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By Russ on July 14th, 2007
OfcomWatch: gone fishing…
We’re on holiday until early August…
See you soon…
Archive for July, 2007
By scottlunt on July 13th, 2007
Webcasters – a new hope
Wired magazine reported today that SoundExchange, the royalty collection machine for musicians, has said it will not enforce the new royalty rates that are due to kick in on Monday.
The article, “Online Radio Is Saved; SoundExchange Will Not Enforce New Royalty Rates on Sunday” which posted today, points out that SoundExchange told the U.S. Congress [...]
By scottlunt on July 11th, 2007
“BeebTube” Part 3 – EU Tube misses the point
BeebTube Part 3, according to the plan, was supposed to wrap up today with a nice conclusion, craftily weaving together habits of young internet users with the obvious need for PSBs in Europe to take user generated content seriously. Part smoking jacket, part Sex Pistols. “Come on Europe,” I intended to say with a flare [...]
By scottlunt on July 10th, 2007
“BeebTube” Part 2: Responsibilities of PSBs
Consider the following:
In 2006, the UK Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) identified two objectives for the future of the BBC:
1) keep pace with technology
2) reconnect the BBC with the citizens
(DCMS, 2006a, p. 2)
The Communications Act of 2003 stated the following purposes:
“the provision of relevant television services which secure that programmes dealing with a [...]
By Scott on July 09th, 2007
Enter the ‘Arena’
I notice today that Ofcom has set up a mini-site on their main site (all in blue, as opposed to Ofcom red) called Ofcom Arena, which is states “is a vehicle for Ofcom to publish occasional Ofcom and third party papers, which may cover early thoughts, insights or research on regulatory issues.These papers are intended [...]
By scottlunt on July 09th, 2007
“BeebTube” Part 1: Should PSBs take user generated content seriously?
In just two short weeks, I will be presenting a paper at the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) in Paris. The paper makes an argument for the encouragement of user generated content (UGC) by public service broadcasters (PSBs) in Europe. Since discussing UGC is all the rage these days, it was suggested [...]
By Russ on July 08th, 2007
Ofcom secretly filmed whilst interviewing radio pirate…
This guy is a real scofflaw! Ofcom’s investigators seem to blandly follow a script. It reminds me of the scene in The Office where Gareth does safety training…
and here’s Part 2 of the video:
Give the kid some media literacy credit — he’s mastered both FM radio and online video…
By Russ on July 06th, 2007
Ofcom Friday round-up…
* DAB Award. Ofcom announced today the award of the second national DAB licence to 4 Digital, a group controlled by state-owned Channel 4 broadcasting. Funny how Ofcom often say it’s a new era in radio spectrum management — no spectrum comes free anymore — then award a national DAB licence using [...]
By Russ on July 04th, 2007
Ofcom examines the news…
Efforts to avoid fragmentation in the provision and consumption of news probably have ancient origins. I’m sure 5000 years ago, some nomads were huddled around a tree and the priestly-learned one amongst them was blathering-on about the neighboring tribe of goat herders and their plans for an invasion. Inevitably, someone (a proto-blogger) stands [...]
By Russ on July 04th, 2007
Confirmation hearings for Ofcom officials?
There has been some buzz about over the last week that Gordon Brown would change the way senior officials at regulators such as Ofcom are appointed. Yesterday, No. 10 set forth those proposals in a document entitled The Governance of Britain, available here. The document says in relevant part:
It therefore proposes that [...]
