New ‘Britishness’ requirements for public service broadcasters set out by Govt September 16, 2021 Plans to protect “distinctively British” shows and broadcasters have been set out by the Media Minister today at the Royal Television Society Convention. Media Minister John Whittingdale announced the new rules for public service broadcasters (PSBs) to make “iconic, not generic” British shows in a bid to help them compete with US streaming giants. The [...]
BBC director of news Fran Unsworth to exit next year September 7, 2021 The BBC’s director of news and current affairs, Fran Unsworth, is set to depart next year after four decades with the corporation. Unsworth said she feels the time is right to exit the coveted position, which she entered in 2018, after having a “ringside seat” at some of the world’s most era-shaping events. The departing [...]
Ex-BBC staffer trapped in Afghanistan: ‘Worst place in the world’ September 1, 2021 An Afghan who worked for the BBC has said his country is currently the “worst place in the world” to be a journalist, as he seeks evacuation to the UK with his wife and baby. Abdullah, whose name has been changed for his security, also criticised the BBC for not helping him to escape, adding [...]
BBC licence fee may shrink in real terms as ministers reject inflation link August 31, 2021 The BBC licence fee will increase by less than the rate of inflation out until 2026 because ministers are concerned about hitting households with higher bills, the Times has reported The dominant public service broadcaster is in the middle of a funding squeeze that has forced it to restructure major parts of its news production. [...]
Fatal blood clot: Coroner rules AstraZeneca vaccine caused death of BBC host Lisa Shaw August 27, 2021 The death of award-winning BBC radio presenter Lisa Shaw was caused by complications as a result of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, a coroner in Newcastle has concluded. Shaw died in May, just over three weeks after she had her first dose of the jab, an inquest in Newcastle heard on Thursday. The 44-year-old – who [...]
BBC set to tap Jess Brammar as news chief despite ‘bias’ row August 23, 2021 The BBC is poised to appoint Jess Brammar as its new head of news despite an online backlash against so-called ‘left-wing’ views. Brammar, former editor-in-chief of Huffpost UK and previously deputy editor of Newsnight, is expected to be appointed to a new role overseeing the broadcaster’s news output. It comes despite criticisms that the news [...]
Russia to expel BBC journalist in ‘symbolic deportation’ August 13, 2021 Russia has told a BBC journalist working in Russia to leave the country by the end of the month in what it described as a “symbolic deportation”. In a sign of further tensions between the two nations, Russian state media reported that Sarah Rainsford, one of the broadcaster’s two English-language Moscow correspondents, will be expelled [...]
Screenshot: Can the City harness the power of the Netflix model? August 13, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: Victoria Derbyshire’s heels hiccup **Can the City harness the power of the Netflix model? **The CMA goes for GIFs Media Moment of the Week: Victoria Derbyshire’s heels hiccup Late on Wednesday evening prolific BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire tweeted to say she’d be on air three times in a [...]
BBC weighs sale of iconic Eastenders studios in Elstree August 11, 2021 The BBC is weighing up a sale of its iconic studios at Elstree in north London in a move that could spark a major upheaval for productions such as Eastenders. Real estate consultant Lambert Smith Hampton has reportedly surveyed the site ahead of a possible disposal, although no decision has been reached. The studio complex [...]
BBC headquarters ‘in lockdown’ as anti-vax protesters target broadcaster August 9, 2021 The BBC’s central London headquarters have reportedly been placed under lockdown as anti-vaccination protesters target the public service broadcaster. Earlier today the clueless mob attempted to storm Television Centre in west London, which stopped serving as the BBC’s headquarters in 2013. It is now home to studios for daytime ITV shows including Loose Women, luxury [...]