Great things to read about British TV from March 2008 to today

Sky goes for growth through European expansion | informitv

Despite increased competition in the United Kingdom, Sky continues to grow its customer base, adding 76,000 television subscribers in the last quarter and 264,000 year on year, taking it to 10.69 million homes. Sky believes bigger is better, with headroom for further growth, particularly in Germany and Italy, which have relatively low pay-television penetration. The enlarged Sky will be the leading pay-television provider in three of the four largest markets in Europe, with a combined total of over 19 million homes taking Sky television. - informitv.com

informitv.com

Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson ‘deliberately used offensive racial term’ | Media | theguardian.com

During the special Clarkson and co-presenter Richard Hammond were observing their handiwork in building a makeshift bridge across the river Kwai, on which an Asian man was seen walking towards them. Clarkson said That is a proud moment ... but ... there is a slope on it. Hammond said You are right ... pointing ... it is definitely higher on that side. Clarkson then narrated, over images of the bridge We decide to ignore the slope and move onto the opening ceremony. Ofcom received two complaints from viewers who complained that the word Clarkson used was an offensive racist term. - theguardian.com

BBC News - Man arrested over Bath mast 'arson'

25 July 2014 Last updated at 1807 A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson following a fire at a communications mast near Bath. The fire at the Bathampton mast, which feeds television and radio broadcasts to 80,000 homes, started in the early hours of 3 January 2013. Police said a 30-year-old man had been arrested and was in custody. - bbc.co.uk

Monday 28 July 2014, AM

Britain's black actors must be given a better choice of roles, says star of Spielberg series | Film | The Observer

Speaking to the Observer this weekend from Hollywood, Etienne called for a better balance of parts for black newcomers at home. Etienne believes these talented actors are there because they had more chances as teenagers. Although some of these groups are still going, many have lost funding, and Etienne argues that all Britain's bigger cities should have projects like these. - theguardian.com

Friday 25 July 2014, PM

Feedback: BBC iPlayer last weekend: 25 Jul 14

London Live chief insists channel remains committed to local TV | Media | theguardian.com

The boss of London Live has said the station will still be local, despite planned cuts to its primetime local content, but admitted the challenge for the fledgling station had been tougher than anticipated. The station, which launched just four months ago, has also proposed a number of other changes, including reductions to the amount of local content it has to repeat, and fewer hours of local content in the years ahead. This is a new sector and we need to be able to grow as a business and evolve the business model to make sure we have something that makes sense. Kirkman said the official ratings body, Barb, has underestimated the size of London Lives audience because its panel of viewers in the capital is too small. - theguardian.com

London Live's experience proves that local TV is a dead duck | Media | theguardian.com

The TV channel is seeking to reduce its commitment to produce primetime local content from three hours a day to just one. Local TV is asking if the regulator wouldn't mind if it stopped broadcasting so much local content. This is a vindication of what I first said years ago when Jeremy Hunt first mooted his misguided local TV innovation - the public are just not interested. - theguardian.com

Friday 25 July 2014, AM

DTG :: News :: The Winners are announced!

The final four winners were Chirpan application which can send messages through an audible trigger from a television broadcast to a mobile app device to send the user interactive content such as links, video or images. CrowdEmotionInnovative facial recognition software which can read television viewers expressions to what they are watching on a television broadcast in real time. StreamHubAnalytics software for big data which combines viewing figures with social media, app and youtube data. - dtg.org.uk

dtg.org.uk

Why Rupert Murdoch's takeover of Time Warner would be bad for TV viewers | Media | theguardian.com

Rupert Murdoch has made a 80bn bid for rival Time Warner. He questioned, in an article in the Hollywood Reporter, the wisdom of companies getting bigger and bigger. Increasing size is a sickness that possesses us every quarter must show growth. - theguardian.com

Lenny Henry is right about quotas for ethnic minorities in TV and film | Media | theguardian.com

Broadcast executives are perplexed by the statistics that Lenny Henry has recently exposed. Children of migrant parents have long been disproportionately encouraged to take vocational subjects in order to enter the professions, but the downturn of 2008, coupled with students increased reliance on parental income to support studies, means this pressure has increased considerably. They just arent black. Those from minority backgrounds are more likely to also come from economically disadvantaged families, and like most sectors of the creative industries, entry level applicants can expect to work as interns. - theguardian.com

stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

Thursday 24 July 2014, AM

BT tackles BSkyB in court before new Premier League season - Telegraph

BT is attempting to force its rival to allow it provide the channels to subscribers to its YouView internet-based television service. BT claims BSkyB refuses to strike a reasonable commercial deal and is abusing its dominance. A quick decision in its favour would be a fillip for BT, allowing it to market its main television with Sky Sports platform in time for the new Premier League season next month. - telegraph.co.uk

www.telegraph.co.uk

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/sky-access-control/

Wednesday 23 July 2014, PM

Media: MH17 and Gaza reporting, Al Jazeera English journalist Sue Turton, Murdoch's media moves

BBC News - BBC trials TV innovations at Commonwealth Games

Immersive viewing using virtual-reality technology is also being trialled. UHD streams, which have a native resolution of 4K or higher, roughly four times the resolution of standard 1080p high definition were already tested during the World Cup, earlier this year. - bbc.co.uk

Wednesday 23 July 2014, AM

RadioToday | DAB digital radio turned-on in Derbyshire

The new transmitter at Quarndon takes local digital radio coverage for these stations from zero to over 350,000 listeners in the area, and adds over 259km of roads into DAB coverage for the first time. A further two transmitters will be switched on in Lichfield and Stanton Moor towards the end of the year. When all three transmitters have been launched around two thirds of people in the area will be able to listen to digital radio. - radiotoday.co.uk

radiotoday.co.uk

ITV confirms ITVBe launch date | presscentre

The new channel will be dedicated to lifestyle and entertainment programming, celebrating real life and real people. Details of schedule and broadcast hours will be confirmed closer to launch. - itv.com

www.itv.com

Ariel - Distribution moves into Future Media

The 40-strong team ensures that the BBC's public services are carried on all radio, television and digital platforms. The teams will continue to be based in London, but a new head will be appointed to look after the strategic direction of both Distribution and Business Development. The change is the result of a BBC Trust review into the broadcaster's distribution of its UK services. - bbc.co.uk

YouView expansion plans as shareholders agree | Advanced Television

The service has passed well over 1 million connected UK homes in less than 18 months since its marketing launch and claims industry-leading levels of satisfaction and VoD usage. YouView continues to target a long term goal of 10 million connected homes. YouView has signalled its continued success and growth by recently announcing a major recruitment drive that will expand its technology team by well over 50 per cent. - advanced-television.com

advanced-television.com

Tuesday 22 July 2014, AM

BBC Worldwide chief receives £231,000 bonus despite fall in profits | Media | theguardian.com

The BBC Worldwide chief executive was paid a bonus of more than 230,000 last year, despite a drop in profits partly resulting from the loss of Lonely Planet income. Tim Davie received total remuneration of 670,000, including a base salary of 400,000 and a bonus of 231,000, in the year to the end of March. Davie received the payout despite the corporations commercial arm suffering a 7 fall in revenues to 1.04bn, and a 21.5 fall in pre-tax profits to 126.5m over the period. - theguardian.com

Monday 21 July 2014, PM

BBC annual report: Tony Hall announces ?374m in annual savings - TV Radio - Media - The Independent

Lord Hall said the BBC had delivered 374m in annual savings and was on course to reach its target of 700m a year by 2016-2017, following the freeze in the Licence Fee in 2010. Although the BBC has reduced overall expenditure on senior management, the number of managers on more than 220,000 has increased. The BBC also managed to reduce its spending on presenting talent, although the numbers of such staff earning between 250,000 and 750,000 grew, from 14,100 to 14,800. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

BBC News - Technical problems plague BBC online services

21 July 2014 Last updated at 1239 The BBC's flagship iPlayer service has been hit by technical problems that started over the weekend. Faults have also meant only a simplified version of the BBC's homepage can be shown, while online video and audio clips have also been disrupted. Internal investigation The corporation put out statements via Twitter apologising several times for the inconvenience the problems were causing. - bbc.co.uk

http://www.bbc.co.uk/emp/embed/smpEmbed.html?playlist=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fiplayer%2Fplaylist%2Fp0239dgq

BBC - Annual Report - Annual Report

Each year the BBC reports to licence fee payers and audiences. The Annual Report and full financial statements are formally laid in Parliament in accordance with the requirements of the Charter. They are also published on the BBCs website. The Annual Report is made up of three parts. - bbc.co.uk

BBC News - BBC Annual Report 2013-14: At a glance

21 July 2014 Last updated at 1428 The BBC's annual report has been published for the financial year 2013-14. The BBC said it is on track to achieve the 700m savings per year it must make as part of its Delivering Quality First programme by 2016/17, having saved 374m in 2013/14 so far. Here are some of the key points from the review, which is conducted by the management and the corporation's regulatory body, the BBC Trust. - bbc.co.uk

Date set for Derbyshire's DAB switch-on

A number of local stations will be broadcasting live from the official switch event of Arqivas new DAB digital radio transmitter in Derbyshire. The much-awaited multiplex has caused a number of local press articles asking questions about its delayed launch, after owners were granted a licence almost seven years ago. One new transmitter at Quarndon will be switched on this Wednesday morning after 8am, whilst a further two will launch later in the year, covering over 350,000 people. - radiotoday.co.uk

radiotoday.co.uk

BBC’s Evan Davis to join Newsnight following Jeremy Paxman’s departure | Media | theguardian.com

Daviss Newsnight move, confirmed on Monday by the BBC, ends months of speculation about who might replace Paxman, who was the shows main presenter for more than 20 years. The BBC announced that Paxman was leaving the show in late April and he presented his final edition on 18 June. Davis, 52, will present the show three nights a week with its existing team of presenters, Kirsty Wark, Emily Maitlis and Laura Kuenssberg, remaining on the show, sharing the other two nights a week. - theguardian.com

Half of BBC Viewers are over 60 | informitv

Around half of all viewers to the two main BBC television channels are over 60 years of age, yet this age group makes up less than a quarter of the population of the United Kingdom. A quarter of those aged 25-34 barely watch BBC television. Television audiences have traditionally skewed to an older demographic, with younger adults generally watching less, but will this generation ever watch as much as their parents - informitv.com

informitv.com

Monday 21 July 2014, AM

Media Monkey’s Diary: John Sweeney, Sky News and Game of Thrones | Media | The Guardian

Did the two big announcements really need to be simultaneous Wasnt this exactly the kind of burying of bad news if only temporarily that Harding would have condemned in his previous job as Beeb-bashing Times editor Among the trusts findings that made headlines was data showing that a handful of mostly aged programmes dominate evening air-time on BBC1, which was slated as too safe. - theguardian.com

BBC's cost-cutting drive prunes extra £6m off talent costs | Media | The Guardian

BBC Breakfast presenter Susanna Reid was the most high profile departure during the last financial year. Unveiling the corporation's annual report, the director general, Tony Hall, reveals that the corporation spent 194m on presenters and other on-air talent in the year to the end of March, down from 200m the previous year. He will also seek to raise morale among staff battered by years of cost-cutting another 415 job losses were announced in BBC News last week by revealing that some of the money freed up by the efficiency drive will be reinvested in a 4 boost to the content budget over the next three years. - theguardian.com

Sunday 20 July 2014, PM

BBC iPlayer glitch takes down top TV shows | Media | The Guardian

The issues also affected publication of videos on the BBC website. The BBC News website appeared to working normally again on Sunday afternoon. - theguardian.com

Fox, Time Warner, and Rupert Murdoch's last game of thrones | Media | The Observer

After a two-week hiatus that had some wondering if he'd gone for good, Rupert Murdoch is back on Twitter. Murdoch had been organising the biggest deal of his storied career an 80bn bid for Time Warner by 21st Century Fox, his entertainment conglomerate. Disney, Fox, Time Warner, Viacom are all big businesses, but Google and Apple are each worth more than the combined market values of the media firms. - theguardian.com

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Ofcom | The Scheduling of Television Advertising

Friday 18 July 2014, PM

Feedback: Biased coverage? 18 Jul 14

BSkyB prepares to roll the dice again with European expansion | Reuters

Analysts have put the likely price at between 7 billion and 10 billion euros. Sources familiar with the deal have told Reuters the talks are progressing well but that there are still many areas they need to find agreement on. BSkyB, which declined to comment, has history in making expensive but ultimately winning gambles. - reuters.com

www.reuters.com

DTG :: News :: Ed Vaizey MP promoted to newly created Digital Industries Minister role

Ed Vaizey has been promoted to a new role covering digital industries, as part of David Cameron's reshuffle. It's so far unclear what aspects of Vaizey's former role will fall under his new remit, nor whether his old position will remain open. DTG Staff 18.07.2014 Links open in a new window. - dtg.org.uk

dtg.org.uk

City awaits ITV takeover bid as Liberty Global takes ?481m stake - Business News - Business - The Independent

Under City takeover rules, Liberty cannot make an offer for six months, unless another bidder emerges. However, ITV shares raced up 6 per cent to 195.1p, with analysts reckoning a take-over move is on the agenda. Fox has also made an audacious 80bn 47bn bid for Americas Time Warner amid a frenzy of TV industry consolidation. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

BBC under fire after sharp decline in audience reach of young and ethnic minority viewers - News - TV Radio - The Inde

The Trust reported that a proportion of viewers do not find BBC1 sufficiently distinctive and it called on the flagship channel to take more creative risks. The review found that 63 per cent of BBC1s peak time 7pm-9pm schedule was taken up by just ten shows, all but one of which is at least seven years old. Some BBC1 viewers find the channel over-reliant on familiar programmes and believe that it has a tendency to play safe in programming and scheduling, the report said. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

Thursday 17 July 2014, PM

Ariel - BBC One should be riskier, says trust

The trust's conclusions are detailed in a 37-page report about the health of the television channels and how they perform against their service licence. The 87,000 review - which happens every five years - included a public consultation with 5000 responses, extensive research, data from audience councils, and feedback from industry figures and BBC executives. Chief among them is the need for BBC One to 'take more creative risks while serving loyal audiences'. - bbc.co.uk

What Do Consumers Hate More Than TV Ads? Online Video Commercials - CMO Today - WSJ

A recent survey of about 700 consumers found that about 36 of those polled said they find online video ads more irritating than TV ads. Nearly half found both TV and online video ads equally annoying while only about 12 thought TV ads were more annoying. The online survey, conducted last month by ad buying software company Strata, found that younger viewers find targeted online video ads more invasive and annoying than older viewers. - blogs.wsj.com

blogs.wsj.com

BBC News - BBC News to cut a further 415 jobs

The move is part of 800m efficiency savings required after the licence fee was frozen in 2010. The latest cuts are expected to save 48m by 2017. BBC News currently employs around 8,400 people, including around 5,000 journalists, based in London, around the UK and overseas. - bbc.co.uk

Ariel - News cuts 415 posts to help save ?48m

The 'heavy impact' of the cuts on staff - jobs account for roughly half the total savings - was acknowledged by director of news James Harding, who said he shared their 'distress, concern and anxiety'. Speaking to staff at Broadcasting House's Radio Theatre, he said that the job losses were likely to affect around 500 people, taking part-time workers into account. 'Strenuous effort' would be made to fill these new posts through redeployment,' insisted Harding, who said requests for voluntary redundancy from across the News Group would also be granted wherever possible. - bbc.co.uk

BBC - BBC News announces plans to save ?48m and invest in digital transformation - Media centre

The proposals are expected to lead to 415 post closures which will be offset by an estimated 195 new roles being created through reinvestment, meaning a net reduction of around 220 posts. The BBC will now begin consultation with staff and the joint unions over these proposals, where appropriate. The challenge is how to make BBC News even better, despite having less money. - bbc.co.uk

BBC News to cut 415 posts as it restructures for digital | Media | The Guardian

BBC News is to cut a further 415 posts and restructure to increase focus on digital journalism. James Harding, the BBCs director of news and current affairs, told staff on Thursday that there will be 48m in annual savings and a total of 500 workers will be affected by the cuts. However, Harding said that 195 new positions will be created in the restructure, meaning a net reduction of 220 full-time posts across news and current affairs. - gu.com

gu.com

Thursday 17 July 2014, AM

BSkyB sells ITV shares to Virgin Media owner Liberty Global | Media | theguardian.com

ITVs share price rose 7 to 196p in early trading as investors enthusiastically greeted the move as a signal that the UKs largest free-to-air commercial broadcaster is likely to be snapped up. Now John Malones cable giant Liberty Global, which snapped up Virgin Media last year for 15bn, has renewed the prospect of a takeover. Liberty Global chief executive Mike Fries said This is an opportunistic and attractive investment for us in our largest cable market. - theguardian.com

Freesat - Android Apps on Google Play

Hello. We are Freesat. And this is our clever little telly app. It gives you the power to plan and manage how and what to watch on TV, as well as control your TV sets using your phone or tablet. And best of all, it is free. With the Freesat App you can See 7 days of TV LISTINGS for over 200 free TV and radio channels; Find great shows to watch On TV and On Demand with SHOWCASE RECOMMENDATIONS; SEARCH by programme to easily find the show you want to watch. And when you link it to a Freetime box you can also: RECORD ON THE GO so you never miss a show; TURN YOUR PHONE OR TABLET INTO A REMOTE CONTROL so you can pause, play, fast forward, rewind and change channel; LAUNCH ON DEMAND PROGRAMMING STRAIGHT TO YOUR TV. - play.google.com

play.google.com

Ariel - Return to TVC delayed by two years

BBC Studios and Post Production is delaying the start of its 15-year lease of the revamped Studios 1, 2 and 3, which had been due to re-open next year. Although studio refurbishment work is on track, the developer's broader plans for the Wood Lane site have evolved and its construction programme has been extended as a result. SPP will remain at Elstree - its temporary home since moving out of TVC in 2013 - until major construction work to the 'doughnut' is completed. - bbc.co.uk

Wednesday 16 July 2014, PM

Media: BBC commissions up for grabs; IMPRESS regulation plans; 'Immigration Street'