Sir Richard Branson, NTL’s biggest shareholder, is set to challenge BSkyB after the satellite giant bought an almost 18% stake of ITV late on Friday, in a deal worth close to £1 billion.NTL has said that it will complain to the competition authorities, including the OFT, the European Commission and Ofcom, about Sky’s £940 million… Continue reading Branson Bites Back At Sky’s Swoop On ITV

Ofcom executives are said to be discussing BSkyB’s shock acquisition of an almost 18% stake in the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster, ITV.Following the acquisition of the stake, Ofcom will have to decide whether the move constitutes a “change of control” at ITV and whether it would compromise the commercial broadcaster’s obligations as a public service… Continue reading Ofcom To Discuss BSkyB’s ITV Acquisition

Ofcom has defended today’s announcement that the communications regulator would introduce new wide-ranging restrictions on junk food advertising aimed at children, after being attacked by various broadcasters and health bodies.Ofcom’s chief executive, Ed Richards, has said that the new restrictions will cost the industry £210 million less than a total ban. After this morning’s announcement,… Continue reading Ofcom Bites Back As Industry In A Spin Over Junk Ad Proposals

The media must adapt to the unprecedented opportunities that the changes in the industry are bringing, according to BSkyB chief executive, James Murdoch, who was speaking at the IAB Engage 2006 conference in London.Echoing the views aired earlier in the day by Yahoo! CEO and chairman, Terry Semel, Murdoch said that there is a trend… Continue reading Media Must Adapt To Unprecedented Opportunities And Change

Ofcom is today expected to announce its decision on the potential restrictions on junk food advertising aimed at children, with broadcasters and advertisers waiting nervously for the regulator’s decision.Some in the media believe that the length of time Ofcom has taken to come to a decision (the consultation process was closed at the end of… Continue reading Ofcom Set To Reveal Junk Ads Decision Today

An average of 5.9 million adults watched England’s friendly 1-1 draw with Holland on BBC One last night, taking a 29% audience share for the broadcaster between 7pm and 9pm.I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here remained the most watched programme in the 9pm to 10pm timeslot, despite losing viewers from the series’ first… Continue reading England Friendly Lures Just Under Six Million To BBC One

3G mobile customers will from December be able to access their home television channels via their mobile phone handsets, after the company agreed a partnership with electronics firm Sling Media Inc.The SlingPlayer Mobile delivers the home TV experience on mobile handsets using standard 3G network connections. Any programme that can be watched at home will… Continue reading 3 Signs Mobile TV Partnership With Slingbox Company

Ofcom will review the way it regulates the radio industry in order to address challenges facing the sector, with the potential for ownership rules to be adjusted and programming formats scrapped.Issues such as the lack of growth in advertising and the pressure on local stations from digital radio have forced the communications regulator to act.… Continue reading Ofcom To Review Radio Industry Regulation

Six major manufacturers have signed up to produce the Freeview Playback digital TV recorders, with some devices slipping into the market via Sony centres in time for Christmas, despite a delay to the product’s major marketing campaign.Alba, Humax, Sagem, Sharp, Sony, and TVonics have signed up to make the recorders, which will not be properly… Continue reading Freeview Playback To Be Widely Available By Next Summer

The internet will become the primary medium for the distribution of all content, according to the chairman of the IAB, Richard Eyre, who was speaking at the company’s Engage 2006 conference in London yesterday.“As we enter a phase where true convergence begins to take place, the internet will become the primary distribution for content,” he… Continue reading Internet To Become Primary Medium For Distribution Of All Content