Thursday 05 March 2009, AM
Fall from grace of Michael Grades ITV - TV Radio, Media - The Independent
As the red-socked television impresario walked into its headquarters in London's Gray's Inn Road, staff left their desks in the hope of a glimpse of the returning hero and burst into a spontaneous cheer when he appeared. The staff who once cheered their new executive chairman to the rafters had to hear from him that 600 jobs about 13 per cent of the workforce would be lost. You had to feel a little sympathy for the former Channel 4 chief executive who could not, when he determined to return to the commercial sector, have foreseen the economic conditions he would inherit. - independent.co.uk
www.independent.co.ukWednesday 04 March 2009, PM
BBC Media Show: 4 March 2009
downloads.bbc.co.uk
ITV's headache is longer lasting than the recession
The latest round of cost cuts at ITV come as little surprise. We were expecting a dividend cut, probable disposals of Friends Reunited and SDN, a cut to the programming budget and at least 500 job cuts. The commercial broadcaster has taken a 2.7bn write down on the value of its assets and the proposed cost cuts are unlikely to be enough to cover its losses. - blogs.telegraph.co.ukblogs.telegraph.co.ukWednesday 04 March 2009, AM
ITV to focus on peak-time shows |Media |guardian.co.uk
The X Factor the sort of peak-time show ITV will focus on. Michael Grade, the ITV executive chairman, said the broadcaster was likely to cut its new original drama output from eight to seven hours a week as part of the cuts. The broadcaster has already announced plans to cut The Bill from two hours a week to one. - guardian.co.uk
www.guardian.co.ukITV could shut Leeds and Manchester bases and create new northern HQ |Media |guardian.co.uk
The future of ITV's base at Quay Street in Manchester is under review. The commercial broadcaster today confirmed it would close its main studio complex in Leeds, as revealed by MediaGuardian.co.uk yesterday, with the loss of 192 jobs. One of the centre's main productions, Countdown, which ITV makes for Channel 4, will move across the Pennines to the north-west. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukHighs and lows of ITV - TV Radio, Media - The Independent
ITV's announcement that it is axing 600 jobs comes as it battles to survive the worst advertising downturn in a generation, stiff competition from other networks and an expensive schedule of programming. The production of Heartbeat has been halted and expensive stars, such as Ant and Dec and Simon Cowell, have been warned that future golden handcuffs deals may have to be cut back when their contracts come up for negotiation, it has been reported. The company's difficulties have been made worse by a cash crisis, according to a report in the Guardian, with a 250m bond due to be repaid this month and a 500m bond due by 2011. - independent.co.ukwww.independent.co.ukInteresting Stuff 2009-03-03
Jemima Kiss has published the latest in the series of 'BBC Builders' articles. The proposals are on the BBC Trust site here. Did you know U2 have a new album out - bbc.co.uk
www.bbc.co.ukWIN! A Humax Freesat+ PVR!
Whats more, its got 500GB of built-in storage with the capacity to retain up to 125 hours of HD content, plus a host of recording features including series recording, schedule tracking and split recording. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note that this competition is only open to UK residents over 18 years of age. - futurecompetitions.comwww.futurecompetitions.comITV staff braced for cuts
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.ukSky News Radio: Alphabetical List Of All Stations Served After IRN Deal | Home | Sky News
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tinyurl.comTuesday 03 March 2009, AM
BBC NEWS | Technology | Pirate radio puts lives at risk
Regulator Ofcom says the broadcasts can put lives at risk by interfering with emergency service frequencies, and can also block legitimate stations. Police officers raided an address in north London which, they say, housed an illegal radio station. Ofcom says there are more than 150 pirate radio stations operating across the UK, half of which operate in London and the South East of England. - news.bbc.co.uknews.bbc.co.ukBT emerges as suitor to merge with cash-strapped Channel 4 - TV Radio, Media - The Independen
BT is set to emerge as a likely candidate to merge with Channel 4 after the broadcaster's chairman said he would welcome talks that could offer a solution to its 150m funding shortfall. The need for a partner for Channel 4 is becoming more apparent, with the Government keen for a solution to what will become a 150m annual funding shortfall by 2012. A deal with BT would have other obvious benefits for Channel 4, not least the ability to transmit its programmes on BT lines into homes and offices. - independent.co.ukwww.independent.co.ukITV needs radical action| Reuters
Caught by both cyclical and structural change, the home to talent show the X-Factor and soap opera Coronation Street may have to suspend its dividend, increase cost savings and consider a rights issue if it is to protect its programming budget and retain advertisers. It may also be forced into non-core asset sales as it confronts the rapid downturn in advertising. Such an approach may even find favour with investors. - uk.reuters.com
uk.reuters.comDTG News: Microsoft and NXP to showcase Windows Media Centre for DVB-T2
Leaps in technology innovation are made possible when companies can combine their expertise, and we are particularly happy to have joined forces with Microsoft to support DVB-T2. DVB-T2 is an upcoming terrestrial transmission format which will start a new era of multimedia enjoyment, enabling superior quality of broadcast video on the Windows PC. OEMs will facilitate network operators to expand their range of coverage with cost effective hardware for PC tuner solutions. - dtg.org.ukwww.dtg.org.ukOn The Radio: Sky News To Launch New Service
Sky News is available in more places than ever before - it has become the sole supplier of news to all of the UK's commercial radio stations. Sky News Radio is now supplying the 267 client stations of Independent Radio News, in addition to the 80 stations which have already signed up to the service. It means a total of more than 300 stations - reaching around 31 million listeners across the country - are receiving live bulletins as well as a 24-hour feed of scripts and audio material. - tinyurl.comtinyurl.comMonday 02 March 2009, AM
Emma Scott: All set to broadcast bad news to rivals - Times Online
- business.timesonline.co.ukbusiness.timesonline.co.ukBT signals Channel 4 merger ambition - Telegraph
BT is wading into the debate about the future of Britain's commercial broadcasting industry by signalling that it could merge its television subsidiary with Channel 4. A merger between Channel 4 and BT Vision is being seriously considered as one option for the future funding of the state-owned broadcaster. It is believed that the Government also sees logic in such a tie-up, although a tie-up with BBC Worldwide still remains high on its agenda. - telegraph.co.uk
www.telegraph.co.ukinformitv - BBC Canvas opinion on next generation video project
The BBC Trust has published details of the proposed Project Canvas to bring broadband and broadcast services together in hybrid receivers. This follows another joint venture initiative known as Project Kangaroo to provide video on demand over broadband. That was blocked by the Competition Commission because it was deemed to limit competition. - informitv.com
informitv.comFive and ITV expected to lose up to 600 jobs this week - TV Radio, Media - The Independent
Five, the terrestrial television channel, is expected to make about a third of its workforce redundant this week. A source close to the company said that around 100 of the 350 staff would lose their jobs as part of a restructuring of the business to be announced on Thursday. Earlier, ITV is expected to axe up to 500 jobs when it announces its annual results. - independent.co.ukwww.independent.co.uk
Radio industry news: childrens hours |Media |The Guardian
I was listening to Just a Minute the other day while having lunch with my eight-year-old daughter, and, to my surprise, she got quite involved. She did not understand all the jokes, but enjoyed listening out for repetition, deviation, and so on, and it struck me as a real shame there is very little like it designed for her age group. Making a plea for children's radio is rather like lamenting the passing of leaf tea, or asking why it is impossible to get a decent pair of spats these days. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.uk
ITV plans cant hide its many failures |Media |The Guardian
For what feels like the first time in living memory, ITV is wrestling with a problem not of its own making. They also allow continuing mismanagement to shelter behind general economic gloom. Either create one new commercial broadcaster by merging ITV, Channel 4 and Five or take C4 out of the commercial market altogether and fund it entirely from the licence fee. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukSunday 01 March 2009, PM
BBC HD: Nyquist Limit
Editor's note - Andy Quested was going to add this as a comment responding to tagmclaren's question about frequency gatings but as you can't put pictures in comments I thought it would be better to publish it as a new post Dear tagmclaren Thanks for the comment. What you are seeing unfortunately is an alias that's folded back at around 26MHz. Here is your picture with the original 25 and 30MHz gratings added - if you look at the off-air and original 25MHz grating you can see they line up but the 30MHz original does not match the off-air grating. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukHDTV UK: BT, BBC, ITV collaborate for on-demand TV via broadband initiative
I am pleased that the BBC is working with industry partners such as device manufacturers, ISPs and other content providers on proposals which will bring real benefits for consumers. It will also future-proof our free-to-air platforms, Freeview and Freesat. Together they can offer live TV along with an unrivalled choice of on demand content and interactive services. - hdtvuk.tvwww.hdtvuk.tvChannel 4 angles for second HD channel
-blog.wotsat.comDigital UK gives switchover aerial advice for Isle of Man
-blog.wotsat.comUPDATED with pics! May launch for Panasonic's Freesat+ HD Blu-ray PVRs
-blog.wotsat.comFive new developments for iPlayer
-blog.wotsat.comBBC HD Update: DOG Patrol - BBC Internet Blog
Hello Everyone, I'm sorry that you've been concerned about my demise. There is a lot happening, and I will have quite a few developments for you in the next couple of weeks My time over the last month has been spent working on the future of the channel, our programming, and also on an interesting trip to the US to talk to broadcasters there who are further down the HD road. It is really useful to understand where we might be headed and obviously we want to make sure that the plans we make are likely to fit with where you - our existing, and I hope future audience - might want us to go. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukFriday 27 February 2009, PM
Net TV plans get Trust scrutiny | BBC NEWS | Technology
Setting up such services rests on getting approval from the BBC Trust. This situation would only worsen as the internet became the main way that TV programmes are distributed to viewers. The initial devices are expected to be set-top boxes, with a net connection, that could cost up to 200. - news.bbc.co.uknews.bbc.co.ukFriday 27 February 2009, AM
BBC Media Show: 25 February 2009
downloads.bbc.co.ukMedia Talk: Alexander Lebedev on politics, power and the press
download.guardian.co.ukFriday 20 February 2009, AM
BBC Media Show: 18 February 2009
downloads.bbc.co.ukMedia Talk: To live and die in the public eye
download.guardian.co.ukSaturday 14 February 2009, PM
ITV staff braced for hundreds more job cuts as |Media |guardian.co.uk
ITV is expected to cut several hundred more jobs and prune its 1bn-a-year programming budget to cut costs as the broadcaster looks to tackle its onerous 2.6bn pension fund and manage debt in the worst advertising recession for more than a decade. Senior management at the UK's biggest advertiser-funded commercial broadcaster, which employees about 4,500 staff, are finalising a wide-ranging package of cost-cutting measures designed to help the ailing broadcaster weather the unprecedented market conditions. The cuts are expected to be announced when ITV unveils its full-year results for 2008 on 4 March. - guardian.co.ukwww.guardian.co.ukRadio station people on Twitter - Media UK
Media UK runs a variety of services on Twitter too - not least, mediauk - follow us - mediauk.comwww.mediauk.comBBC now testing AAC/AAC+ Internet radio streams at higher quality than DAB
-digitalradiotech.co.ukFriday 13 February 2009, AM
FCC tells 25% of requesting TV stations they cant switch on 2/17 | Betanews
Claiming that certain areas of the country are less ready than others for the switch to digital broadcast television, the FCC denied 123 termination notices from a list of 491. Obama yesterday, left in a clause that lets TV stations terminate their analog service anytime between 2/17 and the new switch date of June 12. However, those stations that wished to switch early had to provide their reasons in writing to the FCC by early this week. - betanews.com
www.betanews.comCES 2009: Windows Media Center on Windows 7 with Touch | Max Zuckerman | Channel 10
Were sorry, but we couldnt find what you asked for. If you got here by clicking a link on our site, please Contact Us and let us know about the problem. You could try to Browse to what you are seeking. - on10.netwww.on10.netThursday 12 February 2009, PM
Where can I find the Real and Windows Media streams for listen live?
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets CSS enabled. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets CSS if you are able to do so. - iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.ukiplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.ukNo 'serious problems' with Digital Switch scams
-blog.wotsat.comSky looking at regional news
BSkyB has never openly expressed a wish to supply regional television programming but recently, as the traditional channels fight over who is going to provide public service broadcasting and where the financing is going to come from, it seems that this may have offered BSkyB an opportunity on plate. However, it would seem that BSkyBs idea of providing regional programming involves taking the online route, rather than fitting it into the schedules. Sky News is already used by Five and some radio stations as their new provider, which offers another outlet for regional television programmes if BSkyB is interested in taking it up. - techwatch.co.uk
www.techwatch.co.ukWednesday 11 February 2009, PM
Elgato launches Diversity for Mac
Hot on the heels of its Mac-specific TV tuner, Elgato has announced the release of another TV-oriented device. Designed to pick up DVB-T or Freeview, as its known signals in areas with low reception or when on the move, this device features twin tuners which allow the user to watch one channel and record another, or even record two simultaneously. - cclonline.com
www.cclonline.comBBC Media Show: 11 February 2009
downloads.bbc.co.ukAvoid the 'great digital rip-off'
-blog.wotsat.comTuesday 10 February 2009, PM
DTG News: Ofcom opts for AVC 4.0 for UK HD DTT
Ofcom said they expected that this decision would continue for at least the medium term, and that they would include it as their recommended option when they formally consult on the Reference Parameters later in the year when there is greater certainty on the choice of transmission mode. DTG Staff 10.02.2009 Links open in a new window. The DTG is not responsible for the content of other web sites. - dtg.org.ukwww.dtg.org.ukBBC mulls kids radio station
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.ukwww.broadcastnow.co.ukBBC Post adds second 5.1 suite
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.ukwww.broadcastnow.co.ukMonday 09 February 2009, PM
BBC NEWS | Technology | We want information, here and now
The information superhighway has a few intersections at country borders Old agreements on content distribution no longer work, says Bill Thompson. I'm old enough to have watched it the first time around and remember the shock we all felt at the last episode, so I was looking forward to revisiting a few episodes without having to make the effort to borrow the full DVD box set from somewhere. I would happily have watched online and let AMC advertise to me in return, but sadly it was not to be. - news.bbc.co.uknews.bbc.co.ukinformitv - Sky comes down on Ofcom for interventionist regulation
British Sky Broadcasting has sharply criticised the communications regulator Ofcom in response to its latest review of the pay television sector. Criticising the imposition of highly interventionist regulation the satellite broadcaster says It is time for Ofcom to take a step back and avoid being led into a misadventure which threatens to push Ofcom far outside the bounds of mainstream regulatory thinking. Sky has successfully bid to retain the rights to the majority of Premier League football coverage through until 2013, regaining five of the six match packages on offerthe most it is now allowedat the cost of over 1.6 billion. - informitv.cominformitv.comFriday 06 February 2009, PM
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