Thursday 09 October 2014, AM

Ariel - Midlands Today touches history at 50
Users can explore the map to discover video clips from the programme's archive relating to different parts of the region, whether it's Birmingham boys employed to be scarecrows or Midlands football teams winning the European Cup. 'We've tried to steer clear of murder and mayhem,' explains John Bray, Midlands Today assistant editor, who helped select the 100 films. 'We haven't included 2003's New Year shootings when two teenage girls were shot dead outside a party in Birmingham, for instance. - bbc.co.uk
BBC News - EE launches home TV service in UK
Mobile network EE has announced a TV service that lets up to three phones or tablets be used to watch different live programmes in the home simultaneously, while a television screens a fourth. The facility is powered by a set-top box, which also lets content broadcast over the past 24 hours be replayed, even if recordings were not scheduled. The service is included in the price of EE's broadband and landline packages. - bbc.co.uk
UK viewers ‘spend five hours a week watching TV, clips and films online’ | Media | theguardian.com
Tech-savvy Brits spent an average of more than five hours a week watching TV shows, clips and films on internet-connected devices in the first half of 2014 largely due to the popularity of tablets and smartphones. TV programmes proved to be the most popular form of online content viewed by UK users, at an average of two hours and 35 minutes a week, according to a report from the Internet Advertising Bureau. Films were watched an average of one hour 50 minutes a week, and video clip views averaged 51 minutes. - theguardian.comWednesday 08 October 2014, PM
Media: Facebook's apology to drag queens; anonymity online; an inquiry into the use of RIPA
Tuesday 07 October 2014, AM

Richard Desmond’s Northern Shell back in profit thanks to Channel 5 | Media | theguardian.com
Richard Desmonds Northern Shell bounced back into profit in 2013 thanks to a record performance from Channel 5, which countered a revenue slump at the newspapers and the ailing Health Lottery, which has lost more than 80m. Northern Shell, the owner of Express Newspapers and OK magazine which just sold off Channel 5, made an operating profit of 37m in 2013. A major recovery from the 5.6m operating loss in 2012. - theguardian.comMonday 06 October 2014, PM

Media Monkey: Harding upsets staff (again!) and Morgan on Mail bosses | Media | The Guardian
Monkeys communicator of the week award goes to James Harding, BBC director of news and current affairs, for a staff email defending a divisional shake-up that some have accused of being bewildering and shambolic. Still, the upheaval has produced some classic W1A-style quirks, such as the fact that Jamie Angus will now report to Allen just appointed head of daily news programmes, whom he beat to win the job of Today editor. Details are murky but it apparently involved an awards bash, a disobliging Horrocks remark about the ratings of a Panorama made by Campbell, and some sort of contact swiftly ensuing that resulted in him appearing at work the following morning with a cut lip. - theguardian.com
Ariel - iPlayer gives us more time to catch up
Until now, there has been just a seven day window in which to stream many shows after transmission. The director general said that iPlayer had been a pioneer of online viewing since its 2007 launch, now receiving more than seven million requests to view every day. 'Extending the catch up window to 30 days now makes the best value on-demand service even better. - bbc.co.uk
Internet blog
Until now all our radio shows have been available for at least 7 days. We have the rights to keep some factual programmes such as Desert Island Discs and In Our Time indefinitely and this has been very popular. From now on almost all the programmes that are currently available for only 7 days will be available for 30 days. - bbc.co.ukYouView settles trademark dispute | SEENIT
Total argued that granting the YouView application for the same classes of goods and services as it owns the Your View trademark could cause confusion with, or dilute, its own brand. That case was heard earlier this year with the court backing Totals claims that YouViews use of its claimed trademark could cause confusion. However the two sides have now reached a confidential settlement which allows YouView to continue using its name and avoids a costly and embarrassing rebranding. - seenit.co.ukhttp://advanced-television.com/2014/09/29/freeview-tears-and-laughter-ad-campaign/
Freeview this week launches a new advertising campaign to promote the wealth of programming available to Freeview viewers this autumn. - advanced-television.com
YouView appoints Nick Thexton as CTO - ComputerworldUK.com
He has recently worked on projects including cloud-based video distribution to hybrid devices and the development of dynamic advert insertion technology, which is now used in the Sky Adsmart programme. The organisation recently announced a recruitment drive to expand its technology team by over 50 percent. It plans to add more than 50 roles in product design, development and test engineers over the next 12 months. - computerworlduk.com
How to watch UK TV abroad: Sky Go, iPlayer and more for free | Expert Reviews
In the UK we're spoilt for great TV. Thanks to web-based catch up TV services like iPlayer there's no reason to miss out on your favourite shows if you aren't able to watch them live.It's not quite so simple if you find yourself out of the country, however almost every service blocks access to foreigners based on their IP address. Thankfully, there are plenty of quick, easy, and most importantly free ways to make sure you don't miss that crucial episode when you're away on business or out on holiday. - expertreviews.co.uk
Synapse brings Vision TV to Freeview | Online Video | News | Rapid TV News
Synapse TV uses technology from Strategy Technology ST and specialist third parties to provide a cloud-based managed service for content owners and aggregators. It allows over-the-top OTT delivery of on-demand content and linear services. A number of content monetisation models are supported, including BARB-rated linear advertising, targeted on-demand advert insertion, pay-per-view and subscriptions. - rapidtvnews.com
MPs consider trashing compulsory BBC licence fee for subscription service | The Drum
The BBC licence fee has come under review from MPs, with critics calling into question the ethics behind enforcing the fee during a period of national austerity - especially with the internet offering arguably more competitive content. The fee, first introduced in 1922, currently sits at 145.50 annually and is legally compulsory for all UK TV owners to pay who actively watch live or stream TV. However, MPs claim that this is no longer fair during austerity where public services are seeing cuts. - thedrum.comBBC opens window to catch up | informitv
However it will remove the ability to download multiple episodes of television programmes retrospectively, known as series stacking. The BBC is planning an online store to sell access to some programmes beyond the 30-day period, but perhaps it needs a bolder vision. The extended window will initially apply to television and network radio programmes available to stream on demand, with regional radio and the World Service to follow. - informitv.comFriday 03 October 2014, PM

RadioToday with RCS | Competition confirmed for second UK DAB
Ofcom has confirmed the awarding of a second national digital commercial multiplex will be a competitive process. The news comes as the regulator extends the closing date, to allow a prospective licence applicant sufficient time to obtain information from Arqiva, which owns many DAB transmitter sites. The first DAB national commercial multiplex is known as Digital One. - radiotoday.co.uk
Ofcom | Ed Richards to stand down as Ofcom Chief Executive
Under his leadership, Ofcom has helped to deliver superfast broadband, 4G, lower prices, innovation, competition, and sustainable public service broadcasting in the UK. The executive search process to appoint a replacement is under way, led by Zygos Partnership. Ofcom seeks to complete the recruitment process early in 2015. - media.ofcom.org.ukFeedback: Reporting tough foreign news: 3 Oct 14

Talking TV: Plebs TV sexism
Wednesday 01 October 2014, PM
Tuesday 30 September 2014, PM

Children's Hour to go from Radio 4 Extra
BBC Radio 4 Extra is to end the Childrens Hour segment on a weekday afternoon because the average age is 60. The show has been on-air since 2011 but only around 5900 10-14 year olds tune in. The BBC Trust has agreed the move, issuing a revised service licence for the station which will see archive programming in the 4pm slot instead. - radiotoday.co.ukMonday 29 September 2014, AM

Australia Network goes off the air in the Asia and Pacific region - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Updated September 29, 2014 134955 The Australia Network has gone off the air after the Federal Government withdrew funding for the broadcaster earlier this year. The ABC was one year into a ten-year contract to provide the service, which had a potential audience of 144 million people. However, an ABC spokesman said the number of viewers in the region had grown over the past 12 months. - abc.net.au
RadioToday with RCS | Full Time called on Sky Sports News Radio
A single Facebook message has signified the end of Sky Sports News Radio this weekend. Sky confirmed to RadioToday earlier this year it was looking at other options, saying a stand-alone sports radio service is no longer viable. A message posted on the stations Facebook page Sunday evening said Sky Sports News Radio is no longer broadcasting as a rolling news programme. - radiotoday.co.ukSunday 28 September 2014, PM

BBC licence fee debate has entered uncharted waters | Jane Martinson | Media | The Guardian
Is 145.50 a reasonable charge for a TV licence For years the answer to this question was a resounding yes for those of us who support a licence fee-funded BBC. It depends for a start on whether the licence fee payer can afford to eat, let alone pay for a television. - theguardian.com
RadioToday with RCS | Somerset gets local DAB on Muxco multiplex
Muxco has launched its Somerset local DAB radio multiplex this morning, bringing five stations to digital radios for more than half a million listeners. The area is covered by three transmitters at Mendip, Taunton and Hutton meaning more than 71 of local households will get the DAB service. The launch follows Ofcom permission for Triple Muxco Ltd to change the frequency for the multiplex from the previously-approved 10D to 10B instead. - radiotoday.co.ukDTG :: News :: DTG thanks Emma Scott for her contribution to UK digital TV
- dtg.org.ukDTG :: News :: YouView to keep brand name
YouView has reached a settlement with Cheltenham based telecomms business Total Limited to continue using the 'YouView' brand name. - dtg.org.ukFriday 26 September 2014, PM

#12 - Trinity Mirror payouts, Emma Watson hoax - The Media Podcast with Olly Mann
Friday 26 September 2014, AM

YouView appoints new tech chief to keep up with Sky in the cloud - Telegraph
YouViews technical development will be led by Nick Thexton, hired from the US internet technology giant Cisco. At YouView he will be tasked with accelerating development of internet technologies such as recording in the cloud to allow on-demand access from any smartphone or tablet. It had been hoped that the extra BBC services would be in place in time for this summers big events, such as the World Cup and Glastonbury, but the project hit delays. - telegraph.co.ukThursday 25 September 2014, PM

Jimmy Mulville considered BBC3 TV ‘rescue plan’ | Media | theguardian.com
The corporation is planning to shut the BBC3 TV channel the first channel closure in its history in the autumn of 2015 and reinvent it as an online service. A handful of former BBC3 shows would be aired on BBC1 and the online channel. At least one broadcaster is understood to have held informal talks with the BBC about potential plans to rescue the channel or its TV content. - theguardian.com
Ofcom | The Communications Market: Digital Radio Report 2014
As part of this, it was requested that Ofcom produce an annual review of the digital radio market. The Action Plan was launched to ensure that if and when digital switchover occurs in radio, it can be delivered at a time when the market is ready and in a way that protects the needs of listeners. The last version of the Digital Radio Action Plan was published in January 2014. - stakeholders.ofcom.org.ukWednesday 24 September 2014, PM
Media: Devolved powers and the BBC, Inside police custody, Trinity Mirror and phone hacking
Tuesday 23 September 2014, PM

#11 - Save Our Sources, Next Radio Conference - The Media Podcast

The Media Podcast

#9 - Scotland debate update, Company magazine closes, Edinburgh preview

#10 - SPECIAL: Guardian Edinburgh International TV Festival 2014

#8 RAJARs, Sky Europe NYT app confusion

#7 BBC News Cuts, Murdoch bids for Time Warner

The Media Podcast #6 - BBC levels the playing field, George Clooney apology

The Media Podcast #5 - Radio 5 Live reshuffle and kids' TV tax breaks

The Media Podcast #4 - hacking trial verdicts, Rising Star US

The Media Podcast #3 - John Oliver and World Cup take over the US

The Media Podcast #2 - Robert Peston Michael Woolf go off-message

The Media Podcast #1: BBC News Cuts, Freeview Connect

BBC Trust sets out minimum level for current affairs output | Media | theguardian.com
The BBC Trust has responded to concerns that the corporations current affairs output is lagging behind rivals by insisting on a minimum amount of programming each year which is less than the amount it already airs. However, the BBC said it already delivers more than this over the past five years, BBC1 has delivered between 44 and 52 hours of current affairs peak-time programming annually. It is vital for the BBC to maintain the volume, quality and ambition of its current affairs and this protection for some of its most-watched current affairs output will help it to do that. To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email mediatheguardian.com or phone 020 3353 3857. - theguardian.com
RadioToday with RCS | Labour urged to change BBC radio policies
The official commercial radio body says all the evidence suggests it needs an overhaul of regulation, with a set of clear service licences that help it focus on its strengths and limit the overlap with commercial operators. In a rapidly changing media landscape, the BBC has a special responsibility to offer compelling and exciting programming to the broadest possible audiences. After the general election next year, debate will begin in earnest on the future of the BBC. - radiotoday.co.uk
Should the BBC Trust be renamed the Licence Fee Trust? | The Big Ideas | theguardian.com
BBC governance is in crisis, not due to opaque management or a lack of leadership, but because of a growing distance between the corporation and its viewers, according to the shadow culture minister Helen Goodman. Her comments came as the BBC faces criticism for being run by a metropolitan elite, remote from the people it services. James Heath, BBC director of policy and charter, admitted that the corporation would have to make more effort to reflect its viewers and listeners. - theguardian.com
Doctor Who: the Guardian is Clara’s constant companion | Media Monkey | Media | theguardian.com
Is the Guardian the newspaper of choice on Doctor Who At least two Whovians seem to think so, lodging complaints with Ofcom that the Guardian has been given an unfair amount of promotion in the hit BBC1 show. The scene that so incensed the complainants featured the Doctors companion Clara, a teacher, carrying a clearly identifiable Saturday edition of the Guardian. - theguardian.comAlan Bennett attacks repellent reality TV shows from Big Brother to The Big Allotment Challenge - TV Radio - Media -
The playwright, who said there was no longer a television producer he could trust to put his work on screen without interference, revealed that he had once been an unlikely Big Brother viewer. Asked if he watched reality shows, Bennett told Radio Times Very few. Maybe the first Big Brother but I thought God, theyre all repellent. - independent.co.ukTuesday 23 September 2014, AM
BBC iPlayer Help - BBC iPlayer closing on some connected TVs and Blu-Ray devices
- iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.ukpick a page