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All future episodes of the BBC cookery programme Saturday Kitchen will be broadcast live after the Corporation admitted that viewers were asked to phone in for a show they had no chance of appearing on.Viewers were asked to call in for a chance to appear on the next week’s show. However, the show was being… Continue reading Saturday Kitchen Goes Live After Phone-In Mistake

The controller of features and entertainment, Ben Frow, and the controller of special events and pop features, Sham Sandhu, are expected to announce their departure from Five imminently.Frow was hired by Five in 2003 from Channel 4, while Sandhu joined in 2000 from the BBC, where he was head of new media and new channels.On… Continue reading Two Key Figures At Five Set To Leave

The Inspector Morse detective spin-off, Lewis, managed to retain its viewing audience of around 7.2 million from the series debut last week, giving ITV1 a 32% share between 9pm and 11pm last night.Adult viewers remained with star Kevin Whately as the super sleuth detective, now teamed up with a new partner, as he and his… Continue reading Lewis Remains Strong Whilst Primeval Sheds A Million

Channel 4 has held talks with Emap about launching a joint venture to run the publishing company’s music TV channels.According to a report in the Guardian, Channel 4 is not interested in buying Emap’s seven music channels, but has held talks over the possibility of a joint venture.The report quotes an unnamed source as saying:… Continue reading Channel 4 And Emap Discuss Music TV Partnership

Sky has said that its operating profits could be reduced by £15 to £20 million if it is unable to resolve a deal with Virgin Media over its basic channels.This figure includes the four months between now and the end of Sky’s financial year on June 30.In a statement about the negotiations, Sky said: “Despite… Continue reading Sky Profits Could Be Hit By Virgin Channel Dispute

The secretary of state for trade and industry, Alistair Darling, has ordered communications watchdog Ofcom to conduct an investigation into BSkyB’s acquisition of a 17.9% stake in ITV.“I am today asking Ofcom to conduct an initial investigation into the public interest issues that may be raised by this transaction and to report back to me,”… Continue reading Darling Demands Ofcom Investigate Sky’s Stake In ITV

Each week, NewsLine will be bringing you a round-up of the latest news from the City affecting the media industry.This week saw WPP announce a rise in pre-tax profits of 14.5% to £766.3 million for 2006.As well as the financial announcement from the world’s second largest advertising group, it was also revealed that Italian telecoms… Continue reading Media In The City

The Financial Times and its website recorded a £9 million increase in profits last year to £11 million, according to parent company Pearson’s preliminary full year results. FT advertising revenues were up 9% with rapid growth in online, luxury goods and corporate finance categories, all up more than 30%. The FT and its website also… Continue reading FT Records £9 Million Increase In Profits

BSkyB rival Virgin Media has signed a deal to offer ratings winner Lost on-demand, which could help to retain Virgin’s cable customers if some of Sky’s channels are pulled from Virgin’s TV package.Seasons one and two of the award-winning series will be available in August on the company’s TV-on-demand service, which lets viewers choose from… Continue reading Virgin Media Nabs Lost For On-Demand Service

Sky’s operating profits could be reduced by £15 to £20 million if the satellite broadcaster cannot reach a deal with Virgin Media over its basic channel package. This figure includes the four months between now and the end of Sky’s financial year on June 30. It was reported on Friday that Sky was to remove… Continue reading Sky’s Profits Could Be Hit By Virgin Channel Row