The licence fee is obsolete – but a new BBC poll tax would be just as bad March 2, 2015 BBC director-general Lord Hall must have thought all his Christmases had come at once. For years, the corporation has been on the defensive about the future of the TV licence fee. Campaigners had highlighted how it is being rendered obsolete by the increasing numbers watching TV via iPlayer catch-up services, on tablets, computers and on [...]
Ukip attacks BBC over EU funds after stinging mockumentary March 1, 2015 UKIP yesterday launched a stinging attack on the BBC ahead of what the party labelled a “pro-EU” mockumentary that was aired on BBC 4 last night. The Storyville programme “The Great European Disaster Movie”, authored by Italian director Annalisa Piras and ex-editor of The Economist Bill Emmott, envisions a dystopian post-EU future where rioting and [...]
Ukip savages “BBC bias” over “pro-EU mockumentary” and questions Corporation’s EU funding March 1, 2015 Ukip has launched a stinging attack on the BBC in anticipation of what the party has labelled a "pro-EU" mockumentary to be aired on tonight on BBC 4. The Storyville programme "The Great European Disaster Movie", authored by Italian director Annalisa Piras and ex-editor of The Economist Bill Emmott, envisions a dystopian post-EU future where [...]
MPs attack policing of licence fee and push to scrap BBC Trust February 25, 2015 The BBC will come under fire from an influential group of MPs today, with a new report slamming the “anachronistic” way in which licence fee evasion is treated as a criminal offence. The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee also criticises the BBC for squeezing out smaller rivals, and proposes scrapping the BBC Trust. The [...]
General Election 2015: ITV and BBC to show seven-way debates, Channel 4 and Sky share head-to-head February 23, 2015 ITV and BBC will broadcast two separate seven-way debates between political party leaders ahead of the general election, while Sky and Channel 4 will both share a head-to-head between David Cameron and Ed Miliband. The broadcasters drew lots to decide how to distribute coverage of the debates which will see party leaders given [...]
Apple hires BBC DJ Zane Lowe as tech giant bolsters its Beats team February 15, 2015 Veteran BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe is heading to the US to join the growing music team at iPhone-maker Apple. Lowe, who joined Radio 1 in 2003, will join Apple next month following his last show on 5 March. “The station has allowed me to share incredible music with the country’s best music fans. [...]
BBC pay £204m to keep Premier League highlights on Match of the Day January 29, 2015 Premier League highlights will stay on the BBC until the 2018/19 season after the broadcaster renewed its deal with the league. The cost of the coverage has risen by 13.5 per cent, with the BBC's latest deal with the Premier League jumping from £179.7m to £204m. As part of the deal the BBC's flagship football [...]
Broadcasters BBC and ITV offer seven-way General Election TV debates January 22, 2015 After weeks of wrangling in the wake of David Cameron's insistence that he won't take part in General Election TV debates unless the Greens are represented, broadcasters BBC and ITV have come back with a rather stunning proposal. The two broadcasters have decided to offer the party leaders and the public the chance of a [...]
More hotdesking or straight to the broom cupboard? BBC told to improve space usage to meet targets on estate costs January 22, 2015 Fans of BBC spoof W1A – in which the hotdesking policy means there is never enough space, even for the mighty Hugh Bonneville – could chuckle at the National Audit Office's review of Aunty's estate management issues. Because although it has made "significant achievements" in reducing the cost and size of its estate, as [...]
The BBC acted too hastily on Three – Editor’s Letter January 20, 2015 Public companies are rightly criticised whenever they turn down a takeover bid point blank, leaving no room for negotiation. Their board members, however cushy or fascinating their jobs are, have a fiduciary duty to the shareholders of the group to do the best for them, and for the group’s employees. Yesterday the public service broadcaster [...]