Advanced Television

MPs call for BBC World Service funding certainty

Three UK House of Commons Select Committees – the Culture, Media and Sport, Foreign Affairs and International Development Committees – have called on the Government to sufficiently resource the BBC World Service so that it is less reliant on the licence fee and short-term funding cycles. The letter calls on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development […]

January 31, 2025By Colin Mann

MPs to probe AI, copyright law

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee and Science, Innovation and Technology Committee of the UK House of Commons will hold a joint evidence session on the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and copyright law. The session, on February 4th, will consider the Government’s recently announced consultation on copyright and AI. MPs will examine the current […]

January 31, 2025By Colin Mann

Vodafone UK tests AST SpaceMobile calls

Vodafone is prepared to go head-to-head this year against Elon Musk’s Starlink in the ‘battle for space connectivity’. AST SpaceMobile (AST) connectivity for the UK and the rest of Europe is likely to start later in 2025. Vodafone is currently using five AST SpaceMobile satellites for its test phone calls but AST will expand its […]

January 30, 2025By Chris Forrester

MPs publish production inquiry evidence

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee of the UK House of Commons has published written evidence submitted to the Committee’s inquiry into British film and high-end TV on TV production ahead of evidence sessions. The widespread challenges being faced by the domestic production sector in getting high-end drama and other television programmes made are highlighted […]

January 24, 2025By Colin Mann

Full fibre reaches half of Scotland

Half of Scottish homes and businesses can now get connected to ultrafast, reliable broadband according to figures from UK digital infrastructure provider Openreach. The company has spent more than £435 million (€515m) on full fibre links for Scotland so far, with 1.45 million properties now able to upgrade and take-up at 38 per cent, ahead […]

January 24, 2025By Colin Mann

CMA to probe Google, Apple mobile ecosystems

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched strategic market status (SMS) investigations in a second area of digital activity: mobile ecosystems. Two investigations – one into Apple and another into Google – will assess in parallel these firms’ position in their respective ‘mobile ecosystems’ which include the operating systems, app stores and browsers […]

January 23, 2025By Colin Mann

Report: Unjustified geo-blocking still a problem

Unjustified geo-blocking which limits consumers’ freedom by restricting their access to online goods and services across the EU remains a problem, according to a new report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA). While the 2018 Geo-blocking Regulation aimed to address such discrimination based on nationality or residence, it still faces practical challenges in the […]

January 21, 2025By Colin Mann

Carr named FCC Chairman

US President Donald Trump has signed an order that designates Commissioner Brendan Carr as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. In a Statement, Carr said: “I am deeply grateful to President Trump and honoured by his decision to designate me as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. I have had the privilege of working at […]

January 21, 2025By Colin Mann

Openreach ramps up copper switch-off

UK digital infrastructure provider Openreach has announced a record number of 163 new exchange locations, covering more than 960,000 premises across the UK, where the business plans to halt the sale of traditional copper-based phone and broadband services to encourage people to upgrade to new digital services over an ultrafast Full Fibre connection. The business […]

January 20, 2025By Colin Mann

£60m boost for UK creative industries

The UK Government has injected £60 million (€71m) in funding into hundreds of creative businesses and projects as part of its modern Industry Strategy to grow the UK economy. The investment package is aimed at investments for grassroots music venues, start-up video game studios and creative businesses to grow music and film exports, driving innovation […]

January 17, 2025By Colin Mann