to watch the new HD channels on Freeview, otherwise their existing set top boxes will continue to receive all of the current standard definition channels. - news.bbc.co.uk

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New 1m high definition channel for Wales

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www.walesonline.co.uk

BBC News - Wales will be first UK digital TV nation

Wales has become the first nation in the UK to go fully digital in its television signal. The Wenvoe transmitter and its relay stations, serving 649,000 homes in south east Wales, started switching from analogue to digital at midnight. Digital UK, which manages the switch, said the last relay station, at Tonyrefail in Rhondda Cynon Taf, shut off analogue in mid afternoon. - news.bbc.co.uk

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The ITV regional news bidders have something in common at their core |Media |guardian.co.uk

The panel making the choice has, unanimously, gone for those promising convergence. Together they are currently struggling to employ 1,000 newspaper journalists. The panel felt they could safely do this and spurn the incumbents, STV with ITN, because, under existing employment regulation, the winners have to take on the otherwise redundant television journalists already supplying the services. - guardian.co.uk

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MPs attack BBC over executive pay and BBC3 costs |Media |The Guardian

Published today, the committee's review of the BBC's 2008-2009 annual report questions how the corporation measures the success of its programmes. Last autumn the BBC revealed that its top 50 executives earn basic salaries of between 160,000 and 647,000, with nine executive directors, including director general Mark Thompson, sharing 4.6m, including bonuses and benefits. The report was prompted by the publication of the BBC's latest annual report last summer. - guardian.co.uk

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Pay-TV sports shakeup leaves Sky a winner |Business |The Guardian

Six million people currently pay for Sky Sports through Sky or rival providers. The move, which comes after a lengthy three-year investigation, is likely to lead to protests not just from Sky but from sports bodies who fear that their broadcasting rights will be worth less when they are next auctioned and that this will hamper investment in sport. Ofcom is expected to set the wholesale price of Sky Sports 1 at about 10.50, as compared to the current 13.88. - guardian.co.uk

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One less news app: Did BBCs iPad support threaten the EUs Digital Agenda? | Tech Policy Law News - Betanews

Either the news media is convinced that Apple's forthcoming iPad is the vehicle for delivering news publishing out of its funk, or it's convinced that Apple is conspiring to circumvent the natural course of news with its own walled garden platform. The BBC is sustained by UK citizens who pay regular license fees, so on paper, the reason for the delay is to determine whether free distribution of the app goes against its mandate. In an online op-ed yesterday, the Times defended its decision, saying it believed true customers will recognize the value of investing in real journalism. - betanews.com

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ITV Advertising Restraints May Be Scrapped by U.K. Regulator - Bloomberg.com

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www.bloomberg.com

A 2015 digital switchover is absurd | Tony Stoller |Media |guardian.co.uk

So the House of Lords has woken up to the absurdity of 2015 as a switchover date for digital radio. In case other politicians and government officials haven't noticed, that would mean making obsolete the vast majority of car radios, and perhaps 150m analogue radio sets. What will they do to a government that turns off all their radio stations - guardian.co.uk

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Select Committe report on DSO - PDF

- publications.parliament.uk

www.publications.parliament.uk

BSkyB downgraded to neutral at UBS - MarketWatch

The broker noted that the firm's shares have risen by 33 since last June and outperformed the Stoxx 600 index by 7. British Sky Broadcasting is roughly 39-owned by News Corp, the owner of MarketWatch the publisher of this report. - marketwatch.com

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Tories attack BBC cuts to niche stations -UK Politics, UK - The Independent

- independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

Freeview HD televisions at test lab - Which? News

For 'coming soon' reviews plus almost 200 full reviews of televisions tested in 2009 and 2010 visit our television review page. Full results are due online towards the end of May. For 'coming soon reviews' plus almost 200 full reviews of televisions tested visit our television review page. Keep an eye on Which news and ourtelevision brand overview pages for the latest developments, or check out our 3D TV essential guide for everything you need to know - which.co.uk

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BBC - Pestons Picks: Ofcom v Sky: The epic business battle of 2010

The latest is the three-year pay-TV probe, which reaches an end - of sorts - next week, when the media watchdog, Ofcom, publishes its final conclusions and proposed remedies. There have been thousands of pages of submissions to Ofcom in this enquiry, a fair number of them from the company directly threatened, British Sky Broadcasting which was still lobbying Ofcom, with some 100 pages of detailed economic analysis, some five months after the consultation was formally closed. So BSkyB will be forced to sell rival broadcasters access to its films and sport - in normal and high definition format - at keener prices than it does today. - bbc.co.uk

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Feedback: 26 Mar 2010: Listener panel on R4's Today

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Gerhard Zeiler approaches Channel 4 about commercial tie-up with Five |Media |guardian.co.uk

The possibility of resurrecting a Channel 4/Five merger is said to have been discussed, although this is thought far less likely to proceed than a more limited commercial partnership. One such option would be a merger between Channel 4 and Five's advertising airtime sales houses, which has been mooted in the past, although this would not solve RTL's problem long term. Obstacles to a full merger would include Five's onerous deals for US shows such as the CSI franchise. - guardian.co.uk

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Media Talk: Clay Shirky on Google, China, and all things internet

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