Rupert Murdoch, chairman of The News Corporation, attacked the Government on Friday after BSkyB’s annual shareholders’ meeting, calling it ‘excessively cautious’ and ‘paranoid’.The £623 million bid which Murdoch’s BSkyB group made for the Manchester United football club was referred to the Monopolies And Mergers Commission late last week (see Newsline) by Peter Mandelson, who was… Continue reading Murdoch Bitter Over MMC Referral
Channel 4 has announced that it has signed up BBC Commentator Richie Benaud for its cricket coverage. Benaud, who had been at the BBC for over forty years, will commentate all of Channel 4’s live Test coverage as well as matches from the final stages of the NatWest Trophy competition.The appointment is a first in… Continue reading Channel 4 Poaches Benaud
Tuesday Following the launch of the Film Four channel this weekend, the Film Four website will be reviewed on Newsline.Wednesday The Media Research Group Conference in Nice, France, will run throughout the latter half of the week, and daily reports will be available on Newsline on developments and discussions at the event.Thursday MRG Conference report… Continue reading The Week Ahead
Mellow 1557, the commercial radio station serving North East Essex and South Suffolk is to become an FM radio station on 19 November. The station will relaunch as Dream 100 FM, playing ‘Today’s hits and yesterday’s favourites.’Managing director Norman Lloyd commented: “Our parent company Tindle Radio has shown great committment to the staff, listeners and… Continue reading Mellow Dreams Come True
The Radio Authority plans to auction eight new regional licences, which are a result of the RA’s decision last week on how to use the spare FM capacity on the 106-107 MHz range.The Authority came to the conclusion that further development of regional licensing would prove an effective means of broadening choice for large numbers… Continue reading RA To Offer More Regional Licences
The latest Broadcasting Standards Commission has upheld a complaint against the BBC1 documentary programme The Underworld: The Krays which alleged involvement in a 1960’s murder. Jeremiah Callaghan complained that he had been unfairly implicated in the murder of Frank Mitchell, which he felt was an infringement of his privacy. The commission agreed and also felt… Continue reading Complaint Upheld Against Gangland Documentary
British Design & Art Direction launches its ambitious new web site at www.dandad.org on the 4th November. Designed by Deepend to mirror the creative process, the site features a series of levels and themed areas. The ‘Green Room’ will give members a dedicated platform to air their views and to stimulate discussion on issues facing… Continue reading British Design Launches New Website
The EP will this week vote on a proposal to extend a 1985 directive on producer liability for defective products to include “primary agricultural products and game”. Speaking following the adoption of her report in the Environment Committee, Dagmar Roth-Berendt MEP (D, PES) welcomed the proposal as an important contribution to enhanced consumer protection against… Continue reading EU: Extension of Producer Liability
Amid growing concerns over software piracy on the Internet, the EC has put forward proposals for new EU laws to protect copyright regulations. This follows the discovery that there are over 50,000 Internet and World Wide Web sites where pirate software can be downloaded very cheaply and sometimes for free. The EC is now conducting… Continue reading EU: EC to study US anti-piracy framework
The Council working group on consumer affairs has been unable to reach a conclusion on the draft Council resolution on the consumer in the information society, and discussions will continue this week in COREPER. Most MS still appear to favour a text that includes a clear statement that “consumers should be able to rely, in… Continue reading EU: Council Resolution discussions continue
