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Catch Up

ITV restructure reflects changing viewing habits

UK commercial PSB ITV is to restructure its broadcast business in a move it says will better reflect and serve changing viewing habits. ITV will establish a new Media and Entertainment Division with two new business units – Broadcast and On-Demand. The Broadcast business will continue to deliver ITV’s USP of mass simultaneous reach. ITV’s […]

October 20, 2020

Research: Lockdown increases parents’ illegal downloads

The majority of parents who have previously downloaded illegal content for their kids said they have done so more during lockdown, according to a new report from online safety advisory body Internet Matters. Nearly six out of 10 parents (56 per cent) who admitted to illegally downloading content for their kids to watch said they […]

October 20, 2020By Colin Mann

Research: Consumers delving deeper into VoD libraries

SVoD has solidified its position as a clear consumer favourite in the entertainment landscape, as the pandemic has accelerated its adoption in 2020, building on already strong momentum. Futuresource Consulting’s latest Living With Digital survey provides further detail on the evolution of the overall VoD sector, which also shows a marked increase in transactional digital […]

October 14, 2020

Ofcom consults on BBC Sounds

UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom is inviting evidence on the market position and impact of BBC Sounds, the Corporation’s streaming media and audio download service that includes live radio, audio-on-demand, and podcasts. Ofcom notes that the audio and radio sector is undergoing a period of rapid change, driven in part by streaming services including global players […]

October 14, 2020By Colin Mann

Freeview Play on Amazon Fire TV Edition

Freeview Play is launching on selected Fire TV Edition TVs, thanks to a new agreement between Digital UK and Amazon. Freeview Play is home to over 85 channels and nine on-demand players; BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My5, UKTV Play, CBS Catchup Channels UK, Horror Bites, STV Player and BBC Sounds. Freeview Play gives […]

October 12, 2020

McQueen’s Small Axe to premiere on BBC One, iPlayer

BBC One has announced that Mangrove, the first film from Steve McQueen’s Small Axe collection of films, will premiere on BBC One and iPlayer on November 15th. The five original films that make up the Small Axe collection by Academy Award, Bafta and Golden Globe-winning filmmaker, McQueen will air weekly on BBC One. The series […]

October 8, 2020By Nik Roseveare

Portugal: SIC launching streaming service

Portuguese commercial broadcaster SIC will launch its streaming service in November. Branded ‘OPTO SIC’, it will be available in two versions – free and premium. Registration is open now, with the free version providing access to a catalogue of programmes, including TV series, documentaries and soap operas. The premium version, which will cost €3.99 per […]

October 7, 2020From Branislav Pekic in Rome

Italy: VoD close to overtaking linear TV

The increased time spent at home during the pandemic has led to a boom in demand for video streaming in Italy. On September 27th, the Digital Auditel (the ‘Total Audience’, which measures consumption through connected devices) set a new record, with 3.18 million hours of use. Research carried out by Samsung among Smart TV owners […]

October 5, 2020From Branislav Pekic in Rome

BBC to screen ‘milestone’ female explorer doc

Think you know the Vikings? According to a new BBC documentary, you might have to reappraise your views. For a long time, the Viking Era has been portrayed as a society of fierce macho warriors and intrepid male travelers. But recent discoveries have inspired a rethink and unearthed the incredible stories of Viking Age women. […]

October 1, 2020by Angharad Rhiannon

Report: Addressable ads drive consumer engagement

Research from addressable TV provider Finecast suggest that consumers are more likely to engage with relevant TV ads. The Thinking Inside the Box study into TV viewing habits and addressable advertising in 2020 was conducted in collaboration with research and insight firm DRG, and was designed to understand both the viewer and the industry’s perceptions […]

September 29, 2020