Wednesday 04 June 2014, PM
Media: Google requests; FIFA; Newsweek; Peter Greste
downloads.bbc.co.ukTV Apps Are Soaring in Popularity, Report Says
When it comes to online video, people may not want to cut the cord. Instead, they want to take the cord with them. People are streaming broadcast television on their smartphones in record numbers, according to Adobe’s state-of-the-industry report on digital video viewingbits.blogs.nytimes.com
BBC News - Harman calls for licence fee review
She told Total Politics magazine that the licence fee was a means to an end, not an end in itself. Her comments came a day after comedy producer Armando Iannucci advocated a subscription-based BBC. It was frozen at that figure in the last deal it made with the government in 2010, but the agreement runs out in 2016. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukTuesday 03 June 2014, PM
BBC News Division To Cut 500 Jobs - Forbes
I can exclusively report today that the BBC News is preparing to announce 500 more job losses, as part of its ongoing cost-cutting programme, and that industrial action could well follow. Including new cuts to BBC Radio, the corporation is facing a total of between 550 and 600 redundancies. Next month, the corporation is set to announce that it will cut between 475 and 500 jobs from its News division, with a further 75 to 85 going from its radio operation in the UK as opposed to the World Service, which broadcasts globally. - forbes.comwww.forbes.com
Ariel - Digital radio coverage will reach extra 2m
The corporation said an additional 162 transmitters will boost DAB's potential reach from 93 to 97 of the UK population. It added that this would bring 16,000 homes into the BBC's national coverage area, and improve reception for a further 42,000 households. They can be heard via DAB sets, digital televisions and online. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukMonday 02 June 2014, PM
Ariel - Boost BBC Russian radio, say critics
- bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.uk
BT launches multi-room service for YouView-based BT TV - seenit.co.uk
BT has today launched a multi-room option for its YouView-powered TV service, allowing subscribers to add a second box to their account. The BT TV service offers a bouquet of pay-TV channels delivered over broadband alongside traditional aerial channels and on-demand and pay-per-view video apps. By paying an upfront fee of 99 for the box, and a 5pm subscription, customers can now watch and record all of their additional pay channels in a second room. - seenit.co.ukwww.seenit.co.uk
BBC News - STV Glasgow TV station ready to go on air
STV won the licence for a station focussed on the Glasgow area in January 2013. The new station will be broadcast across Freeview, Sky and cable. STV says local TV represents a 1 million investment for the company and expects the stations to be breaking even within a year. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukGoogle planning Android TV launch - informitv
Google is reported to be planning to launch its new Android TV platform at its annual technology conference in San Francisco. Android TV will apparently be a platform that manufacturers can use to offer streaming media and games, rather than a device. So will Android TV finally succeed where Google TV dramatically failed - informitv.cominformitv.comUltra High Definition broadcasts begin - informitv
The French Open tennis tournament has seen the first 4K television transmissions over a digital terrestrial television network using H.265 compression. Channel 4K in Japan has begun the first regular broadcasts of 4K Ultra HD programming. The football World Cup in Brazil will be a major test bed for Ultra High Definition television coverage, but only a few people will be able to see it in their homes. - informitv.cominformitv.com
Good Morning Britain 'heading for the chop after ratings slump' (and not even host Susanna Reid can pull in the viewers)
Since it launched to a grand fanfare at the end of April, ratings have plummeted as viewers continue to tune in to Reid's former show BBC Breakfast. For the past fortnight the programme has failed to reach the 15 per cent of the audience share bosses reportedly said it needed to survive, and the show is being watched by fewer people than flop Daybreak - which it was brought in to replace. 'But we do want it to get above 15 percent - or it is toast.' Good Morning Britain's high profile launch came after its predecessor Daybreak was dropped for low audience figures. - dailymail.co.ukwww.dailymail.co.ukSunday 01 June 2014, PM
Netflix chief product officer: 'a separate, distinct channel for each customer' - Business - theguardian.com
At least, that's according to Neil Hunt, the chief product officer at Netflix. Hunt, who delivered a keynote speech at the 2014 Internet Week in New York, predicts that personalization and on-demand viewing and streaming are really the way of the future when it comes to entertainment. They are also part of his plan to have Netflix defeat its rivals in entertainment. - theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comCould Britain get more bang for its public service broadcasting billions? - Media - The Guardian
S4C, which makes Hinterland, needs to be regarded as a national treasure, not a poor relative, says chief executive Ian Jones. Photograph - Last week Ian Jones, the chief executive of S4C, made an impassioned plea for the survival of the Welsh language broadcaster. The future of the broadcaster is intertwined with the BBC, and yet no guarantee has been given on funding beyond early 2017, with the key questions on level and length of support hammered out as part of the charter renewal process. - theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comSunday 01 June 2014, AM
Lord Coe for the BBC? Remind me of his qualifications again - Catherine Bennett - Comment is free - The Observer
Equally, it could have been written to demoralise fellow candidates, several rumoured to be women. Even allowing for their comparative inexperience in delivering Games on time and on an admittedly insane budget, it could be difficult for the non-athletes among them to rival sporting techniques that Coe, having once refined them on the track, still insists are transferable into any sphere. As for courage, Coe himself has remarked on women's woeful lack of confidence in fitness matters. - gu.comgu.com
Diane Coyle interview: ‘The BBC must kick off its comfy old slippers’ - TV Radio - Media - The Independent
Ms Coyles comments on diversity place added pressure on the BBC in the wake of a high-profile campaign led by Lenny Henry to improve representation of black and other ethnic minorities among the corporations staff. The BBC needs to do more to reflect Britain as a whole, she believes, including rural communities, different socio-economic groups and those with strong regional identities. I think the one thing that I would like to make progress on most quickly is the diversity of the BBC on screen, she said. - independent.co.ukwww.independent.co.ukUshering Seb Coe into the BBC chair is not independence, but interference - Media - The Observer
The BBC is looking for a new trust chairman, a supreme regulator/leader. Does Lord Coe know anything much about broadcasting He was a great runner and masterminded a great Olympics. - theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comSaturday 31 May 2014, AM
YouView expands to build cloud PVRs and give personal recommendations - Recombu
YouView is hiring TV techies to build a smarter service with cloud-based recording and personal recommendations that can handle peak-time viewing with ease. The free-to-view TV platform is expanding its tech team from 80 to 130 engineers as it aims for the two million UK homes barrier, with a goal of 10 million. Weve got over a million customers and thats increasing rapidly so were eyeing the 2 million mark in the near future and YouView has ambitions to be in 10 million homes in the UK, Lomax said. - recombu.comrecombu.com
Ariel - Outstanding individual wanted as chair of the trust
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport published the job advert for the 110,000 a year vacancy on Friday, with applications set to close on June 20. They are seeking an 'outstanding individual with significant leadership skills' to head the trust, which has 11 trustees and a deputy chair. The advert highlights the need for the new chair to lead BBC discussions about its new Royal Charter, as one of the most significant responsibilities in their four year term. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukBBC Radio Explorer: a new way to listen to radio
Unusually, this one is visible to the public, if you know where to look. Type something that you're interested in, and the service plays you clips and programmes that it thinks you'll like one after the other. You can skip forward and back to different clips, and a quite clever progress bar shows you images of what's coming up, while the current programme slowly disappears. - mediauk.comwww.mediauk.comFriday 30 May 2014, PM
Media Talk podcast: eight years later - what's changed?
download.guardian.co.ukBBC fails to air Shipping Forecast for first time in more than 50 years - Media - theguardian.com
BBC Radio 4s Shipping Forecast ran into choppy waters after failing to air for the first time in more than 50 years. The BBC radio service is something of an institution, metronomically broadcasting four forecasts a day since 1924, a routine which failed for the first time at 5.20am on Friday. A technical glitch meant the BBC's World Service was played in its place, a gaffe that prompted listeners to take to Twitter to voice their bewilderment. - gu.comgu.comPublic Appointments - Cabinet Office
Time Requirements The time commitment for Trust Chairman is 3- 4 days per week or 12-16 days per month. Closing Date 20/06/2014 Interviews Interviews are scheduled to be held in the week beginning 28 July 2014. The BBC exists to serve the public interest. - publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.ukpublicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.ukWednesday 28 May 2014, PM
Media: New Chair of IPSO; the Duchess's bottom line.
downloads.bbc.co.uk
Ofcom - Consultation on future use of the 700 MHz band - Cost-benefit analysis of changing its use to mobile services
- stakeholders.ofcom.org.ukWednesday 28 May 2014, AM
Freesat links with Curzon to offer pay-per-view movies - Media - theguardian.com
Blue Is the Warmest Colour will be available on Freesat thanks to a deal with Curzon. Freesat has been talking about adding pay-TV options to its premium service, called Freetime, since September 2012. To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email mediatheguardian.com or phone 020 3353 3857. - theguardian.comwww.theguardian.com
How Disney learned to stop worrying and love copyright infringement - Salon.com
The soundtrack to Frozen has sold 2.7 million copies. According to the Wall Street Journal, some 60,000 fan-made versions of Let It Go have been watched more than 60 million times. The authorized film clip featuring the song has been viewed over 147 million times. - salon.comwww.salon.comFancy a tour of Broadcasting House? diamond geezer
The BBC runs them daily, allowing access inside the corporation's 1930s HQ and the much more recent extension. Book in advance, stump up 13.50 for the privilege, and you could be looking round tomorrow. The curving outside with its embedded artwork, for example. - diamondgeezer.blogspot.co.ukdiamondgeezer.blogspot.co.ukTuesday 27 May 2014, PM
Carry On YouView Regardless, BBC Trust tells the BBC • The Register
ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 shared these concerns they needed a modern distribution system, and so they together founded YouView. Here, in 2014, we have a million and one ways to get UK channels from apps in smart TVs and over-the-top services to the broadcasters' own on-demand services such as iPlayer or 4oD. All this means the case for YouView is far less certain than it used to be. - theregister.co.ukwww.theregister.co.uk
Return of the Mack on our new channel - Feed - Glasgow
It's the return of the Mack - Mrs Mack that is. - glasgow.stv.tvglasgow.stv.tvBBC licence fee top-slicing not on agenda of Ofcom review - Media - theguardian.com
Ofcom has said it will not ask or answer questions about the BBC that will be covered by the royal charter review. The review will cover the period from 2008 to 2013 inclusive, as well as looking at how the market might develop over the next five years and beyond. Ofcom said its initial analysis of the sector will run until the autumn, a public consultation will follow, ending in the spring. - theguardian.comwww.theguardian.com
RadioToday - Over half of new cars now have DAB radio
Fifty five per-cent of new cars now come with digital radio as standard, up from 37 a year ago. The news comes from The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, who say demand for the new 14-plate saw March 2014 reach 464,824 new car registrations, a rise of 17.7, the highest in a decade. Record new car sales and the move to fitting digital radio mean that in 2014 to date over 440,000 vehicles have been sold with digital radio as standard an increase of 62 on last year. - radiotoday.co.ukradiotoday.co.ukMonday 26 May 2014, PM
Media Monkey's Diary: Times loses its religion, BBC Radio 4 plugs - Media - The Guardian
Ruth Gledhill the Times religious correspondent was reportedly offered an unholy crime role on the Sun. She declined to swap saints for sinners but is bound to resurface at a more godfearing paper, or perhaps one friendlier to middle-aged women. A fortnight after Monkey drew attention to the regime change at Horse Hound, the rightwing press has stirred from its slumbers, as if awakened by the sound of unrest in the shires. - theguardian.comwww.theguardian.com
Distrust Your Data - Learning - Source: An OpenNews project
In other words, its journalism that starts from interrogating the dataand applies the same skepticism and rigor that we apply to the testimony of an expert contacted by traditional phone-assistedreporting. All of which is to say that data journalism inherits a long tradition of journalists working with data, and that comes with the heavy responsibility to get it right. Specifically, to paraphase something I heard at a NICAR conference once fear and paranoia are the best friends a data journalist can have. - source.opennews.orgsource.opennews.orgAbsolute Radio: how their new playlist choice at breakfast works
In many of my speaking engagements, I talk about the opportunities that digital offers radio stations - particularly in terms of brand extensions. Absolute have always wished to offer the kind of engagement and entertainment that radio listeners expect at breakfast time, and this simulcast also offers a larger opportunity in terms of breakfast sponsorshop and promotions, one of the largest money-spinners for the station. But, since 2008, the listeners to - say - Absolute 80s haven't been given 80s music during the breakfast show. - mediauk.comwww.mediauk.comSaturday 24 May 2014, AM
Women dominate shortlist to succeed Lord Patten at BBC - Media - The Guardian
Chris Patten unexpectedly stepped down as chair earlier this month due to ill health. Senior broadcasting figures have been asked for their opinions on a group of potential candidates, with Dame Marjorie Scardino, the former chief executive of the company behind the Financial Times, also on the list. The 110,000-a-year, four-days-a-week job has not yet been advertised and those listed have not been approached, but the Department for Culture DCMS wants to establish who it should take seriously or perhaps invite to apply. - theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comFriday 23 May 2014, PM
BBC legal chief warns that Bribery Act can make foreign newsgathering very difficult - Press Gazette
Many journalists may have failed to understand the extent to which the Bribery Act 2010 could affect their activities, the head of the BBC's editorial legal group told a conference. Section 1 of the Act made it an offence to offer, promise or give a financial or other advantage to another person with the intention of inducing or rewarding improper performance of a relevant function or activity. The result was that the small unofficial payments often made to secure necessary actions by very low-level government officials could be caught by the Act, as there was no lower limit on a payment. - pressgazette.co.ukwww.pressgazette.co.ukESPN fined for failing to provide enough audio description - Media - theguardian.com
Ofcom found that ESPN provided less than half of the required amount of audio description for visually impaired viewers. ESPN has been fined 120,000 for failing to provide enough audio description around programmes for blind and visually impaired viewers. Media regulator Ofcom has fined the broadcaster after an investigation, conducted last year. - theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comFriday 23 May 2014, AM
Media Talk podcast: Channel 4 and ITV share spoils at the Baftas
download.guardian.co.ukDame Marjorie Scardino: The tycoon tipped to head the BBC Trust and a city that will never forgive her
The arc of the newspapers rise and fall at first seems unexceptional. Their paper for a while snatched the county legal notices from the Press titles. The Scardinos were to survive their disappointment, and more. - independent.co.ukwww.independent.co.ukThursday 22 May 2014, PM
The Godzillas of cable TV have come to wreak havoc on your wallet - Money - theguardian.com
Another month another Godzilla-sized deal in the communications industry that almost certainly will end up having a direct impact on what kinds of services cable, Internet, satellite, phone you receive and how much you pay for them. Rather, the 48.5bn pact by ATT to acquire DirecTV will, if it comes to fruition, bring together representatives of the two biggest challengers to cables attempts to be a one-stop-shop for all our entertainment needs the traditional phone companies and the satellite television business. ATT will use its savings from the merger to bolster its broadband services, especially in areas where broadband isnt available today. - theguardian.comwww.theguardian.com
Ariel - BBC launches online service in Welsh
22 May 2014 Last updated at 0947 The BBC has launched a new online service for Welsh speakers. Available on computer, tablet and mobile, the service will feature a stream of short news updates - refreshed between 8am and 6pm on weekdays - as well as a magazine section with articles, opinions, blogs and photo galleries. It will provide easy access to other Welsh language content like weather forecasts and the Radio Cymru website, as well as links to suggested external sites. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukBBC given approval to continue as YouView partner with technical change - Media - theguardian.com
The BBC has been given approval to remain a YouView partner. To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email mediatheguardian.com or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. - theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comThursday 22 May 2014, AM
Ariel - BBCs world output should be mobile-first
The suggestions were published in his assessment on how news could help double the BBC's international audience to 500 million by 2022, when the corporation marks its centenary. - bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.ukWednesday 21 May 2014, PM
Wednesday 21 May 2014, AM
Freeview still has government support, says Ed Vaizey - Media - theguardian.com
Vaizey was responding to concerns raised by Caroline Thomson, the chair of industry body Digital UK, who has repeatedly warned that Freeview faces a threat from mobile companies looking for more access to the airwaves to provide enhanced services to customers. Vaizey pointed out that there was also serious industry concern about the potential for the launch of 4G services to cause TV interference. To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email mediatheguardian.com or phone 020 3353 3857. - theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comFriday 16 May 2014, PM
New TV channel set to broadcast in Sheffield - The Star
A new television channel dedicated to Sheffield should be on screens by autumn, the stations boss has said. TV, said it is hoped the station will be up and running by September. The channel, which will be available on Freeview, will broadcast round the clock although most new programmes will be shown between the peak times of 6pm and 11pm, with repeats being shown throughout the day. - thestar.co.ukwww.thestar.co.ukBT YouView+ Humax DTR-T2100 review - Pocket-lint
YouView isn't standing still and the YouView hardware supplied by BT isn't either. The first generation of box - the Humax DTR-T1000- coped well enough, but had problems from the start it was slow to respond, which detracted from the overall experience, and the fan was pretty noisy too. However, the YouView platform is still the same, so whether you have the new box or old one it won't make a difference to what you can watch. - pocket-lint.comwww.pocket-lint.comBBC Panorama editor Tom Giles leaves role after four years - Media - theguardian.com
Tom Giles leaving Panorama for a new role designing the future of current affairs at the BBC. It is understood that Giles is to be charged with a new role designing the future of current affairs at the BBC. Despite pressure from some senior executives, Panorama turned its spotlight on the corporation itself during the Savile scandal. - theguardian.comwww.theguardian.comFriday 16 May 2014, AM
US should not adopt “information warfare” approach - Reporters Without Borders
In 1976, President Gerald Ford enshrined the principle of accurate, objective, and comprehensive broadcasting in VOAs charter. The International Communications Reform Act reverses the priorities of the 1994 law currently in effect. Programming focused on the United States and its foreign policy would be more important that providing independent news and information to the population of countries where it is otherwise inaccessible. - en.rsf.orgen.rsf.orgThursday 15 May 2014, PM
Glasgow TV gets ready to gallop onto your screens - Feed - Glasgow
If you've spotted a cone-clad man upon a horse today, don't worry, you haven't lost the plot. Twitter exploded with countless pictures of the Duke of Wellington coming alive and trotting around the city centre. We'll be bringing you a handy roundup of the best of these in just a few short minutes. - glasgow.stv.tvglasgow.stv.tvpick a page