Rob Webster, BSkyB’s group commercial director, has responded to the BBC’s plea to let it off the £10 million re-transmission fee for relaying regional programmes around the UK. Webster lists a bunch of BBC operational costs including travel, hotels and hospitality then asks: “Now, of those costs, which is the odd one out? Well, it’s […]
Discovery Networks International is launching FTA channel Discovery MAX on January 12th that will be available throughout Spain on the DTT platform on the channel 69 currently occupied by Veo TV. The launch of this new channel on Spain’s DTT is the result of a recent agreement between Discovery Networks and Unidad Editorial in the […]
The Italian government’s special commission (AgCom) has shortlisted eight would-be broadcasting companies for the nation’s auction of six new digital terrestrial TV frequencies following the country’s absolute switch-off of analogue TV broadcasting. Initially, 10 firms submitted bids. Five of the new bundles are for DVB-T broadcasting, while one is for DVB-H. The finalists, together with […]
This weekend, some Freeview viewers will be able to watch Nathan Cleverly defend his WBO World Light- Heavyweight crown against Commonwealth Champion, Tony Bellew. For viewers with the latest generation of Freeview+HD boxes from British manufacturer TVonics, the fight will be streamed live on Freeview Channel 112 at 7pm on October 15th. The live broadcast […]
ITV is restructuring its online and on-demand business to centre on four product categories as it prepares to launch a series of digital innovations, including micropayments on ITV Player. The broadcaster has chosen specific product groups around which it will focus its resources: ITV Player; programme and web support; commerce and ventures; and news and […]
The BBC is firmly behind 3DTV, although Jo Sermon, BBC Worldwide’s director of content strategy, speaking October 3 at the MIPCOM programming market, said the BBC is also playing the long game in that 3D is suitable for play-out on tablets, smart-phones, laptops, 3D-based Internet as well as Blu-ray devices. Sermon told MIPCOM delegates that […]
The Digital Production Partnership (DPP) – a partnership between ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC, with active participation from Channel Five, Sky, UKTV and the Independent Production sector – has revealed two major initiatives in digital production in Television. The first is the release of a report – The Reluctant Revolution – Breaking Down Barriers […]
Freesat has announced that it is adding Massive R to its range of existing music channels: NME TV, Bliss, Chart Show TV, Flava and the Vault. Massive R is the home of R&B and Hip Hop videos, interviews, countdowns and exclusives – and is available on Freesat Channel 518
BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of Britain’s public broadcaster, has issued legal proceedings in Italy alleging that Silvio Berlusconi-backed broadcaster Mediaset has illegally copied its Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars format. The Italian writ argues that Baila!, a new Italian show that’s due to air on September 27th, is an illegal copycat of the […]
Private equity fund Permira has cancelled its plans to sell All3Media. UBS had been appointed last March to find a buyer. All3Media is best known for producing hit shows such as Shameless and Skins. Permira had reportedly been looking for about £750 million to £800 million for All3Media, and while plenty of would-be buyers conducted […]