Wednesday 17 February 2016, PM
Independent moves online, Editor-in-chief of Huffington Post UK, Genre-led divisions at the BBC
open.live.bbc.co.ukWednesday 17 February 2016, AM
If we are serious about BBC independence we must scrap its charter
We are writing this open letter in advance of BBC charter and agreement to explain what we feel the principles should be governing government policy towards the future of the BBC. We write as two former chairmen of the House of Lords select committee on communications who were involved in the debate on the current royal charter and the agreement which went with it. We do not turn our back on private investment if this is to the benefit of the BBC. An example is BBC Worldwide, which sells the rights to BBC programmes around the world. - www.theguardian.com
www.theguardian.comMonday 15 February 2016, AM
BBC3 and Radio 1 could merge under BBC plans
BBC3 launches as an online channel next week - but even before it embraces the brave new world of the web, consideration is being given to merging it with other BBC platforms including Radio 1 to create a Youth division, RadioTimes.com understands. The new BBC3 will go online-only on 16th February and will continue to target 16-34 year-olds. - www.radiotimes.com
www.radiotimes.com
New DAB station tests now live
Ahead of the official arrival of the first stations at the end of the month, placeholders for most stations have now appeared, giving listeners a chance to get ready for the new stations and be prepared for the transfer of existing stations to the multiplex. Listeners who have retuned their DAB sets may notice two versions of stations including Absolute 80s and Planet Rock, which are moving to D2 from their current space in the 29th. In some areas, Kisstory and Heat Radio can be found twice in the DAB station list these are moving from local DAB multiplexes to D2. Sound Digital stations. - www.a516digital.comwww.a516digital.comBBC considering scrapping channel-based structure
While the BBC is dedicated to keeping its channels and stations on the air, executives believe that rapid changes in the way people consume BBC content means a new structure would be more appropriate as well as save money. The BBC said it was looking at various options for reforming the BBC's structure, but would not confirm what plans were being considered. - www.theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comFriday 12 February 2016, AM
Dish to disable DVR ad-skip for 7 days after broadcast to resolve Fox suit
In early 2015, US District Judge Dolly Gee issued a mixed ruling, finding that Dish's features don't infringe copyright but that Dish had violated some contracts and infringed Fox's copyrights when it made copies of programming to do Quality Assurance testing. Not only were networks able to use copyright to knock out a brash, well-funded startup like Aereo, but broadcaster Fox was able to cripple a product made by Dish-a company that already pays for Fox's programming. - arstechnica.com
arstechnica.comSound Digital
Each of the participants in the consortium is also a long-standing operator of DAB digital radio multiplexes in the UK. UTV Media owns 13 regional radio stations and is the company behind talkSPORT, the world's biggest sports radio station. Bauer Radio reaches over 16 million listeners every week with 43 of the most influential radio brands across the country, including Magic FM, KISS FM and Absolute Radio. - www.sounddigital.co.ukwww.sounddigital.co.ukThursday 11 February 2016, AM
BBC Radio Bristol Shutting Down its MW Station
BBC Radio Bristol is inviting listeners via social media to spread the word about the changes, which will mean affected listeners will need to tune in to the station via FM, DAB, online or via Freeview after Feb. 19. BBC Radio Bristol is already available on 94.9 and 104.6 FM, Freeview channel 719, and online. - www.radiomagonline.comwww.radiomagonline.comWednesday 10 February 2016, PM
Monday 08 February 2016, PM
How were some of Britain's brightest stars...
How were some of Britain's brightest stars influenced by the BBC Watch our new film from Simon Curtis to find out - and join them in the fight to make sure that we have a greatBBC to inspire generations to come. We've already lost BBC Three and sports like Formula 1 and the Olympics to funding cuts. - site.greatbbc.comsite.greatbbc.comMonday 08 February 2016, AM
Schedule for the new talkRADIO revealed
Former GLR, LBC and Virgin Radio presenter Paul Ross will host breakfast 6-10am, Ex-LBC'er Julia Hartley-Brewer gets mid-morning 10am - 1pm, writer and former Editor of Heat magazine Sam Delaney is lined-up for drivetime 4pm till 7pm and Iain Lee gets a new late night show 10pm till 1am. - radiotoday.co.uk
radiotoday.co.ukBBC3 boss on going online only: 'We are reinventing the BBC's offer to youth'
As acting controller of BBC3 after founding controller Stuart Murphy left in 2005, and with experience in BBC children's, Kavanagh was an obvious choice to head up the channel after Zai Bennett left for Sky two years ago. Career 1994 various roles in BBC daytime and BBC1, BBC3 head of planning and scheduling 2005 acting controller of BBC3 2006 BBC daytime head of planning and scheduling 2009 controller, CBBC 2012 head of features and factual formats, Channel 4 2013 controller, BBC Daytime 2014 controller, BBC3.. - www.theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comMedia Monkey: War and Peace, Hugh Bonneville and BBC cuts
Finally, new ITV director of television Kevin Lygo hit the ground running on his first day in the job. With his track record surely Lygo can put the sizzle back into the ITV breakfast sausage - www.theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comThe BBC's next watchdog needs more independence from politicians
First, the widely expected decision to appoint more non-executives to the board running the day-to-day business of the BBC may suit normal corporate governance standards but will mark a historic departure for the BBC. Widespread criticism of the trust - part regulator, part cheerleader - has meant that a truly external regulator will for the first time be able to rule over BBC decisions such as impartiality and accuracy - at the core of almost every difficult editorial judgment. Ofcom already has some oversight of the BBC but the code it uses to regulate other public service broadcasters runs to some 50 pages the BBC's is 400. - www.theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comFriday 05 February 2016, PM
Friday 05 February 2016, AM
Newsnight gets a repeat as BBC news channel cuts breaking stories
The BBC's 24-hour news channel is to introduce a nightly replay of Newsnight and launch a new local news programme in a revamp that will mean less breaking news. In September, BBC director general Tony Hall, who launched BBC News 24 and BBC News Online and went on to hold the post of chief executive of the news operation, outlined plans to move towards a mobile-focused streaming news service, called BBC Newstream. - www.theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comWednesday 03 February 2016, PM
Wednesday 03 February 2016, AM
18 radio stations confirmed for new DAB multiplex
18 radio stations will be included on the new platform when it is officially turned on, on February 29th 2016. Premier Christian Radio, which was recently at risk of losing its only national slot on D1, is launching a second service called Praise whilst Asian Sound Radio's new station will be called Awesome Radio. - radiotoday.co.ukradiotoday.co.ukTuesday 02 February 2016, PM
Olympics: BBC to broadcast every Games up to and including 2024
The 2012 Games in London were watched on the BBC by more than 50 million people in the United Kingdom. As part of the agreement, Discovery will sub-license from the BBC exclusive pay-TV rights to the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games. - www.bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukSaturday 30 January 2016, AM
Sir David Attenborough says he is fearful for 'vulnerable' BBC
Attenborough returned to the place of his childhood in the east Midlands city to officially open the new 1.5m gallery extension to the arts centre at the University of Leicester. We have already planted seeds for the future which are ineradicable. - www.theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comFriday 29 January 2016, PM
James Murdoch's return as Sky chair is a major concern, says investor
A Sky shareholder has criticised James Murdoch's appointment as chairman arguing that it flouts the corporate governance code and is a serious conflict of interest given he runs its biggest shareholder, Fox. Sky defended Murdoch's promotion, pointing out that it has made two strong appointments for balance Martin Gilbert has been promoted to deputy chairman and Andrew Sukawaty takes over his role as Sky's senior independent director. - www.theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comFriday 29 January 2016, AM
First Click: Clamping down on VPNs will turn Netflix subscribers into pirates
I've been bypassing Netflix's geographical blocks for years, ever since the streaming service first became available in the UK. I was living in the country at the time, and for months, relied on a quick DNS tweak that would switch the meager British catalog over to its much-wider US counterpart. Workaround VPNs, unblockers, and proxies have become almost standard issue for us in the years since Netflix's streaming service started its foreign expansion - Americans more recently discovered the same trick - and it doesn't seem like the company is going to be able to offer a true worldwide catalog any time soon. - www.theverge.com
www.theverge.com
DAB+ services launch in UK
The Portsmouth DAB small-scale multiplex trial has added two new services Awaaz FM and a service called Indulgence which are both available in DAB. An 'old' DAB radio will either simply not see these new services, or will offer the chance to upgrade your set to make it DAB compatible. - media.info
media.infoDate announced for the launch of talkSPORT 2
The first radio station to announce its launch date on the new national digital radio multiplex is talkSPORT 2. In the original application, Sound Digital said all stations will launch at the same time with the exception of those proposed by UTV, which may take longer to prepare, or launch according to sporting schedules. - radiotoday.co.ukradiotoday.co.ukWednesday 27 January 2016, PM
Tuesday 26 January 2016, PM
What's the secret to retaining fickle internet TV audiences?
I work at Kaltura, where we design online video services, so through the companies we work with we're acutely aware of churn - customers discontinuing a service - and the problem it poses for OTT services in particular. OTT services should also embrace social networks to market to new viewers and go beyond Facebook or YouTube. - www.theguardian.comwww.theguardian.com
Time spent online 'overtakes TV' among youngsters
Among 15 to 16-year-olds, less than a quarter would typically watch television as it is broadcast, rather than on a catch-up or on-demand service or through YouTube. Young people still showed a clear preference for watching television on a television set - with only a relatively limited number watching programmes on mobile phones. - www.bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.uk
BBC Three's online relaunch starts with new shows and sites
With these come a range of fresh commissions designed to show off the BBC's new vision. When the decision was made to move BBC Three online, people weren't happy. - www.engadget.com
www.engadget.comWednesday 20 January 2016, PM
The future of ITV, Impress announces members, Trust in the media
open.live.bbc.co.ukOver 80% of new cars now have DAB as standard
Digital radio is now standard in 80 of new cars, Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy, announced today. Data from industry analysts CAP and The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders for Q4 2105 shows that the number of new cars fitted with digital radio as standard grew to 80.1, compared to 7.5 in Q4 2010 and 61.2 in Q4 2014. - radiotoday.co.ukradiotoday.co.ukTuesday 19 January 2016, PM
BBC 'likely to lose more sport in wake of F1 and Olympics'
The BBC is likely to have to lose more live sporting events as it tries to find an additional 550m in annual savings, according to the chair of the BBC Trust. The BBC is looking to save 35m out of its sports budget this year, with a significant chunk coming from its decision in December to cut short its deal to broadcast F1 races three years early, with Channel 4 swooping in to take on the rights. - www.theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comMonday 18 January 2016, PM
Study shows compression gains
The tests showed that bit rate savings of 59 on average can be achieved by HEVC for the same perceived video quality, which is higher than a bit rate saving of 44 demonstrated using a standard objective quality metric. The evaluation suggests that for a given bit rate the subjective quality improvements of HEVC are typically greater than the objective quality improvements measured by the PSNR method that was mainly used during development of the standard. - informitv.com
informitv.comMonday 18 January 2016, AM
Netflix Pretends It Will Crackdown On VPNs Just Days After Admitting It's Futile To Do So
For a few years now, broadcasters have whined endlessly about the use of VPNs to access Netflix in markets where the streaming service had yet to launch. It's simply not possible to really ban VPN use, but Netflix wants to make partners in its 190 service countries feel comfortable while it slowly but surely works toward eliminating geo-restrictive licensing entirely. - www.techdirt.com
www.techdirt.comSunday 17 January 2016, PM
It's time for Viacom to bring Channel 5 HD from behind the paywall
Image Channel 5.Since Viacom bought Channel 5 just under two years ago the broadcaster has gobbled up a number of top US shows including Gotham and the spectacular-looking X-Files revival but good shows alone won't boost the channel's audience figures. With HD versions of BBC One, BBC Two, Channel 4 and ITV all available without subscription how likely is that people would sign-up to an expensive pay-TV deal just to watch Gotham - www.seenit.co.uk
www.seenit.co.ukSaturday 16 January 2016, PM
Compelling viewing on Channel 4 as TV bosses take sides on privatisation
Channel 4 executives and supporters of its public service broadcasting remit, which they fear would be the first casualty of privatisation, are gearing up for a fierce lobbying battle. Lord Grade, the former Channel 4 chief executive and now a Conservative peer, also recently came out in favour of privatisation and said he believed the government could write protections clauses into any ownership contract. - www.theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comFriday 15 January 2016, AM
UKTV snaps up EastEnders re-runs from BBC3 as part of TV channel launch
UKTV has struck a deal to air same-day repeats of EastEnders and bring back the popular weekend omnibus of the BBC1 soap, as part of a revamp of Watch into a more female-focused channel under the new brand W. The pay-TV company has taken over the EastEnders rights from BBC3, which will close as a TV channel next month, and reinstitute the omnibus, which BBC1 dropped a number of years ago. The new channel, scheduled to launch on 15 February, will also broadcast a number of US shows including the medical drama Code Black, CSI NY and Grimm. - www.theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comThursday 14 January 2016, PM
http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/88562/Digital_UK_Consultation_AllocationofLCN_7-16Dec2015.pdf
Bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/our work/services/service changes decision 3 Digital UK LCN Consultation Proposals for the allocation of LCN 7 2.2 Provisions in the LCN Policy Among other provisions, the LCN Policy2 governs how a vacated LCN is reallocated to other channels within the same genre and the process for reserving LCNs in certain circumstances. Option 1 All public service channels at LCNs higher than channel 7 move to lower LCNs Table 1 LCN Position 7 8 9 23 Current DTT Channel Listing Proposed DTT Channel Listing under Option 1 BBC Alba, Channel 4 Local TV reservation in England and Northern Ireland BBC Three BBC Alba Channel 4 Local TV reservation in England and Northern Ireland BBC Four BBC Four Local TV reservation in Scotland and Wales Vacated LCN to be allocated under associated channel rules set out in Section 8.2 of the LCN Policy6 Local TV reservation in Scotland and Wales 6 At the time of writing, and in accordance with Section 8.2 of the LCN Policy - LCN 23 would be first offered to Create and Craft at LCN 36 by virtue of its association with Ideal World on LCN 22. - www.digitaluk.co.ukwww.digitaluk.co.ukThursday 14 January 2016, AM
Public 'support BBC cost-savings but do not want services to be axed'
The corporation's management, in September, put forward a range of measures to tackle the overall target of 150m in annual savings by 2017, including moving towards a streaming news service that could eventually replace the BBC News channel and create an on-demand service for children called iPlay. Amid the uncertainty it has been suggested that BBC4 could be shut down, as well as the BBC News channel and some radio services. - www.theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comBBC risks excluding viewers by prioritising online content
In September, the BBC put forward a range of measures to tackle the overall target of 150m in annual savings by 2017, including moving towards a streaming news service that could eventually replace the BBC News channel and creating an on-demand service for children called iPlay. Fear of cuts to much-loved core services, particularly the main TV and radio services as well as news and children's television, had also put many off the new proposals. - www.theguardian.comwww.theguardian.com
BBC eyes digital services to improve Scottish offering
Tony Hall has indicated that the BBC will use its digital strategy to better serve Scottish audiences over the next charter period. He pledged to ensure that the next charter would support the global distribution of stories about the country. - www.broadcastnow.co.uk
www.broadcastnow.co.ukWednesday 13 January 2016, PM
Monday 11 January 2016, PM
DISH offers video recorder with 16 tuners
Hopper 3, the latest version of the digital video recorder from DISH Network in the United States, has 16 tuners. Hopper 3 has more tuners than any other digital video recorder. - informitv.cominformitv.comSunday 10 January 2016, PM
Panasonic DMR-PWT550 review
The recording times above relate to DR mode, which captures programmes in the best possible quality, but you can free up space by converting them to a lower-quality recording mode afterwards. All recordings are made in DR mode first and converted to lower quality when the recorder is in standbyDual Freeview HD tuners let you record two channels at once. - www.trustedreviews.comwww.trustedreviews.comSunday 10 January 2016, AM
BBC News Channel faces axe as BBC launches cost-cutting drive led by James Harding
BBC News has launched a root and branch review of its operations in a bid to save millions of pounds that could potentially lead to the end of the BBC News Channel as we know it. A further 550m in annual savings will required across the corporation by 2021/22 as it faces cuts brought on by the new licence fee settlement and BBC News will need to take its share of the cutbacks. - www.radiotimes.comwww.radiotimes.comFriday 08 January 2016, PM
DTG :: News :: New TV Partners for Android TV, Connected TV consumer's favourite iPlayer streaming device, and Consumer
New TV partners for Android TV. Google has just made an announcement about the future of Android TV, specifically regarding a range of new TV partners who have just signed up to the operating system. Roid TV will be available in 2016, on Arcelik, Vestel, RCA, Hisense, TCL and Bang Olufsen branded TVs. They join early adopters Sony, Sharp and Phillips. - dtg.org.ukdtg.org.ukBBC launches review of news arm, saying it can't 'afford to do everything'
Harding, who needs to find an initial 5m in savings as part of the corporation's overall target of 150m in annual savings by 2017, said he was launching a three-month review on the future of BBC News. He said there were four main areas to examine in making BBC News relevant to future consumers - the platforms people will use to consume news and current affairs, the type of content BBC News should deliver, ways serving all audiences across the UK and working practices. - www.theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comWednesday 06 January 2016, PM
Tuesday 05 January 2016, PM
EFF Confirms: T-Mobile's Binge On Optimization is Just Throttling, Applies Indiscriminately to All Video
Streaming a video embedded in a webpage using HTML5, Downloading a video file to the phone's SD card, Downloading a video file to the phone's SD card, but with the filename and the HTTP response headers changed to indicate it was not a video file, and Downloading a large non-video file for comparison. Test Results No Optimization, and Everything Gets Throttled The first result of our test confirms that when Binge On is enabled, T-Mobile throttles all HTML5 video streams to around 1.5Mps, even when the phone is capable of downloading at higher speeds, and regardless of whether or not the video provider enrolled in Binge On. This is the case whether the video is being streamed or being downloaded-which means that T-Mobile is artificially reducing the download speeds of customers with Binge On enabled, even if they're downloading the video to watch later. - www.eff.org
www.eff.orgTuesday 05 January 2016, AM
Privatising Channel 4 would be a disaster for risk-taking programmes
All these programmes featured original journalism on a vital issue of public policy - continuing ITV's proud tradition of being a thorn in the side of government. So what about those current assurances that any privatisation of Channel 4 would be accompanied by cast-iron regulation to ensure programme standards Strangely enough, the same assurances were given when ITV was sold. - www.theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comUKTV matches Channel 5 and Sky in ad size for first time after record 2015
Hits including Storage Hunters and Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish helped propel UKTV to a record share of the TV advertising market last year to match rivals Channel 5 and Sky for the first time. The figures put UKTV marginally ahead of Channel 5's portfolio of channels, with a Soci of 9.26, and Sky's own branded channels, including news and sport, which stood at 9.25. UKTV is already bigger than Channel 4's flagship station in terms of Soci, but smaller than its whole family of channels which include E4, Film4 and More4. - www.theguardian.comwww.theguardian.compick a page