Kiss Fresh launches on Freeview to reach 20m homes - Music Week

Bauer Media UKs Kiss Fresh has become available in almost 20 million homes today after the commercial radio station launched on Freeview. Kiss channel 713 is already available on the Freeview platform, as is Kiss Freshs sister digital station Kisstory. Kiss Fresh will be available on channel 712, where it will replace Smash Hits Radio. - musicweek.com

www.musicweek.com

Ofcom - Report on a possible low-cost DAB platform for small stations

As no similar study had previously been carried out, the test was a valuable exercise to inform policy makers of the practicalities of low cost DAB solutions when used to serve small areas, particularly from a single transmitter. As well as testing the viability and reliability of new wireless techniques for generating a Eureka 147 DAB compliant signal in a real world scenario and it also allowed various measurements, and comparisons with existing multiplexes to be made. The experiment successfully demonstrated that much of the infrastructure can now easily be implemented in software, and that integration with public IP networks improves accessibility while reducing the capital and operating costs quite dramatically. - stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

informitv - BBC and Sky lead UK Ultra HD Forum

The group will co-ordinate national requirements to enable interoperability and examine whether there is a requirement for an Ultra HD profile for the United Kingdom. With some 4K resolution displays already on the market, a key requirement will be agreement on specifications to ensure that they are fully compatible with any future services. It will also be desirable to avoid the confusion caused by the rush to launch 3D displays and services, with competing approaches to delivery and presentation, which compromised quality and the consumer experience. - informitv.com

informitv.com

Making TVs smart: why Google and Netflix want to reinvent the remote control Tech News and Analysis

Making TVs smartis a three-part series that looks at why smart TVs have failed to take off and what needs to happen for these devices to realize their vast potential. When Google TV debuted back in 2010, it represented a radical take on smart TVs. Google wanted to combine live TV with internet content, and offer viewers a seamless way to switch from an ABC broadcast to a Netflix stream. - gigaom.com

gigaom.com

Channel 4 is still waiting for its creative renewal

If Channel 5 was mocking, how must Channel 4s founding chief executive Jeremy Isaacs have felt about such a depressing exercise in freak-show television, even if it delivered one of its few ratings successes of the year Frows swagger was no doubt based partly on Channel 5 having briefly overtaken its rival in the ratings, buoyed by its cricket rights and the popularity of Big Brother. These are very difficult times for Channel 4 and the chief creative officer Jay Hunt tried to come back fighting last week with an interview in The Times. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

Chromecast, Simply and Cheaply, Flings Web Video to TVs - NYTimes.com

We are engaged in a great civil movement, testing whether that business, or any business so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. The number of people who cut the cord, or cancel the satellite, in favor of getting all their TV from the Internet is still small maybe 1 percent of us a year. It looks like a portly flash drive or maybe a fat keychain and it costs 35. - nytimes.com

www.nytimes.com

Your TV might be watching you - Aug. 1, 2013

Samsung sent a software update to all affected TVs. Without proper security controls, there's little to stop hackers from invading users' privacy, stealing personal information or spying on people. That gave hackers access to all the functions controlled by the browser, including the TV's built-in camera. - money.cnn.com

money.cnn.com

TiVo, media center PC makers alarmed by CableCard-cutting bill - Ars Technica

The CableCardthat small slab that lets a TiVo tune into cable by authenticating its connectionwould lose a regulatory safeguard under a bill nearing introduction in Congress. He predicted higher prices for CableCards that will be left out of new features. Nobody here seems to love CableCard all that muchit had one job, to promote an open market for cable gear, and it hasn't done that. - arstechnica.com

arstechnica.com

BT Sport peaks with 200k on launch - News - Broadcast

BT Sport peaked with 207,500 (1.21%) viewers on its opening night as sports fans tuned in to see Bayern Munich versus Manchester City. The peak was reached during the five minutes from 7:35pm, just after the friendly kicked off on BT Sport 1. - broadcastnow.co.uk

www.broadcastnow.co.uk

BT and Vodafone among telecoms companies passing details to GCHQ - Business - The Guardian

It emerged GCHQ was able to tap into fibre-optic cables and store huge volumes of data for up to 30 days. That operation, codenamed Tempora, has been running for 20 months. The paper said it had seen a copy of an internal GCHQ powerpoint presentation from 2009 discussing Tempora. - theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com

BBC - Blogs - Internet blog - What's on BBC Red Button 3 - 10 August

The school holidays are finally here and the BBC Red Button has something for all ages this week. CBeebies kicks off the summertime with a jam-packed offering of adventure and intrigue, alongside our usual generous portion of sporting action and unmissable live music. Ensure you dont miss a moment of the fun with this weeks Red Button highlights. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

TV viewing habit changes push bandwidth demands - Advanced Television

However, for those who are under age 35, the figure jumps to 70 per cent. For example, one-third of survey respondents said they own both a smart-phone and a tablet device, and members of that group reported that they are using at least one of those devices during almost half the time they are watching television. More than 80 per cent of these heavy users of mobile devices say they connect them to their broadband service via Wi-Fi when they are using them at home. - advanced-television.com

advanced-television.com

BBC News - Ofcom: Many Britons have no plans to use 4G

Just under a quarter of UK smartphone users have no intention of signing up to 4G, according to an Ofcom report. Although many people are aware of the existence of 4G mobile data services, they have no immediate plans to upgrade. People are unsure of the benefits of 4G and may have been put off by jargon, according to analysts. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

Feedback: BBC Proms: 2 Aug 2013

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DTG :: News :: O2 switches on 4G network

O2 sets out its plans for its 4G network launch at the end of August. The 4G network will be switched on in London, Leeds and Bradford on 29th August, reaching up to five million people from launch. By the end of the year, O2's 4G network will be live in 13 cities. - dtg.org.uk

dtg.org.uk

BT loses battle over Sky Sports wholesale deal - Telegraph

The decision, announced on the day BTs own sport channels go on air, means subscribers to BTs YouView packages will not be able to watch the majority of live televised football for the foreseeable future. Ofcom has not rejected the complaint outright, but said today it does not believe BT will be damaged enough to justify emergency action. It said it will not make a full decision for months and potentially not until next year. - telegraph.co.uk

www.telegraph.co.uk

Media Talk podcast: how to succeed in podcasting

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Sky's roving reporter tries to down BT Sport in whirl of rotor blades - Rob Bagchi - Football - The Guardian

She paid for her selflessness and gallantry with her life but her sacrifice ensured that the 20 million people listening to the Ambridge conflagration on the Light Programme were not watching Independent Television's launch. Sky Sports News gave itself an 11-hour start on the broadcaster's new rival with White opening proceedings at 7am in radiant sunshine on a balcony at company HQ in west London, the presenter seemingly more enthusiastic than ever. If at times this seemed to involve frequent strolls down vibrantly painted brick corridors, thrumming commercial-scale drying machines and displays of formation lawn-mowing there was the occasional scoop, none bigger than Doncaster Rovers' signing of One Direction's Louis Tomlinson on non-contract terms. - theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/doctor-who-is-it-identity-of-the-next-time-lord-to-be-revealed-o

The grand ceremony at Elstree Studios, near London, will be broadcast simultaneously to the United States. The Doctor, who famously has the ability to travel through time, also possesses the means to bring the nation to a standstill, the BBC believes. Since William Hartnell made his debut as the first Doctor in 1963 the character has grown to become the most famous science fiction role in television. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk

Dish Hit With 53-Station Blackout in Fight With Raycom - Variety

Satcaster claims Raycom is demanding a fourfold increase in retrans payments over their previous deal, which expired at midnight Eastern on July 31. The Montgomery, Ala.-based broadcaster has said it is asking Dish for retrans fees comparable to what other pay-TV providers pay it. We are ready to listen to a fair proposal from Raycom to bring this impasse to a swift end, Sruta Vootukuru, Dish director of programming, said in a statement released early Thursday morning. - variety.com

variety.com

Review: Sky's ten-quid NOW TV box

It's an interesting time for people who want a little more from their television. It's smaller than a few CD cases stacked on top of one another, and bright white. Plug it in, and after a few tedious minutes connecting it to my wifi using an on-screen keyboard, it downloaded its software, rebooted, and then insisted I sign in with a NOW TV account. - mediauk.com

www.mediauk.com

BT Sport to launch at 6pm today with Jake Humphrey, Clare Balding and more! - Sports Broadcasting - TV Newsroom

The action starts at 6pm tonight with a first night special live show featuring most of the channels new presenters, experts, commentators and special guests. The show will take place in BT Sports brand new studios, giving viewers a taste of what is to come from BT Sport. There will also be 30 exclusively live football Conference matches from the Skrill Premier including the play offs and the Promotion final at Wembley. - tvnewsroom.co.uk

tvnewsroom.co.uk

DTG :: News :: Digital Radio crosses 50% listening barrier

RAJAR, the official body in charge of measuring radio audiences in the UK, released new figures for the consumption of digital radio. For three months to the end of March digital penetration was up from 49.6 to 52.5 in the last quarter. However, the platform accounted for fewer than 37 of the 1bn hours of radio consumed over the period. - dtg.org.uk

dtg.org.uk

Digital radio listening breaks 50% barrier - News - Broadcast

Rajar: The last three months have seen more than half of the UK’s adult population listen to radio via digital platforms for the first time, as 28m tuned in. Digital penetration was up from 49.6% for the three months to the end of March, to 52.5% in the last quarter. But the platform accounted for just under 37% of the 1bn hours consumed over the period. - broadcastnow.co.uk

www.broadcastnow.co.uk

Ariel - BBC Four controller role scrapped

This means the channel will no longer commission original UK drama or history programmes for the foreseeable future. Factual output will focus on specialist subjects, and the channel will continue to show new comedies and foreign language dramas. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

Ofcom - The Communications Market Report: United Kingdom

Huge growth in take-up of smartphones and tablets is creating a nation of media multi-taskers, transforming the traditionalliving room of our parents and grandparents into a digital media hub. However, an increasing array of digital media are now vying for their attention. People are streaming videos, firing off instant messages and updating their social media status - all while watching more TV than before. - stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

Sky in PSB talks over retransmission fees - News - Broadcast

BSkyB is hoping to hammer out commercial agreements with each of the public service broadcasters in a bid to defuse the row over retransmission fees. The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) this week said it “does not expect” Sky to “charge the PSBs any costs associated with transmission” and threatened to change broadcasting legislation if the matter is not resolved. - broadcastnow.co.uk

www.broadcastnow.co.uk

A 'nation of media multi-taskers': The latest Ofcom communications results - News - theguardian.com

Four in five parents said their children used a tablet computer at least weekly, in the latest Ofcom communications report. More and more of us are regularly engaging in media multi-tasking' according to the latest Ofcom communications market report, with more than half of UK adults regularly using other media whilst watching TV. In fact, live TV accounted for 90 of all viewing in 2012, with the average time spent watching TV increasing to just over four hours per person. - theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com

Mobile networks hand small fortune to shareholders – but little to taxpayers - Business - The Guardian

On 27 April 2000, after seven tense weeks, the British government's largest ever auction of a national asset came to a spectacular end. In the dizzy days of the dotcom boom, five mobile phone networks had offered to pay a total of 22.5bn for the right to operate the 3G licences that would bring the internet to mobile phones. However, while the ability of networks to invest in the masts needed to broadcast 3G around the country was undoubtedly hampered, 13 years later it is the British taxpayer rather than the industry that is counting the cost. - theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com

Tax breaks used by mobile phone networks face scrutiny - Business - The Guardian

Parliament is to open a new front in the corporation tax war by asking auditors to lift the lid on the tax breaks exploited by multinationals in sectors ranging from the internet to infrastructure. She is asking government accountants to investigate whether the vast array of reliefs offered by the taxman are being misused. Her comments were in response to a Guardian investigation published on Wednesday, which reveals that three of the UK's four networks are paying little or no corporation tax while sharing billions in dividends, management fees and royalties with their multinational owners. - theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com

RAJAR - radio's new listening figures, with graphs back to 1999

Discovering the real stories behind the latest RAJAR figures couldn't be easier. Get a simple overview Get the best and simplest overview on our radio data pages. See stations ranked by audience, hours or share or see the winners and losers this time around. - mediauk.com

www.mediauk.com

BBC News - Living room TV is making a comeback, says Ofcom

Communications regulator Ofcom said 91 of adults watched their main TV set once a week - up from 88 in 2002 - but their attention may be distracted. Most family members now multi-tasked while sitting in front of the TV, the survey of 3,700 over 16s found. Family members are being brought together just as they were in the 1950s when a TV was likely to be a home's only screen. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

BBC News - O2 4G mobile network launch date announced for the UK

The service - offering higher mobile data speeds than 3G - will initially be available in London, Leeds and Bradford. O2 said it planned to extend the service to a further 10 cities by the year's end. It will compete against EE, which is already offering 4G data to 15 cities and has a cheaper basic tariff than O2's lowest-cost option. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

Digital Radio listening continues to rise : Radio Today

RAJAR figures for Quarter 2, 2013 show 91 of the adult population are listening to the radio, with 1.5 million more since this time last year. Average hours remains static at 21.3 per week, and the share of all radio listening via digital radio now stands at 36.8 compared with 34.3 last quarter. The share of analogue listening in the UK is now at its lowest ever, at 58.6 of listening hours, including in-car listening. - radiotoday.co.uk

radiotoday.co.uk

The living room makes a comeback, and it has technology to thank - Technology - The Guardian

With an array of smaller screens on hand, the average home has more than three types of internet device. A study by the communications watchdog Ofcom has found families are once again gathering around the main television set, but they are bringing their tablets and smartphones with them. Viewing has been steadily rising, and we now spend an average of four hours a day watching television, 18 minutes more than in 2004. - theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com

BT Sport’s opening night free on Freeview and Sky - Recombu

Coverage kicks off at 6pm on August 1, on Freeview channel 57, Sky channel 413, BT Vision channel 945 and online, with free coverage until 12.45am. We have some tremendously talented presenters and experts who are passionate about sport. The customers are the ones that matter and now they will be able to see the programmes for themselves. - recombu.com

recombu.com

Media: Sun+, BT Sport, Twitter row

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Channel 4 rapped for airing alcohol ads when kids were likely to be watching - Media - theguardian.com

The Big Bang Theory Channel 4 was criticised for running alcohol ads during the hit show. Other broadcasters including Discovery and Comedy Central have also fallen foul of rules on alcohol advertising to children. The Advertising Standards Authority found seven cases of broadcasters breaking the rules relating to alcohol advertising which bans ads in or around programmes targeted or likely to appeal to under-18s after acting on research from an Ofcom investigation. - theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com

Microsoft forced to rename SkyDrive following trademark case with broadcaster - The Verge

A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the name change to The Verge. Although the case never made it to court, German company Metro AG took issue with Microsoft's use of the word Metro throughout its marketing and branding. - theverge.com

www.theverge.com

BBC News - Google Chromecast takes on streaming content to TV

Google's Chromecast is a device which plugs into your television, allowing users to stream content like web video and music wirelessly from a mobile device or laptop. The dongle was released last week at an aggressive price of 35 23, and represents yet another foray for the firm into television hardware, having previously struggled to make much impact with its separate Google TV project. The device currently only works with a few mobile apps, but many more are expected to come on stream shortly. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

BBC iPlayer - Help - Can I use BBC iPlayer with Android 4.3?

If you have both the apps installed before upgrading to Android 4.3 from Android 4.2 iPlayer should continue to work. If you don't have the apps installed the apps will not be visible in the Google Play store until the next updates. As such, be aware that if you have Android 4.3 and iPlayer is working, uninstalling any of the apps will cause problems. - iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk

iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk

BBC gets green light for pre-watershed 'shagging' - Media Monkey - Media - theguardian.com

- theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com

Connectivity, Content and Consumers Britain’s digital platform for growth

It can, at times, be hard to remember what life was like before smartphones, social networking and catch-up television. The internet has transformed our lives and, as well as changing the way we interact with each other, new technologies like these – and the digital infrastructure upon which they rely – underpin the UK’s economic ambitions for the future. The UK has built strong digital foundations, and we are reaping the benefits, but in the face of rapid change, we cannot afford to be complacent. Following a two year review of the media and telecommunications sectors, this paper identifies four areas for action: - www.gov.uk

www.gov.uk

Ofcom approves South Wales DAB extension : Radio Today

Now Digitals request to extend the coverage area and change the frequency of its local DAB multiplex for Cardiff Newport has been approved. Two responses were made to the consultation by Ofcom, both of which were in support of the request. This move is part of a wider expansion of DAB digital radio coverage across Wales during the next year. - radiotoday.co.uk

radiotoday.co.uk

DCMS to abolish retransmission fees - News - Broadcast

The government plans to abolish retransmission fees and has set out plans to preserve the prominence of PSB broadcasters in a wide-ranging policy paper. The 46-page report, titled Connectivity, Content and Consumers, sets out a number of changes the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) wants to make to the 2003 Communications Act. - broadcastnow.co.uk

www.broadcastnow.co.uk

BBC News - UK completes digital switchover for 4G mobile networks

Engineers are expected to sign off on work in the north-east of Scotland and the Western Isles, paving the way for more 4G super-fast mobile networks. More than 270 transmitters have had their signals realigned. Despite the achievement, most of the UK's networks have yet to set a date for the launch of their 4G services. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

BBC News - Plan to tackle UK rural mobile black spots revealed

30 July 2013 Last updated at 1103 ET The government has published details of its plan to provide mobile coverage to 60,000 homes and businesses currently in black spots before the end of 2015. It has named which parts of the country will share cash set aside for the project, and the order in which they will receive this investment. The Scottish Highlands are among areas where the work will be completed last. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

BBC - Blogs - Internet blog - BBC R D in session: IP based future in broadcasting

We started this at the end of 2012, with a day looking at broadcasting in 2020 - where the industry is headed and what the pitfalls are along the way. Last week, we held the second event - focusing on the move to an IP based future in broadcasting, looking at content creation, consumption, and distribution. The event was chaired by BBC News senior correspondent Nick Higham. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

Ariel - Countryfile breached guidelines on product prominence

In editions on 18 November and 9 December, both presenters wore items from the outdoor gear company Rab. Extra measures were taken to avoid undue prominence when the problem emerged in the final stages of editing. Countryfile, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last Sunday, is one of the BBC's most popular factual programmes and draws an average of six million viewers. - bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

Newspapers cannot be trusted to regulate themselves, say readers

Newspapers that are vehemently opposed to a Parliament-approved royal charter on press regulation are at odds with the views of their own readers, a YouGov survey has found. Among readers of The Times and the Telegraph, there was backing of more than three-to-one in favour of Parliaments charter 62 per cent to 18 per cent. Among tabloid newspapers, support for the politicians charter was almost as great, with 48 per cent of Daily Mail readers favouring the Parliament model compared to 17 per cent for the press industry charter, and similar splits among readers of the Mirror 48-16 per cent and The Sun 38-17 per cent. - independent.co.uk

www.independent.co.uk