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Keep up with the daily developments that effect free TV in the UK. This list is updated often - you can follow Briantist on Twitter for update Tweets, or use your RSS reader (such a Firefox or Google Reader) with this feed - UK Free TV Zeitgeist RSS feed.

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 summarized

Saturday 28 July 2012, PM

  Olympic TV spectacular draws 26.9m home viewers - Olympic News - Olympics - The Independen…
The massive audience tuned in as Danny Boyle's 27 million spectacular took place at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London, last night. Viewing figures peaked at 26.9 million, while the average was recorded as 22.4 million for the show - which ran from 9pm until 12.50am - with an audience share of 82 per cent. The opening ceremony of the Beijing Games four years ago attracted 5.9 million UK viewers, while 10.7 million watched the start of the Athens Olympics in 2004. - independent.co.uk

Friday 27 July 2012, PM

  BBC - Radio 4 and 4 Extra Blog: The BBC's International Radio Streams During the Olympics
The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Radio 2 will also now be available internationally. Radio 5 Live Sports Extra coverage of non Olympic Sports will be available as normal. Original post 27 July One of the benefits of the BBC's online radio streams is that listeners all over the world can enjoy just about all our programmes live and on demand. - bbc.co.uk
  MP demands help over TVs hit by 4G rollout - Top stories - Scotsman.com
- scotsman.com
  YouView is finally on sale: 7 reasons why it may fail paidContent
Boxes for the UKs big internet TV venture have finally gone on sale, priced a hefty 299, four years after it was conceived. On this occasion, however, it is not so helpful. Perhaps long delays ruled out other, more lucrative avenues people who will pay subscription for lots of TV are already Sky or Virgin Media subscribers. - paidcontent.org
  Have your say on TV channel - Lifestyle - Sheffield Telegraph
- sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk

Thursday 26 July 2012, PM

  BBC iPlayer - Help - Will BBC iPlayer be available on Android 4.1, Jelly Bean?
This 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. - iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk
  News - SES.com
As a key UK public service broadcaster, Channel 5 broadcasts a wide variety of programming, from its own news service to current affairs, sport and children's programmes, as well as documentaries and lifestyle programmes, reality television and American drama. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide. SES stands for long-lasting business relationships, high-quality service and excellence in the broadcasting industry. - ses.com
  ITV share price rises despite gloomy ad forecast - Media - guardian.co.uk
The ITV production business reported revenues up 34 year-on-year to 355m for the six months to the end of June, well ahead of analysts' expectations. Profits at the division, which makes shows including Titanic and Come Dine with Me, were up 32 year-on-year to 50m. ITV said that its total pre-tax profits were adversely affected by a 275m bond buyback in June. - guardian.co.uk
  Sky strikes YouView deal with TalkTalk - News - Broadcast
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
  YouView promises 50,000 channels - FT.com
Printed from http//www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f8130bcc-d680-11e1-ba60-00144feabdc0.html Print a single copy of this article for personal use. - ft.com
  YouView limps into shops - Telegraph
The first set-top box to carry the service, which is billed as the successor to Freeview, will be available just in time for the Olympics, but at a price of 299, analysts are not expecting a rush. Manufactured by the Korean firm Humax, the device was unveiled earlier this month to a cool reception, with commentators criticising its physical size and price, which is around three times that of competing internet television devices from Apple, Roku and Google. YouView's main selling point over such rivals is that as well as apps and web browsing, it will allow viewers to go backwards up to seven days in its programme guide to catch up with shows they missed. - telegraph.co.uk

Wednesday 25 July 2012, PM

  BBC News - Olympics 2012: Inside the BBCs television studios
This 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
  BT confirms YouView launch this autumn Digital TV Europe
July 25, 2012 BT has confirmed that it will begin offering the YouView TV service in the autumn. The telco is one of seven launch partners for YouView, the UKs connected TV service that launched earlier this month. It said the service would appeal to customers looking for the next evolution of the Freeview service but did not reveal details of how it would bundle YouView with its broadband and telephony products. - digitaltveurope.net
  DTG :: News :: The Space launches on Freesat
This exciting venture will make some of the most innovative, creative and contemporary visual arts available for viewers everywhere. At this time a limited number of Freesat boxes/TVs are unable to receive The space but the service will become available across more Freesat receivers soon. DTG Staff 24.07.2012 Links open in a new window. - dtg.org.uk

Wednesday 25 July 2012, AM

  BBC iPlayer - Help - Why do I receive the message ‘Sorry, iPlayer isn’t available’ w…
This 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. - iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk
  Here’s what data YouView is really collecting and why — seenit.co.uk
In the three or so weeks since Lord Sugar launched YouView an army of detractors have queued to rubbish the platform and/or its chances of success. Ofcoms figures showing Smart TVs are in just 5 of homes and not all are actually connected to the web quickly demolished that claim. The YouView box provides catch-up and other video on demand content. - seenit.co.uk

Tuesday 24 July 2012, PM

  Ofcom - Assessment of future mobile competition and award of 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz
Information Memorandum - Ofcom has published a revised csv file for the test points for the coverage areas of the DTT stations requiring protection. This is to correct a few small anomalies that were noticed in the test points for three of the stations the test points included in the annex of the Information Memorandum itself do not have these anomalies and still apply. - stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk
  DTG :: News :: Ofcom unveils 4G auction plans
The auction of spectrum for 4G mobile services in the UK is set to get under way by the end of 2012, Ofcom has announced. The regulator said that the auction will offer the equivalent of three quarters of the mobile spectrum in use today some 80 more than released in the 3G auction which took place in 2000. The plans should see 4G mobile broadband rolled out to at least 98 of people in villages, towns and cities across the UK. - dtg.org.uk

Monday 23 July 2012, PM

  BBC News - Today - Satellite TV turns 50
It is 50 years since the first public satellite television images were beamed across the Atlantic from the United States to Britain and mainland Europe. Get in touch with Today via email , Twitter or Facebook or text us on 84844. - news.bbc.co.uk
  BBC boss George Entwistle considers Worldwide revamp - Media - guardian.co.uk
George Entwistle plans to investigate trimming scope of BBC Worldwide which makes more than 1bn in annual revenues. Entwistle, who officially takes over from Mark Thompson in September, is understood to be keen to bring the corporation's commercial arm closer to the public service side of the licence fee-funded BBC. Entwistle is understood to have fleshed out his thinking to the BBC Trust following his appointment as director general on 4 July. - guardian.co.uk
  Advertising picture at ITV set to be gloomier than forecast - Business News - Business - T…
Analysts have rushed to downgrade forecasts as it became apparent that many advertisers have decided to pull spending rather than compete with brands that are Olympic sponsors. Sky maintains that Now TV, which will offer movies for as little as 99p each, is a pro-active step to offer consumers more choice and it says it can absorb the extra cost of the Premier League rights through efficiencies. After freezing prices a year ago, Sky is expected to increase subscription costs for much of its near-10.5 million customer base this autumn. - independent.co.uk
  Campbell raises RTÉ with Minister - Local - Londonderry Sentinel
- londonderrysentinel.co.uk
  BBC Radio 5 live - 5 live Olympics - How to get 5 live Olympics Extra
It will appear between Radio 5 live and Radio 5 live sports extra. 5 live Olympics Extra is in the station list between 5 live and sports extra on a digital radio. It may appear automatically in the station list. - bbc.co.uk
  informitv - Olympic viewing plans reflect changing media usage
The Olympics has a track record of attracting a large number of television viewers. It is 64 years since the Olympics were last in London, the first time they were televised by the BBC. Over three quarters of adults in the United Kingdom say they will watch coverage of the London 2012 Olympics, although the final figure may be higher. - informitv.com

Saturday 21 July 2012, PM

  BBC - Research and Development: Opening Up the Archives: Part 5- Finding the Content
Part of the archive of Radio Times that provides a crucial historical metadata store for the BBC. And back in the archives themselves, Alex waxes lyrical on the nature of one of the finest recordings within the BBC's extensive collection. In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash Installed. - bbc.co.uk
  BBC - BBC Internet Blog: What's On BBC Red Button 21st - 28th July
Headlines are available around the clock with up to five streams available to cover the best that BBC Sport has to offer. Please note that Red Button sport timings are subject to change at short notice. For the latest information refer to the BBC Sport website. - bbc.co.uk
  BBC iPlayer - Help - Changes to BBC Radio online during the Olympics and Paralympics games…
This 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. - iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk
  BBC - Roger Mosey: Digital quirk forces Freeview change
As we get into Olympic Games-time it's going to be shorter, snappier and more frequent - maybe even daily when the action starts. What I'm going to do is pick up some of the main issues about our coverage, and give people the chance to offer us feedback. So here's the first one, which is advance notice of the way we're going to have to arrange our commentary services for the Opening Ceremony. - bbc.co.uk
  Ed Vaizey: Vouchers will help Freeview users affected by 4G - Broadband News
Many were outraged when they received word that deploying 4G technology in the UK might cause disruptions for Freeview subscribers. Just this month, MPs grilled Ed Vaizey on the matter, who responded that installing filters that cost about10 each would be able to mitigate the predicted effects of 4G on Freeview. These companies are making profits year on year, on year. Ed Vaizey responded that Ofcom would be holding consultations to determine if filters to prevent loss of access to Freeview need to be installed professionally. - broadband-expert.co.uk

Thursday 19 July 2012, PM

  BBC - About the BBC: The Olympic Games, broadcast innovation and Super Hi-Vision
However, these London Games were highly innovative - in broadcast terms. They saw the advent of the first ever Olympic television outside broadcast operation, with programmes going direct into domestic homes. A total of 64 hours of BBC programming created. - bbc.co.uk

Thursday 19 July 2012, AM

  Sky targets pay-TV refuseniks - News - Broadcast
It takes just 2 minutes and offers full, instant access to the Broadcast website along with a copy of the magazine delivered every week. Broadcast Subscribers If you are a Broadcast subscriber please sign in with your email address and click submit - broadcastnow.co.uk
  Date set for networked BBC evening show : Radio Today
BBC Commissioning has released tender details of the new all-local radio evening programme, which is set to start on January 7th 2013. The speech-led show, to be broadcast on all 39 local radio stations in England, will air from 7pm till 10pm. Applications are invited from all independent production companies who can clearly demonstrate relevant experience and expertise, the BBC says. - radiotoday.co.uk
  BBC News - Olympic Games coverage: HD, robotic cameras and 3D
Technology has come a long way since the last Olympics in London in 1948, broadcast in black and white. The cables will carry ultra-high definition video, which at a resolution of 7680x4320 is an astonishing 16 times the quality of HD television. The BBC will broadcast more than 2,500 hours equivalent to almost four months of high definition television over the 17-day period, covering every sport, from every venue, on every day. - bbc.co.uk

Tuesday 17 July 2012, AM

  Now analogue is going what do you need to know about digital TV? - The Irish Times - Tue, …
In 100 days from now the signals which have kept hundreds of thousands of televisions across the State flickering companionably for generations will be switched off forever as digital television muscles itself into the frame and Ryan is the voice of the great switch off/on. It will be a pain for some people but it is still a good news story. Those who have been living in an analogue-only world dont know what they have been missing and once they get the new system they will get more channels, better sound and pictures, a fancier Aertel and an electronic programme guide EPG. - irishtimes.com
  UKTV hails magic start to 2012 - News - Broadcast
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

Monday 16 July 2012, PM

  BBC - Annual Report and Accounts 2011/12 - Download Centre
- bbc.co.uk
  BBC - BBC Internet Blog: Super Hi Vision
Experienced on a big screen, the effect is of feeling like actually being at an event. The London 2012 Olympics will be the first time this ground-breaking technology will be used to deliver exceptional quality content in the UK, so Im extremely excited that you will be able to experience it for the very first time. Building up to Games Time As mentioned earlier, weve been filming at a range of iconic London landmarks over the last couple of weeks for a special film which will play ahead of the start of the Olympic Games. - bbc.co.uk
  Ariel - Television Centre to be sold for around £200m
Continue reading the main story The question mark shape Television Centre's architect Graham Dawbarn was given a 50 page brief for the building. Among the last teams to leave TVC is domestic television news and weather who will move to New Broadcasting House at the beginning of 2013. The news comes as the annual report shows the the cost of property has gone up by 37m this year. - bbc.co.uk
  Humax takes YouView to IBC
An Android- based, pure IPTV box for over-the-top content will also be unveiled, alongside a new home media server with multi-tuners that supports content sharing on tablets, smartphone and other set-top boxes. Humax is also a leading supplier of set-tops for European DTT and cable markets. - broadbandtvnews.com
  informitv - Intellect backs HbbTV despite YouView
A week after the unspectacular media launch of YouView, the trade body Intellect has come out in support of a competing standard. The consumer electronics industry has questioned the rationale for YouView since its inception as Project Canvas, preferring the prospect of a less ambitious technical standard that could be deployed across Europe, while allowing scope for differentiation. Although it shares many common features with Freeview and indeed HbbTV, it specifies a particular user interface, which allows potential manufacturers limited scope for differentiation. - informitv.com
  YouView will not get high definition Now TV - News - TechRadar
Sky's Now TV is the company's non-subscription streaming service and it is one of the launch offerings on YouView. Console yourself According to Sky, only the games consoles will offer HD content, with the focus more on consistency of service than high definition quality on other devices. Considering an Xbox retails for 140 significantly cheaper than the 300 for the first standalone YouView boxes it could ask another question of potential buyers. - techradar.com
  MPs question Ed Vaizey regarding 4G s impact on TV viewers - Broadband News
About Us Since 2006 Broadband Expert has been helping UK consumers research and compare home and mobile broadband deals. Our blog is here to keep you up-to-date on all the latest broadband and mobile broadband news and reviews of Internet providers and packages. Well be publishing handy guides and help sheets to help take the confusion out of broadband, laptops and mobile Internet devices dongles. - broadband-expert.co.uk
  Now's the time for NOW TV
NOW TV gives you two ways to watch great movies. Pay play movies on NOW TV range from 99p for classic titles to 3.49 for the latest blockbusters. Each Friday, there are up to five new and exclusive Sky Movies premieres, at least 12 months before they are available on other online subscription services. - corporate.sky.com

Sunday 15 July 2012, PM

  BBC - BBC Internet Blog: What's On BBC Red Button 14th - 21st July
Studio contestants compete to win their Secret Fortune, anything from 100 to 100,000. Press the Red Button during the show to play along at home with the contestants. This has enabled the Red Button team to offer the best games tailored to each system. - bbc.co.uk
  Welcome to the toughest job in broadcasting - TV Radio - Media - The Independent
Just as people get the government they deserve, so Radio 1's breakfast show has a habit of reflecting much of what's happening outside the platinum disc-lined walls of Radio 1. Consider late-70s host Dave Lee Travis, whose open-shirted, hirsute exterior held a mirror ball up to the disco fever sweeping the nation, his no-nonsense straight talk offering a safe pair of hands with which the BBC could keep punk at arm's length. There have been some famous instances where the breakfast show host is woefully out of step. - independent.co.uk
  Clover s Week: YouView – The manufacturers fight back
One week after the launch of YouView Julian Clover examines the sense of disquiet emerging from some aspects of the industry. The peasants are revolting or at least the TV manufacturers are. This week the technology trade body Intellect made clear its feelings on YouView, reiterating what many of its members had said over several years, that Europe needs a single standard for connected TV. - broadbandtvnews.com
  BT 'set to offer YouView pay-monthly option' - uSwitch.com
BT customers are set to be given the opportunity to pay for their YouView box on a subscription basis. Set-top boxes will be priced at 299 for consumers purchasing outright, but sources close to the broadband provider claim this fee may be waived for pay-monthly customers. According to the Telegraph, households will be able to take a YouView box for free providing they pay a 40 installation fee and then 4 per month. - uswitch.com
  http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/channel/DigitalMedia/article/1140478/YouView-caught-tra…
In May this year, the Intellectual Property Office sided with Total in certain, but not all, categories in its ruling on the application. YouView has been prevented from registering its brand as a trademark in categories including broadcasting communications transmission, broadcast and reception and other dissemination of audio, video, still and moving images television screen-based information broadcasting, and retrieval services and interactive broadcasting services. The IPO has allowed YouView to register its brand in some less relevant categories including mouse mats, computer, electronic and video games programmes, and the rental of radio and television broadcasting equipment. - marketingmagazine.co.uk
  Government pledges additional funds for Freeview 4G filters - July - 2012 - Which? News
In February an Ofcom consultation revealed up to a million homes could have their Freeview TV reception interrupted by the launch of next-generation 4G mobile networks, due to launch early next year. The government had planned to provide free filters for people to install themselves, but it made no provision for those with more complicated setups where self installation wasn't feasible. The additional funds announced will, says the government, solve this issue. - which.co.uk

Sunday 15 July 2012, AM

  Don t Root for Aereo, the World s Most Ridiculous Start-up - PandoDaily
Webvan squandered 1.2 billion, but at least it was trying to create something useful. In the past few months, after Aereo was hit by insane lawsuits from the television industry, it has become something of a cause clbre for people fighting for more progressive copyright laws. No doubt it was good to see Aereo win its first legal test this week, when a federal judge denied TV companies request to have the firm immediately shut down. - pandodaily.com

Friday 13 July 2012, PM

  Ariel - Commercial news to form new business
The two platforms will share one management structure which may result in job losses where overlap occurs. It is hoped that a single organisation will promote simple and effective decision making. BBC Worldwide will continue to manage advertising sales and distribution deals for the services. - bbc.co.uk
  YouView has it all to play for - Comment - Broadcast
12 July, 2012 Critical issue now is how to make it stand out, says Kate Bulkley 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
  S4C to close HD channel - News - Broadcast
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

Friday 13 July 2012, AM

  DTG :: News :: Minister sets out terms of scheme to tackle 4G interference
The letter says help will be available for the 900,000 digital terrestrial television DTT homes which Ofcom estimate will be affected when 4G is introduced next year. To prevent any interference problems filters will be provided free of charge by the help scheme. Mr Vaizey confirmed in the letter to Ofcom that vouchers will be provided to eligible households to pay for the installation of a filter to a rooftop aerial, if required. - dtg.org.uk
  Minister of Fun bends Ofcom's ear on Freeview-4G knockout • The Register
Culture minister Ed Vaizey has published an open letter to Ofcom broadly supporting the regulator's efforts to mitigate disruption to Freeview by next-gen mobile broadband. When LTE 4G telephony kicks in there's likely to be some interference in the neighbouring TV channels, so 180m of the money raised from selling the spectrum will go into stopping telly screens from going blank. The real problem is that no one knows how many people fall into that category, so deciding what to do about it is tough. - theregister.co.uk
  BBC News - S4C: Welsh broadcaster to axe high definition service
The announcement came as the Welsh language broadcaster said it made a loss of more than 6m last year. S4C Authority chairman Huw Jones said the figure, published in its annual report, reflected an 11m reduction in its public funding. He said the channel had used some of its reserves rather than implement the whole cut in its programme budget in the short term. - bbc.co.uk
  BBC Sport - BBC Sport launches Olympics app for smartphones
The app will provide up to 24 streams of live coverage, detailed schedule and results pages, and daily news stories. Alongside full live streaming, catch-up coverage and highlights, the app will offer facts, statistics and information for every athlete, country and sport. Extra functionality of the app allows stories to be saved for offline reading, ensuring the latest information is accessible even when mobile reception is unavailable. - bbc.co.uk
  BBC News - BBC director general bids farewell to Bush House
This 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
  DTG :: News :: Digital TV Group Council's Statement on Intellect's Consultation on HbbTV
The DTG looks forward to working with others in the digital industry to continue to develop the D-Book. The DTG consistently works to harmonise international standards, while ensuring the UK maintains its reputation as a leader in digital television. The DTG is committed to ensuring a highly stable, open and innovative digital television market in the UK and will work with industry partners across the sector to enable the continuing success of that market. - dtg.org.uk
  DTG :: News :: Food Network goes 24/7 on Freeview
Food Network UK has announced its expansion from a four-hour programming block to all day, every day on Freeview. DTG Staff 12.07.2012 Links open in a new window. - dtg.org.uk

Tuesday 10 July 2012, PM

  Ariel - Unions urge BBC to scrap licence fee settlement
In the proposals the group of unions ask Entwistle, who takes over from Mark Thompson as director general in September, to 'rip up' the agreement from 2010 where Thompson agreed to freeze the licence fee until 2017. The subsequent Delivering Quality First plan devised how the BBC can save 700m a year. Criticising the licence fee being used for what it calls the government's 'pet projects' it says 'the BBC should not be used as a piggy bank which the government can dip into whenever the money runs low'. - bbc.co.uk
  Channel 4's 4seven attracts 45,000 viewers a night in first week - Media - guardian.co.uk
The most popular show on launch night was a repeat of the first episode of the new series Gordon Behind Bars which managed 150,000 viewers. The channel, which launched on 4 July, aims to give viewers the chance to catch repeats of Channel 4's most popular shows. A number of shows on the channel, which is available on satellite and cable services, will be selected on the basis of having created a critical buzz in newspapers as well as chatter on Twitter and Facebook. - guardian.co.uk

Monday 09 July 2012, PM

  Google TV will not fail again
It took just about six months for the first generation of Google TV to be declared a failure. Logitech launched its Revue set top box in October 2010, and by July 2011, they couldn't even give them away. The company subsequently took a 30 million writedown on the venture, and Intel, who provided chips for Google TV, quietly divorced itself from the product. - betanews.com
  YouView review - hands on (Humax DTR-T1000 review - hands on) - Expert Reviews
Officially announced at the end of December 2008 with a planned launch for 2010, it's fair to say that the YouView TV-on-demand platform has been a rather long time coming. Now, YouView has officially been launched and products are due out by the end of month. The first version to go on sale will have a 500GB hard disk and will cost 299. - expertreviews.co.uk
  Intellect launches UK trial HbbTV spec
Technology trade body Intellect has released a specification that would enable the deployment of HbbTV over the UK terrestrial system and made a test stream available. There has long been disquiet among the manufacturers many of whom run their own connected TV platforms over the island mentality of the UK broadcasters. Intellect wants to open up a discussion with broadcasters and plans to run a roadshow that demonstrates how HbbTV is already being used. - broadbandtvnews.com

Monday 09 July 2012, AM

  Ed Richards: what next for the Ofcom chief? - Media - The Guardian
Richards was the only one of the five candidates confirmed as being interviewed to replace Mark Thompson who was not a BBC staffer. However, it has been claimed there were several external candidates on the interview list drawn up by executive search firm Egon Zehnder.There are those who believe he was enticed into entering the race to give credibility to a process that would have been heavily criticised without some heavyweight external candidates in the public domain. Ed must have been given certain assurances he would be treated seriously and was unwise to believe them. - guardian.co.uk

Saturday 07 July 2012, PM

  BBC - BBC Internet Blog: What's on BBC Red Button 7th - 14th July
First Night of the Proms begins the world's greatest classical music festival in 2012 on BBC Two. Join in the conversation during the First Night of the Proms by including bbcproms in your message. We'll be featuring some of your Tweets on Red Button throughout the programme. - bbc.co.uk

Friday 06 July 2012, PM

  Major YouView marketing push for autumn - News - Marketing Week
YouView is planning a major above the line marketing push this autumn, positioning the service as extraordinary TV for everyone. The service is being aimed at the 13 to 15 million people who are either Freeview customers or those who are not subscribed to a paid-for TV package. YouView chairman Lord Alan Sugar hopes it will replace the Freeview box. - marketingweek.co.uk
  MP: act now to tackle 4G threat to Freeview - News - Broadcast
6 July, 2012 An opposition MP has demanded urgent government action over fears that Freeview services will be disrupted by 4G mobile signals. 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
  YouView: a marketer’s guide - News - Marketing Week
Marketing Week answers marketers questions on how they might leverage YouView following its consumer launch this month. YouView is an internet-connected TV service that consumers can access via a set-top box, priced at 299 and available from a variety of retailers from the end of July. Broadband partners BT and TalkTalk are set to announce pricing for their YouView-linked phone and broadband packages later this month. - marketingweek.co.uk
  I wanted to love YouView, but I don't. Yet. - Pocket-lint
The development of YouView has been a long and arduous affair, not just because of the technical hurdles, but because of other broadcasters and rights-holders. The service started as a brilliant notion that IP TV was quickly becoming a reality, and that there should be a Freeview-like service to capitalise on it. Like the BBC or not, it gets things right more often than not. - pocket-lint.com

Thursday 05 July 2012, PM

  BitTorrent usage increases in Europe, following the blockade of The Pirate Bay - ExtremeTe…
Yet again, this is strong proof that trying to force a change in behavior simply doesnt work especially on the internet, where its denizens value freedom above all else. The sad truth, though, is that its actually easier to persecute file sharers than to navigate the insane morass of rights holders and licensees on any given TV show, movie, game, or song. If it was easy to create an official, legal version of The Pirate Bay, then the entertainment industry wouldve done it already theyre not that stupid. - extremetech.com
  Lord Sugars YouView service gets thumbs down from analysts - IT PRO
Launch of free digital and on-demand TV service gets picked over by onlookers. Sugar, whose Amstrad computer company supplied satellite dishes for the launch of Rupert Murdoch's Sky TV in the late 1980s, said cheaper set-top boxes would follow. YouView will also be packaged in broadband subscriptions from BT and TalkTalk, but software glitches meant no launch dates were unveiled at Wednesday's event. - itpro.co.uk
  George Entwistle: A good chap in the trenches who can command respect - TV Radio - Media -…
Other than that, he has been a relatively low-key figure, slowly but surely climbing the rungs of the BBC for the past 23 years after joining the organisation as a trainee. Married with two children, he celebrates his 50th birthday on Sunday. Although he was quickly among the front-runners for the top job when Thompson announced he was stepping down in April, Entwistle has until recently been a relatively anonymous BBC executive. - independent.co.uk
  Locus Online Perspectives Cory Doctorow: Music: The Internet s Original Sin
In a recent Search Engine podcast, host Jesse Brown wondered about musics ongoing centrality to the debate over file-sharing and freedom. After all, the music industry has all but abandoned lawsuits against fans, and services from Last.fm to the Amazon MP3 store present a robust set of legit ways of hearing and acquiring music. So why is the music industry the enduring bogeyman of Internet policy fights - locusmag.com
  Can we reimagine TV news (please)? BuzzMachine
- buzzmachine.com
  New report reveals the economic impact of Sky
It also shows how the company has stimulated economic activity in a wide range of associated companies and industries, through relationships with thousands of UK suppliers and business partners. In that year, Sky generated sales of 6.4 billion and over 75 of this revenue was retained in the UK. For every 1 billon Sky contributes directly to GDP itself, it generates another 1.4 billion in the rest of the economy through its purchase of goods and services and staff spending their wages. - corporate.sky.com
  NOW TV to be available on YouView
Powered by Sky and launching this summer, it will offer access to some of Skys most popular programming. Sky Movies will be available from launch and the service will later expand to offer sport and entertainment. With no minimum contract, customers will be able to choose from a variety of pricing options - for example, paying monthly for unlimited access to Sky Movies, or renting a single movie on a simple, pay-as-you-go basis. - corporate.sky.com
  ITV online restructure puts 40 jobs at risk - Media - guardian.co.uk
Pembrooke joined ITV in 2010 and will leave the broadcaster at the end of the summer. Pembrooke's job title was managing director of ITV online and on-demand. ITV staff were told on Thursday that cost-cutting changes could put 40 jobs at risk in the 100-strong office. - guardian.co.uk

Wednesday 04 July 2012, PM

  George Entwistle named as new BBC director general - Media - guardian.co.uk
Currently the corporation's director of vision and a former editor of Newsnight, Entwistle will take over from Mark Thompson in the autumn on a salary of 450,000 a year. Entwistle beat his BBC colleague and the corporation's chief operating officer Caroline Thomson to the role. He has a formidable track record as a programme maker and in recent years has also shown his calibre as a leader. - guardian.co.uk

Wednesday 04 July 2012, AM

  Vaisey gets Commons grilling over 4G interference with Freeview - News - TechRadar
Culture Secretary Ed Vaisey has come under fire for the potential costs Freeview user may be saddled with in order to remedy expected interference from 4G masts. The masts, which are scheduled to go up around Britain next year we'll believe it when we see it, will help bring the next generation of mobile internet to gadget users across the nation. However, it is expected that the activity of the structures will negatively impact the Freeview reception in 900,000 homes. - techradar.com
  YouView digital supplier launched - ITV News
The 'on-demand' version of Freeview, the free-to-air digital service, will allow customers access to third-party content using a set-top box connected with an internet connection. YouView was launched by Lord Sugar in London today. about 1 hour ago Quiet and dull start to 2013 A calm and quiet start to the year but how long will it last - itv.com

Tuesday 03 July 2012, PM

  4seven
With so much choice out there, viewers are increasingly telling us that they sometimes just miss the best stuff, despite their PVR and VOD. The new channel gives you more chances to see the programmes that everyone's talking about, the programmes that you can't afford to miss. - channel4.com
  What Saorview will really cost you - National News - Independent.ie
WHEN the analogue signal is switched off on October 24, television viewers will need to access a digital signal via one of these options 60 to 100 once-off fee, plus aerial installation if required, which will cost 120 to 160. Combi box for both the Irish stations and the British freeview stations. - independent.ie
  The future of YouView depends on ease of use - Business - The Guardian
The broadcast industry is waiting to see whether the results will resemble an Apprentice task gone wrong or the future of budget pay-TV in the UK. Some have argued that YouView is too little, too late. Sugar has been working on the project since last year, when he took over as chairman, but it was originally due to launch in time for Christmas 2010. - guardian.co.uk
  BBC says MNOs must pay for Freeview filters - Advanced Television - Advanced Television
A BBC director has called on mobile network operators to pay for the costs of filters to stop 4G mobile services interfering with Freeview. Freeview managing director Ilse Howling said that government plans to force households to pay for the filters was wrong and really unfair. - advanced-television.com
  BBC - Research and Development: What is Perceptive Media?
Perceptive Media has not been formally explained, only mentioned in passing here. However, outside the formal channels of BBC RD, theres been much talk about the concept of Perceptive media. What it is, what it enables and its potential impact on traditional broadcasting. - bbc.co.uk
  DAB agreement is a complete shambles : Radio Today
The much awaited Memorandum of Understanding just published by the Government has been branded a total waste of time and energy by at least one radio group CEO. Multiplex operator MuxCo says they intend to launch very much towards the beginning of the 18 month period. Rogers, who is usually vocal on all things digital, said This is tantamount to kicking the can down the road and does absolutely nothing to end the uncertainties around the local DAB situation. - radiotoday.co.uk
  Global Radio to launch two TV music channels - Media - guardian.co.uk
The announcement on Tuesday came on the same day as the launch of Bauer Media's celebrity gossip magazine spin-off, Heat TV. To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editormediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. - guardian.co.uk
  New BBC director general could be named this week - Media - guardian.co.uk
There is speculation that there is a fourth candidate but their name is as yet unknown. They are expected to grill the candidates for about an hour and a half on their experience, their thoughts about the future of the BBC and challenges that public service broadcasting faces. For the first time in recent BBC history the entire governance board will not interview all the candidates. - guardian.co.uk
  DTG :: News :: Government unveils boost for digital radio
The agreement includes a commitment to consider further funding if necessary. The agreement paves the way for the launch of at least five new local radio multiplexes, including in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, which will provide new local digital radio services to approximately 1.25million listeners. The agreement also confirms the Government's commitment to a decision on radio switchover in 2013. - dtg.org.uk
  Ariel - BBC to pay £7m for digital radio transmitters
The agreement between government, commercial radio providers and the BBC sees the corporation paying a third of the 21m bill. The plan sets out that over the next five years digital radio will be available to the same amount of people who can listen to FM radio. Part of the money will pay for five multiplexes which will provide digital radio to approximately 1.25 million people. - bbc.co.uk
  Ariel - Megabits gets a crack at code
- bbc.co.uk

Monday 02 July 2012, PM

  YouView recommends radio hams' pet peeve • Reg Hardware
IPTV outfit's set-top box to prompt powerline usage surge YouView is currently running a closed trial of service. Trial support documents seen by The Register recommend punters whose broadband box is more than a Cat 5 cable length from their TV should bridge the gap with a pair of powerline adaptors. - reghardware.com
  Ofcom needs to act on 4G TV interference, says Labour - uSwitch.com
Up to two million households could see their Freeview services affected when next-generation mobile broadband services launch in the 800MHz frequency band. Ofcom has acknowledged the problem and earlier this year carried out a consultation, which closed on April 19th, in a bid to tackle the issue head on. She asked Ofcom to indicate when it plans to make recommendations, and also to inform the public of its strategy to resolve the issue prior to the launch of super-fast mobile broadband. - uswitch.com
  Three million Freeview viewers face £200 bill to stop 4G phone network interfering with s…
Everyone living within 1.2miles of a 4G transmitter will face serious interference to the Freeview digital signal. You will get significant pixellation and the picture will break up and you wont be able to carry on watching, says Freeview chief Ilse Howling. Every home affected estimated at between 2.3 and three million will need filter equipment. - mirror.co.uk
  Ian Burrell: Will YouView catch the eye in such a crowded TV market? - Opinion - Media - T…
YouView, we were informed when it launched in 2010, would be the living room box that changed everything. It would allow us to scroll backwards for a week on our programme menus, as well as forwards, and offer interaction with social media sites. We were led to expect channels from a host of new internet broadcasters, ranging from arts organisations to charities, and we were promised the service would be available from last summer. - independent.co.uk
  Will Barclays' Agius quit his BBC role? - Media - guardian.co.uk
Agius, as mentioned here last week, is the senior non-executive director on the BBC's executive board. With Thompson on his way out and Grade having long gone, Agius's BBC tenure must surely be coming to end as well. 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
  DAB Memorandum of Understanding signed : Radio Today
Plans to extend local digital radio coverage moved a step closer today as Government, the BBC and commercial operators signed a joint agreement, establishing the framework for up to 21 million of new investment in radio infrastructure. The MoU also means at least five new local multiplexes, including in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, will be launched within 18 months. In addition, the MoU confirms the Governments commitment to a decision on radio switchover in 2013. - radiotoday.co.uk

Sunday 01 July 2012, PM

  France may extend TV licence fee to computer screens - World news - The Guardian
- guardian.co.uk