Broadcasters push for longer ad breaks as streaming competition heats up August 19, 2019 UK broadcasters are consulting with the government on plans to extend TV advert breaks as they look to stave off growing competition from online streaming rivals. Public service broadcasters (PSB) such as ITV and Channel 4 are in talks with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) over proposals that could see the [...]
Three switches on 5G for wireless home broadband August 19, 2019 Mobile network Three today switched on its 5G network, launching its wireless home broadband service to customers across London. Three has become the latest UK operator to launch the new high-speed network, following rollouts by EE and Vodafone. Read more: O2 complains 5G spectrum auction unfairly favours rival Three Three’s launch is focused on its [...]
O2 complains 5G spectrum auction unfairly favours rival Three August 12, 2019 Mobile operator O2 has warned Ofcom that its plans to auction spectrum for the UK’s 5G network unfairly favour rival Three. O2 has urged the regulator to change the conditions of its auction to ensure mobile companies can compete fairly and consumers have access to the highest-quality network. Read more: O2 will launch 5G network [...]
Youtube and Netflix among most-watched channels as streaming booms August 7, 2019 YouTube and Netflix are now the third and fourth most-watched video services in the UK, as streaming continues to eat away at traditional TV viewing. British adults watch on average 34 minutes of Youtube and 18 minutes of Netflix per day, overtaking both Channel 4 and BBC Two. Read more: The new King of the [...]
The new King of the Jungle: Why Disney could be a spoiler for Netflix August 7, 2019 In 2017 Dana Brunetti, the producer behind hit Netflix series House of Cards, declared that appointment-viewing TV was dead. Gone were the days of scheduled programming, he said. On-demand binge-watching was here to stay. Brunetti’s show helped propel Netflix to the forefront of the streaming landscape and, two years later, on-demand TV is now the [...]
No respite for BT investors as shares sink again August 6, 2019 By Graeme Evans from interactive investor. BT shares continue to fall after first quarter results do little to dispel fears over its dividend. After a torrid year for followers of Britain’s best-known stocks, first quarter results from BT Group (LSE:BT.A) have done little to ease their fears that the telecom group’s dividend is next for the chop. While last week’s figures [...]
Ofcom clears Channel 4 News over Jon Snow’s ‘white people’ comment August 5, 2019 Ofcom has cleared Channel 4 News of wrongdoing after presenter Jon Snow remarked he had “never seen so many white people in one place” during a Brexit rally. The regulator received 2,600 complaints that Snow’s comment, made at the end of the programme, was racist and offensive. Read more: BBC gets Ofcom approval to stream [...]
BBC accused of ‘pulling a fast one’ on producers over Britbox plans August 4, 2019 The BBC has been accused of “pulling a fast one” on independent production companies over new rules that could give Britbox an advantage over streaming rivals. The broadcaster has proposed new regulations meaning producers can sell their rights to streaming services after 12 months, but only subject to conditions that would be tougher for competitors [...]
With Boris onside, we can boost connectivity across the country August 2, 2019 The successful economies of the future will be those that effectively seize the potential of digital technology. It is particularly important that we in the UK take heed of this message, as businesses face ongoing uncertainty in the approach to the government’s Halloween Brexit deadline. So what progress is being made to realise this potential? [...]
BBC gets Ofcom approval to stream shows on iPlayer for a year August 1, 2019 BBC TV programmes will now be available on iPlayer for a year, after Ofcom approved proposals to expand the on-demand platform. The broadcaster submitted a request to extend the availability of catch-up series from 30 days after broadcast to 12 months, with some programmes available for even longer. Read more: Britbox: BBC and ITV strike [...]