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The BBC and Channel 4 are understood to be in negotiations to buy Virgin Media’s stake of UKTV, which owns channels including Gold and Dave.BBC and Channel 4 are keen to acquire Virgin’s 50% share in UKTV, which is expected to cost between £400 million and £450 million, to form part a wider “UK content… Continue reading BBC and C4 in talks to buy stake in UKTV

BBC One’s The Secret Life of Elephants was the ratings winner in last night’s all important 9pm slot, just edging out Heston Blumenthal’s attempt to improve the menu at Little Chef in Big Chef Takes on Little Chef on Channel 4.The Secret Life of Elephants, a documentary revealing the emotional and dramatic lives of elephants… Continue reading Big Chef takes on Elephants and loses

Five US is being renamed Five USA as part of the branding refresh of the broadcaster’s channels.The renamed channel will have a completely new on and off air look from February 16, containing returning shows and newly acquired programmes.Jeff Ford, Five’s director of digital channels and acquisitions, said: “I’m delighted with the look and feel… Continue reading Five US to be renamed Five USA

The culture secretary Andy Burnham has pledged to save Channel 4 and favours a deal with BBC Worldwide over a potential merger with Channel Five.Speaking at the Oxford Media Convention today, Burnham said “the Channel 4 brand is here to stay” and will play a pivotal role in providing plurality of public service content beyond… Continue reading Burnham backs Channel 4

US consumers are spending 11% more time online than watching TV, and internet video is emerging as the key platform for the delivery of on-demand video services. Yankee Group analysts advise that media companies should focus on the internet as a primary opportunity in 2009. The emergence of the ‘Anywhere Consumer’ – Yankee Group’s vision… Continue reading US consumers spending more time online than watching TV

BBC One’s live coverage of President Obama: The Inauguration pulled in more than 7 million peak viewers yesterday, making it one of the highest rating programmes of the day.More than 5.1 million average viewers tuned in to see Barack Obama enter the White House yesterday afternoon, securing BBC One with a significant 33.2% audience share… Continue reading Obama’s inauguration attracts 7 million viewers

The BBC should be at the heart of public service broadcasting in the UK and take on a key role of pioneering new digital platforms, according to Ofcom’s new report published today.Ofcom’s much-anticipated public service broadcasting blueprint suggests that the BBC should focus on the development and take-up of content across new platforms but rejects… Continue reading Ofcom rejects top-slicing the BBC’s funding

Channel 4, ITV and Five are all pleased with the recommendations set out in Ofcom’s Public Service Broadcasting blueprint, which was published earlier today (see Ofcom rejects top-slicing the BBC’s funding).Channel 4’s chief executive Andy Duncan has welcomed Ofcom’s proposals to create a new commercial public service broadcaster, moulded around C4.Duncan said that Ofcom’s idea… Continue reading C4, Five and ITV welcome Ofcom recommendations

Michelin-starred chef Heston Blumenthal kicked off the Great British Food Fight season on Channel 4 last night, with Big Chef Takes on Little Chef.The first of three programmes, which follows Blumenthal’s mission to redesign to menu of the struggling roadside restaurant chain, pulled in more than 3.4 million peak viewers and an average 12.7% audience… Continue reading Great British Food Fight kicks off with 3.4 million viewers

Four out of the five main terrestrial channels saw declines in viewing share in December – Five was the only channel to buck the downward trend, recording a 0.1 percentage points increase year on year.All ViewingBBC One and ITV1 both experienced a year on year decline of 0.5%, taking their shares down to 21.9% and… Continue reading Television Viewing Round-Up – December 2008