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Virgin Media has launched a new on-demand Sci-fi & Fantasy area on its cable TV platform.The new section features up to 150 hours of programming from Warner TV, FX UK, ContentFilm and Virgin Media TV.Virgin Media Television customers on the XL package, or those subscribing to TV Choice, will have unlimited access to classic shows… Continue reading Virgin launches Sci-fi on-demand

Five chief executive Dawn Airey backs the potential merger of Channel 4 and Five, despite Channel 4’s continued reluctance.While the future of Channel 4 continues to stimulate debate among the industry, Five’s chief Dawn Airey has confirmed her positive view on the potential merger of the two broadcasters.Speaking to a Lords Committee yesterday, Airey said… Continue reading Airey backs Five/C4 merger

It has been a busy few weeks in the world of Television, with the release of Ofcom’s long-awaited PSB blueprint and Lord Carter’s much-anticipated Digital Britain report, but what will the future really hold for commercial television?New figures from Sky and Freeview+ show that both platforms have managed to defy the downturn, reporting significant sales… Continue reading Was this the defining fortnight for television?

ITV’s chairman Michael Grade has confirmed the broadcaster’s desire to remain a public service broadcaster, but with a number of key conditions to allow the organisation to remain competitive.Speaking before the Lord’s PSB Committee hearing yesterday, Grade outlined ITV’s views towards last week’s public service broadcasting review conducted by Ofcom (see Ofcom rejects top-slicing the… Continue reading Grade tells Lords his requirements for ITV’s future

Hannah Barnes, Five’s director of programmes for Fiver and Five USA, is leaving the broadcaster following the relaunch of the digital channels.Five Life rebranded as Fiver at the end of April last year as the broadcaster sought to attract a younger audience (see Fiver Gets Launch Date).Barnes also managed the rebranding of Five’s other digital… Continue reading Hannah Barnes to leave Five

Every home in Britain should have a broadband connection by 2012 according to Lord Carter’s interim Digital Britain report, published today.The report, which contains a 22-point action plan, also reveals that the government is to set out a digital migration plan for radio that involves taking the majority of listening from FM to DAB as… Continue reading Broadband for all by 2012

ITV’s chairman Michael Grade said the commercial broadcaster will survive the economic downturn, despite being “severely challenged” as a result of ad revenue cuts.Speaking to the Lords Committee this morning, Grade said the industry as a whole is “facing a very serious reduction in ad spend”, which has had an impact on broadcasting and accelerated… Continue reading Michael Grade: “We will survive”

Sky is set to reduce the cost of its Sky+ HD set-top box and take on 1000 more staff in a bid to get more people to sign up for high definition TV.The satellite broadcaster added 171,000 customers in the second quarter of 2008, taking its total customer base to 9.2 million – over 50%… Continue reading Sky booms in the economic downturn

As the industry contemplates the future of television following Ofcom’s PSB review and ahead of the imminent publication of Lord Carter’s ‘Digital Britain’ report, new figures show that broadcast TV viewing reached a record high last year.TV viewing figures from BARB show that the average person watched 26 hours and 18 minutes of TV each… Continue reading TV viewing reaches a record high

TV ad spend is predicted to fall from £3.46 billion in 2007 to £2.81 billion in 2010, despite record numbers of TV viewers, according to new research by Enders Analysis.The findings show that the first three months of this year could be down by as much as 20%, with ITV performing in line with the… Continue reading TV ad spend down despite increase in viewers