Keep up with the daily developments that effect free TV in the UK. This list is updated often - you can follow
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Podcasts
First, here are some podcasts to listen to - click the link for direct play.
Media Talk podcast: Nick Grimshaw and the missing million Media Talk podcast: Nick Grimshaw and the missing million Media Talk podcast: Radioplayer and Simon Cowell Recommended reading
And here are the daily recommendations for developments with Freeview, Freesat, Freesat from Sky, Digital radio, free HD and online viewing. Summaries are done by
Clipped-Your articles and documents summarizedFriday 23 November 2012, PM
Ofcom - TV white spaces - A consultation on white space device requirementsx
ITV Border News: A research report for Ofcomx
Ofcom delays awarding local TV licences - News - BroadcastIt takes just 2 minutes and offers full, instant access to the Broadcast website along with a copy of the magazine delivered every week. - broadcastnow.co.uk
UKTV secures fourth Freeview slot - News - BroadcastIt takes just 2 minutes and offers full, instant access to the Broadcast website along with a copy of the magazine delivered every week. - broadcastnow.co.uk
Ofcom delays local TV licence decision - Media - guardian.co.ukOfcom has delayed the decision on awarding the eight remaining local TV licences, including Londons, which will cater for 4.3 million households. This delay means the local TV licence for the London area, which caters for 4.3 million homes, is expected to be awarded by the end of February. The five London bidders had been told informally by Ofcom to expect a decision in November. - guardian.co.uk
Friday 23 November 2012, AM
Pollard findings delayed until December - News - BroadcastIt takes just 2 minutes and offers full, instant access to the Broadcast website along with a copy of the magazine delivered every week. - broadcastnow.co.uk
DTG :: News :: Ofcom consults on white space devicesOfcom has published detailed proposals for a framework to allow white space technology to be used in the UK. Use of white spaces, which exist in between frequency bands that have been reserved for TV broadcasting, would allow devices to transmit and receive wireless signals for applications such as broadband access for rural communities or machine-to-machine networks. Ofcom's proposed framework is designed to ensure that the devices do not interfere with existing licensed users of the spectrum, which include DTT and wireless microphone users.As part of that framework, Ofcom proposes to allow white space devices to operate without the need for a licence. - dtg.org.uk
BBC News - Hall has hands full with BBC jobLord Patten has revealed that he talked to Lord Hall about the requirements of the post, before George Entwistle was appointed as director general in the summer. At that stage, the head of the Royal Opera House made it clear he would not apply because he was also tied up running the Cultural Olympiad, and, at 61, he also felt it was a job for someone younger. To start with there is the immediate fallout from the two separate BBC crises over Newsnight investigations into child abuse. - bbc.co.uk
Thursday 22 November 2012, PM
Ariel - Tony Hall is new director generalLord Hall is currently chief executive of the Royal Opera House, and was chairman of the board for the Cultural Olympiad. The 61-year old is expected to take charge of the Corporation as its 16th director general in early March, with acting DG Tim Davie to remain in the role until then. He believed Hall was 'the right person to lead the BBC out of its current crisis and help rebuild public trust in the organisation'. - bbc.co.uk
Wednesday 21 November 2012, PM
News - SES.comThe company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide. - ses.com
A Peek at TV's Future, Via Google Fiber - Peter Kafka - Media - AllThingsDThe Google Fiber experiment/maybe-not-an-experiment in Kansas City is important because it shows Googles ability to compete directly with broadband providers for control of the Internet pipe itself. If Google doesnt need to rely on the Comcasts/Time Warner Cables of the world to connect with your computer, then all kinds of interesting stuff could happen if Google really does want to get into the business of becoming a broadband provider. Google says thats the case, but its hard to imagine the company really following through. - allthingsd.com
Wednesday 21 November 2012, AM
Ofcom - Ofcom sets out process for ITV, STV, UTV and Channel 5 licence renewalThis means that Ofcom can now work towards issuing new 10-year licences ahead of the expiration of the current licences at the end of 2014. However, the Secretary of State has also indicated that she is willing to extend the Channel 3 and 5 licences for a period of one year at Ofcoms request in the event that Ofcom is unable to reach renewal settlements before the required date. Ofcom will carry out an assessment of the financial terms on which the new licences should be offered with a view to publishing a statement in summer 2013. - media.ofcom.org.uk
Ofcom - Licensing of Channel 3 and Channel 5: A report to the Secretary of State under sec…Ofcom has a duty under the Communications Act 2003 'the Act' to report to the Secretary of State about matters which are relevant to the question of renewal. 1.2 In this report, we are required to give our opinion as to whether the existing licence holders will be able to contribute, at a commercially sustainable cost, to the fulfilment of the public service broadcasting purposes in the 10 years from 2015. 1.3 The Secretary of State's powers in relation to relicensing provide for three options intervention to block licence renewal, requiring Ofcom to auction the vacant licences no intervention, so that Ofcom proceeds with the renewal process and extending the existing licences, potentially until after the Communications Bill is completed. - stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk
Monday 19 November 2012, PM
10 new HD channels for Freeview as Ofcom backs BBC plan - CNET UKAfter some confusion over airwaves during the switch from old-fashioned analogue telly to 4G, Ofcom is looking far, far in advance -- to 5G,the next, next generation of super-fast mobile Internet. The telecoms watchdog already plans to sell the 700MHz frequency to mobile operators in 2018 to carry 5G signals. Peeved that they'll have to switch frequencies after spending the last couple of years getting people to switch to digital TV in the first place, the broadcasters want to start making use of 600MHz spectrum now to spread out the transition before 700MHz is sold off in 2018. - crave.cnet.co.uk
Sky magazine tax loophole saved broadcaster up to £40m a year - Media - The GuardianAccounts show most of the income from Sky magazine was recycled back to Sky TV. The broadcaster had been saving millions in VAT by charging satellite customers a nominal 2.20 a month for the Sky magazine, using a tax loophole that has now been closed. The saving, at about 3 to 4 per person, would have amounted across Sky's 10 million subscribers to at least 30m to 40m a year. - guardian.co.uk
informitv - Tablets becoming first screen for some online videoTablets are encouraging more viewing of long-form online programming. Online video platform provider Ooyala reports that the usage it has seen highlights continued growth in mobile and tablet video consumption. The overall share of tablet video viewing has increased by 90 in over six months. - informitv.com
informitv - Releasing more spectrum for mobile broadbandThis is in addition to the planned auction of spectrum released by the recently completed switch off of analogue television services in the United Kingdom. The latest proposals aim to draw on the 700 MHz band, currently used for digital terrestrial television, as part of future harmonised spectrum planning across Europe and the rest of the world. A final decision will be taken at the conference in 2015. - informitv.com
Cutting the cord UK-style: can the Brits succeed where the US has failed? - The VergeOver in the UK, however, things are starting to look a little brighter. The past five years has seen virtually all of the major players embrace digital content in some way, while American giants like Amazon and Netflix have invested heavily to capture the attention of the worlds second-largest native English-speaking population. The state of play The UK has around 50 free-to-air, terrestrial channels that can be accessed by anyone with an aerial or a satellite dish. - theverge.com
Sunday 18 November 2012, PM
Ofcom - Ofcom unveils plans to avoid mobile ‘capacity crunch’New mobile spectrum to avert a capacity crunch as usage doubles Protective measures to maintain digital terrestrial TV Ofcom today published plans to enable the release of new airwaves for future generations of mobile devices, which will help meet consumers growing demand for data on the move. Alongside the announcement, Ofcom has published new data on the UKs communications infrastructure, which shows that 20 million Gigabytes of data is now being consumed in amonth over the countrys mobile networks more than twice as much as last year 9 million Gigabytes. That is the equivalent of downloading 5 billion music tracks. - media.ofcom.org.uk
Press releases - Programme press releases - ITV reveals first details of major rebrand - I…Therebrandwill also extend to ITVs buildings, internal branding and services. When the logo appears on coloured background, such as marketing images for ITV programmes - it will adapt and change according to the background colour scheme of the image. The on-air changes will be visible from January 2013, and in addition to new brand identities, the ITV network broadcast business will have a brand new creative style in promotional junctions. - itv.com
BBC - Research and Development: IRFS Weeknotes #130Well, I'm supposed to be across all of the work from the Internet Research and Future Services team so today's weeknotes is a look at the current state of projects. Chris Newell is currently looking at Storm for distributed and fault-tolerant data stream processing. Michael has fallen in love with the seer gem for his graphs, we've been grappling with analytics and trawling through the feedback we've received. - bbc.co.uk
Ofcom admits to local TV gaffe - News - BroadcastIt takes just 2 minutes and offers full, instant access to the Broadcast website along with a copy of the magazine delivered every week. - broadcastnow.co.uk
ITV drops '1' from channel branding - News - Broadcast16 November, 2012 By Balihar Khalsa ITV is to drop the 1 from its main channel logo and adopt a handwritten-style design which will constantly change colour in a major re-brand. It takes just 2 minutes and offers full, instant access to the Broadcast website along with a copy of the magazine delivered every week. - broadcastnow.co.uk
TVs will need retuning again to make room for mobile services - Technology - The GuardianSome rooftop aerials will need replacing in another round of disruption for TV-lovers. Photograph Graham Turner for the Guardian You may only just have worked out how to use your set top box after the digital switchover, but there is bad news for the nation's TV lovers on the horizon it will soon be time to adjust your television sets again. It took five years of wall-to-wall advertising and engineer visits to complete the digital switchover, which saw flatscreen digital televisions replace bulky cathode ray sets. - guardian.co.uk
DTG :: News :: Report: Connected TV in 55% of UK homesThe study found that more than one in ten 11 Brits intend to purchase a Connected TV in the next year. According to YouGov projections, sales of Connected TVs over the next year could equate to nearly 2.54 billion. The bad news is that there are a lot of competing technologies out there that can be confusing to the consumer. - dtg.org.uk
DTG :: News :: Ofcom to release new spectrum in preparation for '5G'Ofcom has published plans to enable the release of spectrum for future mobile services, most likely '5G'. Alongside the announcement, Ofcom has published new data which shows that 20 million Gigabytes of data is now being consumed in a year over the countrys mobile networks the equivalent of downloading 5 billion music tracks. To help meet growing demand for mobile data more mobile spectrum is needed over the long term, together with new technologies to make mobile broadband more efficient, according to Ofcom. - dtg.org.uk
Ofcom - Local TV LicensingBelow you will find information on how to apply for both the local television multiplex licence and the L-DTPS licences. Applications excepting any confidential information and awards are also published below as they become available. Further information on the local television framework can be found in the stakeholders section of the website. - licensing.ofcom.org.uk
Saturday 17 November 2012, AM
BBC - BBC Internet Blog: What's on BBC Red Button 17-24 NovemberRock legends The Rolling Stones are 50 this year and we've got some brilliant extras coming up on the Red Button to celebrate. Speaking to Radio 2's Jo Whiley and Huey Morgan just before their 50th anniversary tour, the band reveal the highs and lows of five decades in rock 'n' roll. Press red to see this previously unbroadcast footage. - bbc.co.uk
Friday 16 November 2012, AM
Google TVs killer app is simply amazingThis week, Google brought a little something from ill-fated Nexus Q to Google TV. The new YouTube for Android app installed on smartphone or tablet now acts as a remote control to Google TV, taking interaction far removed and clumsy and making it intimate, fun and easy. You open the app, which prompts with a circle to touch to sync with the TV. - betanews.com
ITV launches major brand overhaul - Media - guardian.co.ukNew ITV brand will have 'colour picking' facility that will allow the logo to be branded with hues that 'flex with the mood' of programmes. The rebranding, to be introduced on air in January, will lead to the introduction of a chameleon-like logo that changes colour to match different programmes. ITV is to retire the ITV1 channel brand it introduced in August 2001. - guardian.co.uk
Thursday 15 November 2012, AM
YouView loses trademark appeal - Media - guardian.co.ukYouView may be sued for infringement of the registered mark of telecomms company Total. Total registered the Your View name on 20 November 2009, before YouView made its own application in 2010. Total, which uses the Your View brand for its online billing service, intends to take further action after winning the court ruling, including a claim for damages. - guardian.co.uk
Tuesday 13 November 2012, AM
BBC - Radio 4 and 4 Extra Blog: Feedback: The future of digital radioI live in Hertfordshire, in the Chiltern Hills, less than 30 miles from London . This is hardly the back of beyond, and you would not think that hills barely 500ft high would prove an impenetrable barrier to a digital signal, but that seems to be the reality in parts of my village, though not where I am. I have a digital radio in my car and often drive up to Cumbria, losing the digital signal on parts of my journey. - bbc.co.uk
Monday 12 November 2012, PM
BBC - BBC Internet Blog: What's on BBC Red Button 10 November - 17 NovemberFind out on the Red Button as we host the grand final live from Blackpool. From 800 entrants, six funny hopefuls will battle it out, hoping their killer lines will deliver them the New Comedy Award 2012 title. Get more details on the 1Xtra website and, of course, don't miss a minute of it on the Red Button. - bbc.co.uk
Ofcoms UK 4G Auction Plans: Entry by December 11, Rollout by June 2013UK communications regulator Ofcom today announced the final plans for the roll out of 4G networks and services in the UK, setting the processes which operators will need to follow during the auction. The initial deadline day for submissions is December 11, 2012 ahead of a May/June rollout, the organisation has said. The auction now has confirmed reserve prices for the 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands, totalling a cool 1.3 billion 2.07 billion. - thenextweb.com
Monday 12 November 2012, AM
The BBC: after Entwistle - Editorial - Comment is free - The GuardianGeorge Entwistle is a decent man and he did the decent thing. By the weekend it was plain that the director general was out of his depth in trying to manage the crisis gripping the BBC. As editor-in-chief, he was ultimately responsible for a catastrophic editorial misjudgment over Lord McAlpine probably worse than the original Newsnight decision over its Jimmy Savile investigation, now the subject of its own drawn-out inquiry. - guardian.co.uk
Sunday 11 November 2012, AM
BBC News - George Entwistle resigns as BBC director generalMr Entwistle took up the post of director general on 17 September, and his sudden resignation makes him the shortest-serving BBC director general. Continue reading the main story George Entwistle said he was stepping down because as director general of the BBC he was also its editor in chief. He said it was the honourable thing to do after a BBC Newsnight film alleged child abuse by an unnamed Conservative politician - which was proved to be unfounded. - bbc.co.uk
Friday 09 November 2012, PM
BBC News - BBC Cymru Wales-S4C programme agreement for four yearsBBC Cymru Wales said the partnership underlined its commitment to Welsh language broadcasting. It provides programmes to S4C including Pobol y Cwm and Newyddion. - bbc.co.uk
Thursday 08 November 2012, PM
BBC iPlayer - Archive on 4: Tuning InThe press fulminated, the enthusiasts were frustrated, and the radio manufacturers fumed. Despite the fact that Marconi had invented radio before Queen Victoria had celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 1897, radio in Britain took another 25 years to begin an official service to listeners. From Marconi to Savoy Hill via an old army hut in Essex, the story of the early radio in Britain. - bbc.co.uk
Tuesday 06 November 2012, AM
Meet D Love digital radio s secret weapon : Radio Today with RCSBroadcast Minister Ed Vaizey announced that the countdown to radio switchover now had inevitable momentum and that Government would announce a decision on radio switchover in 2013. The Minister said that digital listening had increased to nearly a third of all listening and that a quarter of new cars were now fitted with digital radio as standard. He said that this great progress demonstrated that listeners love digital radio and that the car industry was fully engaged with the transition to digital. - radiotoday.co.uk
Monday 05 November 2012, AM
3D TVs plummet to as low as £150 - 3D News from 3D FocusYou can even buy an LG 3D Blu-ray player for less than 70. However, it is a different matter as to whether people will use the 3D functionality of these sets in any significant numbers, when many find 3D an uncompelling experience in the home. - 3dfocus.co.uk
Sunday 04 November 2012, AM
BSkyB wins high court trademark battle over Now TV name - Media - guardian.co.ukHowever, Arnold threw out PCCW's claim on Friday, ruling that the company's registered trademark was invalid and that there was no passing off. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook. - guardian.co.uk
BBC - BBC Internet Blog: What's On BBC Red Button 3rd November - 10th NovemberYou can also watch at bbc.co.uk/radio2 or on BBC Big Screens. Watch highlights of the concert and interview on the Red Button and online from 9pm on Friday 9th November. All you have to do is consider each of the objects featured in the programme, select an option before our experts give their valuation and see how many you get right. - bbc.co.uk
Friday 02 November 2012, AM
News - SES.comThe capacity will be hosted on the SES satellites positioned at the orbital position 28.2 degrees East. SES is currently undertaking a large fleet investment programme at that orbital position. For further information, please contact Markus Payer Media Relations Tel 352 710 725 500 markus.payerses.com - ses.com
diamond geezer - diamondgeezer.blogspot.co.uk
Thursday 01 November 2012, AM
4G fears as first reviews claim speeds are 'oversold' - Mail OnlineInitial reviews and online comments suggested speeds were not quite as promised while some even suggested that 3G connections had been slowed down to make the new service look quicker by comparison. Customers who sign up for a contract are being promised speeds of between eight and 12 megabits per second Mbps, as fast as the average home broadband connection. It is currently offered only by the EE network, with customers paying 36 a month upwards. - dailymail.co.uk
BBC extends trial to switch off AM radio : Radio Today with RCSFurther trials to end transmissions on medium wave are under way at two more BBC local radio stations in England, aiming to save the corporation money. Radio Essex and Radio Hereford Worcesters AM transmitters are now broadcasting a message explaining why regular programmes are not available. As Radio Today revealed in August, the BBC is testing the switch-off of medium wave transmission for certain stations. - radiotoday.co.uk
Wednesday 31 October 2012, PM
Freeview launches ads to boost preference - News - Marketing WeekFreeview is set to launch a festive marketing campaign to promote its premium Freeview box in a bid to increase the amount of consumers that make an active choice for its services as it marks the completion of the digital switchover. A still from the opening scene of Freeviews Christmas ad. An ad campaign will continue to feature its helium balloon creative, which will be married together with upcoming Christmas programming and will also symbolise Freeview services such as the ability to pause, rewind and record live TV. - marketingweek.co.uk
Tuesday 30 October 2012, PM
Ariel - iPlayer catches up with Sky+Those with a Sky HD box and broadband connection can directly access the BBC's video on demand service at no extra cost. Channel 4's 4oD is expected to be added early next year. Viewers can browse BBC content by channel, day and genre, before downloading their chosen programme directly to their Sky planner for viewing when convenient. - bbc.co.uk
S4C eyes decentralised structure - News - Broadcast30 October, 2012 By Jake Kanter S4C is assessing whether it should reorganise itself into three hubs across Wales. It takes just 2 minutes and offers full, instant access to the Broadcast website along with a copy of the magazine delivered every week. - broadcastnow.co.uk
DTG :: News :: Report: Catch-up TV voted most important tech development in last decadeThe ability to watch TV content at a time to suit the viewer has been hailed as the most important technological development in the last decade, according to a poll by Freeview to celebrate its 10th birthday. Digital Switchover, giving mass access to free digital channels across the UK also scored highly, with one in ten 10 stating this was the most important development of the period. The launch of 3D TV ranked eighth of the ten options 5, with mobile TV in 9th place 4, according to the poll. - dtg.org.uk
Tuesday 30 October 2012, AM
Ad industry backs LondonTV Consortium bid for new channel - Politics - London news, sport …The battle is hotting up for the biggest publicly-awarded franchise since Channel 5 in the 1990s which will go on Freeview across London next year as well as globally on satellite, as part of the first round of local TV stations announced by the government. It is the only one of the five bidders that the big ad agencies say has the right commercial model to make a free public service station work commercially for a global city the size of Londonbecause it can surround its local programming with world class quality entertainment to get large enough audiences. The Consortiums chief executive, Richard Horwood, said The alternative is the wall-to-wall low budget, endless repeats and unwatchable programmes that have characterised local TV in the past and condemned it to commercial oblivion. - london24.com
BBC iPlayer launches on Sky+ - TelegraphThe free service will use customers broadband connections, via any internet service provider, to access the web and download programmes available on the iPlayer to Sky boxes. Standard definition programmes will typically be available almost instantly, while HD will take longer because of larger file sizes. The BBC iPlayer is now available on over 650 platforms and devices, including apps built-in to smart TVs. - telegraph.co.uk
Monday 29 October 2012, AM
Ofcom - 200 community radio stations now on airOver two hundred community radio stations are now broadcasting in locations across the UK, Ofcom announced today, after new services went live in Kent and Dorset. The milestone comes as the first community radio station to hit the airwaves The Eye in Melton Mowbray nears its seven-year anniversary. Since Ofcom awarded the first community radio licence in 2004, new stations have launched in areas all over the UK from inner London to Orkney each serving a particular communitys needs. - media.ofcom.org.uk
Who's in line for London's local TV franchise? - Media - The GuardianThere has been widespread scepticism in the media industry about the proposals, with even the investment banker Nicholas Shott questioning the commercial viability of local TV services outside major conurbations in a report commissioned by Hunt. All the local TV services in England will be broadcast on channel 8 on Freeview and channel 17 on Sky. The BBC is providing 25m for infrastructure and 5m a year over three years towards content costs for all local TV services. - guardian.co.uk
Sunday 28 October 2012, AM
BBC - BBC Internet Blog: What's On BBC Red Button 20th - 27th OctoberThe red button show includes irreverent interviews from each act, to introduce them to the viewing public - some for the very first time. Dog as they guide you through a totally top-drawer CBBC Wolfblood Extra special All you have to do is consider each of the objects featured in the programme, select an option before our experts give their valuation and see how many you get right. - bbc.co.uk
BBC - BBC Trust - Trust launches second review of BBC Online and Red Button servicesBBC Online was last reviewed in 2008 and Red Button in 2010. This time the process will be more focused, looking at how the services are meeting the objectives set for them by the last reviews, how well they are serving their audiences and how they have adapted to changes in technology, media and audience behaviour. To help the Trust with this, a public consultation has been launched and views will be welcomed from members of the public who use these services, as well as relevant organisations and stakeholders. - bbc.co.uk
Saturday 27 October 2012, AM
Freesat launches 'tongue-in-cheek' campaign - Archive - Marketing WeekTV ads will feature two tongue in cheek brand characters who will illustrate its new ltfree timegt service, which offers a backwards EPG with editorial recommendations for programmes from the past week and gives viewers easy access to on demand services. The ads form part of a multi-million pound marketing campaign that it hopes will help consumers reappraise how good a free TV service can be. Will Abbott, marketing and communications director at Freesat, says We set out to create a distinctive campaign that would both grab attention in a crowded market and explain the benefits ltfree timegt offers satellite viewers, in a simple and fun way. - marketingweek.co.uk
Friday 26 October 2012, AM
Irish TV will cost most viewers extra - Northern Ireland, Local National - Belfasttelegrap…This week's digital switchover means that everyone in Northern Ireland will now have access to the Republic's main television channels for the first time. Prior to the analogue switch-off, a large number of viewers here could receive the likes of RTE and TV3 free, thanks to the overspill signal from south of the border. An HD set-top box will cost around 40 and most modern TV sets are HD ready so there should be no further expense. - belfasttelegraph.co.uk
McKevitt expresses digital switchover concerns - Newry Times - Newry TimesSpeaking to Newry Times, McKevitt said it is worrying that many vulnerable people in our society have been left with no access to television. Television now plays a central role in peoples lives and the range of services provided by RTE are in fact vital for proper balance in our cultural life. McKevitt added, We acknowledge that with such a large logistical operation, gaps will appear. - newrytimes.com
YouView from BT is here! - BT Life - the technology and lifestyle blog from BTThe Programme guide this is one of the best features of YouView. You can scroll backwards and forwards a week in either direction to play a programme you missed or a record a programme if its in the future. Searching for programmes on demand whats unique about YouView is its ability to find programmes on demand from any of the players. - btlife.bt.com
BBC 2 declares War on BBC 1 - NewsBiscuitWarring news-tribes, angered by the Panorama investigation, opened fire on studios where radical BBC 1 journalists are known to be in occupation. Blue helmeted health and safety officials tried to separate the fighters, but were unable to produce the correct paperwork, and were asked to leave at gunpoint by privatised security staff. Ken Bruce, who was eating his sandwiches in a nearby office, took a direct hit to his Thermos flask increasing the prospects of Radio 2 being drawn in to the dispute. - newsbiscuit.com
DTG :: News :: BBC Trust launches Red Button and Online reviewThe review will look at how the services are meeting the objectives set for them by the last reviews, how well they are serving their audiences and how they have adapted to changes in technology, media and audience behaviour. BBC Online was last reviewed in 2008 and Red Button in 2010. A public consultation has been launched as part of the review process and the Trust has invited views from members of the public who use these services, as well as relevant organisations and stakeholders. - dtg.org.uk
Thursday 25 October 2012, PM
http://www.mediauk.com/article/34355/rajar-q32012-the-digital-revolution-beginsCab drivers saw their figures down by 20-40 store traffic in London fell, too, by 4.5 in central London. He then went to do a radio programme about it. The Olympic Games caused significant changes to the way we consumed media, too. Many stations report on half-yearly 'H' or even yearly 'Y' figures smoothing out any bounces or short-term Olympics-related dips. - mediauk.com
BBC News - TV switchover help scheme runs out of HD digital boxes25 October 2012 Last updated at 0619 ET A scheme to help the elderly with the switchover to digital television has been inundated with requests for high definition set-top boxes. The Switchover Help Scheme was set up to help older and disabled people with the change. However, there has been an unexpectedly high number of requests for HD Freeview boxes in Northern Ireland. - bbc.co.uk
Wednesday 24 October 2012, PM
DTG :: News :: UK completes digital switchoverThe UK ended more than 70 years of analogue broadcasting today with the completion of the switchover to digital television. Switchover has boosted Freeview coverage to 10 million viewers in reception blackspots across the UK and cleared airwaves for new uses, including 4G mobile broadband services. Over the last five years switchover has modernised the terrestrial TV network and ensured that the benefits of digital are available to everyone. - dtg.org.uk
BBC News - Landmark in TV history as analogue signal endsThis page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets CSS enabled. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets CSS if you are able to do so. - bbc.co.uk
Tuesday 23 October 2012, PM
BBC One - The Magic Box - bbc.co.uk
BBC News - Ceefax service to end after 38 years on BBCAt moments of high pressure - with little time for detailed examination of the news - Ceefax headlines offered an instant window on the world. Continue reading the main story Fond farewells Gary Lineker via Twitter I see Ceefax has finally been put to rest. Its premise was to give viewers free access to the same information that was coming into the BBC newsroom, as soon as the BBC's journalists had received it. - bbc.co.uk
BBC News - NI digital switchover: All analogue channels to be turned offIt means that anyone still watching analogue TV will lose access to all of their channels at 2330 BST. Viewers who need information on how to update their TV equipment in order to access digital channels should call Digital UK on 08456 50 50 50. Those already using digital TVs or set-top boxes will have to re-tune. - bbc.co.uk
Tuesday 23 October 2012, AM
U.K. 4G network EE announces pricing; no unlimited data plans - ZDNetAccess to the next-generation network, dubbed 4GEE, will cost you more than the average cell contract -- as one might have expected. For consumers and small businesses alike, access to 4GEE in the initial 10 cities with six more by the end of the year will cost you significantly more for the benefit of speeds of about 30Mbps on the go. By the end of 2014, EE says the U.K. will reach 98 percent coverage. - zdnet.com
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Farewell to Ceefax - diamond geezerYou could have watched Ceefax yesterday, had you been awake early enough. Yesterday's highlights kicked in at 445am, a rolling programme of news, sport and weather, just like it has done for decades. A rare appearance for the 1979 BBC2 logo was accompanied by a reminder to viewers of the significance of what was about to happen. - diamondgeezer.blogspot.co.uk
Monday 22 October 2012, PM
BBC's Ceefax: the last pixel show - Media Monkey - Media - guardian.co.ukThere is no better place to indulge in a little Ceefax nostalgia than with this BBC retrospective featuring some music and some channel logos viewers of a certain age and above will remember. To find out more information about driving traffic to your content or to place this widget on your site, visit outbrain.com. - guardian.co.uk
Monday 22 October 2012, AM
Lord Sugar details vision for the future of TV - The DrumSpeaking before an audience composed of some of the UKs leading marketers including Barclays, Nestle and Ford, Sugar claimed that the days of passively watching broadcast ads would soon be numbered as digital content rises to the fore. Sugar was in attendance on behalf of his Amscreen firm, the digital outdoor company which he owns. This has been at the forefront of changing patterns of behaviour as traditional ad revenues decline in the face of digital and out of home sectors. - thedrum.com
Ofcom: Local TV ‘muxco’ decision imminent - Advanced Television - advanced-television.com
Saturday 20 October 2012, PM
BT to offer free YouView box with one-year broadband contract, £49 for existing customers…Broadband customers not in an Infinity enabled area will also be able to get a free YouView box when they subscribe to TV Essential, starting at 4/month. Both offer a massive saving on the retail price of the YouView set top box, which is priced at 299 at retailers across the country. Existing customers can also upgrade to YouView for 49 . - engadget.com
BBC News - Guernsey government has no power over Freeview channelsThe Home Department said it had no power to influence the channels. The announcement comes after telecom firm Sure revealed plans to provide extra channels through the internet. Regulator OfCom said it was an entirely commercial decision and up to individual companies to choose where they broadcast. - bbc.co.uk
Friday 19 October 2012, PM
http://www.mediauk.com/article/34350/tim-davie-radioplayer-4extra-and-two-aborted-closures…Jenny Abramsky, his predecessor, had been in charge of BBC Radio since 1999. Davie's career history had no such radio pedigree. The lack of radio career wasn't to hinder him, however, in his new role. - mediauk.com
News UTV HD to air on FreeviewHD pictures will also add a new dimension to our outstanding coverage of news and current affairs in Northern Ireland and reinforce our reputation for quality journalism as market leader. - atvtoday.co.uk
UTV to be available in HD on Freeview - News, Film TV - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk - belfasttelegraph.co.uk
DTG :: News :: 4K television now officially called 'Ultra High Definition'Ultra high definition TVs have more than eight million pixels of resolution, four times the resolution of todays high-definition televisions . The name and related minimum performance characteristics are designed to help consumers and retailers understand the attributes of this next generation of television and display technology. The group also defined the core characteristics of Ultra High-Definition TVs, monitors and projectors for the home. - dtg.org.uk
Ariel - Tim Davie to replace John Smith at BBC Worldwide helmTim Davie, currently director of Audio Music, will replace Smith from December 1. Smith is leaving the BBC to 'pursue new opportunities in the commercial sector', a BBC statement said. There has been speculation that he would leave the organisation since the arrival of the new director general. - bbc.co.uk
Thursday 18 October 2012, PM
Ariel - Peter Horrocks says where the third phase of cuts will fallIn English, weekday news output will be cut by four hours, weekly documentary strands cut from four to three and arts show The Strand will close. Peter Horrocks, director of Global News, revealed the plans to staff on Thursday as he targets 12m savings in 2013/14. Your World to close Over the last two years, the World Service has made nearly 30m cuts, losing five language services and around 480 jobs, after the government reduced its grant-in-aid by 16. - bbc.co.uk
Ofcom - Further progress in the speed-up of delivering 4G to consumersDeployment of 4G services in other frequency bands does not require similar measures to be put in place. Creating the company now will further accelerate the rollout of competitive 4G services next year. It will be funded by the successful bidders for 800MHz spectrum in the forthcoming auction and provisions exist to make sure that if any otherparty acquires some of this spectrum in the auction they can immediately become a shareholder in the company. - media.ofcom.org.uk
Thursday 18 October 2012, AM
U.K. 4G Rollout Takes Another Step Closer As Carriers Join Forces To Speed 800MHz Spectrum…This organisation was originally going to be known as MitCo and MitCo was one of the bones of contention among the carriers in regards to the 4G spectrum auction process. Not so long ago the U.K.s carriers were trading insults with telecoms regulator Ofcom and each other as they jockeyed for position ahead of the 4G spectrum auction. Delay was the order of the day for many years as the leap from 3G to 4G meant disrupting established and lucrative business models. - techcrunch.com
DTG :: News :: UK mobile operators form joint venture to speed up 4G roll-outEE, Telefnica O2, Three and Vodafone have formed a jointly controlled company to ensure the rapid roll-out of 4G services next year. The creation of the company follows talks between the mobile operators, Ofcom and Government earlier this month and the decision to bring forward the implementation of 4G services following the auction by as much as six months. I am pleased that the mobile operators will be working together to ensure that no viewers lose their television services when 4G is rolled out, and congratulate them on setting up the assistance scheme so quickly. - dtg.org.uk
Local TV wins prominent slot as bid battle hots up - News - BroadcastIt takes just 2 minutes and offers full, instant access to the Broadcast website along with a copy of the magazine delivered every week. - broadcastnow.co.uk
BBC - Research and Development: IRFS Weeknotes #126Here's a screenshot They then moved on to the next mini-project, 'infinite trailers' the idea is to show a continuous reel of clips starting from what's popular right now and learning your tastes as you click 'skip' or 'add to playlist'. This work uses the Sibyl javascript engine that Chris Newell has talked about previously. They've got one more week to go, where they'll be working on a real-time information dashboard for radio. - bbc.co.uk
Wednesday 17 October 2012, PM
SES STATEMENT ON ADDITIONAL SATELLITE SPECTRUM AT THE 28.5 DEGREES EAST ORBITAL POSITION -
Ofcom - The Communications Market: Digital Radio Report 2012Ofcom was asked in the Action Plan to publish an annual report on the availability and take-up of digital radio services. The Action Plan emphasises that digital radio switchover should begin only when the market is ready and that it should be predominantly consumer-led. An aspirational target date of 2015 was supported by the Action Plan. - stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk
Tuesday 16 October 2012, AM
SES and Eutelsat go to war over UK frequency rights - Satellite content from Broadcast Eng…The launch of SES Astra 2F rekindled a simmering battle with Eutelsat. In total, the spectrum under dispute equates to 15 transponders capable of carrying 140 to 180 HD channels. SES argues that there is no dispute because it had negotiated the rights to the claimed spectrum back in 2005, and that Eutelsat had been operating over those frequencies only on a temporary basis. - broadcastengineering.com
Monday 15 October 2012, PM
Local TV network plan could be hit by signal black spots - Media - guardian.co.ukMedia regulator Ofcom has so far awarded eight of the 21 local television licences in cities and towns across the UK. It has emerged there could be significant holes in broadcast coverage in places where households would expect to be able to tune in, according to a document provided to bidders. The document, providing coverage maps for all the local TV licence areas, shows issues with a number of areas including south London and areas close to Oxford. - guardian.co.uk
Saturday 13 October 2012, PM
BBC News - BBCs devolution message better - bbc.co.uk
Saturday 13 October 2012, AM
BBC - Research and Development: Digital HD Radio Camera: Taking halfRF to IBCAt this stage our project had advanced to the stage where ourtransmitter comprised of what we call the wedding cake, which is a rather large unit about 300mm x 300mm x 200mm plus an antenna pole. This large transmitter was based on a DSP board that we had built with at least four purposes in mind. These four purposes were to be the main board in our receiver, a platform to test advanced RF algorithms, a channel emulator and a channel sounder, so it had a lot more functionality than would be required for a transmitter back. - bbc.co.uk
Heart and Capital TV start broadcasting : Radio TodayAs announced in July, Global Radio has launched two television channels to mirror their biggest radio brands, Heart and Capital. We want our brands to lead the way in delivering great content to people wherever and however they enjoy music, and the launch of Heart TV and Capital TV is the next step in deepening and extending the relationship weve already built with our audiences. These channels are absolutely stunning, they look gorgeous, are incredibly slick and represent the next generation of music TV channels. - radiotoday.co.uk
Heart TV and Capital TV - what it should be?The Italian radio stations RTL102.5s Radiovisione is something a little different. Have you watched Heart TV or Capital TV yet - mediauk.com
BBC - BBC Internet Blog: BBC Future Media AmbassadorsThe Olympics was a huge success for our division. However what we achieved this summer is now the baseline of what we expect from our teams. To do this we need to keep on attracting and recruiting top talent. - bbc.co.uk
BBC - BBC Internet Blog: What's On BBC Red Button 13th - 20th OctoberWe are doing this because these services rely entirely on linear broadcast technologies, which are not cost-effective for an interactive service like the red button. This change in no way signals the demise of BBC Red Button. The BBC is committed to maintaining a vibrant and popular red button service. - bbc.co.uk
Thursday 11 October 2012, PM
DTG :: News :: Report: HD channel growth increases in EuropeThe figure represents growth of 54 in the number of HD channels over nine months and highlights three strong years of HD growth. The UK, followed by Germany and France, is home to the highest number of HD channels. Sport channels are the most popular HD genre, closely followed by film channels. - dtg.org.uk
Thursday 11 October 2012, AM
BBC's coverage of religion, immigration and Europe to be scrutinised in review - Media - g…It will compare BBC news coverage from five years ago with today. The report is to be published in early 2013. The inquiry will examine whether editorial decisions to include or omit certain perspectives from news coverage have been carefully reached and with consistent judgment across the corporation. - guardian.co.uk
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