Ofcom draws up new rules to protect reality TV stars March 15, 2020 Ofcom has laid out a revised set of rules aimed at protecting participants in TV and radio programmes. The regulator’s intervention comes after the deaths of two former Love Island contestants and host Caroline Flack, as well as a former guest on the now-cancelled Jeremy Kyle Show. Ofcom said it had also seen a “steady [...]
Putting Six Nations behind a paywall would be ‘dreadful’, says BBC boss March 12, 2020 Any deal to put the Six Nations behind a paywall would be “dreadful” for both audiences and the sport, the BBC director general has said. The tender process for the rugby tournament’s next broadcasting contract is set to wrap up this weekend, but current holders BBC and ITV have been shut out of the bidding. [...]
Competition watchdog clears Bauer’s regional radio takeover March 12, 2020 The competition watchdog today cleared Bauer Media’s acquisition of dozens of regional radio stations after the media giant agreed to match advertising terms. Bauer last year snapped up almost 50 stations from Celador, Lincs FM, Wireless and UKRD. This included a 50 per cent stake in First Radio Sales Limited, which runs more than 100 [...]
BBC could take pensioners to court over licence fee evasion March 12, 2020 Pensioners could be hauled in front of a judge amid an ongoing row over payment of the BBC licence fee, the broadcaster’s director general has said. Lord Tony Hall today admitted that some people in their 80s and 90s could be taken to court if they fail to pay the £157.50 charge. Speaking during a [...]
By restricting free speech, we risk sleepwalking towards a tyranny worthy of Orwell March 12, 2020 In an unpublished preface to Animal Farm, discovered amongst the author’s papers in 1972, George Orwell argued that: “If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” In the last two weeks, we have twice been given reason to question what our liberty is [...]
Disney shareholders approve executive pay despite backlash March 11, 2020 Disney has fended off a shareholder revolt over executive pay after a slim majority of investors approved the company’s controversial remuneration plan. A vote on executive compensation, which included outgoing boss Bob Iger’s $47.5m (£37m) pay packet for 2019, passed with 53 per cent of votes at the media giant’s annual general meeting today. Disney [...]
Kantar snaps up digital consultancy Mavens of London March 11, 2020 Market research firm Kantar today said it has acquired digital consultancy Mavens of London as new owner Bain Capital continues to overhaul the business. Mavens, which was founded in 2009, provides research services for marketers, using data to help marketers optimise their digital search and content strategies. Kantar said the takeover would bolster its existing [...]
Budget 2020: Chancellor scraps VAT on digital publications March 11, 2020 Digital publications will no longer be liable to VAT charges under new measures outlined by chancellor Rishi Sunak today. In his inaugural Budget speech, Sunak said the so-called reading tax will be abolished from 1 December. This means that any digital publication, including books, newspapers, magazines and academic journals, will no longer be charged VAT. [...]
Wanted: Someone to breathe new life into the fumbling BBC March 11, 2020 Today is your last chance to throw your hat in the ring for one of the most important roles in British public life. That’s right, it’s the closing date for applications to be the next director general of the BBC. The successful candidate will be the most critical appointment at the BBC since Lord Reith [...]
STV shares rise as broadcaster posts huge rise in profit March 10, 2020 Shares in STV rose roughly seven per cent today after the Scottish broadcaster posted a huge rise in profit for the full year. STV, which holds the channel 3 licence in Scotland, reported pre-tax profit of £19m last year, up from just £1.9m in 2018. However, revenue slipped two per cent over the period to [...]