Media tycoon Desmond buys TVs Five -TV Radio, Media - The Independent

Newspaper and magazine proprietor Richard Desmond has bought TV channel Five, it was announced today. This might include a revival of Big Brother, which is in its final series on Channel 4. Today's Times newspaper said Mr Desmond had had direct discussions with Endemol, the owner of the programme, about broadcasting it next year. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

Desmond: Ill spend on shows and keep Airey | 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.uk

Richard Desmond promises Channel Five investment, drive and leadership | Media | guardian.co.uk

Sources close to Desmond say that was a statement of intent, with further acquisitions to come. RTL announced its deal with Northern Shell, the private company which controls Desmond's newspaper and magazine titles, to the stock market this evening. Desmond's bid is believed to be twice what his closest rival offered for the company, which made an operating loss of 41m in the last financial year. - guardian.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk

Richard Desmond buys Channel Five for 103.5m | Media | guardian.co.uk

The disposal is in line with RTL Group's strategy of being number one or two in each of our markets. Desmond, who still owns a raft of porn channels, also spent money on OK magazine which lost money for the first six years of his ownership but is now highly profitable. It is unclear what chief executive Dawn Airey's position will be although she is rumoured to be able to move to RTL following any departure from Five. - guardian.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk

TV ad spend recovery stronger than expected | Media | guardian.co.uk

Fears that the recovery in TV ad spend could run out of steam after the World Cup appear to have been unfounded, with expectations for September running as high as a 13 year-on-year increase. However, Channel Five is predicted to post a fall in ad revenue. Current predictions by media agencies forecast total UK TV ad spend for September will be up by about 11 year on year with gross spend at 358m, a 37m increase over last year. - guardian.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk

Feedback: 23 July 2010: 5Live's Men's Hour

downloads.bbc.co.uk

Channel Five: a timeline | Media | guardian.co.uk

1987 The idea of a fifth television channel is placed on the political agenda after two government studies identify spare frequencies. 1988 Booz Allen Consultants recommend a fifth channel, saying it will reduce ITV's monopoly power and reduce advertisers' costs. Fifth channel formally included in broadcasting white paper. - guardian.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk

BBC Mobile Apps go live

-

www.bbc.co.uk

BBC concludes Public Value Test not required for mobile apps

Please visit the BBC Trust homepage to find the information you want. you may have typed the web address incorrectly - please check the spelling, or that there are no spaces or capital letters. Alternatively, please try the other links and search box on this page. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

Richard Desmond shakes hands on Five buyout | Media | guardian.co.uk

Richard Desmond reached an agreement with the owner of Bertelsmann in the early hours of this morning, according to sources. The deal is still to be ratified by the board of parent company Bertelsmann in Germany later this afternoon but few insiders expect a hitch. Desmond, who still owns a raft of porn channels, also spent money on OK magazine which lost money for the first six years of his ownership but is now highly profitable. - guardian.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk

BBC News iPhone and iPad app to launch in UK

The free-to-download apps for Apple products were originally due to be made available in April 2010. The UK launch was delayed while the BBC Trust, the corporation's governing body, assessed the proposals and their impact on the rest of the industry. Similar apps for BBC Sport and iPlayer will also be coming soon. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

Richard Desmond to bring back Top of the Pops if Five bid successful | Media | guardian.co.uk

If he does press ahead with plans for a music show, Desmond may simply dust down the format and choose a different name. To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editormediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. - guardian.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk

S4C faces 24% cut in grant | Media | guardian.co.uk

Sources close to the channel and to the DCMS say that they expect S4C to face a 24 cut overall, phased in with a 6 reduction for each of the next four years, starting in 2011. The level of annual grant is announced in November, and under the format established in 1996 has traditionally been tied to the RPI. The channel initially received a grant of 101.647m for 2010, and also benefits from free programmes, including Welsh news and Pobol-y Cwm, its soap opera, worth an extra 25m. - guardian.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk

Richard Desmond to face MPs if he wins Channel Five bid | Media | The Guardian

Desmond is likely to be named tomorrow as the preferred buyer for the company, according to industry sources. The deal is unlikely to be blocked by regulators because there are no competition issues. Desmond's combined share of the UK media market will still be relatively small if the purchase goes ahead. - guardian.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk

Media Talk: Richard Desmond prepares to bid for Channel Five

download.guardian.co.uk

DTG circulates draft Connected TV specs | Broadband TV News

However, the organisation made clear it was committed to international harmonisation and is fully engaged with international standards bodies and havereciprocal agreements with them. Lindsay-Davies said the specifications represented a very clear framework for Connected TV in the UK. Theres a very tight timeline and were working very closely, not just with Canvas, but weve had requirements through from Virgin, Lovefilm and Sky and were evaluating those at the moment. - broadbandtvnews.com

www.broadbandtvnews.com

Delivering Broadband Britain slower than expected

The problem of providing adequate universal broadband access across Britain may be bigger than originally believed. Universal access to a minimum of 2 megabits per second is now not expected until 2015. The original aim may have been unambitious but even that target is being postponed as the coalition government cuts public spending. - informitv.com

informitv.com

Melvyn Bragg: ITV taken over by slide rules and suits | Media | guardian.co.uk

I think they are wrong, wrong and wrong. Then it was taken over by slide rules and suits and on the whole a lot of the programmes that they used to be proud of they dropped and they're finding it hard to make a living. To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editormediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. - guardian.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk

BBC Media Show: 21 Jul 10 Melvyn Bragg, Five, killing of Greek journalist, Times online.

downloads.bbc.co.uk

BT s FTTH trial begins

Once completed these trials will take in around forty thousand premises. - techwatch.co.uk

www.techwatch.co.uk

Decision on listed free-to-air TV sports events deferred until 2012 | Sport | guardian.co.uk

Hugh Robertson has delayed a decision on free-to-air events. That will be welcomed by sports governing bodies, many of which were vehemently opposed to Davies's recommendations, which the previous Labour government had provisionally endorsed. Group B events must be shown at least in highlights form on free-to-air television. - guardian.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk

Remote areas of Scotland switch to digital TV

21 July 2010 Last updated at 0614 ET More than 12,000 homes in remote parts of Scotland have had their analogue television channels switched off permanently. The move enables extra channels to be broadcast from local relay transmitters serving thousands of homes. Some channels for existing Freeview viewers have moved to new frequencies and can be restored by retuning Freeview TVs and boxes. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

Can Richard Desmond repeat his OK! success with Channel Five? | Markets Analysis

Reports indicate that Desmond is likely to pay its owner, RTL Group, no more than 100 million, which roughly equates to its book value. Hopes by RTL's chief executive, Gerhard Zeiler, that he would do much better have come to nought. Desmond, it is said, presents fewer complications in terms of regulatory hurdles. - thisislondon.co.uk

www.thisislondon.co.uk

Eitshal goes digital

The changes also affect existing Freeview viewers who may find some of their channels missing. DTG Staff 21.07.2010 Links open in a new window. The DTG is not responsible for the content of other web sites. - dtg.org.uk

www.dtg.org.uk

Superfast 4G mobile broadband arrives in Cornwall - Broadband Genie

A trial has been launched in the Caradon Hill area of Cornwall that is aimed at bringing superfast mobile broadband to the rescue of many rural internet users if tests prove successful. Following the switch from analogue TV to digital in the Caradon Hill area, where there is already a television transmitter mast, the company is using the spare airwave spectrum, which has become available as a consequence. As a result, Clear Mobitel is hoping that their trialling will be able to deliver much faster 4G mobile broadband services, which could be a dream come true for rural communities used to poor or non-existent broadband speeds. - broadbandgenie.co.uk

www.broadbandgenie.co.uk

Channel Five decision due on Friday | Media | guardian.co.uk

Desmond, the owner of the Daily Express, the Daily Star and OK magazine, is understood to have tabled the highest bid at around 100m. His bid also poses the fewest potential regulatory issues of the remaining contenders and would therefore be potentially the quickest sale. NBC Universal and Channel 4, which has held strained discussions in the past over a potential tie-up with Five, are understood to be in the running but have not tabled deals with terms as attractive as Desmond's. - guardian.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk

BBC: how to save 25% by making radio better - James Cridland

So, as a nice man, I thought Id show them how they can save around 25 of their radio costs. Close down all English-language BBC local and nations radio stations. Shift BBC Radio 4 FM to broadcast on the local radio frequencies. - james.cridland.net

james.cridland.net

OFT looks into BSkyB-Virgin Media TV deal

The OFT is considering whether arrangements are in progress or in contemplation which, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the Enterprise Act 2002. Should it be found to be a relevant merger situation, the OFT will further consider whether the creation of that situation may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition and warrants reference to the Competition Commission. - bfnnews.com

www.bfnnews.com

TV channel fined for airing ads for spiritual helper | Media | guardian.co.uk

To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editormediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. 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

www.guardian.co.uk

Sky Sports News HD to launch 23 August | News | TechRadar UK

Sky Sports News will be replaced from Freeview by Sky31, a time-shifted version of the existing Freeview channel, Sky3. - techradar.com

www.techradar.com

Digital TV message driven home at St Andrews

-

www.thecourier.co.uk

BBC iPlayer press pack: June 2010

You can download the pack as a PDF Publicity_Pack_June_2010.pdf. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

Desmond to buy Channel Five by end of the week -TV Radio, Media - The Independent

Richard Desmond, the newspaper proprietor and media tycoon, is expected to announce his purchase of Channel Five by the end of the week. After weeks of speculation over the channel's future, Desmond, who already owns Express newspapers, emerged over the weekend as the front runner to buy the channel. Though no agreement has yet been signed, Zeiler is expected to tell other bidders including Channel 4 in the next couple of days. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

Richard Desmond leads Channel Five bidders | Media | guardian.co.uk

Richard Desmond has claimed to have a 1bn pot to spend on acquisitions. However, there are understood to still be two other bidders in the running, including Channel 4. Desmond, who has made it clear he has a 1bn pot to spend on acquisitions, was spotted at the offices of media regulator Ofcom on Thursday last week, fuelling the belief that he is serious about completing a takeover. - guardian.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk

Whats On BBC Red Button: 17th - 30th July

By pressing the red button during the performance viewers can listen to live commentary from two or more orchestral players and hear their unique insights into the music as the work is played. Viewers will be able to press the red button after any of the week's episodes to watch the exclusive extra scenes, revealingfurther the dark side of Lucas Johnson. Press the red button at the conclusion of Is Anybody There - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

Getting broadband the last mile to a tiny hamlet | Ask Jack | Technology | guardian.co.uk

We are blocked from the local WiMax signal by a hill, and the 3G option is dreadfully slow and outrageously expensive for anything except checking your mail once a day. It's also risky because installing the connection is a sunk cost for the operator and there's no guarantee you'll keep paying for the service. There are also lots of more focused alternatives such as microwave towers if you have enough money or enough users. In your case, the two most likely approaches are some sort of WiMax repeater or a satellite connection. - guardian.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk

Freesat considers pay-TV offering | Media | guardian.co.uk

There is a lot of discussion around the Freesat and pay television issues taking place at board level. It offers more than 150 channels, high definition and access to the BBC iPlayer. Freesat is financed by a 10.7m annual budget, which comes from shareholders and revenue. - guardian.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk

Stephen Glover: Who in Fleet Street will defend the BBC? -Stephen Glover, Opinion - The Independent

He strongly implied that the licence fee would be cut from 2012. These remarks were strikingly at variance with those of his number two, Ed Vaizey, who suggested on 22 May that the coalition would shelve Tory plans to freeze the licence fee. Aware of the looming threat, it recently announced the closing of its generous pension scheme to new members and a cut of 25 per cent over the next 18 months in its salary bill for top executives. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

Skriaig switchover underway

The second and final stage of switchover takes place on 28 July when the remaining analogue channels will be switched off permanently. DTG Staff 15.07.2010 Links open in a new window. The DTG is not responsible for the content of other web sites. - dtg.org.uk

www.dtg.org.uk

BBC veteran takes Radio 4 helm - with an Extra -TV Radio, Media - The Independent

The BBC played it safe by appointing a corporation veteran of 34 years experience to the coveted role of controller of Radio 4. The appointment of someone with vast radio production experience will please Radio 4s core audience who are famously resistant to change. The chastening experience may have made him less inclined to risk appointing a radio outsider to a network which is seen as such a national treasure that listeners sometimes compare it to a Ming Vase. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

BBC licence fee could be cut, warns minister -TV Radio, Media - The Independent

The BBC licence fee could be cut under the Government's public spending austerity drive, the Culture Secretary said today. It is when the licence fee is renewed. There are huge numbers of things that need to be changed at the BBC. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

PVRs lose InView Freeview EPG updates - Which? News

InView, the company that provided the EPG service to the digital TV boxes, has reportedly said that the contract to provide the guide has expired and will not be renewed. I'm disappointed as I now have to replace my otherwise perfectly-functional Freeview recorder'. Part of the requirement for this certification is the carriage of a seven-day EPG, which the above listed models now fail to provide. - which.co.uk

www.which.co.uk

Journalism jobs and news from Holdthefrontpage.co.uk

-

www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk

Virgin Media may appeal against Project Canvas

Virgin Media believes that Project Canvas will be anti competitive. This will form the basis of the firms argument against the scheme, which recently was given the green light by the BBC Trust. Project Canvas plans to take the current free to view digital TV services, Freeview and Freesat, to a wider audience online. - techwatch.co.uk

www.techwatch.co.uk

Where are the DVB-T2 PC tuners? : Page - 1/1

It's been more than six months since the disastrous first broadcasts of Freeview HD. This author has been stood, money in hand, ready to buy the hardware to get Freeview HD, yet even today, there's not a single suitable product available. Not a single one has been paid for and received by a consumer here in the UK because nowhere is selling them. - lifestyle.hexus.net

lifestyle.hexus.net

Remote areas miss out in digital switch From Western Telegraph)

Remote areas miss out in digital switch 850am Sunday 18th July 2010 in News Dinas Cross residents could be missing out on some television channels due to interference from an Irish transmitter. Cllr Kilmister said that some residents had changed from Freeview to Freesat, which allowed them to access all channels, but stated they should have been told this may be necessary before buying the freeview package. He added Some people are really upset about this. - westerntelegraph.co.uk

www.westerntelegraph.co.uk

Minister Jeremy Hunt says licence fee 'could be cut'

The BBC recently announced plans to cut its top managers' pay bill. The aim is to reduce their pay by a quarter over 18 months. The BBC seems to have got the message, starting to reduce pensions and management pay - but it's likely to have to go further. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

Broadband Britain rollout delayed by three years

The previous government had set 2012 as a deadline for network to be in place. BT also warned that it will cost billions to get fast broadband to every part of Britain. The government says industry must find ways to solve the problems. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

BBC iPlayer on Android update

I've been following the comments on my recent post about BBC iPlayer on mobile on Android 2.2 phones with interest and want to address some of the points raised. First, it's worth reflecting on what we are trying to achieve with the BBC iPlayer on mobile service. In doing so, it should aim to be regarded as a high quality BBC service by its users and so contribute to their approval of the BBC. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

BSkyB completes Virgin Media Television deal | Media | guardian.co.uk

In completing the deal Sky paid Virgin Media and initial 105m and up to a further 55m if and when the deal achieves regulatory clearance in the UK. To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editormediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. - guardian.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk