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

ITV4 to broadcast Indian Premier League -Cricket, Sport - The Independent

It is significant that neither Sky, which at present broadcasts all the live cricket shown in Britain, nor the BBC, which is under constant pressure to show cricket, has shown not the slightest glimmer of interest. Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, was superficially delighted because it enables him to continue his mission to make the competition, which is his baby, a truly global event. ITV has not shown any cricket for 40 years or so, and to attract any kind of audience it will presumably have to advertise its wares on its main channels. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

Thursday 04 March 2010, PM

BBC News - Lords force rethink of governments online piracy plans

The government argued that the new Digital Economy Bill should include the power to amend copyright law to ensure legislation could cope with more technically advanced forms of piracy in the future. 'Swift recourse' And on Wednesday, Lords voted to support a Conservative and Liberal Democrat amendment to the bill which paves the way for the clause to be scrapped. He said it would be hard to block sites offering illegal content without also blocking legitimate material, and agreed that sites linking to other sites - such as search engines - could be adversely affected. - news.bbc.co.uk

news.bbc.co.uk

Thursday 04 March 2010, AM

Does The BBC Still Believe In Digital?| paidContent:UK

We do not transmit ANY un-encrypted content that has been delivered encrypted for example, no SKY content will be available. We do not change or alter the content or add advertising. No wonder Sky do not want anything to do with Spain as the 760,000 British expats are well serviced by pirated signals rebroadcast as microwave or direct from the satellite. - paidcontent.co.uk

paidcontent.co.uk

Ofcom may relax advertising restrictions - Marketing News | UTalkMarketing

Broadcasting regulator Ofcom has signaled that ITV and other commercial broadcasters should be freed of some of their burdensome advertising restrictions, according to reports. Commercial broadcasters are subject to European Union rules which stipulate the total amount of advertising that can be broadcast in a 24-hour period, and per hour in peak time. Analysts estimate that simply allowing ITV to run 12 minutes per hour of advertising instead of eight around hit shows such as Britains Got Talent could make tens of millions of pounds of difference to profits. - utalkmarketing.com

www.utalkmarketing.com

ITV could be fizzling, not fizzing |Business |guardian.co.uk

ITV1 will continue to be the heartbeat of the business, content is still king and the road ahead is long. It has been obvious for years that there is no cure-all at ITV. A few voices may advocate a sale of the production division, ITV Studios, but virtually no other large commercial broadcaster in the world is running in that direction successful firms generate most of their own content. - guardian.co.uk

BBC: The Strategy Review - some questions answered

Media: Prime ministerial debates and BBC Strategy 03 Mar 10

downloads.bbc.co.uk

Wednesday 03 March 2010, PM

Cable Congress 2010, Speech on Net Neutrality - 3 March 2010 | Ofcom

Independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries. Read more about Ofcom Facts figures Got a deadline View facts figures Broadcast Bulletins Ofcom's fortnightly complaints bulletin. - ofcom.org.uk

www.ofcom.org.uk

ITV returns to annual profit with 25 million surplus -TV Radio, Media - The Independent

Broadcaster ITV today said it returned to annual profit with a 25 million surplus after plunging into the red by 2.7 billion in 2008. ITV confirmed Mr Crozier will be paid a basic salary below the 800,000 offered to his predecessor Michael Grade, but it is thought he will be offered a generous incentive package to hit targets over a five-year revival plan. ITV has a new management line-up to take the group forward led by a new chairman, former Asda boss Archie Norman, who started in January. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

BBC cuts wont help us, says ITVs Archie Norman but pay-TV might |Media |guardian.co.uk

Archie Norman 'very much day zero' for ITV. Norman, who also highlighted ITV's digital strategy and programme-making divisions as key targets for revitalisation, said he did not believe that the broadcaster would be helped by director general Mark Thompson's proposals, which were in part designed to give commercial players more breathing space. Speculation we might take ITV2, 3 or 4 onto a pay-TV platform is not realistic. - guardian.co.uk

Final Wales switchover underway

Viewers in Cardiff, Newport and south east Wales have begun the switch to digital that will make Wales the UKs first digital nation. Forty-six years after BBC Two was launched, the channels last remaining analogue signal in Wales was turned off permanently at the Wenvoe transmitter, and engineers started switching on digital signals at 75 relay transmitters serving more than 280,000 homes. According to Digital UK, these households will now be able to receive Freeview for the first time. - dtg.org.uk

www.dtg.org.uk

Why did BBC3 escape the cuts? |Media |guardian.co.uk

Here's what the review has to say about the digital channel. It has learned how to be bold and challenging with programmes that engage young audiences while remaining true to the BBC's values of high quality and distinctiveness. Most recently BBC3's credentials for relevant, good quality drama have been boosted by Being Human, which finished its second series on Sunday with an audience of one million. - guardian.co.uk

BBC - Radio 4 Blog: The BBC strategic review on WATO

The World at One with Martha Kearney gave nearly 13 minutes to the story this lunchtime. Radio 4, the original Home Service of the BBC, is unique in world radio in its quality and range... - bbc.co.uk

BBC to shut string of websites |Media |guardian.co.uk

Regional newspaper groups will be buoyed from a commitment by the BBC to pull back on developing hyperlocal services. The BBC's local websites will be refocused to carry only news, sport, weather, travel and local knowledge content. BBC Online's budget will be reduced by 25 by 2013. - guardian.co.uk

Canvas - your questions answered

- projectcanvas.info

www.projectcanvas.info

Tuesday 02 March 2010, PM

BBC -BBC Strategy Review

- bbc.co.uk

BBC Strategy Review: Live |Media |guardian.co.uk

For those campaigning to save6music, it is important to remember that these are just proposals and have to be approved by the BBC Trust. It may be politic for them to save the digital station after the public outcry it has caused. BBC 6 Music and Asian Network face the axe. - guardian.co.uk

Tuesday 02 March 2010, AM

Ducks, Nazis and Disney: well, thats one way to get a TV transition | Cory Doctorow |Technology |guardian.co.uk

The last major British spectrum auction was one of the most successful money-raising exercises in the history of world government, with more than 50bn coughed up by telecoms companies for 3G licences. As government struggles to patch the yawning pits in its balance sheet, another 50bn would be most welcome. TVs tend to enjoy second and third lives in the kids' rooms, in the garage or in the shed. - guardian.co.uk

Freeview to launch HD brand with 999 design | News | Design Week

Freeview appointed 999 in November without a pitch, having worked with the group regularly since 2004, according to the consultancy. 999 claims to have created the HD brands look and feel, logo, graphics, brand guidelines, leaflets, point-of-sale materials and packaging. Grand Union is designing the Freeview HD website. - designweek.co.uk

www.designweek.co.uk

The digital tick kitemark will finally be phased out |Digital television |guardian.co.uk

Over and out Tick has had its day The digital tick logo, which first appeared on digital TV equipment in 2004 to help demystify the process of getting digital TV, will be phased out from 2013. The tick was introduced when consumer confidence in digital terrestrial TV had hit the buffers. It has since helped to drive more than 43m UK sales of receivers. - guardian.co.uk

www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk

Gloucestershire digital switchover could mean Welsh BBC | News | This is Gloucestershire

Thousands of Gloucestershire homes are going to receive the Welsh version of the BBC following next months digital switchover. The blip is a result of the increased strength in signal of the Welsh transmitter and is expected to affect large parts of the Forest of Dean. This is something we expect to happen because of the strong signal being emitted by the Wenvo transmitter in Wales which will compete with the Mendip transmitter. - thisisgloucestershire.co.uk

WIN! Three Humax HD-FOX T2 Freeview HD boxes worth 180 each! | News | TechRadar UK

Good news - Freeview HD is finally rolling out across the UK during the next few months High definition programming has, of course, been available from the likes of Sky and Freesat for a while. By June 2010, around 50 per cent of UK homes will be able to enjoy Freeview HD. - techradar.com

www.techradar.com

Panasonic TX-P42G20 plasma TV now available in the UK

Panasonic has made much of the fact that the G20 inherits, via a technology sharing agreement, some of the elements used to create the now legendary Pioneer 'Kuro' plasma TV's. The new screens arrive as the 13g Panasonic plasmas featuring 2nd generation G2 NeoPDP technology. The G20 is Wi-fi ready, the extra functionality available via an optional dongle. - hdtvorg.co.uk

hdtvorg.co.uk

The BBC must stop trying to do everything | Mark Thompson |Comment is free |The Guardian

The BBC has one mission to inform, educate and entertain audiences with programmes and services of high quality, originality and value. It strives to fulfil this mission not to further any political or commercial interest, but because the British public believe that universal access to ideas and cultural experiences of merit and ambition is a good in itself. The BBC is a part of public space because the public themselves have put it there. - guardian.co.uk

Mark Thompson is overpaid and out of touch, says Greg Dyke |Media |The Guardian

Mark Thompson is to announce the results of a strategic review. It doesn't have to pay its director general 800,000. According to leaks, he will propose shutting BBC 6 Music and the Asian Network, cutting spending on sports rights and foreign programming and halving the size of corporation's internet operation. - guardian.co.uk

business.timesonline.co.uk

Friday 26 February 2010, AM

BBC signals an end to era of expansion - Times Online

- business.timesonline.co.uk

BBC to axe radio stations and halve website in strategic review |Media |The Guardian

The Times says the measures are part of the BBC's strategic review to be unveiled next month. Under the plan, the BBC intends to shrink overall services and focus more on quality over quantity. There have already been reports suggesting that the BBC will axe the digital radio stations 6 Music and Asian Network. - guardian.co.uk

Media Talk: Parliament condemns News of the World phone-hacking

Media: Sources and standards 24 Feb 10

downloads.bbc.co.uk

Monday 22 February 2010, PM

Exclusive demonstration of Samsung C7000 LED TV - Which? News

These recordings will be encrypted so that they can only be played back on the TV that they are recorded from. To get 3D content, owners will either have to subscribe to the forthcoming 3D channel from Sky, or buy a 3D Blu-ray player. The 3D channel from Sky will initially be available at no extra cost to existing subscribers to Sky's top HD package. - which.co.uk

www.which.co.uk

BBC - The arrival of Freeview HD

The line up for Jools Holland's Hootenanny this year was particularly well chosen. For those who missed it, do look up Paloma Faith's version of the classic TV is the Thing this Year. There's considerable evidence building that TV - by which I mean old-fashioned big screen part-of-a-schedule TV - is not limping towards the grave, chased by on-demand. - bbc.co.uk

Panasonic VT20 Freeview HD Plasma TV Now available in UK stores

We are a family run business that has been selling appliances and electrical items for more than 40 years. - unbeatable.co.uk

www.unbeatable.co.uk

UK Film and Television News - S

Freeview HD is being rolled out across the country and will be available in 50 of homes by the World Cup in June and 60 by the end of the year. - 4rfv.co.uk

www.4rfv.co.uk

Monday 22 February 2010, AM

In-fighting wrecks Greg Dykes plans for BBC under Tories | Steve Hewlett |Media |The Guardian

There is a degree of political consensus on the issue of online piracy but little conviction that what the bill proposes will prove fair or effective in tackling it. The Tories, meanwhile, have been doing their best to take advantage of the government's troubles. True, they are against top-slicing, describing it in terms a threat to the BBC's independence, and so on that will have been music to the corporation's ears. - guardian.co.uk

Icecrypt Freeview HD zapper due in March

blog.wotsat.com

CNBC to join Freesat |Media |guardian.co.uk

Financial news channel CNBC is to become available on Freesat next week, putting it on free-to-air television for the first time. To find out more information about driving traffic to your content or to place this widget on your site, visit outbrain.com. We welcome your feedback at userhelpguardian.co.uk or feedbackoutbrain.com. - guardian.co.uk

BBC - About the BBC: 7 on-demand viewing facts

BBC - BBC Internet Blog: A new global visual language for the BBCs digital services

The BBC website began its official life back in December 1997 with this very simple design. Over time it has grown to encompass a great deal more. However due to the organic way in which the website evolved and the old structure of the business, with dozens of small design teams working independently of each other, the site had a fairly schizophrenic nature once you delved into its depths. - bbc.co.uk

Friday 19 February 2010, AM

Media: The Media Show 17th February 2010

downloads.bbc.co.uk

Media Talk: The PCC ruling on Jan Moir and Stephen Gately

Monday 15 February 2010, AM

Sky closes in on deal to buy Virgin Media TV channels |Media |guardian.co.uk

Sky chief Jeremy Darroch has said he would be interested in buying Virgin Media's channels business. Virgin Media is understood to be in the final stages of selling its wholly-owned television channels, including Virgin1 and Living, to BSkyB after months of negotiations. A Virgin Media Television spokesman declined to comment. - guardian.co.uk

Friday 12 February 2010, PM

First Freeview HD box launches in John Lewis

The new receivers were available exclusively at the John Lewis flagship store over the weekend before going on widespread sale with other retailers from 15th February 2010. Channel 4 HD and S4C in Wales will launch shortly. In addition to the high definition channels viewers also have access to 50 standard definition digital TV, 24 radio channels and the interactive red button service. - dtg.org.uk

www.dtg.org.uk

Regional news bids must be put on hold |Media |guardian.co.uk

I don't say this because I necessarily take sides on whether they are a good thing, or a bad thing. If I was a member of the selection panel which has just held public meetings in the areas concerned, I would be tempted to resign. What we are dealing with here is the provision of valued 6pm regional news programmes and ancillary bulletins and online services, serving millions of people, that are currently produced by ITV and STV. - guardian.co.uk

Toshiba reveal Freeview HD enabled LED TVs

Although the 3m or so LED TV's sold in 2009 represented just 16 of the total flat screen market, most manufacturers are planning models for 2010. They are all anxious to get a slice of a market which is predicted to achieve 16m unit sales in 2010 and account for the majority of LCD TV's sold by 2013. If you would like to find out more about the technology you might like to read our LED Guide. - hdtvorg.co.uk

hdtvorg.co.uk

Windows Activation Technologies Update for Windows 7

In the coming days, well be deploying a new update for Windows Activation Technologies, the set of built-in activation and validation components built into Windows 7. Called Windows Activation Technologies Update for Windows 7, this update will detect more than 70 known and potentially dangerous activation exploits. Activation exploits are sometimes called hacks, and attempt to bypass or compromise Windows activation technologies. - windowsteamblog.com

windowsteamblog.com

Media Talk: Carolyn McCall and more BBC expenses