http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/ A one stop shop for the latest Satellite and Broadcast Industry news. Got any hot news stories? Become a freelance reporter and post them here. Remember to give credit for any quotes. en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:37:54 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/ http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163591-bt-vision-boxes-will-pack-freeview-hd-future.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:50:50 GMT BT customers will finally get the HD treatment BT Vision has confirmed that their next generation of set-top boxes will be able to receive Freeview HD channels. The Freeview HD service is set to roll out next year, and will deliver the BBC HD channel as well as ITV, Channel 4 and S4C in HD. ... BT customers will finally get the HD treatment

BT Vision has confirmed that their next generation of set-top boxes will be able to receive Freeview HD channels. The Freeview HD service is set to roll out next year, and will deliver the BBC HD channel as well as ITV, Channel 4 and S4C in HD.

Speaking to TechRadar, Michael Barry, BT’s Head of Programming, said that the project is a work in progress and that there is no firm date for its launch yet.

To receive Freeview HD, viewers will need special HD ready set-top boxes with DVB-T2 tuners. Some Freeview HD broadcasts will start as early as next month, but it is unlikely that any of these boxes will be out before then.

Until now, BT Vision delivered all of its content via viewers' broadband connections which meant that it deprived owners of bandwidth-heavy HD TV. However, as well as adding Freeview HD, BT is also currently working on a fibre-optic network to deliver HD content for the future generations of the BT Vision box.

The imminent next generation of Freeview boxes could follow the BT trend, and come with broadband connectivity enabling access to catch-up services such as BBC's iPlayer.


Source:T3 ]]> Daily Satellite and Broadcast industry News chris http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163591-bt-vision-boxes-will-pack-freeview-hd-future.html http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163590-tesco-plots-conquer-telecoms-sector.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:47:25 GMT Tesco is building up its assault on telephone and broadband firms with plans for hundreds of new in-store telecoms outlets and discounted packages of internet and landline services.

Britain's dominant retailer is already a growing force in the cut-throat telecoms market and said it saw more opportunities for big returns from mobile-phone users and broadband customers as it sought to build up its non-grocery revenues.

Bosses announced a five-year deal with Cable & Wireless for it to supply Tesco with wholesale broadband services. Lance Batchelor, the company's telecoms chief executive, said the tie-up would allow Tesco to offer customers home-phone and broadband packages for the first time. That will pit it against names such as Virgin Media and BSkyB, which have long wooed customers with bundled services.

Batchelor flagged up Tesco's "unique ability" to differentiate its offerings through Tesco's rewards scheme and by bundling a wide range of goods and services, for example a laptop sold with a broadband package. "Our goal: to become a leading provider of telecoms services and products to Tesco customers, with the medium-term potential to generate around £2bn revenue and around £200m profit," he said on Tesco's website.

The supermarket already has a fast-growing mobile network, which it launched in 2003 as a joint venture with O2, and it sells handsets as well as mobile and broadband contracts through 100 phone shops in its stores. By also selling telecoms services online and from the supermarket aisles in Tesco stores that do not have a phone shop, the retailer's weekly sales rate of mobile contracts has quadrupled during 2009.

It now plans to double its number of phone shops to 200 by the end of 2010 and eventually hold a nationwide network of 500, pitting it against high street specialists such as Carphone Warehouse .

The new details of Tesco's telecoms push come weeks after it outlined plans to build a full-service bank offering current accounts and mortgages. Andrew Higginson, the chief executive of Tesco's retailing services arm, today reiterated the company's focus on financial services and telecoms as "big, profitable sectors".

He said: "We have demonstrated we can be successful in specific product categories with modest market shares ... However, significant parts of these markets remain untapped."

The retailing services arm – including the Tesco.com home delivery service – contributes about £500m to Tesco group profits and the company wants to double that to £1bn.


Source:guardian ]]> Daily Satellite and Broadcast industry News chris http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163590-tesco-plots-conquer-telecoms-sector.html http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163589-youtube-adds-full-length-tv-shows.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:43:17 GMT The new area is called ‘Shows’ and sees the video-sharing site, owned by Google, play full length episodes of British content for the first time, following a landmark three year deal with Channel 4 – as first revealed by The Telegraph. ‘Shows’, which has gone live today, includes almost 5,000... The new area is called ‘Shows’ and sees the video-sharing site, owned by Google, play full length episodes of British content for the first time, following a landmark three year deal with Channel 4 – as first revealed by The Telegraph.

‘Shows’, which has gone live today, includes almost 5,000 videos, out of which almost 4,000 are full length programmes, from over 60 partners. It is the first time that any of Channel 4’s content has gone live in full since the terms of the deal were officially announced last month. Currently the broadcaster is supplying episodes from series such as Peep Show, Derren Brown, Hollyoaks, The Inbetweeners, Gordon Ramsay’s F Word and Jamie at Home. Full length programming from Channel 4’s archive, such as Whose Line Is It Anyway? and Father Ted, has also been made available.

YouTube has struck other smaller content deals with FreemantleMedia and BBC Worldwide to gain access to certai programmes such as Baywatch and This is Dom Joly. However, it has yet to sign another major deal with a different UK broadcaster which gives it total access to its catch-up and archive content, as it has done with Channel 4.

The full Channel 4 service will go live at the beginning of 2010 and will be a totally separate branded area of the site. The deal was ground-breaking as it marked the first time any broadcaster in the world had made its full catch-up schedule available on YouTube. Content will be available for 30 days after broadcast, as it is on Channel 4’s own website.

Users can access the ‘Shows’ section via a tab on the homepage and all shows are free of charge – supported by advertising. It is also being used a destination to house clips of programmes including Top Gear, Eastenders and Mr Bean. If users want to see these shows in full, they are directed to each brand’s websites and informed of the best way to do this.

The Telegraph understands YouTube is engaged in a serious of negotiations with the other UK broadcasters, namely ITV and BBC Worldwide, as well as the major production companies, about signing other full length content deals. The video site still has famously yet to turn a profit since being acquired by Google got $1.65 billion (£883 million) in 2006, and hopes to become more attractive to advertisers by securing the rights to quality long-form content – which will in turn make the revenue-sharing deals with broadcasters more lucrative.

There has been a surge of interest from several video aggregation sites in signing deals with the major UK broadcasters since the Competition Commission blocked Project Kangaroo, the joint video-on-demand venture from the BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4, earlier this year. All three broadcasters are understood to be in talks with the likes of Hulu – a US based video site, SeeSaw - a new video-on-demand offering and MSN Video – the Microsoft-owned video player – as well YouTube.

Separately Hulu announced yesterday its first deal with a music label. EMI and the video aggregator, jointly owned by Disney, NBC Universal, Providence Equity and News Corp, have signed an agreement which will see concerts and music videos by EMI artists become availlable on the site. Norah Jones is the first artist to launch her own page and feature several of her concerts in their entirety.



Source:telegraph ]]> Daily Satellite and Broadcast industry News chris http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163589-youtube-adds-full-length-tv-shows.html http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163588-bbc-goes-internet-radio-crazy.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:41:59 GMT Web ‘radios' that exploit a home's broadband ‘always on' connection have suddenly captured the BBC's imagination.

Tim Davie, the BBC's director of audio and music, says the public broadcaster had entered into "partnerships" with the Radio Centre, Global Radio and the Guardian Media Group to launch the UK Radioplayer. A device that will stream 400 licensed national as well as local, community and student radio broadcasters to listeners.

It allows listeners to search every station on the UK Radioplayer network, identifying news programmes, sports highlights, musical genres or even individual songs, using a revolutionary new search engine designed for radio. Users can store their favourite stations on pre-set buttons, for easy access.

The initiative also brings commercial radio into the mix. Global Radio, for example, is the UK's largest commercial radio operator.

The web-based device is planned to launch next year.


Source:RapidTVNews ]]> Daily Satellite and Broadcast industry News chris http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163588-bbc-goes-internet-radio-crazy.html http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163587-record-period-tv-sales.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:40:24 GMT It's proving to be a record year for TV sales. But the value of the shipments made has fallen.

Global TV shipments increased 1% year-on-year for the first time since the third quarter of 2008 to an impressive 54.9m units in the third quarter of 2009, according to stats from DisplaySearch.

"LCD TVs have been enjoying strong growth all year after becoming the leading technology on a unit basis, but their growth has not offset the rapid decline in shipments of CRT TVs until now. LCD TV shipments worldwide increased 38% on year, exceeding DisplaySearch's expectations, to reach a record 37.5m units. Government stimulus programs in China and Japan, as well as continued high levels of price erosion, contributed to excellent unit growth in LCD TVs, with double digit on year growth in every region except Eastern Europe. Based on strong third quarter shipments, DisplaySearch now expects 2009 total LCD TV shipments could reach 140m units worldwide."

Despite the robust unit growth of LCD TVs and the return to positive on year growth overall, revenue growth continues to be elusive. Total TV revenues were down for the fourth straight quarter, falling 10% on year to US$26.2bn. For the LCD TVs segment, the spread between unit growth and revenue growth was even more dramatic, as worldwide LCD TV revenues grew just 1% on year compared with 38% on-year shipment growth.

"The dramatic difference between strong unit growth and weak revenue growth is a problem for the TV industry," noted Paul Gagnon, director of North America TV research for DisplaySearch. "The strong unit demand from consumers is predicated upon attractive retail prices in the current economic environment, but manufacturers and retailers can't keep up price declines forever, as production costs fall more slowly and new advanced features require modest to high price premiums."

Average Selling Prices for LCD TVs fell 27% on year, more than twice as much on year as the overall average. This decline in average prices comes despite the fact that LCD panel prices, a key cost driver of LCD TVs, have been rising for most of 2009. The result is a compression of margin at the OEM, brand and reseller levels as all stakeholders try to keep consumer interest high by moving prices lower. In addition, consumers remain very price-sensitive, so they are settling for more modest screen sizes, causing average size growth to grind to a halt in 2009, which has had a direct impact on overall average prices. Even the introduction of advanced technologies like LED backlights and networking have not been able to ease price erosion.


Source:RapidTVNews ]]> Daily Satellite and Broadcast industry News chris http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163587-record-period-tv-sales.html http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163516-stv-tries-stop-itv-signing-video-demand-deal.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:38:01 GMT According to sources, ITV is in late-stage discussions with Hulu to offer content on the site before the British launch of the Disney, NBC Universal, Providence Equity and News Corp joint venture. However, STV and its lawyers are seeking an injunction to stop an ITV deal with Hulu or one of its... According to sources, ITV is in late-stage discussions with Hulu to offer content on the site before the British launch of the Disney, NBC Universal, Providence Equity and News Corp joint venture. However, STV and its lawyers are seeking an injunction to stop an ITV deal with Hulu or one of its video-on-demand (VOD) rivals.

One source close to STV said: "The internet has no borders. If ITV could ensure that no one from Scotland accessed the content on Hulu, it would not be a problem." STV believes that ITV should not be permitted to offer programmes, such as current episodes of Coronation Street, if it strikes future VOD deals without its consent.

Bobby Hain, STV's director of broadcast services and regulatory affairs, said: "ITV has entered into UK-wide deals for which it does not hold the necessary rights. In Scotland, STV holds these rights and it is entirely unacceptable that ITV is intruding into our licence areas in this way."

Earlier this week, STV launched a new legal claim against ITV in a dispute over current VOD rights. The broadcaster claims it is owed up to £12m after ITV allegedly entered into commercial agreements without obtaining the consent of licence holders STV Central and STV North.

This is the latest move in an ongoing legal battle between the broadcasters which has already seen ITV launch its own proceedings.

STV has angered the national network by opting out of some shows as it seeks cost savings and increased local content. ITV is suing STV for £38m. A separate suit for £35m concerning advertising sales is ongoing. According to reports, ITV and Hulu have discussed a deal which would see ITV hold a 25pc equity stake in Hulu's UK business. ITV declined to comment.


Source:telegraph ]]> Daily Satellite and Broadcast industry News chris http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163516-stv-tries-stop-itv-signing-video-demand-deal.html http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163514-zune-streaming-comes-xbox-360-a.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:35:04 GMT Microsoft has launched the Zune video streaming service as part of XBox Live for the XBox 360 game consoles in 18 territories, making watching on-demand videos possible. The latest software update also includes Twitter, LastFM and Facebook integration. The company has agreements in place with a... Microsoft has launched the Zune video streaming service as part of XBox Live for the XBox 360 game consoles in 18 territories, making watching on-demand videos possible. The latest software update also includes Twitter, LastFM and Facebook integration.

The company has agreements in place with a number of studios including Paramount, Universal, MGM and Warner Brothers. There are also regional agreements with broadcasters including BSkyB in the and Canal+ in France to stream content to the TV set via the console. Talks are under way with broadcasters across Europe including RTL and SBS. In the US, Netflix video rentals are available on the box.

Movies are available in the Zune Video Marketplace in both HD (1080p) and SD quality with pricing set between €2.99 and €6.99 (to be paid with Xbox Live points). For the moment, movies are available for rental only with the possibility to view a movie directly or to download the title with a two-week window to view the movie.


Source:BroadbandTVNews ]]> Daily Satellite and Broadcast industry News chris http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163514-zune-streaming-comes-xbox-360-a.html http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163513-itv-appointing-archie-norman.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:33:19 GMT The wire services are full of reports that UK network broadcaster ITV has decided on a new chairman in the shape of ASDA (the UK retailer owned by Walmart) former CEO Archie Norman.

ITV has this morning (Wednesday) issued a confirming statement. Norman's appointment will end a highly embarrassing 7-month search for a chairman (and CEO).

The appointment will give an incoming Tory government a useful friend - and vice-versa. Norman is a former Tory MP who evidently remains close friends with many current Conservative front-benchers.

With a new chairman in place it is likely that a CEO will quickly follow.


Source:RapidTVNews ]]> Daily Satellite and Broadcast industry News chris http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163513-itv-appointing-archie-norman.html http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163512-bbc-hitting-road-blocks.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:30:22 GMT The BBC is currently up against something of an avalanche of critical press. The newspapers have made hay on the publication of some senior executives’ salaries and perks, while seemingly every BBC plan to expand online activity (Kangaroo, and now Canvas) is being stymied, and the current Tory... The BBC is currently up against something of an avalanche of critical press. The newspapers have made hay on the publication of some senior executives’ salaries and perks, while seemingly every BBC plan to expand online activity (Kangaroo, and now Canvas) is being stymied, and the current Tory opposition political party promising further mayhem should it be elected next summer.

However, it has just won a small victory in that the British government, due to outline its planned legislation for the remaining 6 months or so of this administration on Wednesday, has modified plans to use some of the BBC licence fee to improve local TV news coverage. A measure will be introduced in the parliamentary Queen’s Speech to fund local news, but a decision will not be made until 2012, thereby seemingly kicking the idea into the very long grass.

On Sunday, the London ‘Sunday Times’ published a long-form interview with Jeremy Hunt, the shadow (opposition) culture secretary, who would be managing the broadcasting and media portfolio in a new Conservative government, and it could not have made good reading at the BBC.

The BBC is already having to face the problems of having 37 senior managers earning more (and frequently much more) than the Prime Minister. Hunt told the newspaper that the BBC’s bureaucratic waste had become an absolute nightmare, and that it was “obscene” for the BBC to be demanding an uplift to its mandatory licence fee.

The BBC’s licence fee is up for re-examination in 2012. The broadcaster received a £68m rise this year, despite inflation being zero. “If we win the next election we will have to have discussions with the BBC about the appropriate level,” he told the newspaper. “We think in the current climate it would be very hard to argue for any increase in the licence fee.”

The likelihood that the BBC’s wings will be clipped is a possibility. The same might apply to its Project Canvas, which the BBC has said is a ‘game changer’ as regards online activity. Canvas would also have other UK network broadcasters involved as well as British Telecom, but is hitting major objections from pay-TV operators. There’s no guarantee that the BBC’s governors (the BBC Trust) will approve the scheme.

Last Friday BBC future media boss Erik Huggers demonstrated Canvas, showcasing how users would have the ability to watch highlights instantly, send clips to friends, monitor what is being said on Twitter, access archives at the touch of a button and use commercial third-party applications and services.

Huggers said: “Unless we succeed in getting Canvas through, that whole market will be fragmented - you would have multiple ways of achieving the same thing.” If Canvas fails, he stated, broadcasters would shoulder additional costs of reformatting new devices: “There could be a horizontal level playing field for everyone and I think that’s worth fighting for.”

However, the appeal of a Canvas-type proposition – at least in the UK – is summed up by Screen Digest in a recent report on the topic, which said that 3.5m UK homes could be tapping into such a system by 2014.

Dan Cryan, Senior Analyst at Screen Digest says: “The BBC’s track record of building markets with Freeview and the iPlayer has been a well-documented success. There is every reason to think that if a Canvas-type proposition is approved, with the full promotional impetus of the BBC behind it, it will reach at least 3.5m homes by 2014.

“Such a platform is both a threat and an opportunity to pay-TV operators. On the one hand giving them wider distribution potential for their content bouquets, and on the other hand giving content owners a potential route to bypass the operators and go direct to the consumer.”

“A Canvas-type proposition will offer an alternative, neutrally-branded distribution platform offering linear TV channels, video on demand and web-based applications. Ultimately, it will rival IPTV, cable and satellite and will be separate from the existing Freeview, Freesat and BT Vision offerings,” says Screen Digest.

“Despite the support of powerful partners, a Canvas-type proposition has a number of obstacles to address; set top boxes will be expensive and the timing may coincide uncomfortably for consumers with the launch of HD Freeview. Potential bandwidth bottlenecks should be tackled by BT’s 21st Century Network and with the backing of the BBC, consumer take-up should be strong.”


Source:RapidTVNews ]]> Daily Satellite and Broadcast industry News chris http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163512-bbc-hitting-road-blocks.html http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163362-bbc-rollout-freeview-hd-early-march-2010-a.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:44:22 GMT The BBC has confirmed that areas across the UK can expect Freeview HD as early as March 2010. The BBC hopes that 50 per cent of the population will be able to watch the 2010 football World Cup in HD. The regions that will receive the first phase of the HD rollout will be London, Glasgow,... The BBC has confirmed that areas across the UK can expect Freeview HD as early as March 2010. The BBC hopes that 50 per cent of the population will be able to watch the 2010 football World Cup in HD.

The regions that will receive the first phase of the HD rollout will be London, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds/Bradford and Birmingham. If you don’t live in one of these areas, fret not, because the BBC aims to have a 98.5 per cent coverage for the service by the end of 2012.

To tune in to Freeview HD, you will need to buy a new HD set-top box which can handle the beefed-up transmission. For the early adopters out there, the BBC estimates that dedicated Freeview set-top boxes will hit stores early next year.

Here’s the Freeview HD rollout schedule in full:

ENGLAND
Manchester Winter Hill - December 2, 2009
London Crystal Palace (advance network) - December 2, 2009
Newcastle and Tyneside Pontop Pike (advance network) - February 2010
Leeds / Bradford Emley Moor (advance network) - March 2010
Birmingham Lichfield (advance network) - March 2010
Liverpool, central Lancashire, Cheshire, north Staffordshire Winter Hill relays (retrofit) - March 2010
Exeter, parts of Devon, Somerset, Dorset Stockland Hill (retrofit) - April 2010
Bristol, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire Mendip - April 2010
Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly Beacon Hill, Caradon Hill, Huntshaw Cross and Redruth (retrofit) - August 2010
Cumbria and the Lake District Caldbeck (retrofit) - October 2010
Following this schedule, Freeview HD will then be implemented in line with the rest of the switchover programme:
2011 - Bedfordshire, Berkshire (parts), Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire,
East Anglia, East Midlands, East Yorkshire, Gloucestershire,
Herefordshire, Humberside, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire,
Shropshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire (parts), Stoke-on-Trent, West
Midlands (remainder), and West Yorkshire (remainder).
2012 - Berkshire (remainder), County Durham, Greater London (remainder),
Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Surrey,
Sussex, Teesside, Tyneside.

WALES
Cardiff, Newport Wenvoe - March 2010
Swansea Kilvey Hill March (retrofit) - 2010
West and central Wales Blaenplwyf - March 2010
Carmarthenshire Carmel (retrofit) - April 2010
rest of Wales Long Mountain, Moel y Parc, Presely Mid (retrofit) - June 2010
Anglesey Llanddona (retrofit) - July 2010

SCOTLAND
Glasgow, central Scotland Black Hill (advance network) - February 2010
Shetland Bressay - May 2010
Orkney Keelylang Hill - May 2010
Caithness, North Sutherland Rumster Forest - June 2010
Lewis, Wester Ross, North West Sutherland, Western Isles Eitshal Skriaig - July 2010
Angus, Dundee, Perth, and parts of Fife Angus - August 2010
Aberdeenshire Durris - September 2010
Morayshire, Strathspey, and parts of Easter Ross Knockmore - October 2010
South West Scotland Caldbeck Scotland - October 2010
Inverness and the Great Glen Rosemarkie - October 2010
South West Highlands and Islands Torosay - October 2010
Scottish Borders Selkirk (retrofit) - November 2010 retrofit
Following this schedule, Freeview HD rolls out in line with the rest of the switchover programme until the whole of Scotland can receive the service by the end of Q2, 2011.

NORTHERN IRELAND
Freeview HD will rollout in line with the rest of the switchover programme so that the whole of Northern Ireland can receive the service by the end of 2012.

OTHER AREAS
Isle of Man Douglas (retrofit) - October 2010
Channel Islands Fremont Point - end 2010


Source:T3 ]]> Daily Satellite and Broadcast industry News chris http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163362-bbc-rollout-freeview-hd-early-march-2010-a.html http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163361-itn-brings-christmas-youtube-iphone.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:42:02 GMT ITN has teamed up with YouTube and Jerusalem Productions to bring a Christmas themed channel to the video-streaming site.

The channel is to feature 200 pieces of professional content, with subjects ranging from cooking, toys, the meaning of Christmas, pantomimes and TV.

As it's Christmas, a number of the shows will have a religious slant, with shows on the channel including A Small Miracle, a children's animation first screened on ITV on Christmas Eve 2002 and Xmas Files, an animation which first broadcast on Five.

For those who think that logging into the internet via a computer is so 2008, the channel will also be available as an Apple iPhone app.

Original commissions

"This collaboration illustrates how organisations like Jerusalem Productions can engage audiences directly in the digital space by partnering with ITN On," said Mark Browning, Commercial Director of ITN On about the project.

"With their support we can try out a whole host of exciting new video ideas developed by our in-house team of creatives. Through our relationship with YouTube and our success with existing iPhone apps, we look forward to generating millions of views from this set of originally commissioned content this Christmas."

Point your browse to www.youtube.com/thechristmaschannel to see what Christmas capers ITN has to offer.

Or, if you're a bit like us, you'll bookmark the site and click on it closer to the time while shouting at the screen "IT'S STILL ONLY NOVEMBER!"



Source:techradar ]]> Daily Satellite and Broadcast industry News chris http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163361-itn-brings-christmas-youtube-iphone.html http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163360-sky-concerned-channel-4-3d-will-give-viewers-wrong-idea.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:40:27 GMT Channel 4 starts its 3D week today using anaglyph technology, but Sky is concerned that this could give viewers the wrong idea about 3D TV. Channel 4 will use 20-year-old technology to broadcast in 3D across standard TV sets. This requires the viewer to wear the infamous cardboard-cut-out... Channel 4 starts its 3D week today using anaglyph technology, but Sky is concerned that this could give viewers the wrong idea about 3D TV.

Channel 4 will use 20-year-old technology to broadcast in 3D across standard TV sets. This requires the viewer to wear the infamous cardboard-cut-out glasses and means that the actual three-dimensional action is fairly limited.

A spokesperson for Sky told us that they welcome other broadcasters’ experimentation with the 3D format, but they also want to make it clear that the 3D experience has “moved on considerably from the red and green glasses of the 1980s.”

They added: “Sky is currently using similar polarisation technology to that being employed very successfully in many of today’s cinemas. It’s a rich, immersive experience and one which we believe has a commercial future, hence our commitment to launch a channel next year.”

Essentially, Channel 4’s broadcast will look more like the implausibly bad Jaws 3D film from the 1980s than the effects seen in the latest 3D movies such as The Final Destination (though much can’t be said about the film itself). Sky's own 3D broadcasts will launch in 2010 with their first dedicated 3D channel.

Here at T3, when we first heard about Channel 4’s 3D week, we were looking forward to seeing the likes Dr Gunther Von Hagens’ Live Autopsy and True Blood in 3D. Instead, the line-up is a toothless affair, featuring 50-year-old footage of the Queen’s coronation and a Hannah Montana concert in 3D.

Interestingly, at the end of our talk with Sky, they were keen to send out an invitation to other broadcasters. “We’d welcome the opportunity for those experimenting with 3D to share content with us, so we can put it through its paces over a 21st century 3D infrastructure, to whet their appetite for the opportunity ahead.”

Source:T3 ]]> Daily Satellite and Broadcast industry News chris http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163360-sky-concerned-channel-4-3d-will-give-viewers-wrong-idea.html http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163359-preliminary-agreement-has-been-signed-doha-between-art-al-jazeera-where-6-s.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:38:24 GMT Nasa's fifth and final flight of the year began at 2:28 pm EST (1928 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center near Florida's Cape Canaveral when Atlantis' twin booster rockets ignited, sending the 24-year-old ship through partly cloudy skies to begin its 31st journey into orbit. Docking at the space station was scheduled for Wednesday.

The shuttle carries nearly 30,000 pounds (13,610 kg) of equipment, most of which is too big to be launched by the Russian, European and Japanese cargo ships expected to keep the station supplied after the shuttles are retired.

Following the mission by Atlantis, which is scheduled to last 11 days, NASA plans five more flights to complete the station.

The shuttle is being replaced by a capsule-style spacecraft called Orion that can travel to the moon and other places in the solar system in addition to the space station, which orbits about 225 miles (360 km) above Earth.

The station, a $100 billion project of 16 nations, has been under construction for more than a decade.

Atlantis' six-man crew includes commander Charles Hobaugh, pilot Barry Wilmore, flight engineer Randy Bresnik, lead spacewalker Michael Foreman and astronauts Leland Melvin and Robert Satcher.

Wilmore, Bresnik and Satcher are making their first spaceflights. Joining the crew for the return flight home will be space station flight engineer Nicole Stott, the last station astronaut slated to fly on the shuttle.


Source:RapidTVNews ]]> Daily Satellite and Broadcast industry News chris http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163359-preliminary-agreement-has-been-signed-doha-between-art-al-jazeera-where-6-s.html http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163358-art-sells-sports-channels-al-jazeera.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:36:25 GMT A preliminary agreement has been signed in Doha between ART and Al Jazeera, where 6 sports channels from ART will go to Al Jazeera, which already has 8 sports channels. The negotiations have been going on for the best part of a year, although ramped up a gear over the past month or two. Terms... A preliminary agreement has been signed in Doha between ART and Al Jazeera, where 6 sports channels from ART will go to Al Jazeera, which already has 8 sports channels.

The negotiations have been going on for the best part of a year, although ramped up a gear over the past month or two. Terms have not been disclosed but payments well in excess of $1bn will now flow to ART. Indeed, some of our well-informed sources put the sum at more than $2bn, which is not unreasonable when one considers what’s involved.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with a formal contract to be signed when ART’s owner Sheikh Salah Kamel returns to the region from Germany where he is undergoing medical treatment.

The Middle East is football crazy, where international soccer, national soccer and club soccer totally dominate the pay-TV market. ART will evidently continue to transmit its remaining bouquet of channels to subscribers, although there are local concerns over longer-term job prospects in Amman, Jordan, where ART’s sports operation were based in a brand new management and play-out HQ as part of Jordan’s Media City. ART plays out about 65 channels from Amman.

In essence Al Jazeera gets the exclusive content of 6 ART channels although there are questions as to whether some of the minor Arab soccer leagues are part of the transfer. The Jordanian, Syrian and Sudanese leagues may not be transferred to Al Jazeera.

The agreement will leave ART Sport with only one channel "El Ahly" which covers Egypt’s Number 1 soccer club. Sheikh Saleh owns 49% of the channel’s shares.

Al Jazeera’s sports division already holds the exclusive rights in the region for major football leagues such as the Italian Serie A, Spain’s La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. The network’s 8 sports channels also televise the top leagues in Brazil and Argentina besides the Summer Olympics and other major events including French Open and Masters Series tennis, motorcycling’s MotoGP series and the NBA from the US.

Al Jazeera bought the rights for the Champions League (2009 to 2012) this year beating off tough competition from ART, Orbit and Showtime. The new deal is expected to make Al Jazeera the exclusive regional rights-holder of next year’s World Cup in South Africa.

Al Jazeera claims 1m existing subscribers, and has made no secret of its intent to drive this forward to 3m over the next year or two.

Coincidentally, Doha, Qatar’s capital city, is bidding to host the 2022 FIFA soccer World Cup.


Source:RapidTVNews ]]> Daily Satellite and Broadcast industry News chris http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163358-art-sells-sports-channels-al-jazeera.html http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163357-football-working-m6.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:34:32 GMT M6 achieved excellent ratings with a football World Cup 2010 qualifying match, Ireland vs France, on Saturday evening. The meeting was watched by 8.2 million people, reaching a 35.1% audience share. For M6, which led the evening, this score has broken a record since the beginning of 2009 and is... M6 achieved excellent ratings with a football World Cup 2010 qualifying match, Ireland vs France, on Saturday evening. The meeting was watched by 8.2 million people, reaching a 35.1% audience share.

For M6, which led the evening, this score has broken a record since the beginning of 2009 and is among the network’s four best audiences ever. The match performed particularly well with men under 50 as it achieved 48.6% audience share.

TF1’s CSI special evening attracted 4.5 million viewers and achieved 22% audience share. But M6’s competitor announced it was largely leading with women under 50 with 34.7% audience share.

Though TF1 owns TV rights for French football team matches, M6 has made a successful coup by acquiring the rights of the match in Ireland directly from the Irish Football Federation. The amount has not been officially disclosed but could get close to €5m.

TF1 is reportedly talking with France Télévisions, Canal+ and even Orange, to share the broadcasting of the 2010 Football World Cup. According to daily Le Monde, TF1, that acquired TV and mobile rights for €120m, would look to make money from this event, which is forecast to bring in no more than €45m in ad revenues. M6, whom TF1 already shared Euro 2006 with, would not be interested.

Source:RapidTVNews ]]> Daily Satellite and Broadcast industry News chris http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/daily-satellite-broadcast-industry-news/163357-football-working-m6.html