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Sky is reportedly in discussions with Microsoft about making its proposed digital terrestrial pay-TV service available via PC.Sky is planning to take its three free-to-air channels from Freeview and replace them with a pay-TV service available through a new specification set-top box (see New Sky Service To Lure Consumers From Free TV).According to a report… Continue reading Sky Could Make Pay-TV Service Available Via PC

Michael Grade, ITV’s new executive chairman, has said that broadcasters must work to eradicate lapses in editorial programming standards, at a speech today at the Royal Television Society in London.Grade said there was a “casual contempt” for audiences, which has crept into UK broadcasting, and this must be stamped out.He added that recent events, such… Continue reading Broadcasters Must Work To Restore Viewers Trust

ITV is to launch a film download service next month following a deal between ITV’s DVD division and video download specialists BiBC.The deal will see 500 hours of content owned by ITV DVD and its Rank Film subsidiary added to BiBC’s download service.It will begin with 300 hours of library films, such as Carry on… Continue reading ITV To Launch Film Download Service

Ed Richards, Ofcom chief executive, has said that the regulator has not yet been persuaded to allocate spectrum for HD channels on Freeview.However, in a keynote speech at the Institute of Economic Affairs conference on the Future of Broadcasting, Richards said that Ofcom would do everything it can to help public service broadcasters create an… Continue reading Ofcom Still Considering HD On Freeview

Last week Chrysalis announced that it is to sell its radio division to Global Radio, an investment vehicle chaired by the former head of ITV Charles Allen.The £170 million deal will, said Chrysalis, see the company make a £95 million profit (Full Story).Menwhile, with News Corp apparently close to finalsing a deal for Wall Street… Continue reading Media In The City: Chrysalis Sells Radio Division

The US private equity firm Carlyle is understood to have tabled an £11.5 billion bid for Virgin Media.According to reports in today’s New York Times and Washington Post, Carlyle has made a preliminary offer of around £16.50 a share for the company.This means that Virgin’s equity would be valued at £6.5 billion, which coupled with… Continue reading Private Equity Firm Bids For Virgin Media

The US private equity firm Carlyle has reportedly made a £11.5 billion bid for Virgin Media. It is understood that Carlyle has made a preliminary offer of around £16.50 a share for the company. According to reports in the New York Times and Washington Post, the Virgin board has instructed Goldman Sachs, to review its… Continue reading Private Equity Firm Makes Virgin Media Bid

Global adspend is expected to grow from 5.5% in 2007 to 6.4% in 2008, comfortably above the 5.1% annual growth rate the ad market has averaged for the past 10 years, according to a new report from ZenithOptimedia. China will become the fifth largest ad market in the world this year, overtaking Italy, says ZenithOptimedia.… Continue reading Global Adspend To Grow 6.4% In 2008

The charity concert for Princess Diana’s 46th birthday, ten years on from her controversial death, attracted an average adult audience of 7.8 million to BBC One yesterday.The concert, which saw a diverse mix of acts – from the Princess’ faves Duran Duran to Take That, Lily Allen and emo funsters Orson – gave the channel… Continue reading A Right Royal Ratings Fest

Broadcasters could be forced to apply for licences for call TV quizzes under the new gambling act, following the publication of new guidance by the Gambling Commission.Producers and broadcasters have argued that these services should be exempt from licensing regulation under the 2005 Gambling Act, because they offer a free route to play via websites… Continue reading Broadcasters May Need To Apply For Call-TV Licences