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

24/06/2016 Radio 4 Feedback

BBC commits to next HbbTV standard

The BBC has announced plans to adopt the HbbTV 2.0.1 standard. The BBC has developed a plan to move beyond legacy MHEG technology to industry-wide adoption of HbbTV 2.0.1 in time for equipment manufacturers to build HbbTV into 2018 product cycles. - www.telecompaper.com

www.telecompaper.com

Wednesday 22 June 2016, PM

Newspaper Leave and Remain editorials, Media in Afghanistan, TV talent shows.

BBC Worldwide CEO Tim Davie, The state of Welsh media, The BBC loses The Voice

Wednesday 22 June 2016, AM

BBC to scrap flagship current affairs show Scotland 2016

BBC executives lured Sarah Smith, the then Channel 4 News journalist and former More 4 News anchor, to host the show as it tried to respond to audience and political complaints that its news coverage in Scotland was too weak. Smith told the Guardian that once Scotland 2016 goes off air, Newsnight will return in Scotland to the 10.30pm slot it has across the rest of the UK, running at full length on BBC Scotland for the first time since 1999. - www.theguardian.com

Tuesday 21 June 2016, AM

BBC News merger 'needless act of self-harm' says former chief

The BBC is considering replacing the two existing services with a single 24-hour news channel as part of plans to save 80m in BBC News, as the corporation as a whole looks to save an estimated 800m by 2021-22 following last year's funding settlement with the government. The BBC has also looked at a potential merger of BBC Radio 5 Live with local radio as part of its BBC News cost-saving proposals. - www.theguardian.com

Saturday 18 June 2016, PM

17/06/2016 Radio 4 Feedback

Wednesday 15 June 2016, PM

Reporting the refugee crisis, Accessing news online, Achieving 'balanced' EU coverage.

Tuesday 14 June 2016, PM

ITV should make more current affairs content, says Puttnam inquiry

The inquiry also recommends that, along with other public service broadcasters, ITV should be paid by platforms such as Sky which currently host its channels for free. Though ITV has been criticised for reducing current affairs output over previous decades, it recently launched Peston on Sunday, a weekly politics show fronted by former BBC business editor Robert Peston, one of a number of high profile hires. - www.theguardian.com

Fairhead: BBC board needs fresh thinking

Rona Fairlead has said it will be an “enormous privilege” to chair the BBC’s new unitary board and argued that she wants “fresh thinking” to protect the interests of audiences. The BBC Trust chairman, who will see out her term on the new board after the governing body is abolished next year, said it will ensure that the corporation is focused on its duty to licence fee payers. In her first speech since being confirmed in the role, Fairlead said: “Because the new board’s role will be to ensure the management is held to account in terms of quality of output, the ways risk is managed, and in how the licence fee is spent. “Crucially, the new BBC board, like any company board, must remain focused on its primary duty. And that duty is to its shareholders. And for the BBC the shareholders are the people who – like you - pay the licence fee.” The former Financial Times Group chief executive said “fresh thinking” will be critical to this as she helps assemble the unitary board. “I want us to think differently about how we connect with everyone around the UK. Take their temperature. Act on their concerns,” she told the National Federation of Women’s Institutes. Fairhead added that there must be “clear water” between the government and the new unitary board to preserve the BBC’s independence. “We must have editorial and creative independence, with no scope for interference. And that means financial independence too,” she said. Fairhead will head up the new board until at least 2018 www.broadcastnow.co.uk

www.broadcastnow.co.uk

Tuesday 14 June 2016, AM

everything you need to know

To receive those your TV or set-top box will have to support Freeview HD and you'll need to have HD coverage in your area, check you postcode here. Models such as the Panasonic Viera TX-40DX700B use Firefox OS as the underlying operating system and use Freeview Play for watching TV. The TVs have all of the catch-up apps available, so you can use these independently, or you can use the Freeview Play EPG to find content to watch. - www.expertreviews.co.uk

www.expertreviews.co.uk

Monday 13 June 2016, AM

Jerry Springer to broadcast weekly on talkRADIO

TalkRADIO is to broadcast a bespoke version of Jerry Springer's podcast show, every Saturday at midnight. Jerry started his broadcasting career on University radio in Cincinnati before moving on to local stations. - radiotoday.co.uk

UK facing 'digital skills crisis' warn MPs

The report found that.22 of IT equipment in schools is ineffective Just 35 of computer science teachers had a relevant qualification Only 70 of the required number of computer science teachers have been recruited The UK needs another 745,000 workers with digital skills by 2017 90 of jobs require digital skills to some degree Skills gap costs economy around 63bn a year in lost income. Our Digital Strategy, to be published shortly, will set out how we will help employers and individuals access the tools they need to power our digital economy. - www.bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

Friday 10 June 2016, PM

#53 - Snoopers’ Charter, 360° Video 5live shake-up - The Media Podcast with Olly Mann

10/06/2016 Radio 4 Feedback

Thursday 09 June 2016, PM

Does the government want the BBC to be a state broadcaster?

Dunja Mijatovic, the human rights advocate who is the OSCE's representative on freedom of the media, points out that in some cases the transformation of state television into a public one was a condition of these new democracies becoming member states of the Council of Europe. Government control exercised through its planned unitary board takes the UK closer to eastern European models, even allowing for the fact that the government already appoints the chair and deputy chair overseeing the BBC. Is this really the direction of travel Britain should be taking - www.theguardian.com

Whittingdale accused of misleading MPs on plan to privatise Channel 4

The culture secretary, John Whittingdale, has been accused of misleading parliament over the government's plans to privatise Channel 4. 7 June 2016 Whittingdale appears in front of the committee again and is probed on why he did not mention that discussions on C4 privatisation were under way when he appeared on 9 September. - www.theguardian.com

BBC's most popular shows still face axe under charter renewal, Labour claims

Strictly Come Dancing and other popular BBC programmes may still be at risk of being axed under government plans to overhaul the corporation's governance, Labour has warned. Shadow culture secretary Maria Eagle said prescriptive requirements in the BBC white paper for charter renewal suggest shows such as Countryfile and Doctor Who may also be under threat. - www.theguardian.com

RadioDNS to hold ‘radio in the car' event

RadioDNS is hosting a one day event to examine 'ten themes crucial to the future experience of radio in the car'. RadioDNS says the ten themes reflect the discussions that it has most often between broadcasters and manufacturers looking to keep radio prominent and relevant in the car. - radiotoday.co.uk

Delicious Digital to create new sound of 5 live

London based Delicious Digital has won the pitch to provide the new sound of BBC Radio 5 live. The company, founded by Ollie Raphael, will create a brand new sonic identity for the broadcaster and a full network imaging pack to use on-air across the station. - radiotoday.co.uk

Wednesday 08 June 2016, PM

Dame Joan Bakewell, EU debates, 24 - the 'north's national', City AM editor

Tuesday 07 June 2016, PM

John Whittingdale defends BBC plans after MPs voice concerns

SNP MP John Nicholson was one of several members of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee to raise concerns about the future independence of the BBC after last month's white paper unveiled a radical overhaul of its governance. Under the proposed changes to its royal charter, the BBC Trust will be replaced by a unitary board, with the BBC responsible for appointing at least half of the members and the government no more than six. - www.theguardian.com

BBC urged to reject proposal to merge news operations

MPs have called on the BBC to reject a proposal to merge BBC News and BBC World News into one new 24-hour channel. The proposal goes before the BBC News executive board next month. - www.theguardian.com

Friday 03 June 2016, PM

03/06/2016 Radio 4 Feedback

Wednesday 01 June 2016, PM

Head of BBC Studios, Top Gear, Geordie Shore

Friday 27 May 2016, PM

#52 - Rory Reid, LA Screenings, Podcasts on TV - The Media Podcast with Olly Mann

Too much Mourinho

Friday 27 May 2016, AM

Radio 4 orders new Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy series

Radio 4 has commissioned a new series of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, over a decade since the last series aired. Expected to be titled 'The Hexagonal Phase', the British Comedy Guide understands that the new episodes will primarily be based around the book And Another Thing.... This news comes after Towel Day, the annual celebration of the work of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy creator Douglas Adams. - www.comedy.co.uk

www.comedy.co.uk

Rio 2016 on the BBC

The use of BBC Four with extended hours to cover the Olympics is part of a number of temporary services which will allow the BBC to offer extended coverage of Summer 2016's major events. BBC Four and BBC Four HD will be available on extended hours from 1pm for the duration of the Commonwealth Games. - www.bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

Thursday 26 May 2016, AM

BBC's Tony Hall: greater NAO scrutiny must not undermine editorial freedom

Tony Hall has said far-reaching powers given to parliamentary auditors to examine the BBC's finances must not undermine the corporation's editorial freedom or ability to take creative risks. The NAO currently carries out about two investigations a year into the BBC's finances, but under plans in the white paper published earlier this month it will no longer have to ask for permission to launch an audit. - www.theguardian.com

Wednesday 25 May 2016, PM

Press bias, Police and the media, Ashley Highfield

Tuesday 24 May 2016, PM

Manchester DAB radio stations change frequencies

BBC Radio Manchester's Breakfast presenters Phil Trow and Alison Butterworth, Key 103's Breakfast presenters Mike Toolan and Chelsea Norris, and Smooth North West's Jo Lloyd gathered to press the big green retune switch to signal the importance for listeners to retune their DAB digital radios to continue to receive eleven local BBC and commercial stations on DAB - BBC Radio Manchester, Capital Manchester, Heart North West, Gold Manchester, Smooth North West, Key 103, Key 2, Key 3, KISS FRESH, Absolute 90s and Asian Sound. The retune is necessary as a result of essential engineering work, boosting and changing the frequency of existing digital radio transmitters in the Manchester area and switching on two new transmitters, which will bring eleven local BBC and commercial stations to 385,000 more listeners for the first time. - radiotoday.co.uk

Friday 20 May 2016, PM

World on the Move

Wednesday 18 May 2016, PM

Lord Puttnam on BBC White Paper, Women on air, BBC online cuts

Tuesday 17 May 2016, PM

Save BBC recipe archive petition signed by more than 25,000 people

More than 25,000 people had signed a petition calling for the BBC to reverse its decision the morning after news emerged the BBC was planning to close its food website. One BBC source said that no more than 50 jobs would be affected by decision made as part of its Online Creative Review. - www.theguardian.com

Monday 16 May 2016, PM

BBC set to launch Britflix rival to Netflix after John Whittingdale approves subscription streaming

A source with knowledge of the project said that ITV was involved, along with a number of production companies, including NBC Universal, the parent company of Downton Abbey maker Carnival Films. The putative service would carry British broadcasters' archive content, as well as commissioning its own original series much like Netflix, which has developed hit shows such as Narcos and Making a Murderer. - www.telegraph.co.uk

www.telegraph.co.uk

I'm slaughtered by the right for criticising BBC reform at the Baftas

When I criticise a Conservative government for exactly the same power grab, the right of the party attacks with one voice - and a very personalised attack at that. Isn't the attempt to pack the board of a public service broadcaster exactly the kind of attack on free speech, exactly the kind of insidious encroachment of big and centralising government that the right has always wisely opposed when it hails from the left - www.theguardian.com

Sunday 15 May 2016, PM

What next for the BBC? Birt, Iannucci, Puttnam and more on its future

Let the new charter commit governments to proposing the right level of the BBC's future funding let the BBC and independent scrutiny assess the consequences of that funding let the public have their say about what they're willing to pay, and then let parliament debate the proposition - publicly, transparently. Above all, what will the process for renewing and setting the licence fee be The BBC should be more transparent about how it spends its funds, but the government also needs to commit to an orderly and open debate about BBC funding. - www.theguardian.com

Saturday 14 May 2016, AM

The BBC is still in danger after the white paper

Ever since its monopoly was broken by the introduction of commercial TV in the 1950s, it's been an economic necessity for the BBC to keep an eye on ratings - if only to justify the universal licence fee. It is odd that the newspapers which screamed that the Leveson proposal for a watchdog to make sure that the press-appointed ombudsman was working properly was government interference with the freedom of the press are now strangely quiet about government plans to appoint half the members of a new BBC governing body and interfere with the corporation's finances. - www.theguardian.com

Friday 13 May 2016, PM

13/05/2016 Radio 4 Feedback

#51 - BBC Charter Renewal, Bauer Buys Beacon, C4 Privatisation,

BBC white paper: Broadcaster to be regulated by Ofcom for the first time and run by new unitary board

The BBC is set to regulated by Ofcom for the first time and run by a unitary board appointed by the government and the BBC itself. The former deputy governor of the Bank of England recommended that the current governing body, the BBC Trust, be abolished and suggested the corporation be regulated entirely by Ofcom. - www.pressgazette.co.uk

www.pressgazette.co.uk

ITV advertising hit by Brexit uncertainty

Print a single copy of this article for personal use. Contact us if you wish to print more to distribute to others. - www.ft.com

www.ft.com

BBC to support future DAB switchover plans

The Government's White Paper on the future of the BBC has been issued and says it will provide the BBC long term stability and a strong foundation for it to continue to inform, educate and entertain the entire British public. A decision on the digital switchover is likely to be taken at some point during the next charter period and the Government would expect that the BBC completes the final phase of its national DAB network so coverage is equal to that of FM. BBC Nations services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland DAB coverage should also match FM coverage. - radiotoday.co.uk

Thursday 12 May 2016, PM

BBC's future set out in government White Paper.

Thursday 12 May 2016, AM

but the BBC's new board must be resisted

That's what must be resisted, not just because this Tory government has a bizarre visceral antipathy to the very idea that our great public broadcaster is such a success, but because Labour governments have a bad record too of trying to intimidate the BBC. I was in the newsroom as social affairs editor in the run-up to the 1997 election, and heard the nightly bellowing threats down the phone by Peter Mandelson and Alastair Campbell, even before the bulletin went out. Can the Archers and EastEnders fans, news junkies, Radio 3, Hollow Crown and Strictly fans be mobilised over the nature of the BBC's governing board The government plainly thinks it has stopped the public outcry - even as it still pursues its intent to curb, control and shrink our greatest national glory. - www.theguardian.com