Media news, UK and world media comment and analysis

Media news, UK and world media comment and analysis | guardian.co.uk http://www.guardian.co.uk/media Latest news and features from guardian.co.uk, the world's leading liberal voice en-gb © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:05:06 GMT http://www.guardian.co.uk/webfeeds 15 Media news, UK and world media comment and analysis | guardian.co.uk http://image.guardian.co.uk/sitecrumbs/Guardian.gif http://www.guardian.co.uk/media John Prescott furious over phone-hacking link http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/04/john-prescott-phone-hacking-scandal/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/56303?ns=guardian&pageName=John+Prescott+furious+over+unrevealed+link+to+phone-hacking+scandal%3AArticle%3A1447557&ch=Media&c3=Obs&c4=News+of+the+World+phone-hacking+scandal%2CJohn+Prescott%2CAndy+Coulson+%28Media%29%2CDavid+Cameron%2CPress+and+publishing%2CNewspapers%2CNews+of+the+World%2CNational+newspapers+UK+%28media%29%2CMedia%2CPolitics%2CUK+news&c5=Press+Media%2CNot+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly&c6=Toby+Helm%2CJamie+Doward&c7=10-Sep-04&c8=1447557&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FNews+of+the+World+phone-hacking+scandal" width="1" height="1" /></div>Documents held by Metropolitan police suggest News of the World targeted former deputy prime ministerJohn Prescott tonight demanded the Metropolitan police reopen its investigation into the News of the World phone-hacking scandal as the Observer revealed that Scotland Yard holds News International documents suggesting that he was a target when deputy prime minister.Two invoices held by the Met mention Prescott by name. They appear to show that News International, owner of the NoW, paid Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator at the heart of the scandal, for his help on stories relating to the deputy PM. Lord Prescott spoke of his anger that the information, spelled out in a letter from the Yard's legal services directorate, emerged only after he was given a series of personal reassurances by detectives at the highest level that there was "no evidence" his phone may have been hacked.The invoices are both dated May 2006, at a time when Prescott was the subject of intense media scrutiny following revelations that he had had an affair with his secretary, Tracey Temple. There is also a piece of paper obtained from Mulcaire on which the name "John Prescott" is written. The only other legible word on this document is "Hull".The name "Prescott" appears on two "self-billing tax invoices" from News International Supply Company Ltd to Mulcaire's company, Nine Consultancy.The Yard's letter, obtained by the Observer, states: "One appears to be for a single payment of £250 on 7/5/2006 labelled 'Story: other Prescott Assist -txt.' The second, also for £250, on 21/5/2006 contains the words 'Story: Other Prescott Assist -txt urgent'."The legal services directorate adds: "We do not know what this means or what it is referring to."In a statement to the Observer, Prescott said he formed the impression that the police were more intent on withholding information relating directly to him. "I have been far from satisfied with the Metropolitan police's procedure in dealing with my requests to uncover the truth about this case," he said."It seemed more about providing the least possible amount of information. I only discovered from the Metropolitan police that News International and Mulcaire were targeting me after repeated requests and in the end it came from their legal department, not the investigating officers."Prescott said the letter showed there was "a compelling argument to reopen the police investigation and fully report on the findings to the public".He added that he was pressing for full disclosure of all documents – including the invoices – and was prepared to seek their release through a judicial review. "We need far greater transparency to ensure not only that justice is done but that it is seen to be done."Prescott's intervention follows a week in which the phone-hacking row was reignited by investigations carried out by the New York Times which raised questions about Scotland Yard's enthusiasm for pursuing the inquiry. The row has intensified the pressure on Andy Coulson, David Cameron's director of communications, who was editor of the NoW at the time of the scandal.Peter Mandelson also became embroiled in the row last night with the Independent on Sunday revealing his mobile phone details were among lists of private data seized by police investigating illegal activity by News of the World reporters.With MPs due to return to Westminster tomorrow, Labour leadership contenders Ed Balls and Ed Miliband said the allegations threw Cameron's judgment into question.Balls called for the home secretary, Theresa May, to make an immediate statement about the phone-hacking affair to the Commons. He said: "This goes to the integrity of the criminal law, proper investigation and government communication, and there will be questions over David Cameron's judgment if he doesn't see the seriousness of this now."We need to know that this is going to be properly investigated. It does go to the heart of the integrity of communications in government. When there are now serious and new allegations and questions over Andy Coulson's integrity, that's something which has to be sorted out quickly and I hope David Cameron will do so. You can't just dismiss this as a piece of politics."Miliband later said: "Instead of sending out a junior minister to just dismiss the allegations and not even engage with them, we need to hear from David Cameron and senior people in the Conservative party about what Andy Coulson's response is to these clear and detailed allegations. Until that happens, a cloud will hang over Andy Coulson, and indeed the government, because this is the man in charge of the government's media machine. He is not some junior office boy – this is someone at the highest level of government."Prescott has placed intense pressure on the Met to reveal what material it has on him. Last September, the Met's assistant commissioner, John Yates, assured him there was no evidence to suggest his phone had been hacked. But Naz Saleh, the Met's assistant director of legal services, then admitted, following a further search, that it held information suggesting that Prescott had been a "person of interest to Mr Mulcaire".The international development minister, Alan Duncan, said: "The Labour party – in a concerted campaign through Ed Miliband, Lord Prescott and Alan Johnson – have piled in to attack Andy Coulson about something that happened years ago in order to try to attack the government."In a statement released yesterday, the News of the World said: "The New York Times story contains no new evidence – it relies on unsubstantiated allegations from unnamed sources or claims from disgruntled former employees that should be treated with extreme scepticism given the reasons for their departures from this newspaper."A spokeswoman for News International declined to comment on information appearing to show it paid Mulcaire for help relating to stories about Prescott. However, NI sources said it often paid for help during its many investigations and the invoices – if genuine – were no proof of illegality.The Met said no new evidence had emerged and "consequently the investigation remains closed".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/news-of-the-world-phone-hacking">News of the World phone-hacking scandal</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/johnprescott">John Prescott</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/andy-coulson">Andy Coulson</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/davidcameron">David Cameron</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pressandpublishing">Newspapers & magazines</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/newspapers">Newspapers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/newsoftheworld">News of the World</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/national-newspapers">National newspapers</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/tobyhelm">Toby Helm</a></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jamiedoward">Jamie Doward</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XH9Y4xfDUsjGMkVjeLMQV-D8M68/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XH9Y4xfDUsjGMkVjeLMQV-D8M68/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XH9Y4xfDUsjGMkVjeLMQV-D8M68/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XH9Y4xfDUsjGMkVjeLMQV-D8M68/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> News of the World phone-hacking scandal John Prescott Andy Coulson David Cameron Newspapers & magazines Newspapers News of the World National newspapers Media Politics UK news The Observer News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/04/john-prescott-phone-hacking-scandal Sat, 04 Sep 2010 21:39:12 GMT Jamie Oliver gets second US series http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/03/jamie-oliver-second-us-series/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/69293?ns=guardian&pageName=Jamie+Oliver+gets+second+US+series%3AArticle%3A1447119&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=ABC+%28US+media%29%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CUS+television+industry%2CMedia%2CJamie+Oliver+%28chef%29%2CLife+and+style&c5=Not+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CUS+Elections%2CTelevision+Media%2CFood+and+Drink&c6=Tara+Conlan&c7=10-Sep-03&c8=1447119&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FABC" width="1" height="1" /></div>Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution to return to ABC with focus on Los Angeles, after ratings and Emmy successJamie Oliver's US show has been commissioned for a second series by the ABC network after winning an Emmy.While series one of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution focused on "the unhealthiest city in America" – Huntington, West Virginia – the second series is due to tackle the obesity problems in the second-largest city in the US, Los Angeles.The first series will be called Jamie's American Food Revolution in the UK and is due to begin airing on Channel 4 on 13 September. Filming on the second series is to begin later this year.Both series are co-productions between Oliver's Fresh One company and Ryan Seacrest Productions.Zoe Collins and Roy Ackerman are executive producing the series on behalf of Fresh One, alongside Seacrest, who is a host of American Idol, and the US producers Craig Armstrong and Charles Wachter.Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution has been a ratings success for ABC and won the 2010 Emmy award for outstanding reality series last month.The Food Revolution format is based on the Channel 4 series Jamie's Ministry of Food and Jamie's School Dinners programmes and is part of Oliver's ongoing campaign to improve the way people eat.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/abc">ABC</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/ustelevision">US television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/oliver">Jamie Oliver</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/taraconlan">Tara Conlan</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/J-C-rGIcrkWorKjyUahzvz8-nts/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/J-C-rGIcrkWorKjyUahzvz8-nts/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/J-C-rGIcrkWorKjyUahzvz8-nts/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/J-C-rGIcrkWorKjyUahzvz8-nts/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> ABC Television industry US television industry Media Jamie Oliver Life and style guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/03/jamie-oliver-second-us-series Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:52:11 GMT Sarah Kennedy to leave BBC Radio 2 http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/03/sarah-kennedy-radio-2/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/4859?ns=guardian&pageName=Sarah+Kennedy+will+not+return+to+BBC+Radio+2%3AArticle%3A1446977&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Sarah+Kennedy%2CRadio+2%2CRadio+industry+%28Media%29%2CBBC%2CMedia%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CRadio+%28Culture%29%2CTelevision+and+radio+TV&c5=Unclassified%2CNot+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CRadio+Media%2CTelevision+Media&c6=James+Robinson&c7=10-Sep-03&c8=1446977&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FSarah+Kennedy" width="1" height="1" /></div>Kennedy, who has been at the station for 17 years, is leaving, BBC spokeswoman confirmsSarah Kennedy, the BBC Radio 2 DJ, will not be returning to the station, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal.Kennedy, 60, who has had a long career in TV and radio, has been away from the station on holiday for the past few weeks. Lynn Parsons is currently presenting her 5am-7am daily Radio 2 show.Rumours of Kennedy's impending departure began to circulate last night and a BBC spokeswoman confirmed today she was leaving Radio 2.Kennedy, who first rose to prominence on the 1980s ITV show Game for a Laugh, has been at the station for 17 years.BBC insiders claimed that executives at Radio 2 have been concerned about some of Kennedy's on-air performances but recognised she was a popular presenter who had served the organisation well for many years. The BBC spokeswoman said: "We did not terminate Sarah's contract. She goes with our blessing."Parsons will continue to present the 5am show for the next four weeks but the station's early morning schedule expected to be revamped after that.Bob Shennan, controller of Radio 2 and Radio 6 Music, will announce plans for the new-look schedule shortly."After 17 years of early starts, the temptation of destroying my alarm clock has proved too much to resist," Kennedy said in a statement."I shall miss my Dawn Patrollers – their wit, wisdom and warmth, more than I can put into words. After I've taken a long-earned rest, I'm looking forward to new opportunities, hopefully inside and outside broadcasting."Shennan added: "Everyone at Radio 2 would like to thank Sarah for her many years of sterling service, and wish her the very best of luck for the future. We shall miss her."An experienced broadcaster, Kennedy was reprimanded on several occasions over the years about on-air gaffes.In 2000 she had to apologise for suggesting that black people made good athletes because they were used to running away from lions. She also caused some offence in 2005 when she suggested on air, in the wake of revelations about John Prescott's extra-marital activities, that his nickname should be changed from "two jags" to "two shags".In 1999, she caused complaints when she described a clergyman as an "old prune" to his face and called her fellow DJ Ken Bruce an "old fool". She also accused a newsreader of soiling her underwear.Most notoriously, in 2007 Kennedy was reprimanded for telling listeners she could not see black people in the dark. "You know what happened to me yesterday," she told her listeners, before going on to say that she had narrowly avoided running over a black man because she failed to see him crossing a road."It's lucky he opened his mouth to yawn or do something and I saw him. He was wearing a black hat, black clothes and he was just invisible." The BBC said at the time of the incident that Kennedy had been "spoken to".However, Kennedy has a loyal fan base and is frequently defended on the BBC's website by her listeners. She has also stumbled over her words and slurred her way through several shows in the past, prompting concerns about her health.Kennedy started in the early morning Radio 2 5am-7am slot in January 1993.Her Radio 2 show is know as the "Dawn Patrol" and audiences peaked at 4.7 million after it moved to a slightly later time slot of 6am to 7.30am in 1994. It reverted to a 5am start in January this year.She became a household name in the 1980s when she presented ITV prime-time show Game for a Laugh with Henry Kelly, Matthew Kelly and the late Jeremy Beadle.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/sarah-kennedy">Sarah Kennedy</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/radio-2">Radio 2</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/radio">Radio industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc">BBC</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/radio">Radio</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jamesrobinson">James Robinson</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pWQdABhBN1l6Y8sgCjOnbhnMg6E/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pWQdABhBN1l6Y8sgCjOnbhnMg6E/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pWQdABhBN1l6Y8sgCjOnbhnMg6E/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/pWQdABhBN1l6Y8sgCjOnbhnMg6E/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Sarah Kennedy Radio 2 Radio industry BBC Media Television industry Radio Television & radio guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/03/sarah-kennedy-radio-2 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:54:51 GMT BBC defends impartiality after Downing Street meeting over cuts season http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/03/bbc-spending-cuts-mark-thompson/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/14509?ns=guardian&pageName=BBC+defends+impartiality+after+Downing+Street+meeting+over+cuts+season%3AArticle%3A1446969&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=BBC%2CRadio+industry+%28Media%29%2CMedia%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CConservatives%2CPolitics%2CUK+news&c5=Not+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CRadio+Media%2CTelevision+Media&c6=Jason+Deans&c7=10-Sep-03&c8=1446969&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FBBC" width="1" height="1" /></div>Mark Thompson photographed with memo revealing Andy Coulson's 'concern' that BBC gives context to cuts coverageThe BBC has been forced to defend its impartiality after Mark Thompson, the director general, was photographed yesterday going into a meeting in Downing Street to discuss a season of TV and radio programmes about the government's spending cuts.Thompson was photographed carrying an internal email from Helen Boaden, the BBC News director, saying that she had had lunch with Andy Coulson, the coalition government's director of communications, at which he had expressed concern "that we give context to our Spending Review Season".Boaden's email went on to provide Thompson with briefing notes on the season – which begins next week across BBC TV, radio and online services – for his Downing Street meeting yesterday. The subject line of the email was "Briefing for Steve Hilton meeting". Hilton is David Cameron's director of strategy.She said she had responded to Coulson's concerns about context by saying "that's what we always try to do ... inform the public about the whys and wherefores".In the email, which was CCed to Mark Byford, the BBC deputy director general and head of journalism, Boaden also defended the corporation's spending cuts coverage over the summer, saying it had "mostly been driven by news lines".Boaden cited examples including the billionaire retail mogul Sir Philip Green's appointment to head an external review of the government's spending cuts and the Institute for Fiscal Studies report claiming the poorest would be hardest hit by the measures."The director general has made it repeatedly clear that the impartiality of the BBC is paramount," a BBC spokesman said."The director general in his role as editor-in-chief discussed the possible participation of a number of members of the government in the BBC's coverage of the spending review this autumn. The BBC has regular meetings with both government and opposition parties. Both he and colleagues will also be talking to all the main political parties on this issue."However, Thompson's PR gaffe prompted unease within BBC News, where correspondents and programme editors face regular pressure from all the main parties over their political coverage.One senior BBC insider said: "What the fuck's he doing going in to see Hilton anyway? Management and editorial should be completely separate."The BBC will also be keen to avoid any appearance that it is soft-pedalling on its coverage of the government in the build up to next year's negotiations about a new licence fee deal.The Labour MP Michael Dugher told the Daily Mail: "The political independence of the BBC should be absolutely sacrosanct and it is very odd that the director general is going into Downing Street for this kind of meeting. The BBC is within its rights to publicise the cuts to public spending in whatever way it sees fit."<a href="http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2010/09/lecture-thompson-bbc-interview" title="Thompson said in an interview with the New Statesman earlier this week">Thompson said in an interview with the New Statesman earlier this week</a> that the BBC had become "increasingly tough-minded about the concept of impartiality" since the Hutton report in early 2004."If you wanted to criticise us you would say we are becoming increasingly tough-minded about the concept of impartiality. In a sense we are becoming more explicit," he said. "That is a post-Hutton change in the organisation. Impartiality is going up and up the agenda."He also defended the BBC against accusations that it had given Cameron an easy ride in opposition."It's easier to cover opposition politics when you've got an opposition with a clear leadership and clear agenda. We are doing our best to cover the Labour leadership competition, but, in a way, normal politics will only resume in the autumn [when there is a new opposition leader]," he added.The Spending Review - Making It Clear begins next week and runs through to a government announcement on the next phase of the cost cutting process on 20 October.Newsnight and Radio 4's Today programme will be running special features on the spending review, while the BBC political editor, Nick Robinson, is travelling around the country to find out what are the key issues affecting voters.Next Thursday BBC1 will be broadcasting 12 simultaneous regional The Spending Review - Making It Clear debates across England. Jeremy Vine will be hosting the London debate.The debates will feature local politicians, public sector workers business leaders and members of the public.<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/aboutthebbc/2010/09/the-spending-review-making-it.shtml" title="In BBC blog published late yesterday">In BBC blogpost published late yesterday</a>, Byford said: "This kind of comprehensive programming, providing real public service is what the BBC is here to do and we will continue to follow the story throughout the autumn. We hope it will help our audiences understand the full context of the spending review and what it may mean for them."• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc">BBC</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/radio">Radio industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/conservatives">Conservatives</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jasondeans">Jason Deans</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XUnUc1UHQ7EFbDJb0teoY6dIVEk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XUnUc1UHQ7EFbDJb0teoY6dIVEk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XUnUc1UHQ7EFbDJb0teoY6dIVEk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/XUnUc1UHQ7EFbDJb0teoY6dIVEk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> BBC Radio industry Media Television industry Conservatives Politics UK news guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/03/bbc-spending-cuts-mark-thompson Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:47:27 GMT Apple's Ping succumbs to the spammers http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/pda/2010/sep/03/apple-ping-spam/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/40555?ns=guardian&pageName=Apple%27s+Ping+succumbs+to+the+spammers%3AArticle%3A1446989&ch=Technology&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Ping%2CApple+%28Technology%29%2Citunes+%28Technology%29%2CSpam%2CMedia%2CTechnology&c5=Unclassified%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTechnology+Gadgets%2CCorporate+IT%2CConsumer+Electronics&c6=Josh+Halliday&c7=10-Sep-03&c8=1446989&c9=Article&c10=Blogpost&c11=Technology&c13=&c25=PDA+blog%2CTechnology+blog&c30=content&h2=GU%2FTechnology%2FPing" width="1" height="1" /></div>New social network built inside iTunes fails to keep out the spammers, showing a curse of social media – even inside proprietorial wallsApple chief Steve Jobs's trumpeting of the 160 million credit card holders on iTunes was a siren call to spammers. As if they needed any invitation.The most common incidence of scamming on Apple's latest social venture, Ping, is the offering of free iPhones from a dodgy URL. These avatar-less lurkers are mostly hanging around Ping's more famous participants – Katy Perry, for instance.As <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2010/09/02/spammers-already-hitting-taking-aim-at-apples-ping/">MacRumors points out</a>, no credit card details are needed to sign up for an iTunes Store account – the requisite accreditation for joining Ping – which would appear the spammers' way in."[Ping] implements no spam or URL filtering," <a href="http://www.sophos.com/blogs/chetw/g/2010/09/02/apple-pingd-comment-spam-coming/">says internet security firm Sophos</a>, adding that the service is "drowning in scams and spams".And it appears that Ping has also received a touch of the early-day Twitter, musician Ben Folds <a href="http://twitter.com/BenFolds/status/22830984597">last night saying that an account had been created in his name</a>. Verified accounts, Mr Jobs? (And are you sure those were Jack Johnson's tour photos? Was that really Coldplay's Chris Martin on stage on Wednesday?)Graham Clulely, senior technology consultant at Sophos, said: "We're used to survey scams like this being spread far and wide via sites like Facebook, but clearly the lack of filtering on Ping is making it a brand new playground for the bad guys to operate in."It's ironic that the most common scams on Ping right now revolve around Apple's own iPhone. It's safe to assume that Ping does incorporate some rudimentary filtering to prevent offensive messages from being posted, so hopefully Apple's security team can extend this to also block scam messages and malicious links. In the meantime, though, Ping users should be wary of believing what they read on the new service."Remember back in 2009 when Twitter was plagued by spammers? This is what happened when the site <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2009/oct/14/twitter-fighting-spam">announced a declaration of war on spam</a> in October last year: Sophos also say the iTunes 10 update fixes 13 "separate vulnerabilities" in the components used to render the iTunes interface.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/ping">Ping</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/apple">Apple</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/itunes">itunes</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/spam">Spam</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/josh-halliday">Josh Halliday</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/itnZmoiXRKWadOG_jYpurogXTHU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/itnZmoiXRKWadOG_jYpurogXTHU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/itnZmoiXRKWadOG_jYpurogXTHU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/itnZmoiXRKWadOG_jYpurogXTHU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Ping Apple itunes Spam Media Technology guardian.co.uk Blogposts http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/pda/2010/sep/03/apple-ping-spam Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:37:18 GMT Archant shakes up two weeklies http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/03/archant-free-weeklies-magazine/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/31592?ns=guardian&pageName=Archant+closes+two+free+papers%2C+but+launches+magazines+*+and+hires+staff%3AArticle%3A1447097&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Archant%2CPress+and+publishing%2CNewspapers%2CLocal+and+regional+newspapers%2CMagazines+%28Media%29%2CMedia&c5=Press+Media%2CMedia+Weekly%2CAdvertising+Media&c6=Josh+Halliday&c7=10-Sep-03&c8=1447097&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FArchant" width="1" height="1" /></div>Weekly "newszine", Scene, replaces Harlow Herald and East Herts Herald with part-free, part paid-for distributionThe regional newspaper publisher Archant has stopped publishing of two of its Hertfordshire free titles, launching a a series of weekly "newszines" in their place.The Harlow Herald and the East Herts Herald, both weekly, printed their final editions this week. The first edition of the magazine that is to replace them, <a href="http://www.scenefirst.co.uk/home" title="Scene">Scene</a>, was printed yesterday; its distribution is to be partly paid-for and partly free.Archant says it is recruiting two extra editorial staff and three extra advertising staff for the new title, with one job loss – a part-time receptionist.Archant, which <a href="http://www.archant.co.uk/" title="calls itself">describes itself</a> as the UK's largest independently owned regional media business, said the closure of the two titles is symbolic of a change in how people consume news. Scene aims to capitalise on the "lean-back" format of magazine reading, also launching a new website and mobile site for around-the-clock news."This project was born out of necessity," said Stuart McCreery, managing director of Archant Herts & Cambs. "The economic and multimedia climate in which we operate was challenging us and we needed to find a new way to satisfy our customers and readers in a more engaging and attractive manner. The Scene series will serve a wide audience in an innovative way."Our sales and editorial staff are really excited about this launch and it is credit to them that we are able to bring such a fresh product to market in tricky times. I am sure readers and customers will like the format and the approach."An initial 55,000 copies of Scene will be distributed across the region, with four editions covering Bishop's Stortford, Harlow, Hertford, Ware, Cheshunt, Hoddesden and surrounding areas.The Harlow Herald recorded a circulation of 36,227 in the six months to June 2010, making it among the most widely read weekly regional newspapers in Essex. Circulation was down 2.1% year on year, and down 1.7% on the six months to December 2009.The East Herts Herald had an average circulation of 29,109 in the first half of 2010, down 30.3% year on year and 7.7% on the previous six months.Operating profits at Archant from the first six months of 2010 were recorded at £7m, up by £2m on the same period in 2009. Total revenue at the publisher declined by 0.9% to £70.1m in July this year.Archant required the Harlow Herald and East Herts Herald from Home Counties Newspapers in 1998.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/archant">Archant</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pressandpublishing">Newspapers & magazines</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/newspapers">Newspapers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/local-newspapers">Regional & local newspapers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/magazines">Magazines</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/josh-halliday">Josh Halliday</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/YLzix3k-jrzclan73nEhvpIdA2E/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/YLzix3k-jrzclan73nEhvpIdA2E/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/YLzix3k-jrzclan73nEhvpIdA2E/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/YLzix3k-jrzclan73nEhvpIdA2E/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Archant Newspapers & magazines Newspapers Regional & local newspapers Magazines Media guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/03/archant-free-weeklies-magazine Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:36:17 GMT Child performance laws set for review http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/03/child-performance-laws-reality-tv/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/60484?ns=guardian&pageName=Child+performance+laws+set+for+review+in+wake+of+reality+TV+complaints%3AArticle%3A1446791&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Television+industry+%28Media%29%2CChannel+4%2CMedia%2CChildren+%28Society%29%2CSociety%2CPolitics%2CUK+news%2CConservatives%2CDavid+Cameron%2CChild+protection+%28Society%29&c5=Society+Weekly%2CNot+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTelevision+Media%2CChildren+Society&c6=Maggie+Brown&c7=10-Sep-03&c8=1446791&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FTelevision+industry" width="1" height="1" /></div>Children's minister points to need for 'heeding basic child psychology principles when involving young people in TV'The coalition government is to press ahead with a full review of the UK's child performance laws to protect young people from potential exploitation by reality TV formats.Announcing the move earlier this week Tim Loughton, the children's minister, referred to Channel 4's Boys and Girls Alone, saying it "sparked fierce debate about a kind of engineered Lord of the Flies type of scenario".Ofcom received 180 complaints about the show last year from viewers and organisations, including the NSPCC, the majority of which were about the safety and welfare of children who were shown being bullied and in temporary distress.<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/19/channel-4-cleared-harming-children" title="The media regulator cleared Channel 4 of harming children who took part">The media regulator cleared Channel 4 of harming children who took part</a>, but criticised the broadcaster for not doing enough to tell viewers of the safeguards it had put in place.Loughton, speaking at the International Association for the Study of Attachment (IASA) conference of psychologists in Cambridge on Wednesday, said: "There is a growing need to look again at our child performance laws, which date back to the 1960s. That is something that I will be undertaking in the autumn, together with the rather antiquated legislation on child employment."The minister noted that some observers see a continuation of the Victorian freak show in modern reality television, and added that there was a need for "heeding basic child psychology principles when involving young people in TV programmes".He said there was concern at the way impressionable youngsters were being conditioned to liking "that sort of thing". "That has raised profound questions over how young people involve themselves in the media and their experiences within it," Loughton added."Shows like Boys and Girls Alone, which was aired by Channel 4 last year, sparked fierce debate about a kind of engineered Lord of the Flies type of scenario, with the removal and separation of children from their families serving as a useful reminder... of [the importance of] heeding basic child psychology... when involving young people in a television programme."Loughton said the government intended to continue the work of Dr Tanya Byron on internet safety, and children's TV academic Professor David Buckingham's review on commercialisation. He also highlighted the importance of the childhood and families taskforce set up by the new government, to assist families, which is chaired by David Cameron.The conference was organised by the thinktank Mindful Policy Group, which promotes child mental health.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/channel4">Channel 4</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/children">Children</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/conservatives">Conservatives</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/davidcameron">David Cameron</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/childprotection">Child protection</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/maggiebrown">Maggie Brown</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jNz0sSrUxvGxMsjyK7s7OrrcfD8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jNz0sSrUxvGxMsjyK7s7OrrcfD8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jNz0sSrUxvGxMsjyK7s7OrrcfD8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jNz0sSrUxvGxMsjyK7s7OrrcfD8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Television industry Channel 4 Media Children Society Politics UK news Conservatives David Cameron Child protection guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/03/child-performance-laws-reality-tv Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:45:44 GMT BSkyB marks 3 millionth HD subscriber http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/02/bskyb-high-definition-subscribers/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/98810?ns=guardian&pageName=BSkyB+signs+up+3+millionth+subscriber+to+high-definition+television+serv%3AArticle%3A1446244&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=HD+TV%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CMedia%2CBSkyB%2CNews+Corporation+%28Media%29%2CBSkyB+%28Business%29%2CBusiness%2CMedia+business&c5=Press+Media%2CBusiness+Markets%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTelevision+Media&c6=John+Plunkett&c7=10-Sep-02&c8=1446244&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FHD+TV" width="1" height="1" /></div>More than 30% of Sky's total subscriber base, which stood at 9.86 million at the end of June, now watching in high definitionBSkyB has signed up the 3 millionth subscriber to its high definition (HD) television service just over four years after it was launched in the UK.Nearly 50 channels are available in high definition on the Sky digital satellite service, including BBC HD, ITV1 HD and five high-definition Sky Sports networks. Living became the latest broadcaster to join the HD platform today , with several more ITV channels due to join it before the end of the year.More than 30% of Sky's total subscriber base, which <a href="http://corporate.sky.com/media/key_facts_and_figures.htm" title="">stood at 9.86 million</a> at the end of June, is now watching in high definition, a key driver in boosting the satellite broadcaster's average revenue per user.Sophie Turner Laing, Sky's managing director of entertainment, news and broadcast operations, said the broadcaster had "recognised the potential of HD early", adding that the superior quality broadcasts had now "grown into something which our customers utterly love and now demand as standard".However, the latest milestone also suggests that the growth rate of HD has slowed after a bumper second quarter boosted by the football World Cup. An extra 429,000 customers were signed up in the three months to the end of June, taking total HD subscribers to 2.94 million.A <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jul/29/bskyb-q2-2010-hd-broadband" title="">slowdown was predicted</a> by the BSkyB chief executive, Jeremy Darroch, who said in July that he expected to see a "pause for breath" in take-up of the new technology. The next set of subscriber figures, for the third quarter of 2010, will be announced at the end of October.Sky's high-definition service launched in May 2006. High-definition channels are also available on Virgin Media, Freeview, the BBC and ITV's free-to-air satellite joint venture, Freesat.Living HD, which broadcasts programmes including Britain's Next Top Model presented by Elle Macpherson, became the 46th high-definition channel on the Sky platform, following the launch of Good Food HD earlier this week.Jonathan Webb, managing director of the Living TV Group, said: "Living is home to some of the glossiest UK and US programmes on television and they deserve to be seen in their pin-sharp HD glory."Eden HD, ITV2 HD, ITV3 HD and ITV4 HD will all launch before the end of the year, taking Sky's total number of HD channels to more than 50. BBC1 will also be simulcast in high definition in its entirety for the first time this autumn.Sky Sports' biggest HD audience to date was Manchester United's 3-0 win over Newcastle in their opening Premier League fixture of the season last month, which was watched in more than 800,000 homes.Sky's next big marketing push will be 3D television, with the broadcaster set to launch Europe's first dedicated 3D channel on 1 October.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/hd-tv">HD TV</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bskyb">BSkyB</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/news-corporation">News Corporation</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/britishskybroadcastinggroup">BSkyB</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediabusiness">Media business</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/johnplunkett">John Plunkett</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/A695uU7qPaq06bFDbdMYUHx7yXs/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/A695uU7qPaq06bFDbdMYUHx7yXs/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/A695uU7qPaq06bFDbdMYUHx7yXs/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/A695uU7qPaq06bFDbdMYUHx7yXs/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> HD TV Television industry Media BSkyB News Corporation BSkyB Business Media business guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/02/bskyb-high-definition-subscribers Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:00:17 GMT How much are paywall readers worth? http://paidcontent.org/article/419-analyst-paywall-subscribers-worth-a-quarter-of-print-readers//print paidContent: Annual income per paywall subscriber on sites like TheTimes.co.uk is just a quarter that from subscribers to UK quality dailies' print editions, says analyst <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/zny08pBB8N5HEbzzI771pOHRxKA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/zny08pBB8N5HEbzzI771pOHRxKA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/zny08pBB8N5HEbzzI771pOHRxKA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/zny08pBB8N5HEbzzI771pOHRxKA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> http://paidcontent.org/article/419-analyst-paywall-subscribers-worth-a-quarter-of-print-readers/ Loaded editor steps down http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/02/loaded-editor-martin-daubney-quits/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/72969?ns=guardian&pageName=Loaded+editor+steps+down%3AArticle%3A1446646&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Consumer+magazines%2CIPC+Media%2CMedia%2CMagazines+%28Media%29%2CPress+and+publishing&c5=Press+Media%2CMedia+Weekly%2CAdvertising+Media%2CConsumer+News&c6=John+Plunkett&c7=10-Sep-02&c8=1446646&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FConsumer+magazines" width="1" height="1" /></div>Martin Daubney leaves ahead of likely sale of IPC Media-owned lads' mag to Attitude owner VitalityLoaded editor Martin Daubney has stepped down ahead of the IPC Media-owned lads' mag's <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/20/attitude-owner-to-buy-loaded" title="">likely sale to Attitude owner Vitality</a>.Daubney, who is leaving immediately, has been editor of Loaded for seven years and overseen several relaunches of the title. But he has been unable to arrest a sales slide that has seen its circulation fall to just 53,591 in the first half of this year.IPC said there was no update in its negotiations with Vitality, with a sale yet to be confirmed.Daubney said: "Being editor of Loaded has been a blast. But for me, the time seems right to move on to new opportunities and let someone else take over the reins."A spokesman for IPC Media added: "Martin Daubney, editor of one of the UK's most iconic men's magazines, has decided to step down from the role.""The decision, after seven years with the title, follows the recent news that IPC is in discussion with Vitality Publishing about the sale of the brand."• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/consumer-magazines">Consumer magazines</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/ipc">IPC Media</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/magazines">Magazines</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pressandpublishing">Newspapers & magazines</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/johnplunkett">John Plunkett</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/B9SYBFwlFIKWw93x2R8cxI1Vd4g/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/B9SYBFwlFIKWw93x2R8cxI1Vd4g/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/B9SYBFwlFIKWw93x2R8cxI1Vd4g/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/B9SYBFwlFIKWw93x2R8cxI1Vd4g/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Consumer magazines IPC Media Media Magazines Newspapers & magazines guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/02/loaded-editor-martin-daubney-quits Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:35:31 GMT Sony streaming service takes on iTunes http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/sep/01/sony-qriocity-streaming-music-video/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/199?ns=guardian&pageName=Sony+Qriocity+service+takes+on+Apple+iTunes+with+streaming+music+and+vid%3AArticle%3A1446277&ch=Technology&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Sony+%28Technology%29%2Citunes+%28Technology%29%2CDownloads+%28Music%29%2CTechnology+sector+%28business+sector%29%2CDigital+media%2COnline+TV%2CMedia&c5=Digital+Media%2CBusiness+Markets%2CNot+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CConsumer+Electronics&c6=Graeme+Wearden&c7=10-Sep-01&c8=1446277&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Technology&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FTechnology%2FSony" width="1" height="1" /></div>Subscription-based Sony Qriocity service to be available in UK though PlayStation 3s and other Sony devices this yearSony has embarked on an ambitious challenge to Apple's iTunes, promising to launch a music and video streaming service in the UK by the end of this year.The subscription-based service is to be based around the PlayStation 3 console. Sony said that customers would be able to download high-definition movies and songs over the internet and watch them on other web-enabled Sony devices, including its TVs, laptops and digital music players.With Amazon also thought to be aggressively planning a web-based subscription service, which would stream old films and TV shows, the online TV-on-demand market is about to expand dramatically.The Japanese electronics giant revealed its plans in Berlin today at the start of IFA, Europe's biggest consumer electronics show, shortly before Apple was scheduled to make its own announcement in San Francisco.Fujio Nishida, Sony's president for Europe, said that the new "cloud-based" service would let consumers take their music wherever they went, from PS3 to PC to smartphone. He also indicated that the system would learn users' tastes and automatically find music they liked – something already provided by services including Last.fm.Sony's plan involves a major expansion of its Qriocity (pronounced "curiosity") service, which currently only offers video on demand in the US. Nishida said it would launch in the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy in the autumn.Music streaming will be added to Qriocity by the end of this year.Sony promised "millions of songs", but did not specify which record labels will be involved.The announcement was light on some key details – notably pricing. Full rollout will also take some time. Initially the service will just work on new network-enabled Bravia TVs, Sony Vaios and the PS3.Nishida also did not list which films and TV programmes will be available over Qriocity. According to one report, however, several Hollywood studios are already signed up, including 20th Century Fox, MGM, The Walt Disney Company, and Warner Bros.Restricting the service to Sony products may damage take-up, and the company appeared to indicate that it will open it up over time."Eventually this will be open to third-parties who can deliver a variety of high-quality digital content to Sony customers and others,"Nishida said.There are about 54 million registered PS3s in use worldwide, giving Sony a sizeable target audience for its new service. But Apple has already built up a very strong position, with the 10 billionth song being downloaded from iTunes earlier this year.The move comes three years after Sony decided to abandon an earlier music streaming site, Connect Music. This, too, offered a wide selection of songs for downloading, but users were restricted to using Sony hardware and software to listen.Nishida also offered a cautiously upbeat view of Sony's current trading in Europe, saying he could see some green shoots despite the "challenges" facing the region."In Europe, we have just enjoyed our best three months for the last few years," he declared.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/sony">Sony</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/itunes">itunes</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/downloads">Downloads</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/technology">Technology sector</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/digital-media">Digital media</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/online-tv">Online TV</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/graemewearden">Graeme Wearden</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/32VGzRfff3hvUXLyYdgh-kq3f-c/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/32VGzRfff3hvUXLyYdgh-kq3f-c/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/32VGzRfff3hvUXLyYdgh-kq3f-c/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/32VGzRfff3hvUXLyYdgh-kq3f-c/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Sony itunes Downloads Technology sector Digital media Online TV Media guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/sep/01/sony-qriocity-streaming-music-video Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:29:25 GMT Virgin steps up broadband ad battle http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/02/virgin-media-broadband-speed-advertising/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/40905?ns=guardian&pageName=Virgin+Media+steps+up+battle+over+broadband+speed+advertising%3AArticle%3A1446320&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Virgin+Media%2CBroadband%2CDigital+media%2CAdvertising+%28media%29%2CBT+Group+%28Business%29&c5=Digital+Media%2CBusiness+Markets%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTechnology+Gadgets%2CAdvertising+Media&c6=Josh+Halliday&c7=10-Sep-02&c8=1446320&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FVirgin+Media" width="1" height="1" /></div>Cable provider promises monthly average speed tally, and publishes survey claiming 93% of public support its caseVirgin Media has promised to publish its typical broadband speeds each month, as it publishes a survey suggesting that most customers find internet service providers' advertisements misleading.Only 9% of respondents surveyed by ICM for Virgin Media think broadband advertising tends to be accurate, and 93% of people believe ISPs should only advertise the typical speed received by the majority of customers.It is common practice for ISPs to advertise broadband speeds of "up to" 8Mbps, 20Mbps or 50Mbps, although according to the poll 98% of people believe there is a clearer way to advertise speeds.Virgin Media has thrown its weight behind a move away from advertising "up to" speeds, proposing that ISPs advertise "typical" or "average" speeds qualified by independent experts.But BT has already signalled its opposition, saying that listing "average" speeds would be disadvantageous to larger networks operating in rural areas that require longer copper lines.ICM's sample of 1,000 respondents found that 90% of people find it difficult to compare and contrast broadband services advertised by rival providers because they cannot be sure of the speed they will actually receive, while 54% are unsurprised when shown the difference between advertised speeds and delivered speeds.<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jul/27/telecoms-btgroup" title="Data released by communications regulator Ofcom in July">Data released by communications regulator Ofcom in July</a> showed the average broadband speed is now just 46% of what was advertised, down from 56% a year ago. "There is a very big difference between the headline services that are advertised and the actual speeds that are delivered," said Ed Richards, Ofcom's chief executive.Last month the Advertising Standards Authority – which had asked the Committee of Advertising Practice to review broadband speed claims – <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/25/bt-banned-asa-advertising" title="banned a broadband advertisement by BT">banned a broadband advertisement by BT</a>, the UK's largest fixed line broadband provider, following complaints from BSkyB, TalkTalk and Virgin Media.The ASA ruled that BT could not back up its claim that the 20Mbps service was consistently faster than its 8Mbps offering, saying that the advert was "likely to mislead" and banning it in its current form. BT said it was "disappointed" by the ASA adjudication, saying it had no intention to mislead customers.Virgin Media is the second-largest fixed-line broadband provider in the UK, with 22.5% of the market share; BT has 26.7%. From today, Virgin will publish monthly updates of the typical speed being received by 66% of customers over 24 hours.Jon James, executive director of broadband at Virgin Media, said: "People are paying for faster and faster broadband but being ripped off by unscrupulous providers who can't deliver their promised speeds to even a single customer."A change in advertising is urgently needed to build consumer confidence in super-fast broadband and the industry more generally. In the meantime, I hope other ISPs will quickly follow Virgin Media's lead by disclosing their own monthly performance data so people can make an informed decision about how to spend their money."• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/virginmedia">Virgin Media</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/broadband">Broadband</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/digital-media">Digital media</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/advertising">Advertising</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/btgroup">BT</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/josh-halliday">Josh Halliday</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/AuSu6UvYnpot4kritwXWq14RFIg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/AuSu6UvYnpot4kritwXWq14RFIg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/AuSu6UvYnpot4kritwXWq14RFIg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/AuSu6UvYnpot4kritwXWq14RFIg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Virgin Media Broadband Digital media Advertising BT guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/02/virgin-media-broadband-speed-advertising Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:33:30 GMT Future to launch iPad edition of T3 http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2010/sep/02/future-publishing-t3-ipad/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/62091?ns=guardian&pageName=Future+to+launch+iPad+edition+of+T3%3AArticle%3A1446500&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Future+Publishing%2CMagazines+%28Media%29%2CDigital+media%2CiPad%2CMedia&c5=Press+Media%2CDigital+Media%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTechnology+Gadgets%2CAdvertising+Media&c6=Josh+Halliday&c7=10-Sep-02&c8=1446500&c9=Article&c10=Blogpost&c11=Media&c13=&c25=PDA+blog&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FFuture+Publishing" width="1" height="1" /></div>Specialist publisher announces paid-for iPad app, looking to increase return from digital operationsFuture Publishing is to launch a bespoke iPad edition of its gadget magazine <a href="http://www.t3.com/">T3</a>, buoyed by a sixfold increase in US print sales of the title since the iPad launched in April.T3: iPad Edition marks the specialist publisher's move into publishing tailored editions of its magazines for tablet devices, following the release of iPhone apps for its Total Film and MacLife titles.Development of the T3 iPad edition will be led by Future's in-house team and built on the WoodWing Digital Magazine Tool platform, which also hosts the Sports Illustrated iPad app. The app will showcase exclusive video, 360-degree animation and interactive image galleries. Although T3's print edition is currently <a href="http://gb.zinio.com/sitemap/index.jsp?pub=500257032">hosted by Zinio for digital browsing</a>, the new app represents Future's first bespoke paid-for edition for the Apple iPad.Nial Ferguson, publishing director for Future's entertainment and tech lifestyle portfolios, said: "The natural synergies between T3 and the iPad create a dream union for both consumers and our commercial partners. Our research tells us that T3 readers are high-spending early-adopters, who already voraciously consuming media on the platform. "We've worked very hard and liaised with Apple to ensure that T3: iPad Edition will give our readers the quality and authority of the print magazine, combined with the unique interactivity and functionality the iPad platform provides. Early testing among consumers and commercial partners has been very positive." After posting <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/may/20/future-magazines-profit-rise">better-than-expected financial returns</a> for the six months to the end of March, Stevie Spring, chief executive of Future Publishing, told the Guardian that digital publishing represented "more than a quarter" of its revenue in the given time and suggested that there were opportunities to develop its brands further in the space."The iPad could be a bubble or it could be a bandwagon," said Spring, reflecting on the significant increase in sales of the magazine since the US launch of Apple's tablet device. Spring said the publisher's existing stock of iPhone apps for its titles, which are a mixture of paid-for and free, were "partly promotional, partly experimental".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/future-publishing">Future Publishing</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/magazines">Magazines</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/digital-media">Digital media</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/ipad">iPad</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/josh-halliday">Josh Halliday</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ch6O7NoSl0zeXX6n9UmqyMa0f4A/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ch6O7NoSl0zeXX6n9UmqyMa0f4A/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ch6O7NoSl0zeXX6n9UmqyMa0f4A/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ch6O7NoSl0zeXX6n9UmqyMa0f4A/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Future Publishing Magazines Digital media iPad Media guardian.co.uk Blogposts http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2010/sep/02/future-publishing-t3-ipad Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:03:46 GMT Milibands get C4 docudrama treatment http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/sep/02/david-ed-miliband-channel4-docudrama/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/97337?ns=guardian&pageName=Miliband+brothers+get+docudrama+treatment+from+Channel+4%3AArticle%3A1446364&ch=Media&c3=Guardian&c4=Channel+4%2CTelevision+%28Culture%29%2CDavid+Miliband%2CEd+Miliband%2CTelevision+and+radio+TV%2CPolitics%2CLabour+leadership%2CMedia&c5=Not+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTelevision+Media&c6=Jason+Deans&c7=10-Sep-02&c8=1446364&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FChannel+4" width="1" height="1" /></div>Ed and David Miliband's Labour leadership tussle will feature in a More4 programme by makers of When Boris Met DaveDavid and Ed Miliband are already locked together in rivalry over who will succeed Gordon Brown as Labour leader. Now the brothers are to be thrown together on screen in a Channel 4 docudrama from the makers of the satirical romp When Boris Met Dave.The drama, with the working title Miliband of Brothers, is to be broadcast on Channel 4 digital network More4 on the eve of the announcement of the winner of the Labour leadership ballot at the Labour party conference on 25 September. Real life brothers Henry (David) and Ben Lloyd-Thomas (Ed) will portray the Milibands.David, the former foreign secretary, remains the bookies' favourite to win the ballot, with the support of more than half the shadow cabinet, although there is speculation that the contest will be so close it could be decided by the second and third preferences of party members.Ed, who was climate change secretary in the last cabinet, is regarded as the slightly more leftwing candidate and has won the support of Labour traditionalists including Neil Kinnock and Roy Hattersley.Both have studiously attempted to avoid mud-slinging in the contest, although things have got more pointed and personal in recent weeks.Miliband of Brothers has been written by journalist and broadcaster David Quantick, whose credits include Brass Eye and Harry Hill's TV Burp. It is being made by Blink Films, the independent producer behind last year's When Boris Met Dave, the More4 docudrama about Boris Johnson and David Cameron's Eton years.Like When Boris Met Dave, the 60-minute programme will feature dramatised scenes mixed with archive footage and interviews with people who knew and influenced the brothers at school and university, along with Labour figures including Kinnock, Tony Benn and Oona King.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/channel4">Channel 4</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/television">Television</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/davidmiliband">David Miliband</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/edmiliband">Ed Miliband</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/labourleadership">Labour party leadership</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jasondeans">Jason Deans</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/bMiXc4CBC5W2BG5nS8-MgyzRCk4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/bMiXc4CBC5W2BG5nS8-MgyzRCk4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/bMiXc4CBC5W2BG5nS8-MgyzRCk4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/bMiXc4CBC5W2BG5nS8-MgyzRCk4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Channel 4 Television David Miliband Ed Miliband Television & radio Politics Labour party leadership Media The Guardian News http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/sep/02/david-ed-miliband-channel4-docudrama Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:05:14 GMT BBC staff vote for pension strike http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/bbc-vote-for-strike-pensions/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/31310?ns=guardian&pageName=BBC+staff+vote+for+strike+over+pensions+by+more+than+90%25%3AArticle%3A1446156&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=BBC%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CNational+Union+of+Journalists%2CPensions+%28Money+-+UK+consumer%29%2CUK+news&c5=Press+Media%2CPersonal+Finance%2CNot+commercially+useful%2CTelevision+Media&c6=Jason+Deans&c7=10-Sep-01&c8=1446156&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FBBC" width="1" height="1" /></div>Members of three unions at the BBC have voted by more than 90% for strike action over changes to their pensionsBBC staff in the unions Bectu, Unite and the National Union of Journalists have voted by more than 90% in favour of strike action over proposed changes to the corporations's pension scheme.Today's overwhelming vote in favour of industrial action could threaten BBC coverage of the closing stages of the Proms and the pope's visit to the UK later this month.However, with BBC management understood to be planning concessions on its controversial proposals to overhaul the final salary pension scheme, the unions held back from naming strike dates in order that talks can be held over the next two weeks to resolve the dispute.Gerry Morrissey, general secretary of Bectu, said: "This is a significant mandate for strikes, which demonstrates how out of touch BBC executives are with their staff. We hope they will now come up with more realistic proposals, otherwise we will have no alternative but to call industrial action."Jeremy Dear, general secretary of the NUJ, added: "This is an unprecedented result in favour of strike action and a clear rejection of the BBC's proposals."We have agreed to give the BBC two weeks to come back with an improved offer or face a concerted campaign of industrial action."The Unite national officer, Peter Skyte, said: "Our members have decisively demonstrated their opposition to the BBC's pensions and pay proposals. The BBC needs to think again about stealing pension benefits already earned and retaining a defined benefit pension scheme in order to regain the trust and support of its workforce for the challenging times that face the organisation in the future."<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/10/bbc-pensions-mark-thompson" title="BBC management has been facing the biggest staff revolt in years">BBC management has been facing the biggest staff revolt in years</a> over the proposals to cap final salary pension benefits for existing members from April 2011 and to close the scheme to new employees.<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jun/29/bbc-moves-cut-back-pensions" title="Changes proposed in late June">Changes proposed in late June</a> include breaking the link between final salary and pension benefits by capping pensionable salary growth at 1% a year, whatever pay increases an employee received. BBC management said the changes were required to try and tackle a £1.5bn-£2bn pension deficit.Generous pension provision has long been regarded by BBC staff as compensation for salaries generally lower than those at its commercial rivals.The BBC's director general, Mark Thompson, launched a round of consultation to hear staff grievances about the planned pension scheme changes last month and is due to make a further announcement when the process is concluded at the end of September.In an email sent to all BBC staff today after the strike ballot result, Thompson said: "As I said in August, our room for manoeuvre is limited. We are facing a large pension deficit and must act now to reduce it. But we would like to meet your concerns as far as we can."During the last few weeks, we have been talking to the joint unions to discuss the areas where there may be scope for alternatives. We've looked at a number of options and are now in the process of working up the details of what we believe could be an additional workable proposal. We expect to be ready to announce full details in the middle of September and we anticipate that this will trigger an additional consultation period."There is also a meeting between staff and BBC pension trustees on 14 September in central London. This follows a recent petition, organised by the NUJ, to force the trustees to hold a meeting.The motion being proposed is that: "This meeting of members of the BBC pension scheme calls on the trustees to perform their duties to protect the benefits of the members. Specifically, we call on them to oppose the BBC's plan to reduce the eventual value of contributions already made to the scheme."• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc">BBC</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/nationalunionofjournalists">National Union of Journalists</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/pensions">Pensions</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jasondeans">Jason Deans</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/liIO2mcFTmErla0pv_AZhqlF76U/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/liIO2mcFTmErla0pv_AZhqlF76U/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/liIO2mcFTmErla0pv_AZhqlF76U/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/liIO2mcFTmErla0pv_AZhqlF76U/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> BBC Television industry National Union of Journalists Pensions UK news guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/bbc-vote-for-strike-pensions Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:35:45 GMT The Stig: BBC loses injunction battle http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/the-stig-bbc-court-battle/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/78283?ns=guardian&pageName=The+Stig%3A+BBC+loses+injunction+battle%3AArticle%3A1446023&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=BBC%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CTop+Gear%2CFactual+TV+%28TV+genre%29%2CTelevision+%28Culture%29%2CMedia%2CMedia+law&c5=Press+Media%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTelevision+Media&c6=Jason+Deans&c7=10-Sep-01&c8=1446023&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FBBC" width="1" height="1" /></div>High court judge refuses temporary injunction against autobiography that reveals who plays the Stig on Top GearThe BBC's legal move to stop publication of an autobiography confirming the identity of Top Gear's mystery driver the Stig was blocked in the high court today.Mr Justice Morgan declined to give the BBC a temporary injunction preventing publication of the HarperCollins book on the second day of the hearing, after weighing up legal arguments from both sides in private.Shortly before Morgan's ruling <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/the-stig-bbc-court-battle" title="the man identified as the Stig by the Sunday Times last month">the man identified as the Stig by the Sunday Times last month</a>, former Formula Three driver Ben Collins, left the high court to return home to Bristol where his wife has recently given birth.Asked by the waiting journalists if he was the Stig, the James Bond stunt double said he could not talk about it. Quizzed over whether he had his trademark helmet with him, he replied: "You're trying to tempt me into saying something I shouldn't."Simon Dowson-Collins, the HarperCollins director of legal services, said the Stig was in court today – but added that the publisher would not confirm the driver's identity until the book launch on 16 September."We were very surprised the BBC took such action to prevent freedom of expression. We maintained all along that the information is already in the public domain," he said.A spokesman for the BBC, which claims the book would breach confidentiality obligations, said today: "The Top Gear audience has always made it clear they enjoyed the mystery around the identity of the Stig. The BBC felt it important to protect that anonymity."The BBC brought this action as we believe it is vital to protect the character of the Stig, which ultimately belongs to the licence-fee payer. Today's judgment does not prevent the BBC from pursuing this matter to trial and it will not be deterred from protecting such information from attack no matter when or by whom it should arise."It was widely reported that Collins was the Stig last month after his company's financial reports listed Top Gear among its work. The BBC responded this was "no surprise" as he had appeared numerous times on the programme and supplied drivers for it.The Top Gear executive producer, Andy Wilman, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/27/top-gear-the-stig-book" title="promised in a blog post on the show's website on Friday">said in a blogpost on the show's website on Friday</a>: "If we lose at this stage... it won't be over but the book will be published and the papers will have a field day with a barrage of headlines about 'humiliating climbdowns' etc. But so be it. Bring it on."The anonymity of the Stig has remained intact for eight years because viewers and the media enjoy the mystique, Wilman added, branding HarperCollins "a bunch of chancers".The identity of the Stig, famous for his white race overalls and helmet, has long been a closely guarded Top Gear secret, spawning T-shirts emblazoned with slogans such as "My Dad is The Stig".Only a few BBC executives, including Wilman, and the Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are said to know who he is.The current Stig is the second in the role. The first Stig, Perry McCarthy, was dropped in 2003 after his identity was uncovered.Collins's name has been put forward as the Stig before but it failed to end speculation as to the identity of the test driver. People have suggested that several drivers may share the role.In January last year, local papers in Bristol reported that Collins was the Stig, after he allegedly told a gallery owner his secret while asking him to help produce a limited-edition print of the Stig in action. Collins has raced in Nascar and Le Mans sportscars and tested Formula One cars. He was a double for Daniel Craig driving James Bond's Aston Martin in Quantum of Solace.The Stig character was introduced as part of a revamp of Top Gear in 2002, the name deriving from the nickname given to new pupils at Repton, Jeremy Clarkson's former school.He test drives cars around the Top Gear track in Dunsfold, Surrey, and trains each week's guest for their lap in the "Star in a reasonably-priced car" feature.Several racing drivers have been linked with the current Stig, including the former Formula One world champion Damon Hill. In a Top Gear edition broadcast in June last year,<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2009/jun/22/stig-michael-schumacher" title=" the Stig took off his white helmet to reveal the seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher"> the Stig took off his white helmet to reveal the seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher</a>, in what was widely believed to be a red herring devised by the programme as a publicity stunt.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc">BBC</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/top-gear">Top Gear</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/factual-tv">Factual TV</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/television">Television</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/medialaw">Media law</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jasondeans">Jason Deans</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jE39Qxdys9HMMjXdWZh-ROFyeFk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jE39Qxdys9HMMjXdWZh-ROFyeFk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jE39Qxdys9HMMjXdWZh-ROFyeFk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jE39Qxdys9HMMjXdWZh-ROFyeFk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> BBC Television industry Top Gear Factual TV Television Media Media law guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/the-stig-bbc-court-battle Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:52:47 GMT Sweden reopens Assange rape probe http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/sweden-julian-assange-rape-investigation/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/49412?ns=guardian&pageName=Sweden+reopens+investigation+into+rape+claims+against+Julian+Assange%3AArticle%3A1445882&ch=Media&c3=Guardian&c4=Julian+Assange+%28Media%29%2CMedia%2CWikileaks%2CSweden+%28News%29%2CWorld+news&c5=Digital+Media%2CNot+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CUnclassifed+Contributors&c6=Staff+and+agencies&c7=10-Sep-01&c8=1445882&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FJulian+Assange" width="1" height="1" /></div>Country's chief prosecutor reopens case against WikiLeaks founder, overruling decision of Stockholm chief prosecutor A senior Swedish prosecutor reopened a rape investigation against <a href="http://wikileaks.org/" title="WikiLeaks">WikiLeaks</a> founder Julian Assange today, in the latest twist to a puzzling case in which prosecutors of different ranks have overruled each other.Assange has denied the allegations and suggested they are part of a smear campaign by opponents of WikiLeaks – an online whistleblower that angered Washington by publishing thousands of leaked documents about US military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan on 25 July.The case was dismissed last week by Eva Finne, chief prosecutor in Stockholm, who overruled a lower-ranked prosecutor and said there was no reason to suspect that Assange, an Australian citizen, had raped a Swedish woman who had reported him to police.The woman's lawyer appealed against the decision. Director of public prosecution Marianne Ny decided to reopen the case, saying new information had come in on Tuesday. "We went through all the case material again, including what came in, and that's when I made my decision," [to reopen the case] Ny told The Associated Press by phone. She declined to say what information she had received or whether Assange, who was questioned by investigators on Monday, would be arrested. An arrest warrant issued on 20 August was withdrawn within 24 hours.Ny added that "it's not entirely uncommon" that such reversals take place in Sweden, in particular regarding allegations of sex crimes. She also decided that another complaint against Assange should be investigated on suspicion of "sexual coercion and sexual molestation". That overruled a previous decision to only investigate the case as "molestation," which is not a sex crime under Swedish law.Investigators have not released details about either case, though a police report obtained by AP shows both women had met Assange in connection with a seminar he gave in Stockholm on 14 August. The report shows the women filed their complaints together six days later.Assange is seeking legal protection for WikiLeaks in Sweden, one of the countries in which the group says it has servers. The Swedish Migration Board has confirmed that Assange has applied for a work and residence permit in the Scandinavian country."It appears to be highly irregular and some kind of legal circus," Assange told the Swedish tabloid newspaper Expressen."I was dumbfounded and concerned as to the integrity of the Swedish judicial process," he said when asked what his feelings were after the investigation was reopened. "I know what I have done with my life therefore I know that these accusations are baseless and disturbing," he said.WikiLeaks spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson said it backs Assange. "We hope that he will clear his name and meanwhile the WikiLeaks organisation is going on with its endeavours," Hrafnsson told AP.WikiLeaks says it intends to publish 15,000 more Afghan war documents in the coming weeks, a disclosure that US officials say could endanger innocent people or confidential informants.Claes Borgstrom, a lawyer who represents both women, welcomed the decision today: "This is a redress for my clients, I have to say, because they have been dragged through the mud on the internet, for having made things up or intending to frame Assange."Borgstrom had previously dismissed rumours that the sex allegations were part of a conspiracy against Assange, saying: "There is not an ounce of truth in all this about Pentagon, or the CIA, or smear campaigns, nothing like it."<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/julian-assange">Julian Assange</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/wikileaks">WikiLeaks</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/sweden">Sweden</a></li></ul></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/n0iNBV3dp7e-MTkxVElGQXp4318/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/n0iNBV3dp7e-MTkxVElGQXp4318/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/n0iNBV3dp7e-MTkxVElGQXp4318/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/n0iNBV3dp7e-MTkxVElGQXp4318/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Julian Assange Media WikiLeaks Sweden World news The Guardian News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/sweden-julian-assange-rape-investigation Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:50:00 GMT ASA to regulate marketing on social sites http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/marketing-messages-advertising-standards-authority/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/87140?ns=guardian&pageName=Company+marketing+messages+to+be+regulated+by+ASA%3AArticle%3A1445685&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=ASA+%28media%29%2CDigital+media%2CMarketing+and+PR%2CAdvertising+%28media%29%2CMedia&c5=Digital+Media%2CMedia+Weekly%2CMarketing+Media%2CAdvertising+Media&c6=John+Plunkett&c7=10-Sep-01&c8=1445685&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FAdvertising+Standards+Authority" width="1" height="1" /></div>Messages on company websites and social media services such as Twitter to be subject to same rules as TV and newspaper adsMarketing messages that appear on company websites and social media services such as Facebook and Twitter are to be subject to the same regulations as adverts that appear on television, newspapers or other media.The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said today the online extension had the "protection of children and consumers at its heart". The move was in response to more than 4,500 complaints the ASA had received about online ads but which it had been unable to deal with because they fell outside its remit.Under the new rules, which will come into effect on 1 March next year, the ASA will have the ability to demand the removal of paid-for links to pages hosting a banned ad. It will also be able to place its own online ads highlighting an advertiser's continued refusal to comply with one of its rulings.The watchdog, which enforces rules relating to misleading advertising, social responsibility and the protection of children, already regulates paid-for adverts online.The extra cost of its expanded remit will be met by an initial £200,000 contribution from Google and an extension of the 0.1% voluntary levy on paid-for advertisements that currently funds the ASA.Lord Smith, the former Labour culture secretary who is chairman of the ASA, said: "This significant extension of the ASA's remit has the protection of children and consumers at its heart."We have received more than 4,500 complaints since 2008 about marketing communications on websites that we couldn't deal with, but from 1 March anyone who has a concern about a marketing communication online will be able to turn to the ASA."The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), the body responsible for writing the regulations, said it had decided to extend the ASA's powers in response to a formal recommendation from a wide cross-section of UK industry.New rules will focus on ads that sell products rather than journalistic and editorial content, in order to "protect the right to freedom of speech online", said the ASA. They will apply to "all sectors and all businesses and organisations regardless of size".The CAP chairman, Andrew Brown, said: "Extending the online remit of the ASA has been a top priority for UK industry over the last couple of years."Our aim has been to extend further in the online world the principles that are already well established in our system, namely those of effective consumer protection and fair competition."• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/asa">Advertising Standards Authority</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/digital-media">Digital media</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/marketingandpr">Marketing & PR</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/advertising">Advertising</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/johnplunkett">John Plunkett</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/vG2Nq5Ny0M1NWwZq0tQHpcu7ELI/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/vG2Nq5Ny0M1NWwZq0tQHpcu7ELI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/vG2Nq5Ny0M1NWwZq0tQHpcu7ELI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/vG2Nq5Ny0M1NWwZq0tQHpcu7ELI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Advertising Standards Authority Digital media Marketing & PR Advertising Media guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/marketing-messages-advertising-standards-authority Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:10:40 GMT Chatroulette's relaunch is a bust http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2010/sep/01/chatroulette-relaunch/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/56955?ns=guardian&pageName=Chatroulette%27s+relaunch+is+a+bust%3AArticle%3A1445936&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Social+media%2CSocial+networking%2CDigital+video+%28Technology%29%2COnline+TV%2CMedia%2CDigital+media%2CChatroulette&c5=Unclassified%2CDigital+Media%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTechnology+Gadgets%2CFamily+and+Relationships&c6=Robert+Andrews&c7=10-Sep-01&c8=1445936&c9=Article&c10=Blogpost&c11=Media&c13=&c25=PDA+blog&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FSocial+media" width="1" height="1" /></div><a href="http://www.paidcontent.co.uk"><img alt="paidcontentuk-s.jpg" src="http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/digitalcontent/paidcontentuk-s.jpg" style="float: right;" align="right" width="151" height="34" /></a>Apparently, some people were still taking <a href="http://www.chatroulette.com/">Chatroulette</a> seriously.But they should do so now less than ever – the site relaunched on Monday, after being down for a week while improvements were made, but appears now not to work at all. For the uninitiated, the site launched in November to pair random strangers with webcams for a video chat, and gained notoriety for most commonly being used by strangers for sexual self-gratification sessions.The service went offline on August 23, with some reports speculating developer Andrey Ternovskiy was aiming to clean up its image with new features. But most reviews report big bugs with the updated version and, once I overcame my own reticence to test it on Tuesday, it didn't work at all.If Chatroulette ever had potential as a genuine service offering, it was probably as a premium video-chat service hosted on sex sites themselves. Indeed, perhaps the only good that's ever come of Chatroulette has been the Ben Folds/Merton <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfamTmY5REw">videos on YouTube</a>.Right now, it looks like the site may even have overstayed its welcome as a fleeting internet meme.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/social-media">Social media</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/socialnetworking">Social networking</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/digitalvideo">Digital video</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/online-tv">Online TV</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/digital-media">Digital media</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/chatroulette">Chatroulette</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/robert-andrews">Robert Andrews</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2muogBJe_eRgCHkNYtYm01w5jx0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2muogBJe_eRgCHkNYtYm01w5jx0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2muogBJe_eRgCHkNYtYm01w5jx0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2muogBJe_eRgCHkNYtYm01w5jx0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Social media Social networking Digital video Online TV Media Digital media Chatroulette guardian.co.uk Blogposts http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2010/sep/01/chatroulette-relaunch Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:44:12 GMT Essentials switches to 'real' cover stars http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/essentials-magazine-cover-real-women/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/68505?ns=guardian&pageName=Essentials+magazine+drops+cover+models+for+%27real+women%27%3AArticle%3A1446015&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=IPC+Media%2CConsumer+magazines%2CMagazines+%28Media%29%2CPress+and+publishing%2CMedia&c5=Press+Media%2CMedia+Weekly%2CAdvertising+Media%2CConsumer+News&c6=John+Plunkett&c7=10-Sep-01&c8=1446015&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FIPC+Media" width="1" height="1" /></div>Monthly drops models and celebrities from cover after resounding finding in reader surveyIPC Media's Essentials will no longer feature models or celebrities on its front cover after a survey of readers suggested they preferred to see "real women".The October edition of the monthly is entirely model- and celebrity-free and is the climax of a social media campaign to find 10 real women to put on its front cover. The magazine claimed it was a "UK media first for women's glossies".Essentials' editor, Jules Barton-Breck, said: "So many of these women look, and are, amazing that we wanted to celebrate them. In our recent reader survey 70% told us that they would rather see a real woman on the cover of a magazine than a celebrity, so we're excited to be the first magazine in the UK to do this every month."Essentials was the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/12/cosmopolitan-company-magazine-abcs" title="">biggest climber among the mainstream women's monthlies</a> in the first half of this year, with an average circulation of 115,432.Ilka Schmitt, the magazine's publisher, said: "Celebrating our readers by putting them on the cover is a brave move, but it just feels right for Essentials. Essentials is a woman's magazine that offers something different and more and more women are discovering that. Seven consecutive year-on-year ABC increases do not lie."• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/ipc">IPC Media</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/consumer-magazines">Consumer magazines</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/magazines">Magazines</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pressandpublishing">Newspapers & magazines</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/johnplunkett">John Plunkett</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/z4A30KDyIanZyfKoNrFTSJR7b8A/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/z4A30KDyIanZyfKoNrFTSJR7b8A/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/z4A30KDyIanZyfKoNrFTSJR7b8A/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/z4A30KDyIanZyfKoNrFTSJR7b8A/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> IPC Media Consumer magazines Magazines Newspapers & magazines Media guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/essentials-magazine-cover-real-women Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:58:26 GMT Murdoch's pay falls to £10.9m http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/rupert-james-murdoch-news-corp-pay/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/54534?ns=guardian&pageName=Rupert+Murdoch%27s+pay+falls+by+6%25+to+*10.9m+as+British+newspapers+suffer%3AArticle%3A1445816&ch=Media&c3=Guardian&c4=Rupert+Murdoch+%28Media%29%2CMedia+business%2CMedia%2CJames+Murdoch+%28Media%29%2CNews+Corporation+%28Media%29%2CThe+Times+%28Media%29%2CPress+and+publishing%2CNewspapers%2CNews+International%2CNational+newspapers+UK+%28media%29%2CThe+Sun+%28Media%29%2CNews+of+the+World%2CWall+Street+Journal+%28Media%29%2CMySpace%2CFox+News%2CBusiness&c5=Press+Media%2CBusiness+Markets%2CMedia+Weekly%2CCorporate+IT%2CTelevision+Media&c6=Andrew+Clark&c7=10-Sep-01&c8=1445816&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FRupert+Murdoch" width="1" height="1" /></div>Last year's pay packet was the media mogul's smallest since 2003 owing to a smaller performance-related bonus While Rupert Murdoch's British newspapers laid off journalists and fought their way through a global advertising recession, the Australian-born media mogul endured a modest degree of personal belt-tightening – his take-home pay dropped by 6% to $16.8m, or £10.9m.Although still a hefty sum, Murdoch's annual pay packet was his smallest since 2003. The 79-year-old billionaire's salary was unchanged at $8.1m, but his performance-related bonus fell 20% to $4.4m. He got stock and share options worth $4.05m and he enjoyed $275,117 worth of personal use of a corporate jet.The figures were revealed in documents filed with US regulators yesterday by News Corporation, the parent company of Murdoch's business empire, which ranges from The Times, The Sun, the News of the World and The Wall Street Journal to the social networking website MySpace, broadcaster Fox television, and the film studio Twentieth Century Fox.The media mogul's son, James Murdoch, who runs News Corp's European and Asian operations, also suffered a pay cut – his earnings dropped 13% to $8.84m, excluding his pay as executive chairman of Sky television, which is part-owned by the Murdoch empire and where he receives about £75,000 annually.The cuts came despite profits of $2.5bn racked up by News Corp for the year to June, boosted by the record-breaking box office performance of James Cameron's epic the 3D fantasy movie Avatar, released by Twentieth Century Fox. UK newspapers have proven less reliable moneyspinners, and staff at The Times recently went through a redundancy programme. Murdoch is trying to revive the fortunes of print publications by charging for access to newspaper websites – beginning with The Times, which recently erected an online pay wall.Both of the Murdochs' remuneration packages were eclipsed by that of News Corp's chief operating officer, Chase Carey, who got $23.1m, including a $10m bonus on his recruitment from rival DirecTV a year ago. Meanwhile, Roger Ailes, the head of News Corp's notoriously conservative US television network Fox News, took home $13.2m, including $56,546 worth of personal security.News Corp revealed that former Hewlett-Packard chief Mark Hurd is leaving its board of directors. Hurd quit the world's biggest computer manufacturer last month amid allegations of sexual harassment and improper expense claims.In the small print of its annual report, News Corp disclosed that Murdoch's wife, Wendi, earned $92,000 last year for a role providing strategic advice in China to the struggling MySpace website.And in another transaction involving a Murdoch relative, the company paid $350,000 for press and publicity advice to London-based Freud Communications, which is run by the press baron's son-in-law, Matthew Freud.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/rupert-murdoch">Rupert Murdoch</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediabusiness">Media business</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/jamesmurdoch">James Murdoch</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/news-corporation">News Corporation</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/thetimes">The Times</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pressandpublishing">Newspapers & magazines</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/newspapers">Newspapers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/newsinternational">News International</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/national-newspapers">National newspapers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/sun">The Sun</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/newsoftheworld">News of the World</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/wallstreetjournal">Wall Street Journal</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/myspace">MySpace</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/fox-news">Fox News</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/andrewclark">Andrew Clark</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/BTwW8AgNRYd5cz4bMXHChf4XncQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/BTwW8AgNRYd5cz4bMXHChf4XncQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/BTwW8AgNRYd5cz4bMXHChf4XncQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/BTwW8AgNRYd5cz4bMXHChf4XncQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Rupert Murdoch Media business Media James Murdoch News Corporation The Times Newspapers & magazines Newspapers News International National newspapers The Sun News of the World Wall Street Journal MySpace Fox News Business The Guardian News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/rupert-james-murdoch-news-corp-pay Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:20:03 GMT Trinny and Susannah return to TV http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/trinny-susannah-return-tv/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/64586?ns=guardian&pageName=Trinny+and+Susannah+return+to+TV%3AArticle%3A1445709&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Channel+4%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CMedia%2COnline+TV%2CDigital+media%2CLife+and+style%2CFashion%2CReality+TV+%28TV+genre%29%2CTelevision+%28Culture%29%2CTelevision+and+radio+TV&c5=Fashion+and+Beauty%2CDigital+Media%2CNot+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTelevision+Media&c6=Tara+Conlan&c7=10-Sep-01&c8=1445709&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FChannel+4" width="1" height="1" /></div>Their spoof online documentary, Trinny and Susannah: What They Did Next, has been snapped up by Channel 4The TV stylists Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine will return to mainstream television this month after Channel 4 snapped up their spoof web documentary, Trinny and Susannah: What They Did Next.The pair's plan to reinvent their careers after they were axed from ITV last year appears to have paid off. The former What Not to Wear presenters made an internet-only "mockumentary", which has proved a hit.What They Did Next was aired in <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/may/12/trinny-and-susannah-web-show" title=" 16 six-minute episodes earlier this summer ">16, six-minute episodes this summer</a> on the website ivillage.co.uk.It is understood that the web show will be reversioned for the one-off C4 programme.A C4 spokeswoman said: "Trinny and Susannah: What They Did Next will air at the end of September."The fly-on-the-wall documentary, modelled on Larry David's acclaimed US comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, shows them poking fun at themselves as they "journey to get back to the top and re-establish themselves as Britain's lifestyle queens".What They Did Next combines scripted and ad-libbed scenes including one in which their agent dumps them and they lose a lucrative advertising contract.Constantine and Woodall had a TV series together in the UK since ITV decided not to recommission their makeover show last year.They were hired from the BBC in 2005 but their series of ITV shows, such as Undress the Nation, did not deliver high enough ratings.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/channel4">Channel 4</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/online-tv">Online TV</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/digital-media">Digital media</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/fashion">Fashion</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/reality-tv">Reality TV</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/television">Television</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/taraconlan">Tara Conlan</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HJzQ1Y_GHIGPhBclVSNdJK7grdk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HJzQ1Y_GHIGPhBclVSNdJK7grdk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HJzQ1Y_GHIGPhBclVSNdJK7grdk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HJzQ1Y_GHIGPhBclVSNdJK7grdk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Channel 4 Television industry Media Online TV Digital media Life and style Fashion Reality TV Television Television & radio guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/trinny-susannah-return-tv Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:28:44 GMT ITN signs Metro web video deal http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/metro-itn/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/81224?ns=guardian&pageName=ITN+signs+Metro+web+video+deal%3AArticle%3A1446000&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Metro+%28Media%29%2CITN+%28Media%29%2CDigital+media%2CAssociated+Newspapers&c5=Press+Media%2CDigital+Media%2CTelevision+Media&c6=Josh+Halliday&c7=10-Sep-01&c8=1446000&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FMetro" width="1" height="1" /></div>Metro.co.uk to take news, sport and showbiz video clips as freesheet looks to expand its online offeringITN has struck a deal to provide video clips to the free daily newspaper Metro.From today, ITN will syndicate video including UK news, world news, sports and showbiz to Metro.co.uk, as the title, which is owned by the Daily Mail & General Trust, looks to expand its digital offering.Metro distributes 1.3m copies every weekday in 16 cities across the UK, while Metro.co.uk publishes to 2.5 million monthly unique users in the UK.Jamie Walters, digital director of the Metro, said: "We are really excited to be able to offer our users of Metro.co.uk more choice in the way they consume their online news."Metro joins a host of UK publishers taking video content from ITN, in which DMGT has a 20% stake. Earlier this year the broadcaster <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jul/22/aol-itn-video-clips-deal" title="began providing video news to AOL UK">began providing video news to AOL UK</a>, syndicating hundreds of hours of video news to the company which has pledged to be the "<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2010/jun/10/aol-job-hunting" title="largest net hirer of journalists in the world">largest net hirer of journalists in the world</a>". It also added local newspaper company Iliffe News & Media to its <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jul/05/itn-iliffe-news-media" title="Premium News Network video syndication package">Premium News Network video syndication package</a>, which includes advertising provided by Blinkx.In October 2009 the Midland News Association, which publishes the UK's biggest selling regional daily, Wolverhampton's Express & Star, became the first regional newspaper publisher to sign a video content deal with ITN, taking around 200 clips a week for its titles. ITN also has partnerships with national titles including the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph and Northern & Shell's Express titles and Daily Star.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/metro">Metro</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/itn">ITN</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/digital-media">Digital media</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/associated-newspapers">Associated Newspapers</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/josh-halliday">Josh Halliday</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/YucQnddlR9890zlLIYHdarKsDIg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/YucQnddlR9890zlLIYHdarKsDIg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/YucQnddlR9890zlLIYHdarKsDIg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/YucQnddlR9890zlLIYHdarKsDIg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Metro ITN Digital media Associated Newspapers guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/metro-itn Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:09:27 GMT Mark Thompson's case for the BBC http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/30/mark-thompson-mactaggart-edinburgh-bbc/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/12839?ns=guardian&pageName=Mark+Thompson%3A+%27Once+gone%2C+it+will+be+gone+for+ever%27%3AArticle%3A1444848&ch=Media&c3=Guardian&c4=Edinburgh+TV+Festival+%28Media%29%2CMark+Thompson+%28Media%29%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CMedia%2CBBC%2CJames+Murdoch+%28Media%29%2CBBC+licence+fee&c5=Not+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTelevision+Media&c6=James+Robinson%2CJane+Martinson&c7=10-Aug-30&c8=1444848&c9=Article&c10=Feature&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FMediaGuardian+Edinburgh+International+Television+Festival" width="1" height="1" /></div>A year on from Murdoch's attack, Mark Thompson offered a robust defence of PSBs. Will it be enough to save the BBC?<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/video/2010/aug/28/mgeitf2010-mactaggart-full-video" title="Mark Thompson's MacTaggart lecture">Mark Thompson's MacTaggart lecture</a>, one of the longest ever delivered, contained many messages, but the most important was hidden in the subtext of the speech. It was a reminder to the government of what might be lost if it starves the BBC of resources by slashing the licence fee."Thompson's MacTaggart purported to be an answer to James Murdoch's lecture last year and an attack on Sky for not putting enough money into British content," said the industry veteran Peter Bazalgette. "It was actually … when you strip it away, an appeal to the coalition government not to reduce the licence fee in 2012 but to keep it pretty well where it is."Although the BBC director general dismissed any attempt to distil the central message of his nuanced and wide-ranging speech, it did contain an explicit statement: "A pound out of the commissioning budget of the BBC is a pound out of [the] UK creative economy. Once gone, it will be gone for ever."BBC or News Corp?By drawing attention to the growing power of BSkyB, and contrasting its output with the BBC's investment in home-grown content, he also posed a question for the government. Which organisation do viewers most value, and which better serves the public good – the BBC or News Corporation, BSkyB's parent company?The culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, was in the audience – impressing Thompson, who later said "I can't remember a [culture] minister doing that." Before <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/28/jeremy-hunt-bbc-cuts" title="Hunt's own performance">Hunt's own performance</a> in front of the assembled TV dignitaries the following day, Diane Abbott, the Labour leadership contender, tweeted: "Jeremy Hunt's dilemma is most Tory activists hate BBC; but most Tory voters love it."Offering support for the corporation's editorial independence, Hunt made it clear that the BBC needed to cut costs, at one point erroneously comparing it to "the rest of government", which has to cut budgets by 25%. Refusing to discuss the licence fee as talks had not begun, he still demanded "a better system for ensuring value for money ... [the BBC] needs to be on the same planet as everyone else".<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/video/2010/aug/28/mgeitf2010-mactaggart-reaction-video" title="Reaction to Thompson's MacTaggart">Although widely praised, Thompson's speech did leave some commercial rivals</a> frustrated at the lack of detail about how the BBC was putting its own house in order. While Julian Bellamy, acting chief creative officer of Channel 4, said: "It's fantastic to see the BBC go on the offensive, it is good to see them making their case," another senior industry executive was unimpressed by his professed desire to help beleaguered ad-funded rivals. "Get your own house in order, Mark Thompson," she said, "rather than offering to solve the problems of the rest of the broadcasters."Thompson's proposalUnusually for recent MacTaggarts, Thompson came up with a specific proposal – that Sky should pay a fee to ad-funded broadcasters for carrying their channels. Presenting himself as a defender of all PSBs, Thompson said: "Commercial public service broadcasters are more powerful than they know themselves. Subscription platforms couldn't be as successful as they are without really successful UK free-to-air channels."This idea also allowed Thompson a well-aimed dig at the Murdoch empire. Quoting Rupert Murdoch in support of his argument, Thompson pointed out that the News Corp chairman had made exactly the same case in the US, where cable operators now pay to carry his Fox channel. Thompson's point was that Murdoch bends his arguments to suit the markets in which he operates and to benefit his own coffers.The concept was rubbished by Sky as a "sideshow". But the levy, which Thompson said could raise £75m for commercial terrestrial broadcasters to spend on original UK content, is gaining ground in the US.Thompson also poured scorn on James Murdoch, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/31/james-murdoch-attacking-bbc-ofcom" title="James Murdoch's MacTaggart lecture">who used last year's MacTaggart lecture to call the BBC "chilling"</a> in its impact on the commercial sector. One of the biggest laughs of the night came when Thompson mocked the head of News Corp's European operations for <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jun/07/james-murdoch-british-library" title="attacking the British Library's plan to digitise its newspaper archive">attacking the British Library's plan to digitise its newspaper archive</a>. "The British army? The British cheese awards? Who knows where he'll strike next?" he said.The strategy behind the personal attacks on Murdoch, and the barrage of statistics designed to ram home Sky's dominance – its marketing budget is bigger than ITV's programming budget, its £4.8bn subscription revenues "dwarf ... all the other commercial broadcasters put together" – was a simple one. Sky, not the BBC, is now the industry giant, and the rest of the sector should recognise that by standing shoulder to shoulder with the BBC.The media consultant David Graham, who authored <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/02/bbc-licence-free-scrapped-thinktank" title="an Adam Smith report that recommended scrapping the licence fee">an Adam Smith report that recommended scrapping the licence fee</a>, said: "Building an alliance between the traditional British broadcasters was a new idea. It's a smart thing to do because it removes some of the grounds for opposition to the BBC from other commercial platforms."ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 account for 50% of all viewing on satellite and cable platforms, according to industry analysts, yet they pay Sky several million pounds each year for the privilege of appearing on its service.Although discussions are understood to have been held between Thompson and senior executives at Channel 4 and ITV, neither appeared to embrace the idea over the weekend. Although Bellamy said: "It's a very interesting proposal which we should all chew over," there was barely disguised scepticism at ITV.The biggest criticism came for Thompson's failure to add details to internal reforms already announced. One senior executive said that by quoting statistics in an effort to emphasise licence fee-payers' affection for the corporation – Thompson said 71% of people are glad the BBC exists – he showed he was being complacent about the level of public support. "Of course the public support the BBC's programmes, but he's blinding himself to the fact the public is able to hold two opinions at the same time. They are concerned about executive pay and waste."Thompson rejected such criticism, describing the measures being pushed through, including reducing senior management numbers by a fifth, and cutting the amount paid to talent, as "a massive programme of change". He conceded his speech was wide-ranging, which is one reason it prompted a slew of <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2010/aug/28/edinburghtvfestival-bbc" title="different headlines in the weekend">different headlines in the weekend press</a>. "There isn't one thing. There are several things," he conceded, calling it a bit "postmodern". But the overriding message is the BBC is serious about doing less. The period of expansion that began at the start of the decade is at an end.There was little comfort for BBC staff, although Thompson told delegates the day after his speech that he was "listening" to concerns over pensions and would announce new proposals next month."In three months, six months, a year, what the government will do – and the public and the Guardian – is judge whether the BBC means what it says about reform," he said. "You won't have long to wait."The attack on Murdoch will at least lift spirits at the corporation, where staff were eager to hear a defence of the BBC's core values. Yet Thompson sought to play down his attack on Sky, pointing out in a Q&A session on Saturday morning that he had "gone out of his way" to praise its contribution to broadcasting. "Sky is part of the success story of British TV," he said.Over the weekend, one of the BBC's most senior executives claimed Murdoch's menace cannot be overstated, arguing that News Corp's market-leading position in newspapers, coupled with its growing dominance in broadcasting, poses a threat to the way news is reported in the UK.Referring to a recent controversy over the unmasking of The Stig, one of the stars of the BBC's Top Gear, he pointed out that HarperCollins, another News Corp company, is publishing the autobiography that led to his identity being revealed.Thompson expressed similar sentiments about biased press reporting – underlining his comments about the power of News Corp – in his speech, bemoaning coverage that too often concentrated on what he regards as trivial concerns, and hitting out at "exaggerated claims about waste and efficiency".The BBC's ideological opponents are exploiting those issues in an attempt to undermine the corporation, he argued: "They know that a frontal assault will fail so they adopt different tactics."Thompson will hope that his lecture sets the agenda for the coming year in the same way that James Murdoch's address shaped the debate about the BBC over the past 12 months. It may not be his last act as BBC director general – he has pledged to stay on to negotiate the next licence fee – but it will be his last MacTaggart.Having been in the job since the Hutton report removed his predecessor, Thompson is no ingenue when it comes to politics. Both he and Hunt stressed that licence fee discussions will not formally start until next spring. Yet Thompson dedicated a section of his speech to the situation in Italy, where a proposal to force the public broadcaster to disclose talent pay had "nothing to do with the public interest or real accountability and everything to do with an agenda of weakening and undermining the public broadcaster."Ramming home his point, he said: "In the UK, the tactics are usually subtler, the language loftier. Too often the underlying purpose is the same."Sitting within touching distance at a dinner following Thompson's speech, Hunt said he had asked how long the last set of licence fee negotiations had lasted. When told by the DG that it had taken two years to reach a settlement that should last until 2012, Hunt replied: "It won't take that long this time." It appears the negotiations have already started.Additional reporting by Maggie Brown<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/edinburghtvfestival">MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/markthompson">Mark Thompson</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc">BBC</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/jamesmurdoch">James Murdoch</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc-licence-fee">BBC licence fee</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jamesrobinson">James Robinson</a></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/janemartinson">Jane Martinson</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/1PLwpqTEsY9oRxGdBzPFiZUoX2Q/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/1PLwpqTEsY9oRxGdBzPFiZUoX2Q/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/1PLwpqTEsY9oRxGdBzPFiZUoX2Q/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/1PLwpqTEsY9oRxGdBzPFiZUoX2Q/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival Mark Thompson Television industry Media BBC James Murdoch BBC licence fee The Guardian Features http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/30/mark-thompson-mactaggart-edinburgh-bbc Mon, 30 Aug 2010 06:01:03 GMT BBC employee paid £30,000 over bullying claims http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/bbc-bullying-payout-tribunal/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/85851?ns=guardian&pageName=BBC+employee+paid+*30%2C000+over+bullying+claims%3AArticle%3A1445865&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=BBC%2CBBC+licence+fee%2CMedia%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CMarketing+and+PR&c5=Media+Weekly%2CMarketing+Media%2CTelevision+Media&c6=John+Plunkett&c7=10-Sep-01&c8=1445865&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FBBC" width="1" height="1" /></div>Employee settles with BBC after dropping tribunal claim that she was bullied for querying senior manager's redundancy payoutA BBC employee who claimed she was bullied after querying a £250,000 redundancy payout to a senior marketing manager has been paid £30,000 by the corporation after she dropped her claim at a tribunal.Indira Histon, a human resources and development manager, told Watford employment tribunal that she challenged the £256,750 payment to Sue Lynas – equivalent to two years' salary – because BBC guidelines said "management interest terminations" should be capped at one year's pay, <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/" title="according to today's Times">according to today's Times</a>.Lynas, the BBC's former director of marketing, communications and audiences in the BBC's audio and music division, was paid an annual salary of £128,375 until her departure last year.Histon claimed she suffered "detrimental treatment and bullying" after telling management the payment was excessive and a "misuse of licence fee payers' money"."The team and I were shocked by the suggestion that we would pay this amount of money to an individual, particularly as we believed the payoff was excessive for a management interest termination and amounted to a misuse of licence fee payers' money," she said."In addition to this, the member of staff was due to retire on June 5, 2010. I also believed that the payoff was inappropriate given that the individual wanted to leave voluntarily."The BBC said Lynas had reached a "consensual termination agreement on the basis of redundancy" after a staffing review. It said senior executives "considered that there was a business case for not imposing the limit of 12 months' pay, which was usually applied by the BBC to compromise agreements in cases of consensual termination".Histon withdrew her claim after reaching agreement with the BBC, the tribunal was told yesterday.A BBC spokesman said: "We are pleased that this matter has been resolved. The allegations, which have been withdrawn by the claimant, were without merit and strongly denied by the BBC throughout."On this occasion, with legal costs threatening to exceed the value of any claim, the BBC agreed a quick settlement in order to make best use of licence fee payers' money."• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc">BBC</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc-licence-fee">BBC licence fee</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/marketingandpr">Marketing & PR</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/johnplunkett">John Plunkett</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/_wCr8sYRTd7Xv5aXLV2KBYjmhXk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/_wCr8sYRTd7Xv5aXLV2KBYjmhXk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/_wCr8sYRTd7Xv5aXLV2KBYjmhXk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/_wCr8sYRTd7Xv5aXLV2KBYjmhXk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> BBC BBC licence fee Media Television industry Marketing & PR guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/01/bbc-bullying-payout-tribunal Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:28:29 GMT TalkSport lifts UTV http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/31/utv-world-cup-talksport/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/90967?ns=guardian&pageName=TalkSport%27s+World+Cup+score+lifts+UTV%3AArticle%3A1445358&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=UTV+%28Media%29%2CTalkSport%2CCommercial+radio+%28Media%29%2CRadio+industry+%28Media%29%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CMedia+business%2CMedia&c5=Media+Weekly%2CRadio+Media%2CTelevision+Media&c6=John+Plunkett&c7=10-Aug-31&c8=1445358&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FUTV" width="1" height="1" /></div>Operating profit at radio station up almost 50% in first half of year, helping group's figure to rise 9%England's <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/27/germany-england-world-cup-2010" title="">disappointing football World Cup</a> was still a winner for UTV-owned TalkSport, helping to boost its operating profit by nearly 50%.The World Cup boosted revenue at the news and sport station by 23% to £12.6m in the first half of this year. TalkSport's overall operating profit increased 48% to £3.9m, according to the half-yearly interim report it published today.Overall, UTV Media's group revenue was up 9% to £59.2m. Group operating profit was up 9% to £12.2m, with pre-tax profits up 17% to £9.4m.Operating profit at its local UK radio stations declined slightly to £2.2m on the back of revenue unchanged at £10.3m.But revenue at its Irish radio division fell 7% to £11.5m, partly due to foreign-exchange movements, with operating profit down 11% to £3.2m in the first half of the year.UTV said it expected TalkSport's advertising revenue to increase by 15% in the third quarter of 2010 after it <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/feb/18/bbc-football-radio-commentary" title="">doubled the number of its live Premier League games</a> compared with last season.Overall revenues at its UK radio division including TalkSport would increase 10%, with recovery at its local radio operations "lagging", according to its chairman, John McGuckian.McGuckian said the "fragility of economic recovery warrants caution in any forward looking statements". "Nevertheless, the improvement in trading this year is evident and this is continuing into the third quarter of 2010," he added."In last year's interim results I wrote that the UTV group was 'well positioned for the upturn when this current unpredictable period comes to an end'."While it could not yet be said that the unpredictable period is at an end, it is fair to say that much of the difficult work to prepare the group for the recession is bearing fruit."As ever, a sustained recovery in the wider economy is the pre-requisite to ensuring that the group can take full advantage of its strong position in the markets in which it operates."UTV Media's group chief executive, John McCann, said: "The first six months of 2010 saw a better trading performance due to the improving economic environment and the stimulus of the World Cup and this improvement in trading appears to be continuing in the third quarter."• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/utv">UTV</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/talksport">TalkSport</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/commercial-radio">Commercial radio</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/radio">Radio industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediabusiness">Media business</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/johnplunkett">John Plunkett</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/7co8L5y1wz6s7KbrA2q-FciUHbc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/7co8L5y1wz6s7KbrA2q-FciUHbc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/7co8L5y1wz6s7KbrA2q-FciUHbc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/7co8L5y1wz6s7KbrA2q-FciUHbc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> UTV TalkSport Commercial radio Radio industry Television industry Media business Media guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/31/utv-world-cup-talksport Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:21:25 GMT BBC plans blanket coverage of papal visit http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/31/papal-visit-bbc-blanket-coverage/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/56435?ns=guardian&pageName=Papal+visit%3A+BBC+sets+out+plan+for+blanket+coverage%3AArticle%3A1445513&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=BBC%2CRadio+industry+%28Media%29%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CBBC2%2CBBC4%2CRadio+4%2CMedia%2CPope+Benedict+XVI%2CCatholicism+%28News%29%2CChristianity+%28News%29%2CWorld+news&c5=Not+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CRadio+Media%2CTelevision+Media&c6=Tara+Conlan&c7=10-Aug-31&c8=1445513&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FBBC" width="1" height="1" /></div>Live TV for Pope Benedict XVI's arrival, beatification of Cardinal Newman and Westminster Abbey service, plus much moreThe BBC has today unveiled more details of its extensive plans for coverage of the forthcoming UK visit by Pope Benedict XVI, with more than 10 hours of live broadcasting on BBC1 and BBC2.In addition to about 12-and-a-half hours of live programming on the two main TV channels, Radio 4, Radio 5 Live and other BBC TV, radio and online services will be contributing to the coverage.Huw Edwards will be the main television anchor for the pope's arrival, broadcast live on BBC1 from Edinburgh on Thursday, 16 September, when the pope will also meet the Queen.Edwards will give commentary on the Westminster Abbey service the following day on BBC2, which will also be on Radio 4 Longwave, covered by Ed Stourton.On Saturday 18 September, Edwards will present coverage of a mass at Westminster Cathedral, where he will be joined by Monsignor Mark Langham.Sunday coverage will include the beatification mass of Cardinal John Henry Newman at Cofton Park in Birmingham, which will air on BBC2. The programme will be fronted by Edwards, joined by Stourton and Langham.On the same day, Radio 4's Sunday Programme and a special edition of Sunday Worship will also be broadcast live before the main ceremony.In addition to the blanket live coverage during the papal visit, there will be "some current affairs programming looking at the different aspects of the Catholic Church".There are also a wide range of papal-themed documentaries. BBC2 is airing two documentaries, Benedict: Trials of a Pope and Newman: Saint or Sinner? fronted by Ann Widdecombe, plus highlights of the trip in The Pope's Visit.BBC 4 is screening Vatican – The Hidden World of God's Servants and Radio 4 is airing The Pope's British Divisions, which will feature Mark Dowd examining the impact of the sex abuse crisis in Britain's Catholic community, plus highlights of the beatification of Cardinal Newman.Radio 2 will air a special hour-long edition of Sunday Half Hour from a vigil in Hyde Park, while Radio 5 Live will have "extensive" coverage led by Shelagh Fogarty and including live broadcasts of the Pope's arrival in Edinburgh on 16 September and of his first mass the same day during 5 Live Drive.The following day Fogarty will present 5 Live Breakfast from Twickenham, where Pope Benedict will be staying, with "live coverage of his official engagements throughout the day", plus broadcast of the final mass of the visit.The BBC said it "will also be covering other events during the papal visit on the BBC News Channel".Aaqil Ahmed, BBC commissioning editor for television and head of religion and ethics, said: "This is the first papal visit to Britain for 28 years and the first ever state visit and is of great significance not only to the millions of Catholics in this country but to the countless others who will be watching in the UK and around the globe. I am delighted that the BBC is bringing together a team of presenters and specialists who can provide insight into such an historic occasion."It is understood that the BBC's director general, Mark Thompson, has been invited to some of the events but it is not yet clear if he is attending as a BBC spokesman said that his "plans haven't been finalised yet".• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc">BBC</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/radio">Radio industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc2">BBC2</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc4">BBC4</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/radio4">Radio 4</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/pope-benedict-xvi">Pope Benedict XVI</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/catholicism">Catholicism</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/christianity">Christianity</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/taraconlan">Tara Conlan</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/w6qtanweOniJuITNU-IH6fFks7Q/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/w6qtanweOniJuITNU-IH6fFks7Q/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/w6qtanweOniJuITNU-IH6fFks7Q/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/w6qtanweOniJuITNU-IH6fFks7Q/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> BBC Radio industry Television industry BBC2 BBC4 Radio 4 Media Pope Benedict XVI Catholicism Christianity World news guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/31/papal-visit-bbc-blanket-coverage Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:19:14 GMT Local TV group lines up against Canvas http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/30/six-tv-bbc-freeview-ofcom/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/62606?ns=guardian&pageName=Local+TV+group+to+complain+to+Ofcom+over+BBC-Canvas+joint+venture%3AArticle%3A1445192&ch=Media&c3=Guardian&c4=Media+business%2CFreeview%2COfcom%2CBBC%2CMedia%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CBusiness&c5=Business+Markets%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTelevision+Media&c6=Richard+Wray&c7=10-Aug-30&c8=1445192&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FMedia+business" width="1" height="1" /></div>Six TV warns local TV will be less viable on Freeview if venture is allowed to go aheadSix TV, the local television group, will this week formally request a full Ofcom investigation of the BBC-backed <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jun/25/project-canvas-bbc-trust" title="Guardian: BBC Trust approves Project Canvas">Canvas online joint venture</a>, warning that it could be a "poison pill" for regional broadcasters.Ofcom has already received a <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/03/project-canvas-virgin-media-ofcom" title="Guardian: Virgin Media aims to block Project Canvas with Ofcom complaint">complaint from Virgin Media</a>, which sees Canvas as an anti-competitive cartel that will crush the nascent online TV market. Later this year the regulator is expected to make a decision on whether to scrutinise Canvas, a joint venture that also includes TalkTalk, BT, Arqiva, Channel 4 and ITV. Orange and Channel 5 are also looking to get involved.But Six TV – the largest holder of local TV licences in the UK – has warned that new entrants will be kept out of the broadcasting market if Canvas is allowed to go ahead. Given clearance by the BBC Trust earlier this year, Canvas will add online functionality to the current free-to-air Freeview digital terrestrial TV service. After trying to get its local TV channels on the Freeview platform, Six TV fears Canvas will present the traditional broadcasters with a way of ensuring their dominance of the new era of digital TV.Daniel Cass, chief executive of Six TV, which owns licences to broadcast digital channels in Oxford, Reading and Southampton, said: "Far from a panacea, we regard Project Canvas as a poison pill which will have a negative effect on opportunities for important new television services to enter the market."The company, he said, has already been forced to delay plans to launch its channels on Freeview because it was allotted a channel in the 200s on the service's current electronic programming guide (EPG). He said his core audience would be unlikely to find its channels because they would first have to scroll through Freeview's children's, interactive and adult services."We are calling upon Ofcom to launch a full investigation of the actions of the joint venture partners [in Canvas] as we do not believe local TV will be viable in the UK otherwise," he said.Not content with just contacting Ofcom, Six TV will also submit its complaint regarding Canvas – which includes broader concerns regarding anti-competitive practices affecting digital television transmission in the UK – to the Office of Fair Trading.Keeping Canvas in its current form would be "catastrophic for small-scale services seeking to promote democratic participation and civil society" as the joint venture partners ride rough-shod over the interests of local communities, the company argues in its 70 page submission.Six TV also intends to lobby communications minister Ed Vaizey, whose Wantage & Didcot constituency would be within reach of its Oxford service if it became operational.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediabusiness">Media business</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/freeview">Freeview</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/ofcom">Ofcom</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc">BBC</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/richardwray">Richard Wray</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZdU1wZk3uJL-pkdnNlZY65anngg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZdU1wZk3uJL-pkdnNlZY65anngg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZdU1wZk3uJL-pkdnNlZY65anngg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ZdU1wZk3uJL-pkdnNlZY65anngg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Media business Freeview Ofcom BBC Media Television industry Business The Guardian News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/30/six-tv-bbc-freeview-ofcom Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:10:05 GMT NYTimes.com connects with Facebook http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2010/aug/31/new-york-times-facebook/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/38304?ns=guardian&pageName=NYTimes.com+connects+with+Facebook%3B+users+must+opt+in%3AArticle%3A1445364&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=New+York+Times+%28Media%29%2CSocial+media%2CFacebook%2CMedia%2CDigital+media&c5=Digital+Media%2CMedia+Weekly&c6=paidContent&c7=10-Aug-31&c8=1445364&c9=Article&c10=Blogpost&c11=Media&c13=&c25=PDA+blog&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FNew+York+Times" width="1" height="1" /></div><a href="http://www.paidcontent.org"><img alt="paidcontent-s.jpg" src="http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/digitalcontent/paidcontent-s.jpg" style="float: right;" align="right" width="151" height="34" /></a>We're not tracking every site that adds logins using Facebook or Twitter but when the site is a few months away from putting up a paywall - and it's one of the top news sites - it's worth a little attention. New York Times Co (<a href="http://finance.paidcontent.org/paidcontent?Page=QUOTE&Ticker=NYT">NYSE: NYT</a>) execs have insisted for months that social media and metered media can coexist, promising more social and more personalisation as the prep for switching on the meter for news stories continues. (They've also promised to make sure the meter doesn't get in the way of sharing once that switch is flipped.) Tonight, <a href="http://paidcontent.org/article/419-nytimes.com-connects-with-facebook-users-have-to-opt-in/nytimes.com">NYTimes.com</a> takes a big step in that direction, adding 'Login with Facebook' as an option and remaking its home and article pages to make room for a Facebook news module.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scobleizer/2510349462/" title="The New York Times building (new style) by Robert Scoble, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/2510349462_34fb9d01ab.jpg" width="460" /></a> Photo by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/scobleizer/"></a><a href="/photos/scobleizer/">Robert Scoble</a> on Flickr. <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en" rel="license cc:license">Some rights reserved</a>Unlike some sites, the Facebook login doesn't replace NYTimes.com registration; it links the two, leaving the news org with total control over its registered user info plus giving it access to some from the social network. Also, the NYT says it will be opt-in, requiring a user connect the two accounts before any of their information is shared with NYTimes.com Facebook users in their personal network - and it won't be viewable by Facebook users outside their networks. That may save NYTimes.com from some of the uproar that ensued when <a href="http://washingtonpost.com/">WashingtonPost.com</a> went live with a version that automatically turned on the feature for anyone logged into both sites. (To clarify, WaPo's version uses a different setup with social plugins hosted by Facebook. The social net says no user data is shared with the site.)This doesn't replace NYTimes.com's own TimesPeople social news net. <a href="http://timespeople.nytimes.com/home/about/">TimesPeople</a> allows registered users to set up their own net for recommendations to share content from the site, a feature that has on many occasions sent me to stories or other items I might never have seen. My TimesPeople network is very small, probably too small, but it works for me.The Facebook module is meant to do the same but on a grander scale. Everyone will see the module. Those who connect their accounts will see their friends' public activity, including comments and recs. The rest, including Facebook users who don't opt in, will see the most popular NYT content showing up within Facebook. Both expand the possibilities for discovery; connecting increases the potential for engagement. Instead of NYTimes.com being perceived as a place to see news and jump, the connected user might be drawn in by what's going on in his or her network. Conversely, Facebook gets more opportunities for its users to engage.For all the care, it's not hard to see this feature alienating or merely irking readers who see it as clutter. That's where another switch would come in handy: the off switch.Some more details in the NYTimes.com <a href="http://timespeople.nytimes.com/packages/html/timespeople/faq/social/">Social Media Tools FAQ</a>.Update: So what kind of sharing are you signing up for if you connect to Facebook and NYTimes.com? From the opt-in screen: • Name, profile picture, gender, networks, user ID, list of friends, and any other information you've shared with everyone. • E-mail permission (of course, NYTimes.com already has an email address if you're a registered user but this one has a better shot at being real.) • The Times may post status messages, notes, photos, and videos on your Wall • Access News Feed posts • Access your data at any time even when you're not logged in. • Access friend lists • Access profile information: likes, music, TV, movies, books, quotes, About Me, interests, groups, birthday, education history and work history • Access contact info including hometown, current city and website.Facebook privacy settings govern what's visible to others but don't appear to control the access being granted to NYTimes.com. In the FAQ, the site explains: "Once you have authorised The Times to store select personal data, we may use a subset of that data in the TimesPeople API, which allows developers to use NYTimes.com public activity in their applications." No real clue yet what that means.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/new-york-times">New York Times</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/social-media">Social media</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/facebook">Facebook</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/digital-media">Digital media</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/paidcontent">paidContent</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yLbCG5hM3WodQbY92y9k1WfJ2o0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yLbCG5hM3WodQbY92y9k1WfJ2o0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yLbCG5hM3WodQbY92y9k1WfJ2o0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/yLbCG5hM3WodQbY92y9k1WfJ2o0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> New York Times Social media Facebook Media Digital media guardian.co.uk Blogposts http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2010/aug/31/new-york-times-facebook Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:18:31 GMT Deverell confirms Salford move http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/30/richard-deverell-salford/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/98986?ns=guardian&pageName=Richard+Deverell+confirms+Salford+move%3AArticle%3A1445056&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=BBC+Salford+move%2CBBC%2CMedia%2CEdinburgh+TV+Festival+%28Media%29%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29&c5=Media+Weekly%2CTelevision+Media&c6=Jane+Martinson%2CTara+Conlan&c7=10-Aug-30&c8=1445056&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FBBC+Salford+move" width="1" height="1" /></div>BBC North's chief operating officer has confirmed that he will be moving to Salford as relocation creates tension among BBC staffThe BBC North chief operating officer, Richard Deverell, confirmed yesterday that he would be moving to Salford, saving his boss, Mark Thompson, embarrassment over <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/28/bbc-salford-bosses-mark-thompson" title="BBC Salford move">his public commitment that key executives were set on the move</a>."I will probably rent in the short term and probably buy in the long term. I will do whatever it takes to get the job done," Deverell said."Large chunks" of his time would be spent in the north from next May to the end of that year, he added, as around 2,500 staff positions are relocated to the new Salford Quays base. "There will be an eight-month transition," said Deverell.Like the head of BBC North, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/27/bbc-salford-peter-salmon" title="Peter Salmon">Peter Salmon</a>, Deverell's family will move when the academic year allows. But he scotched rumours rife at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh international television festival that such a senior executive would not be moving after all."My job is in Salford. I don't want to live apart from my family for longer than six months," he said. Salford, added Deverell, was "the biggest and most exciting thing happening in the BBC".However, the relocation issue has become a source of tension among BBC staff. Comments on mediaguardian.co.uk stories about senior managers not moving north permanently at the same time as the other BBC staff suggest fury that there is one rule for senior executives and one for the rest of staff.This was categorically denied by Deverell: "Despite the mythology that has grown up in the press, nobody is getting preferential treatment ... every single person faces the same choice the same package. There are no special deals."He said that all staff had the "same relocation package". Those who cannot move immediately will be given the option of the BBC paying rent on a property in Salford for a maximum of two years at a maximum of £1,900 a month to allow them to commute back to London at weekends.However, if they choose this option they will not be able to qualify for any other relocation package.The second package on offer involves the BBC paying 85% of the value of the home of people who want to move to Salford.If the BBC's relocation consultants sell the property for more than 85% of its value, staff will be given the excess. But if it sells for less, the BBC will shoulder the burden. The BBC will also keep any excess if the property sells for more than its market value.The other package available is for staff to choose to sell their own homes and they will be given a taxable allowance of 10% of their salary.Thompson appeared to step further into controversy over the move on Saturday when he called the controversy over whether or not senior BBC North executives were actually moving north "not quite a non issue".In contrast, staff forums have been full of fury over the perceived different set of rules for management compared to staff.One BBC insider told mediaguardian.co.uk that, unlike well-paid senior executives, most staff could not afford to rent and commute to Salford, explaining: "The rank and file have been told to move or face redundancy and they can't afford to run two homes."• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc-salford-move">BBC Salford move</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc">BBC</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/edinburghtvfestival">MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/janemartinson">Jane Martinson</a></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/taraconlan">Tara Conlan</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/VtyYLPxGnheb1qKJ8DzMhDQnje4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/VtyYLPxGnheb1qKJ8DzMhDQnje4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/VtyYLPxGnheb1qKJ8DzMhDQnje4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/VtyYLPxGnheb1qKJ8DzMhDQnje4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> BBC Salford move BBC Media MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival Television industry guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/30/richard-deverell-salford Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:26:06 GMT Russian site to host BBC news videos http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-bbc-sharing-news-videos-with-russias-gzt.ru//print paidContent: BBC signs deal to syndicate news video to website of Moscow newspaper Gazeta <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dqEkSt8IJNJNwNAiD6Y0lKZTV9w/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dqEkSt8IJNJNwNAiD6Y0lKZTV9w/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dqEkSt8IJNJNwNAiD6Y0lKZTV9w/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dqEkSt8IJNJNwNAiD6Y0lKZTV9w/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-bbc-sharing-news-videos-with-russias-gzt.ru/ Jonathan Ross to return to the BBC http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/31/jonathan-ross-bbc/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/30798?ns=guardian&pageName=Jonathan+Ross+to+return+to+the+BBC%3AArticle%3A1445564&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Jonathan+Ross%2CMedia%2CBBC%2CBBC4%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CFilm&c5=Not+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTelevision+Media%2CTV&c6=Press+Association&c7=10-Aug-31&c8=1445564&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FJonathan+Ross" width="1" height="1" /></div>The presenter will return to host the BBC4 World Cinema awards in October, less than three months after his departure from the corporationJonathan Ross is to return to the BBC less than three months after his high-profile departure, to host a BBC4 film awards show.Ross, whose contract with the corporation ended in July, spelling the end for his BBC1 Friday-night chatshow and Radio 2 Saturday programme, will host the BBC4 World Cinema awards in October.He had talked of taking a year's sabbatical before hosting a chat show for ITV1 from late next year, although he will be returning to TV in the interim for one-off events, including hosting the British Comedy awards on Channel 4 later this year.Ross has previously hosted the BBC4 event, which celebrates international film-making and is now in its seventh year.Richard Klein, controller of BBC4, said: "As the home of arts and culture, BBC4 is committed to world cinema. It's really important to encourage the viewing of such important stories from the world around us – this year's shortlist is further proof of an exceptional year for international film."The shortlist for the awards was also announced today and includes the animated memoir about the 1982 Lebanon war, Waltz With Bashir. Nominees are drawn up by UK film writers.Other nominees are Let The Right One In, I Am Love, A Prophet and The White Ribbon.The awards take place at the BFI Southbank in London on 7 October 7 and will be screened on BBC4 on 9 October.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/jonathan-ross">Jonathan Ross</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc">BBC</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc4">BBC4</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li></ul></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Wx3e0YNeTR6BEFBOSU-KAPomrC0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Wx3e0YNeTR6BEFBOSU-KAPomrC0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Wx3e0YNeTR6BEFBOSU-KAPomrC0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Wx3e0YNeTR6BEFBOSU-KAPomrC0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Jonathan Ross Media BBC BBC4 Television industry Film guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/31/jonathan-ross-bbc Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:38:11 GMT Andy Carter to head up Smooth Radio http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/31/andy-carter-smooth-radio-gmg/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/78444?ns=guardian&pageName=Andy+Carter+to+head+up+Smooth+Radio%3AArticle%3A1445428&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Commercial+radio+%28Media%29%2CRadio+industry+%28Media%29%2CGuardian+Media+Group%2CMedia%2CMedia+business&c5=Press+Media%2CMedia+Weekly%2CRadio+Media&c6=John+Plunkett&c7=10-Aug-31&c8=1445428&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FCommercial+radio" width="1" height="1" /></div>The managing director of GMG Radio's north-west division has also been appointed MD of the newly national stationThe managing director of GMG Radio's north-west operations has been put in charge of the radio group's newly national Smooth Radio, which will launch next month.Andy Carter has been appointed managing director of national Smooth Radio in addition to his current duties.The national station, set to launch on 4 October, will replace the existing Smooth Radio analogue stations in England, as well as being available on digital TV, digital audio broadcasting (DAB) radio and online.Its <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/17/simon-bates-classic-fm-smooth" title="">line-up of presenters will include the new breakfast presenter Simon Bates</a>, who has been recruited by GMG Radio from Classic FM, and a morning show fronted by Mark Goodier.Carter said it was an "incredibly exciting time to be leading Smooth Radio's transformation into a UK wide station ... The growth possibilities for our UK station are enormous."The GMG Radio chief executive, Stuart Taylor, said: "Andy has a great understanding of both the Smooth brand and of UK commercial radio in general and is the perfect person to lead Smooth Radio as it enters the next, important phase."Smooth Radio <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jun/29/smooth-radio-merge-regional-stations" title="">announced its switch to a national station in June</a> with the loss of around 60 jobs.GMG Radio is part of Guardian Media Group, the company that publishes the Guardian, the Observer and the guardian.co.uk website network, including mediaguardian.co.uk.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/commercial-radio">Commercial radio</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/radio">Radio industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/guardianmediagroup">Guardian Media Group</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediabusiness">Media business</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/johnplunkett">John Plunkett</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/un5CYhLR_VvYHypqf1kfLYWqjVQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/un5CYhLR_VvYHypqf1kfLYWqjVQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/un5CYhLR_VvYHypqf1kfLYWqjVQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/un5CYhLR_VvYHypqf1kfLYWqjVQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Commercial radio Radio industry Guardian Media Group Media Media business guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/31/andy-carter-smooth-radio-gmg Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:23:02 GMT Panjabi flies flag for UK at Emmys http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/aug/30/emmy-awards-2010-archie-panjabi/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/84413?ns=guardian&pageName=Emmy+awards+2010%3A+Archie+Panjabi+flies+flag+for+UK%3AArticle%3A1445094&ch=Television+%26amp%3B+radio&c3=Guardian&c4=Television+%28Culture%29%2CTelevision+and+radio+TV%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CMedia%2CUS+news%2CWorld+news%2CCulture+section%2CUK+news%2CEmmy+awards&c5=Film+Awards%2CNot+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTelevision+Media&c6=Helen+Pidd&c7=10-Aug-30&c8=1445094&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Television+%26amp%3B+radio&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FTelevision+%26amp%3B+radio%2FTelevision" width="1" height="1" /></div>Panjabi wins best supporting actress award for role in The Good Wife as Mad Men takes best drama series gongHugh Laurie, Judi Dench and Ian McKellen went home empty-handed from last night's <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2010/jul/08/emmy-nominations-2010" title="">Emmy awards</a>, leaving Archie Panjabi to fly the flag for British acting talent.London-born Panjabi picked up the outstanding supporting actress award for her role in The Good Wife as the US honoured stars of the small screen at a lavish Los Angeles ceremony.The 38-year-old, who made her name in British hit films East is East and Bend It Like Beckham, won the Emmy for her role as a law firm's in-house private investigator in the hit TV show. She beat fellow The Good Wife actor Christine Baranski and Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss.Michael Sheen was nominated for outstanding lead actor in a mini-series or TV movie for The Special Relationship, a film in which he reprised his role as Tony Blair. But he lost out to acting great Al Pacino, who won a rare TV gong for You Don't Know Jack. McKellen also missed out in the category.Maggie Smith and Dench were both nominated for outstanding lead actress but lost out to Claire Danes for her performance in Temple Grandin. The film, about the autistic author and agriculturalist of the title, won five Emmys – a great result for the British producer, Alison Owen, who is the mother of singer Lily Allen.While Owen celebrated, Laurie was commiserated. The comedian turned actor has been nominated five times for his role as grumpy doctor Gregory House in the eponymous show. But Bryan Cranston took the title of outstanding lead actor in a drama for his performance in Breaking Bad.The night's other big winners were Mad Men, about the US advertising industry in the 1960s, named outstanding drama series, and Modern Family, outstanding comedy series.Glee star Jane Lynch took the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series and the show won a directing award for Ryan Murphy.Edie Falco was named outstanding comedy actress for Nurse Jackie and The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons was named outstanding comedy actor for his portrayal of Sheldon Cooper.Falco, who has previously won three best actress awards for her role in The Sopranos, seemed shocked and exclaimed: "I'm not funny!"Kyra Sedgwick won the award for outstanding supporting actress in a drama for The Closer.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/television">Television</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/usa">United States</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/emmy-awards">Emmy awards</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/helenpidd">Helen Pidd</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4VKc1hOVVObiCdGB3uC-kWO4o_w/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4VKc1hOVVObiCdGB3uC-kWO4o_w/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4VKc1hOVVObiCdGB3uC-kWO4o_w/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4VKc1hOVVObiCdGB3uC-kWO4o_w/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Television Television & radio Television industry Media United States World news Culture UK news Emmy awards The Guardian News http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/aug/30/emmy-awards-2010-archie-panjabi Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:47:41 GMT BT broadband reaches 15m customers http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/aug/31/broadband-bt-15-million-users/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/75710?ns=guardian&pageName=Broadband+Britain+milestone+as+BT+signs+up+15+millionth+customer%3AArticle%3A1445223&ch=Business&c3=Guardian&c4=BT+Group+%28Business%29%2CTelecommunications+industry+%28Business+sector%29%2CBroadband%2CInternet%2CTechnology%2CInternet+phones+and+broadband+%28UK+consumer%29%2CConsumer+affairs+%28Money%29%2CMoney%2CBusiness%2CTelecoms+%28Technology%29&c5=Personal+Finance%2CBusiness+Markets%2CTechnology+Gadgets%2CCorporate+IT%2CConsumer+Electronics%2CConsumer+News&c6=Graeme+Wearden&c7=10-Aug-31&c8=1445223&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Business&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FBusiness%2FBT" width="1" height="1" /></div>With three-quarters of UK homes and business using broadband, the market is seen to be maturingThe drive to create Broadband Britain has hit another milestone, as BT signed up the 15 millionth user to its high-speed network last week.Ten years after broadband was first launched in the UK, it has now been taken up by around three-quarters of the UK's homes and small businesses. With Virgin Media serving another 4.2 million customers over its cable network, Britain boasts a higher take-up rate than other developed nations such as Germany and the US."Broadband Britain has been a success story with widespread availability, low prices and high take-up," Olivia Garfield, BT strategy director, said.Virgin's predecessors, NTL and Telewest, offered the first broadband services in Britain in early 2000. BT itself only got serious about the technology in 2002, when former chief executive Ben Verwaayen slashed prices and speeded up the process of installing broadband equipment in its local telephone exchanges.BT said it has been signing up around 5,000 new customers a day since 2002. That rate has slowed in the last couple of years, despite competition between rival operators, in a sign that the market is maturing. "There has been a price war in the fixed broadband market in the last two years, with the average price of a connection falling," Charlie Davies, analyst at Ovum, said."The speed of broadband penetration is starting to slow, and some markets are nearing saturation," he added. There are around 22m homes in the UK, and some 4m small businesses, so there should be plenty of potential customers for broadband providers to target. Data released last week showed 9 million people have never used the internet."Usage is closely linked with a number of socio-economic and demographic indicators, with those less educated and on lower incomes less likely to access the web," said Mark Williams from the Office for National Statistics. Worryingly for the industry, the reason given for not going online is typically a lack of interest.BT's retail arm has slightly more than 5 million broadband customers. Nearly two-thirds of the 15 million customers on its network are choosing a rival internet service provider, such as TalkTalk or Sky, which use BT's infrastructure.The UK lags behind other nations when it comes to broadband speeds. BT's largely copper-based network means that customers suffer lower speeds, depending on the distance they live from their exchange.BT said its planned rollout of a fibre-optic broadband network over the next 18 months would deliver much faster speeds, although one-in-three homes will miss out."BT is now investing a further £2.5bn to roll out fibre broadband to two-thirds of the UK. This will help the UK climb the league tables for speeds, one of the few areas in which we don't lead the world," Garfield said.Communications regulator <a href="http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/market-data/communications-market-reports/cmr10/internet-web/" title="Ofcom report">Ofcom reported this month</a> that retail revenues from internet and broadband services has been effectively flat since 2006, despite the rise in broadband users. Services such as TV-on-demand or faster services could drive revenues higher in the future, although Davies predicted that competitive pressures may keep bills down.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/btgroup">BT</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/telecoms">Telecommunications industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/broadband">Broadband</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/internet">Internet</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/internetphonesbroadband">Internet, phones & broadband</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs">Consumer affairs</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/telecoms">Telecoms</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/graemewearden">Graeme Wearden</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fZELpG46XbIDN1itxgT5ax90UBA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fZELpG46XbIDN1itxgT5ax90UBA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fZELpG46XbIDN1itxgT5ax90UBA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fZELpG46XbIDN1itxgT5ax90UBA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> BT Telecommunications industry Broadband Internet Technology Internet, phones & broadband Consumer affairs Money Business Telecoms The Guardian News http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/aug/31/broadband-bt-15-million-users Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:00:20 GMT MasterChef to air auditions http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/27/masterchef-to-air-auditions/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/72726?ns=guardian&pageName=MasterChef+to+air+auditions%3AArticle%3A1444376&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=BBC1%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CBBC%2CMedia%2CMasterChef%2CTelevision+%28Culture%29%2CFood+TV+%28TV+genre%29%2CTelevision+and+radio+TV&c5=Not+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTelevision+Media%2CTV&c6=Tara+Conlan&c7=10-Aug-27&c8=1444376&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FBBC1" width="1" height="1" /></div>New series to feature extended running time and larger kitchen so more contestants can face full set of challengesMasterChef will televise its auditions for the first time when it returns to BBC1 next year for its seventh series.The show's running time is to be extended, from half an hour to an hour, and it will be held in a bigger kitchen to accommodate a larger group of contestants.The BBC1 controller, Jay Hunt, has ordered 15 episodes of MasterChef from production company Shine.At the beginning of the new series, judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace will audition amateur chefs selected from the 20,000 applicants.The best 20 will be chosen to go through to the new kitchen where they will face what the BBC says will be "more ambitious tests than ever before".Shine TV's executive editor, Karen Ross, said: "Although we have always enjoyed the six weeks of heat shows to select the final eight semi-finalists, we are very excited to have the opportunity to start with a smaller group of cooks and follow them across the series."It will allow viewers to see more development of the contestants and enjoy an entire series of challenges that up till now have only been possible in the last two weeks of the semi-final and final rounds."The new massive kitchen will give us the space to do this and having the same competitors across the series will not only help them to become even stronger cooks, but it will also give our viewers a chance to engage with them even more."Hunt said: "MasterChef has grown into unmissable event television on BBC1. The new series will give viewers the chance to be part of the action from the very beginning and to experience more drama and cooking than ever before."MasterChef has proved a success for the BBC, moving from a tea-time slot on BBC2 five years ago to 9pm on BBC1. A record 7.8 million people tuned in to see Lisa Faulkner win Celebrity MasterChef last week.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc1">BBC1</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc">BBC</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/masterchef">MasterChef</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/television">Television</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/food-tv">Food TV</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/taraconlan">Tara Conlan</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jMLXcwCL0pIMw5hxjxg4zhohpAE/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jMLXcwCL0pIMw5hxjxg4zhohpAE/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jMLXcwCL0pIMw5hxjxg4zhohpAE/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/jMLXcwCL0pIMw5hxjxg4zhohpAE/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> BBC1 Television industry BBC Media MasterChef Television Food TV Television & radio guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/27/masterchef-to-air-auditions Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:23:06 GMT Jack Black stars in Orange trailer spoof http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/27/advertising/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/28860?ns=guardian&pageName=Jack+Black+stars+in+Orange+trailer+spoof%3AArticle%3A1444355&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Advertising+%28media%29%2CMedia&c5=Media+Weekly%2CAdvertising+Media&c6=Mark+Sweney&c7=10-Aug-27&c8=1444355&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FAdvertising" width="1" height="1" /></div>Gulliver's Travels adaptation chosen for second of new-style cinema ads that have replaced the long-running film board seriesOrange has recruited the comedy star Jack Black for the second of its new-model cinema ads.The company <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/apr/30/orange-pensions-off-film-board" title="has phased out its long-running Orange Film Board campaign in favour of spoof trailers">has phased out its long-running Orange Film Board campaign in favour of spoof trailers</a>, retaining the "Don't let a mobile phone ruin your movie" tagline.Black's ad, which will appear in cinemas from tonight, initially appears to be a trailer for the forthcoming adaptation of Gulliver's Travels, which is due to be released in the UK in December.The ad has Black, as Gulliver, waking up after being shipwrecked on Lilliput to find himself tied down by an army of diminuitive locals – who take the opportunity to try to sell him mobile-phone services.It was created by the Fallon agency, which pensioned off the film board executive Mr Dresden and his sidekick Elliott in April, after seven years and 24 outings.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/advertising">Advertising</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/marksweney">Mark Sweney</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/DbnwHxtPHna2fVWnmCjlwgS1sUg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/DbnwHxtPHna2fVWnmCjlwgS1sUg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/DbnwHxtPHna2fVWnmCjlwgS1sUg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/DbnwHxtPHna2fVWnmCjlwgS1sUg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Advertising Media guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/27/advertising Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:12:27 GMT Channel 5 redundancies loom http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/30/channel-5-redundancies/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/46937?ns=guardian&pageName=Channel+5+redundancies+loom%3AArticle%3A1444821&ch=Media&c3=Guardian&c4=Edinburgh+TV+Festival+%28Media%29%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CMedia%2CChannel+5%2CRichard+Desmond+%28media%29&c5=Not+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTelevision+Media&c6=Tara+Conlan&c7=10-Aug-30&c8=1444821&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=Dispatches+%28series%29&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FMediaGuardian+Edinburgh+International+Television+Festival" width="1" height="1" /></div>Staff at the Richard Desmond-owned channel may find out tomorrow if their applications for voluntary redundancy have been acceptedChannel 5 staff may find out tomorrow if their applications for voluntary redundancy have been approved.After its new owner Richard Desmond's <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/16/richard-desmond-channel-5" title="Departures at Channel 5">bloodletting this month</a>, which saw the departure of almost all the executive board, applications are said to be "very high". The offer is in line with the terms given last year, with four weeks' pay for every year served and payment in lieu of notice period.Desmond has ordered a £20m cost-cutting drive that will lead to between 60 and 80 job losses – more than a quarter of the almost 300 employees.If not enough people come forward in the right areas, it is thought there might be another round before any compulsory departures. However, the redundancy package will then halve to two weeks for every year. A number of so-called "business-critical" people are said to have applied.Some back-office functions are to be shared between Northern & Shell, Desmond's company that runs the Express newspaper group, and C5, meaning staff in areas such as IT will have to compete with each other in applying for jobs. And with all but one of the 11-strong press office applying for redundancy, there are rumours that the PR company The Outside Organisation – which has been acting for Desmond – wants to pitch.Despite the joke at C5 being: "What's worse than being made redundant by C5? Not being made redundant by C5", one staffer told me that in the current economic climate he is "just happy to be kept on".With Desmond in negotiations over the next season of Big Brother, there was some speculation over the future of existing shows. Justin Lee Collins is thought to be vulnerable after his latest series was axed. Some programming staff are expected to want to go including the entertainment and features commissioning editor, Donna Taberer.In just a few weeks, C5 will leave its Covent Garden home in central London to move in with Northern & Shell at offices in the Isle of Dogs and Lower Thames Street. It sounds as though a lot of familiar faces within the broadcasting industry will not be making that trip.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/edinburghtvfestival">MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/channelfive">Channel 5</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/richard-desmond">Richard Desmond</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/taraconlan">Tara Conlan</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kRfVNgg8HN_L35l5aX4NBW5kOlc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kRfVNgg8HN_L35l5aX4NBW5kOlc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kRfVNgg8HN_L35l5aX4NBW5kOlc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/kRfVNgg8HN_L35l5aX4NBW5kOlc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival Television industry Media Channel 5 Richard Desmond The Guardian News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/30/channel-5-redundancies Mon, 30 Aug 2010 06:00:58 GMT Long-form journalism lives on online http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/30/long-form-journalism/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/50067?ns=guardian&pageName=Long-form+journalism+starts+a+new+chapter%3AArticle%3A1444842&ch=Media&c3=Guardian&c4=Press+and+publishing%2CDigital+media%2CMedia%2CInternet%2CTechnology%2CKindle%2CE-readers%2CTwitter+%28Technology%29&c5=Press+Media%2CDigital+Media%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTechnology+Gadgets%2CCorporate+IT&c6=Bobbie+Johnson&c7=10-Aug-30&c8=1444842&c9=Article&c10=Feature&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FNewspapers+%26+magazines" width="1" height="1" /></div>With the help of Twitter and sites such as Long Form and The Awl, longer articles are finding a new lease of life as people take the time to find and read themEverybody's got it in for the web this summer. It's getting the blame for everything from destroying our businesses to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/aug/20/internet-altering-your-mind" title="destroying our brains">destroying our brains</a>. Rupert Murdoch is still trying to see if newspapers such as the Times can leave the open web behind, while <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/aug/15/internet-brain-neuroscience-debate" title="Nick Carr's latest polemic, The Shallows">Nick Carr's latest polemic, The Shallows</a>, argues that online culture is eroding our capacity to think properly. Even Wired – the magazine that championed the rise of the dotcom world – is putting the boot in: its latest cover story is an incendiary piece co-authored by its editor-in-chief, Chris Anderson, arguing that "<a href="http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/08/ff_webrip/all/1" title="Wired: the web is dead">the web is dead</a>".Many of these arguments revolve around the assumption that the open web, and by association the technologies that connect us to it, undermine the things that make high-quality writing viable. Financially, newspapers and magazines have struggled to find ways to make websites pay for their expensive long-form journalism, while book publishers are terrified of what they will find as they begin to dip their toes into the water. At the same time, some people appear addicted to the ephemeral or inane – streams of breaking news and minute-by-minute coverage that satisfy a desire for information without going much deeper. People are fattened up by infoglut, skipping the most nourishing pieces of information in favour of a diet of the web's fast-food distractions.A few new experiments in recent weeks, including one of my own, are designed to find out whether the tools usually labelled as distractions can actually help find remarkable journalism.I went to Twitter, and set up an account: <a href="http://twitter.com/ifyouonly">@IfYouOnly</a>. The motto was short and sweet ("if you only read one thing today, make it this") and the premise was straightforward: to highlight and link to a single piece of gripping, powerful and memorable writing each weekday. The project is still very much in the early stages, but so far we've linked to stories about Japanese hermits, Colombian assassins and Californian ghost towns. A handful of new followers sign up every day, and other people have sent in suggestions of good stories to link to. Most of the material lives on magazine sites (such as the New Yorker, Vanity Fair and Esquire), newspaper sites (New York Times, Los Angeles Times) or web-only outfits (<a href="http://www.keepgoing.org/" title="KeepGoing">KeepGoing</a>).The project is in its infancy but one thing I've already found out is that there is <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2010/jul/30/best-magazine-articles" title="Cool Tools: 50 best magazine articles of all time">a growing community of people dedicated to spreading good writing</a> using the very technologies that people say is killing long-form journalism."Our site has gotten far more attention than we possibly imagined it would," says Aaron Lammer, co-creator of <a href="http://longform.org/" title="longform.org">longform.org</a>, which promises to give its users links to articles that are "too long and too interesting to be read on a web browser".Each day the New York-based book editor and his partner, Max Linsky, select a handful of pieces and pass them through a service called <a href="http://www.instapaper.com/" title="Instapaper">Instapaper</a> that makes them easy to print or read on devices such as a phone, Kindle or iPad."Enthusiasm has been registered from writers, editors, publications and journalism centres," Lammer says. "It's a response to a very specific moment we're in that is defined by the technology and the way stories are published."Other services are also springing up to help people find routes to great stories. Among them is <a href="http://givemesomethingtoread.com/" title="givemesomethingtoread.com">givemesomethingtoread.com</a> (also linked to Instapaper) and a Twitter account, <a href="http://twitter.com/longreads" title="@longreads">@longreads</a>, that boasts more than 5,000 followers. It turns out that like me, avid readers are trying to scratch their own itch."I know that, personally, it's reintroduced me to truly great magazine-length storytelling – from traditional media like the New Yorker and Esquire to newer sites like <a href="http://www.theawl.com/" title="The Awl ">The Awl </a>," says Mark Armstrong, the creator of Long Reads, who works for an internet finance startup by day."I never used to read longer stories online because I was usually at work when I was browsing the web, or I just felt uncomfortable reading while hunched over a keyboard."The idea of pointing audiences towards interesting material is far from a new thing. Print outlets have been syndicating articles for almost as long as they've existed, while specialist magazines such as the Week emerged in the mid 1990s to collate and distribute journalism. Then, of course, there's the venerable Reader's Digest – nearly a century old – which promised to bring its audiences the best writing, even if it took a hatchet to most of it along the way.The web itself has a well-developed culture of sharing, with some early bloggers such as <a href="http://kottke.org/" title="Jason Kottke">Jason Kottke</a> and the team at <a href="http://boingboing.net/" title="BoingBoing">BoingBoing</a> forging careers out of their practice of sharing must-read links about a wide variety of subjects. More complex sites such as <a href="http://www.fark.com/" title="Fark">Fark</a>, <a href="http://slashdot.org/" title="Slashdot">Slashdot</a> and <a href="reddit.com" title="Reddit">Reddit</a> have large communities dedicated to sharing and dissecting news stories with each other.The nature of discovery and consumption may be changing, however, as the desire to read spreads to new devices and the ability to share comes through new services. Amazon says that <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/20/amazon-ebook-digital-sales-hardbacks-us" title="Kindle editions of books are now outselling hardcovers">Kindle editions of books are now outselling hardbacks</a>, which, even when taken with the requisite pinch of salt, indicates a major shift in consumption. Apple has gone so far as to build a "reader" function – one that strips out adverts from web pages and reworks them into a distraction-free format – into its latest web browser.The crucial element may be that reading is, ultimately, a human activity. Where Google News, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2009/apr/06/google-wallstreetjournal" title="once described by the Wall Street Journal's boss, Robert Thomson, as a "parasite"">once described by the Wall Street Journal's boss, Robert Thomson, as a "parasite"</a>, offers publishers little more than robotic scraping, recommendations from real people are reworking the relationship between technologies and publishers."We're experiencing a moment in which the humans are regaining some control over what gets filtered around the web," says Armstrong. "Twitter and Facebook are critical to driving traffic for publishers, and people like to share stories that are thoughtful or unique. These stories are a bit more evergreen than breaking news – they live longer lives and get passed around."Whether you call it editing, curation or simply sharing, publishers would do well to capitalise on the potential long-reading boom. Because whether the technology changes or not, our basic motivations stay the same, says Lammer."I think people are motivated by a desire to read incredible stories, when they want to and how they want to."<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pressandpublishing">Newspapers & magazines</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/digital-media">Digital media</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/internet">Internet</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/kindle">Kindle</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/ereaders">E-readers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/twitter">Twitter</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/bobbiejohnson">Bobbie Johnson</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2Qi40UC_-BdeBrmJC8f0Nj8Mbn8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2Qi40UC_-BdeBrmJC8f0Nj8Mbn8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2Qi40UC_-BdeBrmJC8f0Nj8Mbn8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2Qi40UC_-BdeBrmJC8f0Nj8Mbn8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Newspapers & magazines Digital media Media Internet Technology Kindle E-readers Twitter The Guardian Features http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/30/long-form-journalism Mon, 30 Aug 2010 06:01:02 GMT Ebay plans pre-Christmas ad blitz http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/30/ebay-ad-campaign/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/25053?ns=guardian&pageName=Ebay+to+launch+advertising+blitz+to+tap+into+Christmas+market%3AArticle%3A1444033&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Advertising+%28media%29%2CMedia%2CeBay+%28Technology%29%2CInternet%2CTechnology&c5=Media+Weekly%2CTechnology+Gadgets%2CCorporate+IT%2CAdvertising+Media&c6=Josh+Halliday&c7=10-Aug-30&c8=1444033&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FAdvertising" width="1" height="1" /></div>E-commerce site plans one of its biggest ever UK ad campaigns to bulk up presence in increasingly competitive marketEBay is to launch one of the biggest UK advertising campaigns in its 11-year history, as the e-commerce site looks to bulk up its presence in an increasingly competitive online retail market.With adverts appearing in many of the UK's women's magazines as well as on billboards, eBay is looking to capitalise on predictions that more consumers will shop online in the runup to Christmas this year.Angus McCarey, director of eBay Enterprise, said the site has seen a 25% increase in the number of shoppers opting to buy fashion items over the last year."The Fashion Outlet is our fastest growing sales channel and this advertising assault reflects our growing position as a leading fashion destination. There is huge potential for growth in the online fashion market, as consumers seek out greater choice and value," he added."We know that consumers are increasingly looking for a range of high-quality high street goods at low prices, and eBay's Fashion Outlet provides them with the ability to purchase goods from the brands they love."Since its launch in May this year, eBay's Fashion Outlet has generated sales totalling around £4m revenue for the brands sellling through the site.Although no figures were given for the number of people shopping on eBay's Fashion Outlet, 4.6 million shoppers purchased fashion items through the site in the three months from May 2010.From the end of September, advertising for the eBay Fashion Outlet will adorn buses, billboards and train stations across the UK.High street retailers Ted Baker, Karen Millen, Superdry and Office have all signed up to sell through eBay's Fashion Outlet, with more brands set to be involved in the near future.Double-page glossy adverts will appear in titles including Vogue, OK!, Grazia, Look and Elle. Vogue's current rate card lists the cost of a double-page spread in the magazine as between £46,400 and £60,000.Earlier this month, eBay said the number of its traders turning over £1m a year had almost doubled over the last 12 months.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/advertising">Advertising</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/ebay">eBay</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/internet">Internet</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/josh-halliday">Josh Halliday</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0351W0grVQR2a5r-VKSdU42rcGY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0351W0grVQR2a5r-VKSdU42rcGY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0351W0grVQR2a5r-VKSdU42rcGY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/0351W0grVQR2a5r-VKSdU42rcGY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Advertising Media eBay Internet Technology guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/30/ebay-ad-campaign Mon, 30 Aug 2010 06:00:58 GMT Joan Rivers to attend Sheffield Doc/Fest http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/31/joan-rivers-sheffield-docfest/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/67472?ns=guardian&pageName=Joan+Rivers+to+attend+Sheffield+Doc%2FFest%3AArticle%3A1445496&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Television+industry+%28Media%29%2CMedia%2CFilm%2CFestivals+%28Culture%29%2CSheffield+Doc%2FFest%2CDocumentary+%28Film+genre%29%2CDocumentary+%28TV+genre%29%2CTelevision+and+radio+TV%2CTelevision+%28Culture%29&c5=Not+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTelevision+Media&c6=Josh+Halliday&c7=10-Sep-01&c8=1445496&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FTelevision+industry" width="1" height="1" /></div>The comedian will appear at the Sheffield premiere of a documentary charting a year in her lifeThe comedian and TV presenter Joan Rivers will attend the UK premiere of the documentary Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work at this year's annual <a href="http://sheffdocfest.com/" title="Sheffield Doc/Fest">Sheffield Doc/Fest</a>.Rivers will attend the premiere on the opening night of the annual showcase on November 3 along with the awardwinning filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg.Stern and Sundberg were granted unguarded access to Rivers as the 77-year-old star refuses to burn out, making many an irreverent media appearance and continuing to tour live shows.Over one year, the documentary charts the highs and lows of the high-profile performer, who was <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jun/17/itv.television2" title="famously booted off ITV's Loose Women">booted off ITV's Loose Women</a> for swearing live on air in 2008.Now in its 17th year, the Sheffield film festival – in association with <a href="http://guardian.co.uk/media" title="MediaGuardian">MediaGuardian</a> – will run from 3-7 November.A further screening of Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work will be shown on November 5 at Doc/Fest, as will a masterclass into the making of the documentary open to public and delegates.The documentary will be broadcast on More4 on 9 November.• Tickets for Doc/Fest go on sale on 4 October• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/festivals">Festivals</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/sheffield-doc-fest">Sheffield Doc/Fest</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/documentary">Documentary</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/documentary">Documentary</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/television">Television</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/josh-halliday">Josh Halliday</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5f3IHJ4JPCWhwzDkI06X6_Dg8qE/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5f3IHJ4JPCWhwzDkI06X6_Dg8qE/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5f3IHJ4JPCWhwzDkI06X6_Dg8qE/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5f3IHJ4JPCWhwzDkI06X6_Dg8qE/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Television industry Media Film Festivals Sheffield Doc/Fest Documentary Documentary Television & radio Television guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/31/joan-rivers-sheffield-docfest Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:44:50 GMT Meet the army's own media corps http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/30/army-combat-camera-team/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/71498?ns=guardian&pageName=Meet+the+army%27s+own+media+corps%3AArticle%3A1444840&ch=Media&c3=Guardian&c4=War+reporting%2CMedia%2CPress+and+publishing%2CAfghanistan+%28News%29%2CWorld+news&c5=Press+Media%2CNot+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly&c6=Jemima+Kiss&c7=10-Aug-31&c8=1444840&c9=Article&c10=&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FWar+reporting" width="1" height="1" /></div>The Combat Camera Team is the army's own embedded media corps, reporting from AfghanistanWhen David Beckham made a surprise visit to British troops in Afghanistan in May, the press wasted no time in splashing photos of him signing autographs, handling weapons and scoring during a kickabout at Camp Bastion in Helmand. It was far less widely reported when troops at a patrol base in Sangin commemorated the D-day anniversary by reading a poem by a second world war marine, John Henry Beale, at sunset – just hours after being shot at by insurgents who had destroyed part of the wall of the base with an improvised bomb. And there were no media reports of the moment when a small group of Afghan children wandered over to investigate the camera of a soldier working with the Coldstream Guards to set up a vehicle checkpoint.But all these moments were captured by Captain Joanna Timmermann and her Combat Camera Team (CCT) – the British army's own embedded media squad. Timmermann says the CCT, established during the Iraq war in 2003, was the result of the MoD identifying a need for managing the media during conflicts.A fully trained Territorial Army Royal Engineer officer of 12 years, Timmermann is also a PR graduate and describes her job as that of a war correspondent. Does she consider the work of her team to be objective? "We are serving soldiers and members of the MoD and in terms of what we produce, we try and keep an objective eye," she replies. "Obviously, we are not looking to show the people we are with in a bad light – any PR person doesn't want that. But if you put out material that is overly biased it is never going to be used, so that would be counterproductive."The CCT's video, photos and reports are distributed to broadcast and print media, and published on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/ukforcesafghanistan" title="army's YouTube channel">army's YouTube channel</a>, <a href="http://britisharmy.wordpress.com>Wordpress blog</a>, on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uk-forces-afghanistan/" title="Flickr ">Flickr </a>and on <a href="http://www.facebook/ukforcesafghanistan">Facebook</a>. It has produced a profile of the female Apache pilot Jo Gordon, shown tractors being given to farmers in Nad-e-Ali and filmed parts of the recent Tor Shezada operation. The team – Timmermann plus a photographer, Corporal Barry Lloyd, and a videographer, Sergeant Tom Robinson – is on a six-month tour, and the material they produce will be archived at the Imperial War Museum in London.The unit has unparalleled access to the frontline, and troops are often more comfortable talking to the CCT than to the press. Timmermann says the team regularly works alongside embedded journalists, but also acknowledges that the media "aren't sending as many journalists as they have in the past". An MoD spokesman says there are no embedded journalists in Afghanistan now with the exception of a documentary team.For a cash-strapped news industry, equipping and insuring reporters to cover war zones is a challenge, says Phil Taylor, professor of international communications at the University of Leeds. He cautions that the demands of real-time news are impairing war reporting."There's so much information coming from so many sources. When you're operating within a 24/7 environment there's no time for balance – you're in danger of repeating enemy propaganda, our propaganda. There's a refrain that this is the first draft of history, but increasingly those drafts are rougher and rougher because of the tyranny of real time."The CCT is an updated version of the official photographers that the army has had since 1915, and "the idea of a war correspondent being an independent member of the free media is a relatively recent phenomena," Taylor points out. "The only way to transcend the criticism of embedded journalists is for big news organisations like the BBC to have some journalists embedded and some not," he adds. "You have a big team of people covering all sides and editors back at base who provide the balance."Taylor notes that larger news organisations can be reluctant to take MoD-approved footage. But they do take such footage when it suits them: Sky, the BBC, and the Telegraph, Guardian and Sun have all published MoD material in the past few months, and not just about Beckham's flying visit.It's important to question why the MoD thinks there's a need for the CCT, says Taylor. "There has to be a reason why the MoD employs otherwise three otherwise qualified fighting human beings to take footage. This is the information age, and if you don't get your audio-visual agenda out there, somebody else with a camera on a mobile will."<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/war-reporting">War reporting</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pressandpublishing">Newspapers & magazines</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/afghanistan">Afghanistan</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jemimakiss">Jemima Kiss</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/00ISzcGsp7LVRlJWhJXsRov_J1E/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/00ISzcGsp7LVRlJWhJXsRov_J1E/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/00ISzcGsp7LVRlJWhJXsRov_J1E/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/00ISzcGsp7LVRlJWhJXsRov_J1E/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> War reporting Media Newspapers & magazines Afghanistan World news The Guardian Editorial http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/30/army-combat-camera-team Mon, 30 Aug 2010 06:01:01 GMT Has reality TV killed off documentaries? http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2010/aug/30/reality-tv-documentaries/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/10654?ns=guardian&pageName=Has+reality+TV+killed+off+documentaries%3F%3AArticle%3A1444835&ch=Media&c3=Guardian&c4=Edinburgh+TV+Festival+%28Media%29%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CMedia%2CReality+TV+%28TV+genre%29%2CTelevision+and+radio+TV&c5=Not+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTelevision+Media&c6=Maggie+Brown&c7=10-Aug-30&c8=1444835&c9=Article&c10=Blogpost&c11=Media&c13=Dispatches+%28series%29&c25=Organ+Grinder+blog&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2Fblog%2FOrgan+Grinder" width="1" height="1" /></div>A debate at the Edinburgh TV festival wondered if 'noisy characters' were replacing serious, in-depth journalismHas reality TV killed off serious documentaries? A debate on the state of the genre at Edinburgh reflected the fears of many that more demanding work is being ousted by cheap and cheerful people docs, heavily influenced by Big Brother and similar shows.The veteran producer Brian Woods – whose documentary Zimbabwe's Forgotten Children is shown on BBC2 tomorrow, after first being screened to critical acclaim on BBC4 – observed that it was now increasingly difficult to win new orders for foreign stories. Only a few commissioners will regularly put up funds of at least £30,000-40,000, and screen films at accessible times.The same point was made by Paul Hamann, the respected former head of BBC documentaries and executive producer of many ground-breaking observational films. He said documentaries were no longer properly reflecting domestic Britain, either. The BBC until recently had a dedicated documentary department, and that meant they were able to "take punts on things, make commitments". Hamann thought the department should be revived within the BBC.The worry is that the balance of output has become too skewed as budgets are crunched, with noisy characters such as Pineapple Dance Studios' Louie Spence – who was on the debate panel – grabbing the limelight.However, Simon Dickson, deputy head of documentaries at Channel 4, said audiences were living through a "golden age for documentaries", and that we should avoid self-flagellation. And, he added, television has always cast extroverts in documentaries.Jenny Popplewell, who made Channel 4's My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, said the key test was "are we showing it as it is", or exploiting people. She said in her experience the public believe they will be unfairly edited. So the key to authenticity is winning subjects' trust, and Spence confirmed that had been vital in his series' case. He said they had decided to go with Sky, despite approaches from Endemol and interest from the BBC, because "I had a big say in what was filmed. We were involved."<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/edinburghtvfestival">MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/reality-tv">Reality TV</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/maggiebrown">Maggie Brown</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3VZK2832yPnybap_I7ah34mI35M/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3VZK2832yPnybap_I7ah34mI35M/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3VZK2832yPnybap_I7ah34mI35M/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3VZK2832yPnybap_I7ah34mI35M/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival Television industry Media Reality TV Television & radio The Guardian Blogposts http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2010/aug/30/reality-tv-documentaries Mon, 30 Aug 2010 06:00:59 GMT BBC targets Mad Men fans with Rubicon http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/aug/26/bbc4-rubicon-mad-men/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/35657?ns=guardian&pageName=BBC4+pitches+to+Mad+Men+fans+with+new+drama+Rubicon%3AArticle%3A1444117&ch=Television+%26amp%3B+radio&c3=Guardian&c4=Television+%28Culture%29%2CMad+Men+%28TV%29%2CBBC4%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CMedia%2CCulture+section%2CHBO%2CUS+television+%28TV+and+radio%29%2CUS+television+industry&c5=Not+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CUS+Elections%2CTelevision+Media%2CTV&c6=Jonathan+Bernstein&c7=10-Aug-27&c8=1444117&c9=Article&c10=&c11=Television+%26amp%3B+radio&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FTelevision+%26amp%3B+radio%2FTelevision" width="1" height="1" /></div>Post-9/11 conspiracy drama Rubicon is a slow burner helping to cement network AMC's reputation as a mini HBOBBC4 has already delighted British fans of Mad Men by bringing forward the new series <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/18/mad-men-series-four-bbc4" title="by nearly six months to September">by six months, to September</a>. Now viewers partial to slow-burning US dramas can look forward to Rubicon, the latest offering from Mad Men broadcaster AMC to be acquired by the channel.Mad Men, the stylish drama set in the world of 1960s New York advertising, is nominated for 17 awards, more than any other drama, at this Sunday's 2010 Emmy awards. It has changed the fortunes of AMC (American Movie Classic), a cable channel once known for old movie repeats but now being likened to a mini HBO, the station behind The Sopranos and The Wire.Post-9/11 conspiracy drama Rubicon is slow-paced, although that did not stop the debut episode in the US attracting 2.5 million viewers, the biggest audience for a new show in the network's history.Its hero, a data analyst, seems to spend entire episodes lurking in dimly lit Washington libraries staring at crosswords waiting for hidden codes to materialise in front of his eyes. Code cracker Will Travers, played by James Badge Dale, is embroiled in a conspiracy that saw his boss dispatched in a train crash. Rubicon also weaves in Miranda Richardson as the widow of a tycoon whose husband changed his will to put her in charge of his companies and then killed himself.The initial promise was that the series could stand shoulder to shoulder with such 1970s conspiracy classics as Three Days of the Condor and The Parallax View. Critics have said Rubicon is not as sexy as Mad Men, nor as brutal as AMC's second original drama, Breaking Bad, the lauded jet-black saga of a chemistry teacher with cancer turned crystal meth manufacturer. But it has confounded some US critics with its cast of shabby government underlings and its disinclination to plant a clear signpost as to where the story might be headed.Its audience in the US has dipped, but both Mad Men and Breaking Bad started slowly and went on to build a loyal following.After decades of anonymity, AMC saw the 2000s out as one of the prime purveyors of signature cable drama. For a long time, HBO had that market sewn up. Its slogan was: "It's not TV, it's HBO." The very name was a mark of quality. Something that differentiated it from terrestrial networks such as NBC and Fox, which still struggled to attract the widest possible audiences. But then perennial second-place cable channel, Showtime hit on its mums-with-problems formula (Weeds, Nurse Jackie, United States Of Tara).FX, another undistinguished movie channel, took a chance with The Shield and quickly became the destination for anti-hero projects (Sons Of Anarchy, Justified, Damages).And now AMC, producer of two prodigious series with nothing in common except their leisurely pace, has carved out its niche as purveyor of slow but endlessly involving dramas. Despite the show's Rubicon's mixed reception, AMC remains committed to commissioning original dramas. October sees the debut of The Walking Dead, a zombie thriller created by Frank Darabont and starring Andrew Lincoln. And, because its AMC, these zombies move slowly. Very, very slowly.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/television">Television</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/mad-men-tv-series">Mad Men</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bbc4">BBC4</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/hbo">HBO</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/us-television">US television</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/ustelevision">US television industry</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jonathanbernstein">Jonathan Bernstein</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/IdhIVtphpkuoaK0fN-vMJ6bNKcI/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/IdhIVtphpkuoaK0fN-vMJ6bNKcI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/IdhIVtphpkuoaK0fN-vMJ6bNKcI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/IdhIVtphpkuoaK0fN-vMJ6bNKcI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Television Mad Men BBC4 Television industry Media Culture HBO US television US television industry The Guardian Editorial http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/aug/26/bbc4-rubicon-mad-men Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:52:45 GMT STV spends £1m in ITV legal battles http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/26/stv-itv-legal-battles/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/89612?ns=guardian&pageName=STV+spends+*1m+in+ITV+legal+battles%3AArticle%3A1443831&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=STV+Group%2CMedia+business%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CMedia%2CITV&c5=Media+Weekly%2CTelevision+Media&c6=Mark+Sweney&c7=10-Aug-26&c8=1443831&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FSTV+Group" width="1" height="1" /></div>Scottish ITV licensee also says it may charge for some TV shows online and is set to hit £5.2m in digital revenue this yearSTV has run up more than a £1m in bills in recent months in its ongoing series of legal battles with ITV.The Scottish ITV licensee also said today it would consider charging for some of its TV shows online and revealed that it is "on track" to make £5.2m in digital revenue this year.In November <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/nov/06/stv-itv-taggart" title="STV launched a £35m action against ITV">STV launched a £35m action against ITV</a>, which <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/sep/22/itv-stv-network-programme-budget-contributions" title="came on the heels of ITV launching a £38m claim for up to £38m in alleged unpaid netowrk progrogramme budget contributions">came on the heels of ITV launching a £38m claim for alleged unpaid network programme budget contributions</a>, which included grievances over TV ad sales and video-on-demand rights."There is no material change since our last trading update on the legal proceedings against ITV," said STV today. "Dates have been set for court hearings for both STV's claim against ITV plc and ITV Network in respect of new media rights and for the financial claim raised by ITV plc and ITV Network and STV's counter claim on airtime sales. The £1m exceptional represents legal costs incurred to 30 June 2010 in respect of these claims".STV has the ambitious aim of increasing its digital revenue by 75% to £9.1m by the end of 2012. The broadcaster has so far made £1.6m in digital revenue in the first six months of 2010 – well under half its full-year target.Rob Woodward, the chief executive of STV, said that the digital strategy of building STV.tv and the online STV Player was critical to the broadcaster's multiplatform future. While ITV <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/03/itv-online-micropayments-project-canvas" title="intends to launch some form of micropayment system for online content next year">intends to launch some form of micropayment system for online content next year</a>, Woodward said that the much smaller STV would consider it only when it had built up a bigger user base."For the moment we continue to focus on an advertising-based model as we look to significantly grow our user base," he added. "In time there might be opportunities to look at pay models, but for us that time is not now. We want to continue to establish and invest in STV.tv as a destination for high-quality Scottish content."In June the broadcaster agreed a deal to make the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/STVPlayer" title="STV Player available via YouTube">STV Player available via YouTube</a>, with more than 2,500 hours of content available on a dedicated channel. Woodward said that STV was now looking at launching on other video-on-demand platforms: "It is imperative to be on as many platforms as possible."He said that the STV News iPhone App, which was launched in May, had notched up 55,000 downloads to date. A new version of the ad-funded app was launched yesterday.Woodward also said that the potential liberalisation of local cross-media ownership regulation, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/09/ofcom-cross-media-ownership-rules" title="which could enable a single company to control newspapers, an ITV TV licence and radio stations in one local area">which could enable a single company to control newspapers, an ITV TV licence and radio stations in one local area</a>, would not be expected to have much of a strategic impact on STV."It doesn't change any of our ambitions," he added. "But we do welcome any liberalisation on ownership rules."• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/stv-group">STV Group</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediabusiness">Media business</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/ITV">ITV</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/marksweney">Mark Sweney</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/b7S1qwxeLnvsY5p7MIF9zAXxS_Q/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/b7S1qwxeLnvsY5p7MIF9zAXxS_Q/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/b7S1qwxeLnvsY5p7MIF9zAXxS_Q/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/b7S1qwxeLnvsY5p7MIF9zAXxS_Q/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> STV Group Media business Television industry Media ITV guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/26/stv-itv-legal-battles Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:20:22 GMT Desmond in talks to buy Big Brother http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/25/big-brother-channel-5/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/81636?ns=guardian&pageName=Richard+Desmond+%27to+buy+big+Brother+for+Channel+5%27%3AArticle%3A1443391&ch=Media&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Channel+5%2CChannel+4%2CRichard+Desmond+%28media%29%2CTelevision+industry+%28Media%29%2CEndemol%2CMedia%2CBig+Brother%2CTelevision+%28Culture%29%2CReality+TV+%28TV+genre%29%2CBusiness%2CUK+news&c5=Business+Markets%2CNot+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTelevision+Media&c6=James+Robinson&c7=10-Aug-25&c8=1443391&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Media&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FMedia%2FChannel+5" width="1" height="1" /></div>Daily Star owner understood to be in negotiations with Endemol to move Big Brother after Channel 4 run ends next monthRichard Desmond is in talks to take Big Brother to Channel 5 next year.The show's run on Channel 4 is to end next month, with last night's Big Brother 11 final to be followed by two and a half weeks of Ultimate Big Brother to find the most popular housemate from the past 10 years.Talks are now said to be in progress between Channel 5 and Big Brother producer Endemol UK.However, it is understood the full details of the deal are still to be finalised and no announcement is imminent.Northern & Shell and Channel 5 declined to comment.Desmond has publicly declared his interest in buying the series, despite the fact that many observers believe it is a tired format.Channel 4 announced last year the 11th series would be the last. It will end with the Ultimate Big Brother final on Friday, 10 September.Last night's Big Brother 11 winner Josie Gibson has been joined by 11 former housemates, including Ulrika Jonsson, Brian Dowling, Nick Bateman and Nadia Almada, for the show's final fling on Channel 4.Northern & Shell, Desmond's privately owned media group, originally teamed up with Endemol with the intention of mounting a joint bid for the UK's fourth largest terrestrial channel.But Desmond eventually bought Channel 5 last month from pan-European broadcaster RTL for £103.5m without the need for a partner.Channel 4 signed a three-year contract with Endemol for Big Brother in 2006, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/oct/26/broadcasting.bigbrother" title="which was said at the time to be worth up to £70m in 2006">which was said at the time to be worth up to £70m</a>.The first three-year deal Channel 4 signed with Endemol for Big Brother in 2002 <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2002/apr/11/newmedia.bigbrother" title=" was understood to be up to £40m">was understood to have cost the broadcaster up to £40m</a>.Desmond is likely to pay far less than that. One senior TV industry insider said that £30m might be a more realistic figure now that the show's popularity has waned.Big Brother's ratings peaked in 2002 with series three, won by Kate Lawler. <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/26/big-brother-in-figures" title="The series averaged 5.3 million viewers, with 9.2 million for the final">The series averaged 5.3 million viewers, with 9.2 million for the final</a>.Average viewing figures for the main summer series remained over 4 million for the next four years, before beginning to dip in 2007 after the Shilpa Shetty race row engulfed Celebrity Big Brother.In 2009 Big Brother 10 averaged about 2.2 million. This year's final Big Brother series on Channel 4 has seen an improvement in ratings, but it is still nowhere near the show's pre-2007 heyday.Endemol has spent heavily on the Big Brother house and related studio facilities at Elstree in Hertfordshire and the show also employs a large dedicated staff.Closing or mothballing the studio and moving employees to other parts of the business would be costly and Endemol is likely to need a swift decision on whether the show will continue next year on Channel 5.Desmond's newspaper and magazine empire, which also includes the Daily Star, OK! and New!, would be free to promote the show heavily if he can agree terms with Endemol, providing it with valuable free publicity. Under cross-ownership rules, he is barred from promoting his print titles on Channel 5.He is likely to reinstate Celebrity Big Brother and may extend the main show's 13-week run if he can secure a deal.Channel 5 is heavily dependent on imported US shows including the CSI franchise and its spin-off series, but it has so far failed to produce a homegrown hit with the clout of Big Brother.Big Brother would instantly become the broadcaster's biggest asset. If a deal can be concluded, the challenge will be to prove that there is still an appetite for the show among the viewing public.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000.• If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/channelfive">Channel 5</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/channel4">Channel 4</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/richard-desmond">Richard Desmond</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/television">Television industry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/endemol">Endemol</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/bigbrother">Big Brother</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/television">Television</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/reality-tv">Reality TV</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jamesrobinson">James Robinson</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HI1rQIJ0q16zfoXQhW43ZLCc74Q/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HI1rQIJ0q16zfoXQhW43ZLCc74Q/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HI1rQIJ0q16zfoXQhW43ZLCc74Q/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/HI1rQIJ0q16zfoXQhW43ZLCc74Q/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Channel 5 Channel 4 Richard Desmond Television industry Endemol Media Big Brother Television Reality TV Business UK news guardian.co.uk News http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/25/big-brother-channel-5 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:52:44 GMT Media Talk: Edinburgh TV festival 2010 http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/audio/2010/aug/29/media-talk-edinburgh-tv-festival/print This time last year, BSkyB boss James Murdoch <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/28/james-murdoch-bbc-mactaggart-edinburgh-tv-festival">launched a tirade</a> against the "chilling" effect of the BBC. This year, it fell to BBC director general Mark Thompson to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/27/bbc-mark-thompson-murdoch-mactaggart">launch the fightback</a>. His MacTaggart lecture was billed as the speech of his life – but did it deliver? Matt Wells is joined in Edinburgh by Steve Hewlett, Maggie Brown and Jane Martinson to hear their verdict.Also in Edinburgh, we hear from the new Channel 5 programme chief Jeff Ford – who was installed in the job only two weeks ago after a boardroom cull – on his <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/28/richard-desmond-channel-5-money">vision for the channel</a> and his relationship with new owner Richard Desmond.Plus, acting Channel 4 chief creative officer Julian Bellamy tells the festival about the effect of axing the broadcaster's biggest show, Big Brother.We've also got a view on the state of British TV drama from the chief executive of Left Bank Pictures, Andy Harries, the man behind Wallander.And if there wasn't enough campery, we've got an interview with Louis Spence of Sky One's Pineapple Dance Studios, who gives us his view on whether he perpetuates a stereotypical image of gay men.Warning: may contain evidence of regrettable nights on the lash.<div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/mattwells">Matt Wells</a></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/bengreen">Ben Green</a></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/maggiebrown">Maggie Brown</a></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/janemartinson">Jane Martinson</a></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/stevehewlett">Steve Hewlett</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ssroZV4ZL3EI8T3p0cMxM3WCo7Y/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ssroZV4ZL3EI8T3p0cMxM3WCo7Y/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ssroZV4ZL3EI8T3p0cMxM3WCo7Y/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ssroZV4ZL3EI8T3p0cMxM3WCo7Y/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival Mark Thompson BBC BSkyB Channel 4 Channel 5 Julian Bellamy guardian.co.uk Editorial http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/audio/2010/aug/29/media-talk-edinburgh-tv-festival Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:33:18 GMT Apple's Ping reviewed http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/pda/2010/sep/02/apple-itunes-ping/print <div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.4/97130?ns=guardian&pageName=Apple%27s+Ping+-+a+capsule+review%3AArticle%3A1446446&ch=Technology&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Apple+%28Technology%29%2CPing%2CSocial+networking%2Citunes+%28Technology%29%2CDigital+music+and+audio+%28Technology%29%2CSocial+media%2CMedia%2CDigital+media%2CMusic&c5=Unclassified%2CDigital+Media%2CNot+commercially+useful%2CMedia+Weekly%2CTechnology+Gadgets%2CConsumer+Electronics%2CFamily+and+Relationships&c6=Jemima+Kiss&c7=10-Sep-02&c8=1446446&c9=Article&c10=Blogpost&c11=Technology&c13=&c25=PDA+blog&c30=content&h2=GU%2FTechnology%2FApple" width="1" height="1" /></div>Apple chief executive Steve Jobs ups company's social media game with Ping – a music recommendation and sharing feature that has been added to the latest version of iTunesApple has ditched the CD in the iTunes logo, upgraded its iPod range and revamped Apple TV, as we <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/sep/01/ping-apple-music-social-media">learned last night</a>. Chief executive Steve Jobs also upped Apple's social media game with Ping – a music recommendation and sharing feature that has been added to the latest version of iTunes, iTunes 10.Users with an iTunes Store login (there are 160 million of those worldwide, and they are the engine behind Apple's money-making content machine) can now click the 'Ping' tab in iTunes, create a profile and begin following and being followed by like-minded music fans. However, initial reviews of Ping have not been flattering. No-one I follow had a good word to say about it:<a href="https://twitter.com/moleitau/status/22782611080">@Moleitau</a>: OK, Ping is terrible so far *apart* from being able to follow Rick Rubin and find out he digs Arvo Pärt <a href="https://twitter.com/mattb/status/22781227398"> @Matt B</a>: wow, Ping's personal artist follow recommendations are terrible.<a href="https://twitter.com/Scobleizer/status/22781173261">@scobleizer</a>: "The Who." Fail. "Beatles." Fail. "Elton John." Fail. Just what kind of musician IS in Apple's iTunes Ping? @myspace wins.<a href="https://twitter.com/DamoBiddles/status/22783449894">@DamoBiddles</a> just downloaded iT 10 and 'ping' - monstrous. buggy. evil. Also seems weird being built into an application UI. not great so far.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/striatic/2191404675/" title="/disapprove by striatic, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2133/2191404675_df9fc55ba5.jpg" alt="/disapprove" width="460" /></a> Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/striatic/2191404675/">striatic</a> on Flickr. <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en_GB">Some rights reserved</a>.A music-orientated social network is a great idea because Apple has a captive and very active audience among its iTunes user base. Privacy settings are simple – share everything with anyone, share a bit with people you approve or don't share at all. Where Twitter is all things to all people, Ping could become the default network for music chatter – gig reviews, album recommendations and so on – one of those niche social networks we thought might take off a few years back.But there are problems, and not just that recommending Katy Perry and US to everyone is not a good idea. At startup, you can only pick three genres of favourite music; I picked singer-songwriters, blues and alternative. Where would you classify Katy Perry under those? Because that's what I was served up. Those of us used to Last.fm, among others, expect far more from music recommendation.It is a strange experience using a social network locked within a tab of an already-busy programme. If I wasn't already (occasionally) using iTunes for music there would be zero incentive for me to use Ping at all. And I use iTunes more for apps than music... where's the social network for apps?Apple's modus operandi seems fundamentally opposed to the nature of social networking, which is all about openness. Without importing existing networks from Twitter or Facebook (inviting friends through Apple Mail is not enough), there's a significant investment of time needed to set Ping up. Now social networking is more mature, there's less appetite for putting in that groundwork – and why should we have to when our networks already exist? Look at the success of Twitter, built on third-party development and off-site interaction. Ping could have pulled in existing intelligence about artists and public profiles of followers. It could have populated user profiles with your most listened-to tracks; a few album covers aren't enough for data-loving music fans. It could have thrown up the most listened to or downloaded tracks through iTunes in real-time. Buy Songkick or something, FFS. Where is everybody?It's static, detached, and outdated. Perhaps we'll revisit it when it grows up.A poor effort, Apple.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/apple">Apple</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/ping">Ping</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/socialnetworking">Social networking</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/itunes">itunes</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/digital-music-and-audio">Digital music and audio</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/social-media">Social media</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/digital-media">Digital media</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jemimakiss">Jemima Kiss</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qFeZshCfdJ66ifDo7qYXlXrO4o0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qFeZshCfdJ66ifDo7qYXlXrO4o0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qFeZshCfdJ66ifDo7qYXlXrO4o0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qFeZshCfdJ66ifDo7qYXlXrO4o0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> Apple Ping Social networking itunes Digital music and audio Social media Media Digital media Music guardian.co.uk Blogposts http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/pda/2010/sep/02/apple-itunes-ping Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:21:44 GMT