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MPs to hold BBC Dyson Report hearing

Following a private meeting of the UK House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Chair Julian Knight has confirmed that it will hold an evidence session to examine questions raised by the report from Lord Dyson investigating the circumstances around the 1995 Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales. The session, which is […]

May 25, 2021By Colin Mann

Six Nations Rugby staying FTA with BBC, ITV

Following earlier speculation, Six Nations Rugby has confirmed that it has entered into exclusive discussions with BBC and ITV to share broadcast rights after an agreement in principle was reached relating to all three Six Nations Championships (Men’s Guinness Six Nations, Women’s Six Nations and Men’s Under- 20s). Fans will continue to enjoy widespread coverage of […]

May 24, 2021

BBC to air botched Glastonbury concert

The BBC has secured the rights to broadcast footage from Glastonbury’s Live At Worthy Farm concert, and has also commissioned a documentary which will explore behind the scenes at the event. The livestream on May 22nd was disrupted by technical issues, which left hundreds of fans unable to tune in. Many ticket holders, who had […]

May 24, 2021By Colin Mann

Former BBC exec quits Ofcom board; Hall steps down at National Gallery

Tim Suter, who, while a senior BBC executive, was part of the 1996 internal investigation into how discredited reporter Martin Bashir secured an interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, has stepped down from the board of broadcasting regulator Ofcom. Separately Lord (Tony) Hall has stepped down from his role as Chairman of the National Gallery. […]

May 24, 2021By Colin Mann

UK creatives call for transparent PSB discussions

Some 120 public figures, including many from the UK film and TV industries, have written an open letter to Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, complaining that a government panel on the future of public service broadcasting meets in secret, with no undertaking to publish its final report. In the […]

May 21, 2021By Colin Mann

MPs criticise BBC’s financial planning

The Public Accounts Committee of the UK’s House of Commons, in a report – BBC strategic financial management – has expressed concerns that the BBC, “at a critical juncture” in its history, appears “complacent and unconcerned” in the face of a series of commercial and financial challenges: the time people spend using its services is declining it recently lost […]

May 21, 2021By Colin Mann

2021 Champions League, Europa League finals free on BT Sport

BT Sport is making the 2021 UEFA Europa League Final and the UEFA Champions League Final available for everyone in the UK to watch whether on TV, online or on mobile and using the latest broadcast technology. Both finals will be available for free on the BT Sport website, the BT Sport YouTube channel and […]

May 21, 2021

BBC apologises for Diana interview

The BBC has published the Rt Hon Lord Dyson’s independent investigation into the circumstances around the 1995 Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, with Director-General Tim Davie offering a “full and unconditional apology” for the process for securing the interview. The BBC Board appointed Lord Dyson to lead the investigation on November 18th 2020. […]

May 20, 2021

Six Nations set to remain on FTA TV

The Six Nations rugby tournament is expected to remain on free-to-air television, with the rights being shared between BBC and ITV. The Six Nations organisers have been in talks with Sky Sports, BT Sport and Amazon who were each seeking to secure the broadcast rights to the tournament, which would see matches put behind a […]

May 20, 2021

Macron tweet saves France 4

In a tweet, French President Emmanuel Macron has asserted his wish to see linear DTT channel France 4 continue broadcasting, mixing youth and cultural programming. France 4 was set to close on August 19th, after winning a one-year reprieve in 2020, and to be replaced by a fully-digital and on-demand offering. “A channel of animation […]

May 20, 2021From Pascale Paoli-Lebailly in Paris