Coronavirus: Broadcaster viewing figures surge as Brits flock to TV news March 19, 2020 The UK’s public service broadcasters have reported a huge surge in viewer numbers as Brits flock to TV news to find out the latest information on the coronavirus outbreak. Almost 8.7m people tuned into the BBC Six O’Clock News last night — the highest figure recorded since Christmas Day 2008 and more than twice the [...]
Coronavirus: BBC overhauls broadcast plans to tackle outbreak March 18, 2020 The BBC today unveiled a raft of new measures aimed at keeping the public informed during the “unprecedented” coronavirus outbreak. Director general Tony Hall said the public service broadcaster would launch special programming on TV and radio to provide audiences with the latest information on the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of the wide-ranging changes, the [...]
Coronavirus: BBC suspends Eastenders filming March 18, 2020 The BBC has suspended filming on Eastenders until further notice due to the coronavirus outbreak. Soap rivals Casualty and Holby City will also be on hold as the broadcaster shuts down its production arm. “In light of the spread of Covid-19, after much consideration, it has been decided that filming on Eastenders will be postponed [...]
BBC delays licence fee changes for over-75s due to virus fears March 16, 2020 The BBC today said it will push back plans to end the blanket free licence fee scheme for over-75s amid concerns about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Pensioners were due to face changes to the licence fee from 1 June, but this will now be delayed until 1 August. Millions of over-75s will have [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
BBC must avoid ‘narrow urban outlook’, warns new culture secretary March 5, 2020 The BBC must avoid a “narrow urban outlook” if it is to survive in the modern media landscape, the new culture secretary has warned. In his first major attack on the broadcaster, Oliver Dowden took aim at the BBC’s perceived bias and its failure to reflect the whole of the UK. “If we’re all honest, [...]
Spitting Image to return after 24 years following Britbox commission March 4, 2020 Spitting Image will return to UK screens 24 years after it was taken off air, as streaming service Britbox named the hit puppet show as its first original commission. The Bafta award-winning TV show, which first appeared in 1984, has earmarked a string of contemporary targets for its satire, including the Duke and Duchess of [...]
MPs to grill BBC executives amid questions over broadcaster’s future March 3, 2020 Top BBC executives are set to be hauled in front of MPs to face a grilling over their plans for the future as the broadcaster attempts to stave off a string of crises. Outgoing director general Lord Tony Hall and chairman Sir David Clementi will both give evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport [...]
Netflix UK shows ‘not aligned to British taste’, say top media analysts February 27, 2020 Netflix’s UK shows are “not necessarily aligned to British taste” and cannot be compared to the BBC’s home-grown dramas, according to top media analysts. In a note issued today, Enders Analysis threw its weight behind the BBC’s value to the wider creative economy and blasted “naive” comparisons between the public service broadcaster and Silicon Valley [...]