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

TV streaming service Aereo files for bankruptcy | Media | theguardian.com

Television streaming service Aereo Inc filed for bankruptcy protection after a US supreme court ruled in June that the companys business model violated copyright laws. The court said Aereo had infringed copyrights of broadcasters by capturing live and recorded programs through antennas and transmitting them to subscribers for 8-12 a month. Aereo, which raised 95.6m in financing, suspended its streaming service at the end of June and cut jobs. - theguardian.com

#17 - Dapper Laughs, Fake Sheik, Julia Davis at Breakfast - The Media Podcast with Olly Mann

feedproxy.google.com

Thursday 20 November 2014, PM

WhereToWatch Helps You Find TV Shows and Movies to Stream Legally

Using it is easy, you can just search for a specific title or peruse by show/movie by categories including Most Popular, Coming Soon and Now Playing. In addition, the site also offers some behind-the-scenes footage thanks to content from thecredits.org, and also serves up movie trailers fromYouTube. However, while the platform returns results from on-demand and streaming services, it doesnt include TV listings where the shows might also be playing. - thenextweb.com

thenextweb.com

Local TV licence for Birmingham given to Kaleidoscope after City TV collapse | Media | theguardian.com

The local TV licence for Birmingham has been handed to a consortium involving a backer of the company that went into administration earlier this year before launching a service for the city. Kaleidoscope will be required to launch its service by 28 February. He had been named earlier this year as programme controller of City TV. - theguardian.com

VisionTV goes on Freeview

- broadbandtvnews.com

www.broadbandtvnews.com

Freeview launches autumn ad campaign - Telecompaper

UK subscription free DTT service Freeview is launching an advertising campaign promoting the range of emotions available on programming this autumn. - telecompaper.com

www.telecompaper.com

BBC radio host says sorry on air for ‘ill-judged’ Ched Evans rape comments | Media | theguardian.com

A BBC radio presenter who said women should keep their knickers on while discussing convicted rapist and footballer Ched Evans has apologised on air. Conrad, 29, said I made it clear on several occasions that rape is an abhorrent and inexcusable crime and that women who are victims are in no way to blame. Some of my comments in one section of the discussion were ill-judged and were offensive to some. - theguardian.com

Freeview to lose 700 MHz frequency to help push mobile broadband | SEENIT

The 700 MHz frequency band currently represents a substantial portion of the spectrum used for DTT services but its ability to penetrate homes and buildings makes it ideal for providing reliable indoor broadband services. Demand for mobile broadband is expected to be 45 times higher by 2030 than it is today, according to the regulator. Todays decision means TV channels will need to move to other frequencies but Ofcom says most viewers will only need to retune rather than replace their TV or set top box. - seenit.co.uk

www.seenit.co.uk

UK Play launches on PC and YouView ? Digital TV Europe

- digitaltveurope.net

www.digitaltveurope.net

Steve Morrison: give industry control of licence fee | News | Broadcast

All3Media chairman Steve Morrison has made an impassioned plea to safeguard the licence fee and set out a plan for it to be overseen by industry professionals and the public rather than politicians. In a keynote speech at the Salford Media Festival, Morrison lamented the government’s decision to freeze the licence fee and "top-slice" its income by £500m, with funds allocated to the BBC World Service, BT’s broadband rollout and local television, during the previous charter renewal. He said that top-slicing, combined with inflation, would cost the BBC "between 20-25%" of its real income by the end of 2016 and warned this was likely to result in a decrease in the amount the corporation spends on original content, impacting the production sector. - broadcastnow.co.uk

www.broadcastnow.co.uk

EE TV review: a decent set-top box with too many strings attached

EE has evolved rapidly since it became a household name two years ago after switching on the UK's first 4G mobile network. Free and available only to customers of EE's mobile and broadband services, it's essentially a Freeview DVR with a few tricks up its sleeve. Tying into EE's primary focus on mobile, one of the fancier features is the box's ability to stream live and recorded video to multiple smartphones and tablets simultaneously. - engadget.com

www.engadget.com

Thursday 20 November 2014, AM

BBC News - UK should get 'faster and cheaper' 4G data, says Ofcom

The telecoms regulator has ruled that frequencies currently reserved for digital TV transmissions and wireless microphones should switch over to mobile broadband. It said that the change should happen between 2020 and 2022. One expert said the move would benefit both cities and the countryside. - bbc.co.uk

Why the public must rally to support the BBC licence fee | Media | theguardian.com

She is right to demand that culture secretary Sajid Javid should support the BBC in order to deflate members of his own party who are seeking to destroy it. It was the only possible conclusion to draw from their call to abolish the licence fee and institute a system of voluntary subscription in its place. The BBC has to take far worse on an almost daily basis. - theguardian.com

Investors oppose James Murdoch's re-election to BSkyB board | Media | theguardian.com

James Murdoch is facing a challenge to his board membership of BSkyB. The Financial Times reports that a group of institutional investors has called for shareholders to vote against Murdochs re-election. It argues that Murdoch had failed to clarify conflicts of interests with his role at 21st Century Fox, Skys biggest shareholder. - theguardian.com

Media: Ed Richards; licence fee; Trinity Mirror closures; teen blog on OCD

DTG :: News :: Ofcom sets 2020 for next digital TV/mobile broadband spectrum reshuffle

Digital terrestrial TV frequencies could be reshuffled as early as 2020 under Ofcom's latest plan to accommodate rising demand for mobile broadband. Communications regulator Ofcom claims that the move will deliver at least 900m in benefits to the economy, and will cost up to 660m to modify TV transmitters, replace aerials and compensate other users of the spectrum. This decision ensures that we are making the raw materials available with which investors and companies can build the services which will support the digital economy of the future. - dtg.org.uk

dtg.org.uk

Ariel - Sajid Javid reassures MP on licence fee

'The government has said that the charter review will not be starting in advance of the election in 2015,' Javid adds. In a publicised letter to the culture secretary, Bridgen called for the BBC licence fee to be replaced with a system of voluntary 'subscription-based payment options'. 'Sky is universally available and half choose to subscribe. - bbc.co.uk

Wednesday 19 November 2014, PM

Ariel - Radio 4 has to 'dazzle' in digital world

18 November 2014 Last updated at 1614 The biggest challenge for Radio 4 is to carve out a 'dazzling digital life' for itself, but that does not mean commissioning digital extras for every programme, says controller Gwyneth Williams. 'Making the digital side of Radio 4 come to life in an exciting way is a tremendous challenge,' she admitted, alongside 'delivering creative content of the highest standard, within budget'. Radio first The fact that, as panel chairman Robin Lustig pointed out, there was 'no radio version of YouTube' was part of that challenge, currently being tackled by 'a lot of very smart people on Radio 4'. - bbc.co.uk

BBC losing out on hundreds of millions due to international users pirating iPlayer - Online - Media - The Independent

Its a missed opportunity for the BBC, he said. The report was based on interviews with 170,000 people in 32 countries over the past year and 500,000 since 2009. The BBC said it would not advertise to people who were accessing its services unlawfully. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

BBC continues to switch off local radio AM transmitters | RadioToday

In a new trial to save money, three of the stations are now broadcasting a message asking listeners to re tune to FM or DAB instead. The BBC is required to make savings and one potential way to do this, and maintain value for money, is to switch off medium wave transmitters in those places where FM or digital radio coverage is also available, the corporation said today. At BBC Surrey, all medium wave listening is affected. - radiotoday.co.uk

Ofcom chief says regulator has to be involved in politics to function | Media | theguardian.com

Ed Richards, the outgoing Ofcom chief executive, has said it would be delusional to think the regulator is not involved in political circles. He also said that it was too easy for media companies to appeal Ofcoms regulatory decisions and on any given week it was defending up to 10 of its rulings in the courts. Richards added that when he joined Ofcom in 2003, it employed 10 lawyers, now it has a team of about 40. - theguardian.com

Ofcom appoints director Steve Unger as interim chief executive | Media | theguardian.com

Ofcom has appointed director Steve Unger to take over as interim chief executive when Ed Richards leaves at the end of the year. Unger is currently director of the media regulators strategy, international, technology and economist group. Unger, like Edwards, joined Ofcom at its inception in 2003. - theguardian.com

Tuesday 18 November 2014, PM

BBC News - Ultra high definition video gives firms clearer picture

Hybrid photography Several photographers told me they are not waiting for 2015 - they are ready to jump in now. Still pictures that move 4K video heralds a new era of hybrid photography This is good enough quality to print at a decent size, although it's still way below the 18-to-22 megapixels professional-grade stills cameras can now achieve. In many circles - including the porn industry, which invariably can be found at technology's cutting edge - this facility could see photography and videography merging into one discipline. - bbc.co.uk

BBC licence fee: MP calling for voluntary system expects fast reply | Media | theguardian.com

The Conservative MP calling for the BBC licence fee to be replaced with a voluntary subscription is expecting a response to his request for a review of the matter from the culture secretary by the middle of the week. Up to 50 MPs could back Bridgens call for a review of the licence fee, outlined in his letter to Javid, according to the Sunday Express. It is thought that some of the BBCs political supporters may also write to Javid, countering some of Bridgens suggestions. - theguardian.com

Ofcom to investigate over 50 community radio stations | RadioToday

A quarter of all community radio stations are to be investigatedby Ofcom about not sticking to their Key Commitments. In community radio terms, the Key Commitments is the equivalent of a Format for commercial stations, but the content is written by the stations themselves when they apply for a licence. The regulator says it has launched investigations at 53 stations as a result of issues raised in the relevant Community Radio Licensees Annual Reports, which keeps Ofcom informed of what each station is doing. - radiotoday.co.uk

10 powerful adverts that changed the way we think | Media Network | The Guardian

If done properly, it broadens and enhances the way we see the world, getting us to think, feel and consider the space and issues around us in a new light. Below are 10 ads that we believe do just this. Nike If You Let Me Play This film is a mini masterpiece which tackles a big issue in a very elegant way, with swagger and irony. - theguardian.com

Monday 17 November 2014, AM

Panorama makes headlines with ‘Fake Sheikh’ – but faces a narrower outlook | Media | The Guardian

The BBCs venerable current affairs series Panorama of which, by way of a declaration of interest, I was once editor has been very much in the news. This proposal comes straight from director general Tony Halls core strategy for the imminent charter and licence fee renewal debate compete or compare. In Westminster efficiency and the level of the licence fee are major concerns and Hall and his top team, including former culture secretary James Purnell, know they must confront it. - theguardian.com

BBC News - Broadband speed adverts targeted by watchdog Which?

17 November 2014 Last updated at 0048 Consumer watchdog Which has called for regulators to change the way broadband services are advertised. Currently providers can use a headline speed for services even if only 10 of customers will actually get that speed. Which found that a quarter of people would have chosen another deal if they had been better informed about the actual speeds they would receive. - bbc.co.uk

Saturday 15 November 2014, PM

http://keepcbs.com/

keepcbs.com

Friday 14 November 2014, PM

Broadcasters Get Court To Stop Consumers From Seeing How Much Cable Companies Pay For Content

Broadcasters Get Court To Stop Consumers From Seeing How Much Cable Companies Pay For Content - consumerist.com

consumerist.com

Feedback: Newsbeat: 14 Nov 14

BBC Local Radio programmes get 30 days on iPlayer | RadioToday

The change happens at 6am this Saturday, when content will move from the current seven day catch-up window to a month. The change brings the local radio network in line with regional and national radio stations which changed to 30 days in October, along with television programmes. - radiotoday.co.uk

Friday 14 November 2014, AM

ITV chief admits ratings slump but advertising revenue is up 6% | Media | The Guardian

ITVs total revenues rose 8 in the first nine months of the year to 1.8bn, with advertising revenues up 6 in the first nine months to 1.16bn. Adam Crozier said the broadcaster would see TV ad revenue up 5 for the full year, which will be ITVs best outperformance of the market for five years. However, Crozier said ratings across its family of channels was not as good as would like, with its share of viewing down 5 so far this year. - theguardian.com

Thursday 13 November 2014, AM

Don’t Buy TVs revealed in our latest testing - November - 2014 - Which? News

13 November 2014 We don't name products as Don't Buys easily, but sometimes our tests reveal TVs that just aren't up to the standards we'd expect. We've seen big advances in television design and production in recent years, but almost half of the TVs in our latest batch scored so poorly that they qualify as a Which They'll be frustrating to use, with badly designed menus and fiddly remote controls, and you'll likely miss out on the latest, premium TV features. You may tempted by their low price tags, but we find that with these poor TVs, you won't be getting the best overall value for your cash. - which.co.uk

www.which.co.uk

Future of BBC3 to be discussed before Christmas by BBC Trust | Media | theguardian.com

The BBC intends to save 50m annually by shutting the TV channel in autumn next year. A handful of shows will be broadcast on BBC1, while BBC3 will become online-only. The prospect of an alternative commercial future for the channel or its TV programming content has enticed the BBCs rivals. - theguardian.com

Julia Davis to star in Channel 4 sitcom about failing TV breakfast show | Media | theguardian.com

Julia Davis is to star in a new Channel 4 sitcom about a failing breakfast TV show in which any resemblance to real-life programmes past or present is presumably entirely coincidental. In recent years C4 dramas have tended to air at 9pm or 10pm. - theguardian.com

Wednesday 12 November 2014, PM

Media: BBC One Controller; sports journalism; Serial podcast

Tuesday 11 November 2014, PM

BBC mulls paying local newspapers for content and fund to pay for court reporting | Press Gazette

BBC head of news James Harding said the corporation is investigating buying content from local newspapers and setting up a fund to pay for court reporting. He told editors that the BBC wants more partnerships, more openness, more trying things out. The newspaper industry is in much worse shape. - pressgazette.co.uk

www.pressgazette.co.uk

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/revelation-tv-britains-first-televangelist-station-facing-investigation

The statutory investigation, which was opened on 8 September but only announced this week, is the most serious form of inquiry available to the Charity Commission. It said it had decided to launch the probe after receiving a number of complaints that the charity was being used for private advantage. In a statement, the regulator said it had scrutinised the Revelation Foundations accounts and had identified a number of concerns including potential significant loss of charitable funds, trustee benefits, conflicts of interest and connected party transactions. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

Radioplayer extends to Ireland in a new deal with RTE | RadioToday

Radioplayer is extending to Ireland after a deal was made with RT and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland. Itll launch on all 43 Independent and RT stations next month, for an initial three year term. This now means we have four territories outside of the UK using Radioplayer, which clearly demonstrates that broadcasters working together in a territory is a vital part of the future of radio. - radiotoday.co.uk

Sky demands clarity from ITV over retransmission fees | News | Broadcast

Sky has called on ITV to provide “concrete details” in the retransmission fees debate and has raised the prospect of potential blackouts. A blog titled Three Questions for ITV to Answer this Week, was posted earlier today by Sky group director of corporate affairs, Graham McWilliam to coincide with ITV’s interim results due out on Thursday. McWilliam claimed that ITV had “gone silent” after publishing a report in September which called for pay-TV operators such as Sky and Virgin Media to pay retransmission fees to public service broadcasters in line with the model adopted in the US. - broadcastnow.co.uk

www.broadcastnow.co.uk

Tuesday 11 November 2014, AM

London is digital radio city with over 60 DAB stations | RadioToday

Much of London can also receive local DAB stations from the Home Counties. In London homes, the share of digital listening now exceeds the share of analogue listening. 54 of Londoners now have a DAB digital radio Rajar Q3 2014. - radiotoday.co.uk

Monday 10 November 2014, PM

Signalling a change | Comment | Broadcast

There will be enough room to move multiplexes into the 600MHz band, but there will need to be a public campaign to tell some households to retune their set-top boxes, and considerable replanning of the network. Some 250 million people across Europe rely on DTT. Viewers need to be warned because equipment will need to be retuned and there could be interference issues. - broadcastnow.co.uk

www.broadcastnow.co.uk

Amazon.co.uk: The future of TV? It?s in the cloud

www.amazon.co.uk

https://gigaom.com/2014/11/10/obama-tells-the-fcc-to-implement-real-net-neutrality-and-hes-serious/

Proving himself the policy nerd who pundits deride, President Obama has issued a comprehensive statement on network neutrality that covers all of the points left uncovered in his generic praise for the policy a few weeks back. Such rules would seek to prevent ISPs from blocking or slowing lawful content on both their last mile networks and at interconnection points. The president also called for network neutrality rules to apply to wireless networks, something that the original Open Internet Order from 2010 didnt even do. - gigaom.com

gigaom.com

CBSN - Live Streaming Video News Channel - CBS News

cbsn.cbsnews.com

DTG :: News :: Britons want smart smart homes but we don't want to pay for them

Smart entertainment, energy, heating and appliances have captured the imagination of British consumers but not their spending power. A GfK survey found that 76 of adults want smart home technology but only 35 are willing to pay for the upgrades. The most desirable feature is a smart energy meter at 84, but only 24 of us are willing to pay for them. - dtg.org.uk

dtg.org.uk

BBC News - TV technology for the 2020 Olympics

Japanese broadcaster NHK is planning to go super hi-tech for its coverage of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The games will be offered in Super 8K - 16 times sharper than high definition televisions and microphones that can zoom in on sound anywhere in the stadium. BBC Click's Dan Simmons went to see the technology in action. - bbc.co.uk