Archive for March, 2008

Monday round-up: Byron Review; Tory-slicing the BBC; Kip Meek; farewell to Miami Beach…

Folks, I’m sick to death of this warm and sunny beach scene — ready to return to Oxford via LHR Terminal Five!
– The whole Byron Review was published. Really, I was fairly impressed with both the Byron Review, and with Ofcom’s response. If I recall correctly Dr. Byron will appear before the Select [...]

ippr: ‘a generation of youth subjected to pointless social research’

Actually, I think the headline was they were being ‘raised online’.
Anyway, the ippr want the following:

Charlie Beckett’s criticism of the ippr is dead-on. These are undoubtedly well-intentioned but ultimately unworkable (and probably dangerous) recommendations. Think about it: the government and Ofcom are challenged already in the regulation of the state-owned broadcasters — the [...]

High speed broadband — mostly a scam — Ofcom’s role?

The Daily Mail reports today:
‘Ninety-six per cent of internet users with ultra high-speed broadband packages are not getting what they pay for, according to a study.
Experts today called for the telecoms regulator Ofcom to investigate.
Researchers analysed the broadband speed received by 4,000 internet users signed up to Britain’s six biggest providers: BT, Virgin Media, Carphone [...]

Online TV: Joost vs. Hulu

Hulu.com ended its beta test period and was released to the U.S. public yesterday. For now, I think it is only available in the U.S. The list of programmes (NBC Universal / Fox) is a good start, but not yet a total solution. HBO, for example, does not put its content on [...]

George Bush on ‘due impartiality’ (the so-called U.S. fairness doctrine)

George Bush rarely makes reference to media policy, but he did yesterday, attacking Congressional attempts to restore what used to be called the fairness doctrine. The fairness doctrine had roughly the same effect as the due impartiality rules enforced by Ofcom. Here is a portion of Bush’s remarks (the full speech is here):
‘[T]here’s [...]

Poland to abandon TV licence fees

According to the Media Network Blog, the Polish government has announced plans to discontinue compulsory television and radio licence fees, with legislation to be tabled in the next two to three months. Broadcasters will now be funded by the state.

Will Hutton on Channel 4: proper diagnosis, terrible remedy…

Folks, there was an interesting piece by Will Hutton in the Observer on Channel 4 and its financial future. He writes in part:
‘Britain does have its homegrown hits – Torchwood, Mistresses, Cranford, Shameless, Footballers’ Wives – but, given the huge demand, they are thin on the ground. Too many of the successes are adaptations [...]

The future of television: bulls versus bears

I thought I would have some fun today and highlight two different views of the future of television. Both come from the annual reports of respected broadcasters that provide entertainment, PSB, news and sports. A free cocktail at the Delano to the first person who can tell me which statement comes from the [...]