UK to roll out new TV streaming rules in boost for broadcasters June 14, 2021 The government is said to be preparing new rules that would force tech firms such as Amazon and Samsung to give greater prominence to public broadcasters. Legislation being finalised by Whitehall officials will guarantee that public service broadcasters (PSB) such as the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 are easy to access on smart TVs, the [...]
GB News launch tops ratings despite technical glitches June 14, 2021 GB News raked in bumper viewer numbers for its eagerly-awaited launch last night, eclipsing its news rivals despite a string of technical glitches. The channel, which went live last night with a special welcome programme, pulled in average viewing figures of 164,400 between 7pm and 11pm, equivalent to a 1.1 per cent share. This beat [...]
Theatres set the stage for state-backed insurance scheme June 13, 2021 Theatre grandees are said to be on the brink of striking a deal with the government for a state-backed insurance scheme enabling performances to go ahead. Top West End figures have an agreement in principle from culture secretary Oliver Dowden for a taxpayer-backed indemnity programme, the Sunday Telegraph reported. The plans have now been passed [...]
As seen on screen: How a London advertising firm uses AI to place products in films June 12, 2021 In Call My Agent, the hit French TV series about perennially pressurised talent agents, two characters are seated at the boardroom table in their swanky Parisian offices, a mug of Carte Noire coffee sat squarely in front of each. At first glance, this appears nothing more than some straightforward product placement — a form of [...]
GB News takes on LBC with radio station launch June 11, 2021 GB News today announced plans to launch a national radio station as early as next month as the startup puts talk radio rivals such as LBC in its sights. The company is in the final stages of securing a long-term deal for spectrum on the Digital One commercial radio multiplex, which would allow it to [...]
The Sun losses balloon as Covid hits Murdoch’s newspaper empire June 11, 2021 Losses at the Sun newspapers tripled last year as the outbreak of the pandemic took its toll on Rupert Murdoch’s media empire. News Group Newspapers (NGN), which publishes the Sun and the Sun on Sunday, posted a pre-tax loss of £201m in the year to 28 June 2020 — three times the £68m loss posted [...]
Screenshot: How did a software glitch break the internet? June 11, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: Motty goes off the rails **How did a software glitch break the internet? **BT’s bolt from the blue Media Moment of the Week: Motty goes off the rails Look, everyone loves John Motson. He’s a juggernaut of football broadcasting and I don’t have a bad word to say [...]
MPs to grill former BBC chiefs over Bashir’s Diana interview June 10, 2021 MPs will next week grill two former director generals of the BBC in the wake of a scandal over Martin Bashir’s interview with Princess Diana. Lord Hall and Lord Birt will be hauled in front of the culture select committee on 15 June to answer questions about the events leading up to the explosive 1995 [...]
Exclusive: ‘Allow yourself to f*** up once in a while’, says Speak2Impact founder and TED talk writer Susie Ashfield June 9, 2021 Susie Ashfield started out as the voice of middle-class products on day time television; everything from Channing Tatum’s latest blockbuster to Jersey Royal Potatoes. Alongside her voiceover work, she worked as an insurance broker in the City, managing a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals, including celebrities and business high flyers. Seeing a gap in the market [...]
Guardian chief executive steps down amid reports of boardroom clashes June 9, 2021 The boss of the Guardian is stepping down after just 16 months in the job amid reports of clashes with the newspaper’s editor. Annette Thomas, who took over as chief executive of publisher Guardian Media Group (GMG) last March, will leave the company at the end of June. It comes after the Scott Trust, the [...]