Five has become the latest broadcaster to suspend programming involving premium rate phone-ins, after Endemol UK told the channel about issues surrounding its quiz show Brainteaser.As well as the daily quiz show, the suspension will affect Quiz Call on Five and Five US and competitions in and around programming.“We are shocked and disappointed and wish… Continue reading Five Suspends Brainteaser Amidst Phone-In Controversy

Channel 4’s reality behemoth, Big Brother, has lost its £3 million a year Carphone Warehouse sponsorship, after the telecoms giant pulled the plug on the deal following the much publicised racism row.Carphone Warehouse, which has held the sponsorship for three years, pulled all of its sponsorship I-dents from around Celebrity Big Brother in January (see… Continue reading Carphone Warehouse Hangs Up On Big Brother

The Guardian newspaper’s move to integrate its print and digital operations could lead to significant job losses as the group looks at cost cutting to help finance more than 100 new jobs in digital media operations.The group, which owns The Guardian, The Observer and the Guardian Unlimited network of websites, is preparing for a “24/7… Continue reading Job Losses Expected As The Guardian Integrates Digital And Print Operations

Lisa Opie, Five’s managing director of content, has launched an initiative to enable viewers to directly pitch programming ideas to commissioners in a bid to reconnect the channel with its dwindling audiences.In an RTS speech last night, entitled ‘What is the point of Five?’ Opie said: “There has never been a way the viewer can… Continue reading Five’s Opie Announces Plan To Boost Programming

Liverpool FC’s entry in to the quarter finals of the Champions League last night drew an average adult audience of more than 5.8 million to ITV1, giving the broadcaster a 27% viewing share for a large chunk of primetime.BBC One’s Life On Mars, on during the last hour of the football coverage, lost around one… Continue reading Champions League Triumph For ITV1

Commercial TV marketing body, Thinkbox, is keen to engage with the media community for feedback as it develops its new television planning tool on the back of recently released research.At last week’s Thinkbox conference at the Roundhouse in London, the group’s research and strategy director, David Brennan, outlined how the body would use the insights… Continue reading Thinkbox Needs You! Industry Feedback Key To New TV Planning Tool

The UK’s commercial radio body, the RadioCentre, has re-launched the Radio Advertising Bureau in a bid to reinvigorate the industry and ‘activate radio in the digital age’.“The marketplace has changed in 15 years and that’s why we need a new RAB to shape and lead the industry for the next 15 years,” said Andrew Harrison,… Continue reading RAB Gets Reinvigorated For The Digital Age

Tony Chambers has been promoted to the position of editor-in-chief of Wallpaper*, the iconic design, fashion and lifestyle magazine.Chambers is currently a member of the senior editorial team and will take up his new post on 26 March. As the style bible’s creative director, Chambers’ achievements at Wallpaper* include the introduction of a new design… Continue reading Chambers Becomes New Editor-In-Chief Of Wallpaper*

Channel 4 is to offer viewers the opportunity to catch-up on all of its commissioned programmes from the past seven days, for free via broadband.All of Channel 4’s commissioned content will now be offered free of charge for seven days via its VOD PC service, 4oD, with the service introducing advertising in the form of… Continue reading Channel 4’s 4oD To Offer Seven Day Catch-Up

Telecoms giant Tiscali has today launched its Tiscali TV service, following the acquisition of Homechoice’s IPTV service last summer.Over 40,000 Homechoice subscribers will today become Tiscali TV customers, able to access the offer of broadband plus TV for £14.99.For the launch, Tiscali TV has secured major deals with Film4 On-Demand and 4oD to offer their… Continue reading Tiscali Turns Homechoice Into Tiscali TV