April 29th 2004
By: Luke
Ofcom Launch Fixed-Line Mis-Selling Consultation
Ofcom is seeking views on the effectiveness of current safeguards designed to protect consumers from the mis-selling of fixed-line telecoms services.
With competing services offered to customers via a number of different marketing channels, including direct mail, telesales, doorstep selling and selling in public places, the regulator ...
April 29th 2004
By: Luke
FT's Lex Offers Some Sense Amongst The BT 'Breakup' Media Mayhem,
"Breaking up BT - that old chestnut - has received another roasting in recent weeks. To its credit, Ofcom seems little more inclined than its predecessors to split BT's fixed-line network from its retail activities.
The regulator notes that such ...
April 29th 2004
By: Luke
Victor Lewis-Smith in the Evening Standard on C4's Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares...
"AS every chef knows, if you use low-quality ingredients and serve them half-baked, you'll end up with an indigestible dog's dinner that leaves a funny taste in the mouth. That's what C4 has done with this programme, which seems ...
April 29th 2004
By: Luke
BBC To Up Arts And Current Affairs Output
With an eye on the review of its charter the BBC has promised to deliver more high-quality arts and current affairs shows as it ups its public service output and builds on last year's commitment to reduce makeover programming.
The commitment, made in ...
April 28th 2004
By: Luke
BT's Initial Response To Ofcom's Phase 1 Strategic Telecoms Review Document
"BT welcomes the comprehensive review of the UK telecoms sector. The industry is changing rapidly as new technologies appear, new companies enter the market and customer expectations evolve. Communication is fundamental to the good of society, and BT ...
April 28th 2004
By: Luke
Telecoms Review - Phase 1 Published...
Phase 1 of Ofcom's strategic review was published today. By the end of this year, Ofcom intends to have reviewed the UK telecoms market (inc. fixed, mobile, narrowband and broadband) and set its future regulatory strategy. Ofcom is investigating the role of regulation/competition in delivering ...
April 28th 2004
By: Patrick
My Virtual Office, Part II
A couple of weeks ago I announced that I would be testing a new VoIP service called Vonage. Unfortunately, the Vonage system took about 10 days to arrive, so I was unable to test it while in Colorado (it arrived the same day that I ...
April 26th 2004
By: Luke
Parkinson To Quit BBC
Is it a coincidence that Parkinson has quit the BBC only days after Ofcom's PSB report? I think not...
Having read the report over the weekend the veteran broadcaster appears to have seen the writing on wall. The report states - "the most common concern in our audience ...
April 23rd 2004
By: Russ
Oh, that a regulator's reach should exceed its grasp...
Mike Butcher at m-bites (one of our recommended links) alerted OfcomWatch to this interesting article on whether PVR/iTV technology will permit advertisers to evade Ofcom's regulation of advertising.
Answer: Yes, it will. Or, yes it likely will. Or, yes it ...
April 22nd 2004
By: Russ
Ofcom PSB Review Consultation Document Released
It's glossy, it's colourful, and it asks the burning questions ('is television special?')... It's Phase I of Ofcom's PSB consultation, available here. I'll likely have more thoughts later, but here are some initial reactions and notes:
* Responses to the consultation are ...
