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

Monday 04 August 2014, AM

DTG :: News :: ITV revenues hit ?1.3bn

In a better than expected rise in pre-tax profits, ITV has seen a 40 boost to 250m in the six months of the year. Total revenues at the broadcaster were up 6 to 1.3bn. These results come just two weeks after Liberty Global bought a 6.4 stake in the company from BSkyB. - dtg.org.uk

dtg.org.uk

Sunday 03 August 2014, PM

Four reasons why TV Everywhere isn't ready for prime time: A simple look at a complex problem - FierceCable

Measuring audiences across platforms is still a big issue. Here are four of the leading TVE rights issues. 1. Content creators, particularly sports leagues, have taken a long time to come around to the initiative. - fiercecable.com

www.fiercecable.com

Sunday 03 August 2014, AM

Kim Shillinglaw: 'The BBC is there to be distinct. Not highbrow or lowbrow' | Media | The Observer

She lives with her husband and two children in west London. I leapt up to give him a hug, something I've never done before, because he's not a very huggable person. I grew up abroad, in Cameroon and then Spain partly due to my parents' work, and partly it was shaggy 70s parenting and when we came back to Britain, I was mesmerised by television. - gu.com

gu.com

Friday 01 August 2014, PM

Feedback: Israeli-Palestinian conflict: 1 Aug 14

Media: Local TV, BBC3 campaign, Right to be Forgotten

Thursday 31 July 2014, PM

35,000 go in BT TV customer clearout

The swapout of older BT Vision boxes in favour of the new YouView units has resulted in the loss of 35,000 customers. The telco said the additional churn of the inactive customers in the programme last quarter was anticipated. In the quarter to June 30, 2014 BT added an additional 40,000 TV customers, in line with the growth of previous quarters, and taking the overall total to1,007,000. - broadbandtvnews.com

www.broadbandtvnews.com

If anyone can make local TV work then it's the KM group in Kent | Media | theguardian.com

By chance, news broke that morning of the latest two local TV licences being granted by Ofcom to Maidstone and Basingstoke. It's interesting because it will be a real test for the local TV initiative. Secondly, the KM group has broadcasting experience through its radio outlets and already has good facilities. - theguardian.com

Ofcom must be brave and revoke London Live licence | Comment | Broadcast

Local station is not living up to its promise of community-led content, says Jonathan Kaye With increasing incredulity, I read of London Live’s attempt to persuade Ofcom to reduce the number of hours it is required to devote to local content – and that the regulator is publicly consulting on this possibility. I helped London Live to bid for its licence, promising to assist it with disability issues and attracting the 1 million Londoners with disabilities, who collectively comprise London’s largest minority audience (as Boris Johnson has stated), if it won. However, once it had won, I was then told that it thought it could do this for itself. With programming that fails to appeal to, let alone focus on and attract, diverse minority audiences, I’m sure many would agree that it is little surprise that London Live is failing.. - broadcastnow.co.uk

www.broadcastnow.co.uk

BT's TV customer growth slows but broadband market share grows | Business | theguardian.com

Photograph Guardian BT has outperformed City forecasts thanks to strong demand for fibre broadband lines, but growth in its pay television business has slowed. Group revenues in the June quarter were ahead of forecasts, but down 2 on last year to 4.4bn, with only the consumer division posting growth. BT television added just 5,000 customers in the quarter, because some 35,000 inactive set top box owners were removed from the numbers. - theguardian.com

Thursday 31 July 2014, AM

BBC remains tight-lipped over recruitment process for 23 high-profile journalists - citing data protection in FOI reject

The BBC has rejected a Freedom of Information request for more details about the recruitment of 23 high-profile journalists, citing data protection. The corporation came under fire last month when it appeared to indicate that two external recruits had been taken on through a closed process. A BBC insider told Press Gazette at the time There is only one recruitment process that me and my colleagues know is competitive and that's a recruitment process. - pressgazette.co.uk

www.pressgazette.co.uk

AMC Networks Said to Discuss BBC America Stake - Bloomberg

A deal isnt assured, the people said. AMC would pay cash for the stake, said one person. AMC bought Chellomedia in October for 750 million euros 1.04 billion. - bloomberg.com

www.bloomberg.com

RadioToday | RAJAR: 6 Music more popular than Radio 3

BBC 6 Music has been chasing Radio 3 in the last few quarters, and today actually took over them in terms of people listening. 6 Music has attracted 1.89m people listening on digital radio only, whilst BBC Radio 3, which has a full network of FM transmitters across the country pulls in 1.8m. The figures are due to Radio 3s 5.6 year on year loss, and 6 Musics renewed popularity since it was suggested for closure. - radiotoday.co.uk

radiotoday.co.uk

Wednesday 30 July 2014, PM

4K video on terrestrial TV? Not if the WRC shares frequencies to mobiles

The other end of the spectrum Will we be retuning TVs again in 2021 On the first of those two points, it's important to remember that there aren't many sets out there which have HEVC decoders, and some of those are still pretty experimental. As I written before, there's still a mass of conflicting standards, regarding bit rates, colour depth have and more. - theregister.co.uk

www.theregister.co.uk

Tuesday 29 July 2014, AM

Sebastian Coe ruling out run for BBC Trust chairmanship – report | Sport | theguardian.com

Sebastian Coe has signalled he has pulled out of the race to become the next chairman of the BBC Trust. - gu.com

gu.com

Monday 28 July 2014, PM

BBC iPlayer - The Radiophonic Workshop live in concert

Sky goes for growth through European expansion | informitv

Despite increased competition in the United Kingdom, Sky continues to grow its customer base, adding 76,000 television subscribers in the last quarter and 264,000 year on year, taking it to 10.69 million homes. Sky believes bigger is better, with headroom for further growth, particularly in Germany and Italy, which have relatively low pay-television penetration. The enlarged Sky will be the leading pay-television provider in three of the four largest markets in Europe, with a combined total of over 19 million homes taking Sky television. - informitv.com

informitv.com

Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson ‘deliberately used offensive racial term’ | Media | theguardian.com

During the special Clarkson and co-presenter Richard Hammond were observing their handiwork in building a makeshift bridge across the river Kwai, on which an Asian man was seen walking towards them. Clarkson said That is a proud moment ... but ... there is a slope on it. Hammond said You are right ... pointing ... it is definitely higher on that side. Clarkson then narrated, over images of the bridge We decide to ignore the slope and move onto the opening ceremony. Ofcom received two complaints from viewers who complained that the word Clarkson used was an offensive racist term. - theguardian.com

BBC News - Man arrested over Bath mast 'arson'

25 July 2014 Last updated at 1807 A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson following a fire at a communications mast near Bath. The fire at the Bathampton mast, which feeds television and radio broadcasts to 80,000 homes, started in the early hours of 3 January 2013. Police said a 30-year-old man had been arrested and was in custody. - bbc.co.uk

Monday 28 July 2014, AM

Britain's black actors must be given a better choice of roles, says star of Spielberg series | Film | The Observer

Speaking to the Observer this weekend from Hollywood, Etienne called for a better balance of parts for black newcomers at home. Etienne believes these talented actors are there because they had more chances as teenagers. Although some of these groups are still going, many have lost funding, and Etienne argues that all Britain's bigger cities should have projects like these. - theguardian.com

Friday 25 July 2014, PM

Feedback: BBC iPlayer last weekend: 25 Jul 14

London Live chief insists channel remains committed to local TV | Media | theguardian.com

The boss of London Live has said the station will still be local, despite planned cuts to its primetime local content, but admitted the challenge for the fledgling station had been tougher than anticipated. The station, which launched just four months ago, has also proposed a number of other changes, including reductions to the amount of local content it has to repeat, and fewer hours of local content in the years ahead. This is a new sector and we need to be able to grow as a business and evolve the business model to make sure we have something that makes sense. Kirkman said the official ratings body, Barb, has underestimated the size of London Lives audience because its panel of viewers in the capital is too small. - theguardian.com

London Live's experience proves that local TV is a dead duck | Media | theguardian.com

The TV channel is seeking to reduce its commitment to produce primetime local content from three hours a day to just one. Local TV is asking if the regulator wouldn't mind if it stopped broadcasting so much local content. This is a vindication of what I first said years ago when Jeremy Hunt first mooted his misguided local TV innovation - the public are just not interested. - theguardian.com

Friday 25 July 2014, AM

DTG :: News :: The Winners are announced!

The final four winners were Chirpan application which can send messages through an audible trigger from a television broadcast to a mobile app device to send the user interactive content such as links, video or images. CrowdEmotionInnovative facial recognition software which can read television viewers expressions to what they are watching on a television broadcast in real time. StreamHubAnalytics software for big data which combines viewing figures with social media, app and youtube data. - dtg.org.uk

dtg.org.uk

Why Rupert Murdoch's takeover of Time Warner would be bad for TV viewers | Media | theguardian.com

Rupert Murdoch has made a 80bn bid for rival Time Warner. He questioned, in an article in the Hollywood Reporter, the wisdom of companies getting bigger and bigger. Increasing size is a sickness that possesses us every quarter must show growth. - theguardian.com

Lenny Henry is right about quotas for ethnic minorities in TV and film | Media | theguardian.com

Broadcast executives are perplexed by the statistics that Lenny Henry has recently exposed. Children of migrant parents have long been disproportionately encouraged to take vocational subjects in order to enter the professions, but the downturn of 2008, coupled with students increased reliance on parental income to support studies, means this pressure has increased considerably. They just arent black. Those from minority backgrounds are more likely to also come from economically disadvantaged families, and like most sectors of the creative industries, entry level applicants can expect to work as interns. - theguardian.com

stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

Thursday 24 July 2014, AM

BT tackles BSkyB in court before new Premier League season - Telegraph

BT is attempting to force its rival to allow it provide the channels to subscribers to its YouView internet-based television service. BT claims BSkyB refuses to strike a reasonable commercial deal and is abusing its dominance. A quick decision in its favour would be a fillip for BT, allowing it to market its main television with Sky Sports platform in time for the new Premier League season next month. - telegraph.co.uk

www.telegraph.co.uk

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/sky-access-control/

Wednesday 23 July 2014, PM

Media: MH17 and Gaza reporting, Al Jazeera English journalist Sue Turton, Murdoch's media moves

BBC News - BBC trials TV innovations at Commonwealth Games

Immersive viewing using virtual-reality technology is also being trialled. UHD streams, which have a native resolution of 4K or higher, roughly four times the resolution of standard 1080p high definition were already tested during the World Cup, earlier this year. - bbc.co.uk

Wednesday 23 July 2014, AM

RadioToday | DAB digital radio turned-on in Derbyshire

The new transmitter at Quarndon takes local digital radio coverage for these stations from zero to over 350,000 listeners in the area, and adds over 259km of roads into DAB coverage for the first time. A further two transmitters will be switched on in Lichfield and Stanton Moor towards the end of the year. When all three transmitters have been launched around two thirds of people in the area will be able to listen to digital radio. - radiotoday.co.uk

radiotoday.co.uk

ITV confirms ITVBe launch date | presscentre

The new channel will be dedicated to lifestyle and entertainment programming, celebrating real life and real people. Details of schedule and broadcast hours will be confirmed closer to launch. - itv.com

www.itv.com

Ariel - Distribution moves into Future Media

The 40-strong team ensures that the BBC's public services are carried on all radio, television and digital platforms. The teams will continue to be based in London, but a new head will be appointed to look after the strategic direction of both Distribution and Business Development. The change is the result of a BBC Trust review into the broadcaster's distribution of its UK services. - bbc.co.uk

YouView expansion plans as shareholders agree | Advanced Television

The service has passed well over 1 million connected UK homes in less than 18 months since its marketing launch and claims industry-leading levels of satisfaction and VoD usage. YouView continues to target a long term goal of 10 million connected homes. YouView has signalled its continued success and growth by recently announcing a major recruitment drive that will expand its technology team by well over 50 per cent. - advanced-television.com

advanced-television.com

Tuesday 22 July 2014, AM

BBC Worldwide chief receives £231,000 bonus despite fall in profits | Media | theguardian.com

The BBC Worldwide chief executive was paid a bonus of more than 230,000 last year, despite a drop in profits partly resulting from the loss of Lonely Planet income. Tim Davie received total remuneration of 670,000, including a base salary of 400,000 and a bonus of 231,000, in the year to the end of March. Davie received the payout despite the corporations commercial arm suffering a 7 fall in revenues to 1.04bn, and a 21.5 fall in pre-tax profits to 126.5m over the period. - theguardian.com

Monday 21 July 2014, PM

BBC annual report: Tony Hall announces ?374m in annual savings - TV Radio - Media - The Independent

Lord Hall said the BBC had delivered 374m in annual savings and was on course to reach its target of 700m a year by 2016-2017, following the freeze in the Licence Fee in 2010. Although the BBC has reduced overall expenditure on senior management, the number of managers on more than 220,000 has increased. The BBC also managed to reduce its spending on presenting talent, although the numbers of such staff earning between 250,000 and 750,000 grew, from 14,100 to 14,800. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

BBC News - Technical problems plague BBC online services

21 July 2014 Last updated at 1239 The BBC's flagship iPlayer service has been hit by technical problems that started over the weekend. Faults have also meant only a simplified version of the BBC's homepage can be shown, while online video and audio clips have also been disrupted. Internal investigation The corporation put out statements via Twitter apologising several times for the inconvenience the problems were causing. - bbc.co.uk

http://www.bbc.co.uk/emp/embed/smpEmbed.html?playlist=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fiplayer%2Fplaylist%2Fp0239dgq

BBC - Annual Report - Annual Report

Each year the BBC reports to licence fee payers and audiences. The Annual Report and full financial statements are formally laid in Parliament in accordance with the requirements of the Charter. They are also published on the BBCs website. The Annual Report is made up of three parts. - bbc.co.uk

BBC News - BBC Annual Report 2013-14: At a glance

21 July 2014 Last updated at 1428 The BBC's annual report has been published for the financial year 2013-14. The BBC said it is on track to achieve the 700m savings per year it must make as part of its Delivering Quality First programme by 2016/17, having saved 374m in 2013/14 so far. Here are some of the key points from the review, which is conducted by the management and the corporation's regulatory body, the BBC Trust. - bbc.co.uk

Date set for Derbyshire's DAB switch-on

A number of local stations will be broadcasting live from the official switch event of Arqivas new DAB digital radio transmitter in Derbyshire. The much-awaited multiplex has caused a number of local press articles asking questions about its delayed launch, after owners were granted a licence almost seven years ago. One new transmitter at Quarndon will be switched on this Wednesday morning after 8am, whilst a further two will launch later in the year, covering over 350,000 people. - radiotoday.co.uk

radiotoday.co.uk

BBC’s Evan Davis to join Newsnight following Jeremy Paxman’s departure | Media | theguardian.com

Daviss Newsnight move, confirmed on Monday by the BBC, ends months of speculation about who might replace Paxman, who was the shows main presenter for more than 20 years. The BBC announced that Paxman was leaving the show in late April and he presented his final edition on 18 June. Davis, 52, will present the show three nights a week with its existing team of presenters, Kirsty Wark, Emily Maitlis and Laura Kuenssberg, remaining on the show, sharing the other two nights a week. - theguardian.com

Half of BBC Viewers are over 60 | informitv

Around half of all viewers to the two main BBC television channels are over 60 years of age, yet this age group makes up less than a quarter of the population of the United Kingdom. A quarter of those aged 25-34 barely watch BBC television. Television audiences have traditionally skewed to an older demographic, with younger adults generally watching less, but will this generation ever watch as much as their parents - informitv.com

informitv.com

Monday 21 July 2014, AM

Media Monkey’s Diary: John Sweeney, Sky News and Game of Thrones | Media | The Guardian

Did the two big announcements really need to be simultaneous Wasnt this exactly the kind of burying of bad news if only temporarily that Harding would have condemned in his previous job as Beeb-bashing Times editor Among the trusts findings that made headlines was data showing that a handful of mostly aged programmes dominate evening air-time on BBC1, which was slated as too safe. - theguardian.com

BBC's cost-cutting drive prunes extra £6m off talent costs | Media | The Guardian

BBC Breakfast presenter Susanna Reid was the most high profile departure during the last financial year. Unveiling the corporation's annual report, the director general, Tony Hall, reveals that the corporation spent 194m on presenters and other on-air talent in the year to the end of March, down from 200m the previous year. He will also seek to raise morale among staff battered by years of cost-cutting another 415 job losses were announced in BBC News last week by revealing that some of the money freed up by the efficiency drive will be reinvested in a 4 boost to the content budget over the next three years. - theguardian.com

Sunday 20 July 2014, PM

BBC iPlayer glitch takes down top TV shows | Media | The Guardian

The issues also affected publication of videos on the BBC website. The BBC News website appeared to working normally again on Sunday afternoon. - theguardian.com

Fox, Time Warner, and Rupert Murdoch's last game of thrones | Media | The Observer

After a two-week hiatus that had some wondering if he'd gone for good, Rupert Murdoch is back on Twitter. Murdoch had been organising the biggest deal of his storied career an 80bn bid for Time Warner by 21st Century Fox, his entertainment conglomerate. Disney, Fox, Time Warner, Viacom are all big businesses, but Google and Apple are each worth more than the combined market values of the media firms. - theguardian.com