Weekly Summary
SEPTEMBER 7 2006… IN THE WEEKLIES…
| Br = | Broadcast | P Gaz = | Press Gazette |
|---|---|---|---|
| M Week = | Media Week | Mkt = | Marketing |
| Mkt W = | Marketing Week | Spec = | Spectator |
| NS = | New Statesman |
BBC: Mark Thompson has presented the results of the BBC's local television pilot in the West Midlands to a group including senior executives of regional newspapers. Concerns remained amongst the press representatives over a lack of distinction between the BBC's offering and the digital strategies of some regional papers and the public funding behind the plan, P Gaz 8. A public value test on the iPlayer on-demand service is to be carried out by the governors, Mkt 12. Former ITV controller of current affairs Dominic Crossley-Holland is joining the BBC as an executive producer, P Gaz 16.
PANORAMA: Journalist Don Hale, who worked extensively on the Jill Dando murder, claims that the "new" evidence in the Panorama special was presented at the Court of Appeal in 2002. Reporter Raphael Rowe strongly denies the allegation, P Gaz 15.
REGULATION: Product placement on television would make consumers 45% more likely to buy the products involved, according to research from WPP's MEC MediaLab, but Ofcom has indicated that the lifting of the current ban is linked to the Television Without Frontiers reform in 2009 at the earliest, M Week 12.
NEWS: Following criticism from Ofcom over the use of CCTV images of a knife attack on two students, one of whom died, during its local opt out in London, ITV News and GMTV have introduced a new policy on violent material, P Gaz 15. In the wake of the killing of Martin Adler in Somalia, Vaughan Smith calls on news organisations to do more for freelances working in danger zones, P Gaz 15. Adlink's David Bostock becomes sales director at ITN Source, M Week 6.
FOI: The Information Tribunal has ruled that the BBC was wrong to deny a request for an internal report on its Middle East coverage under a derogation covering journalism. The tribunal's decision, that only "functional journalism" was meant, not policy or strategy direction, could mean that 400 rejected requests could be re-submitted, P Gaz 16.
DIGITAL: Tesco is testing a digital television service, branded with the Tesco name but powered by Homechoice. If the trial in London is successful, a national roll out will follow, Mkt W 5.
CABLE: NTL:Telewest says it aims to pursue BT and Freeview customers "aggressively" and will offer a cheaper service than Sky, Mkt W 15.
FIVE: Richard Eyre suggests that a solution to growing Five's audience lies with Bertelsmann's ownership of Fremantle. Switching its productions like The Bill and The Price is Right from ITV1 and Neighbours from BBC1 to Five when the current contracts expire would see audiences and advertisers follow, M Week 23.
C4: Charles Allen's MacTaggart Lecture has sparked debate on Channel 4's public service remit ahead of Ofcom's review later this year, M Week 21.
ITV: McCann-Erickson's Rupert Howell has surfaced as a candidate for ITV CE, Mkt 1.
INTERNET TV:Broadcasters are planning on-demand content services in response to the success of MySpace and YouTube, M Week 22.
HDTV: Discovery networks Europe has entered a partnership with Philips to promote the growth of high definition television, M Week 13, Mkt 6.
TELEVISION: John Pilger criticises television's current attitude to documentary makers, NS 36-38.
RADIO: Local commercial radio should be relieved of some of its local content obligations, which could be taken over by community stations, argues Jonathan Durden, M Week 24. Kiss Radio MD Bill Griffin talks about the relaunch of the station this week, M Week 18. Virgin Radio's James Cridland writes on the station's multi-platform progress, M Week letters 25. Fi Glover writes on her return to Radio 4, NS 8.
MAGAZINES: A monthly magazine, Guardian Monthly, based on lifestyle content from the Guardian and Observer will launch at the end of the year, P Gaz 6. BBC Magazines has closed Easy Gardening as no longer economically viable, M Week 4; A digital edition of Top of the Pops Magazine is being launched by BBC Magazines, Mkt 6. The Saga Magazine website is carrying advertising for the first time, M Week 17.
NEWSPAPERS: A tour of the new Telegraph newsroom, which is planned to integrate print and online, in contrast to the Guardian's "two worlds" approach, P Gaz 1,4; Telegraph journalists are considering industrial action over the changes to working practices and fresh job cuts, P Gaz 4; New look for the Telegraph on Saturdays, P Gaz 2, M Week 7. The Sunday Times is changing its Driving and Culture supplements, Mkt 3. Regional newspaper ABC figures show declines, with the results for evening papers said to be the worst in memory, P Gaz 10-12, M Week 11; Are regionals trying to manage with too few journalists? P Gaz leader 18. Simon Waldman becomes director of digital strategy and development at Guardian Media Group, M Week 10. Peter Wilby examines press treatment of the Molly Campbell story, NS 23.
FREESHEETS: The first skirmishes of the London freesheet war, P Gaz 2-3, M Week 3,13, Mkt W 21, leader 23; After completing a year of publication, City AM is on course to move into profit, P Gaz 6. A free men's weekly magazine, Sport, launches in London at the end of this month, P Gaz 13, M Week 3,23.
ADVERTISING: The commercial TV marketing body Thinkbox plans to treble its staff to 30, but it is not yet constituted as a company in its own right, M Week 5; TV sales house IDS has stolen a march on Thinkbox by distributing case studies to show the effectiveness of advertising on digital channels such as Living TV and UKTV Food, writes Raymond Snoddy, Mkt 16; Tess Alps of Thinkbox says that the departure of IDS has not jeopardised the body's future, Mkt Letters 22; Thinkbox has formed a partnership with The Marketing Society, Mkt W 16.
BROADBAND: harles Dunstone has said the launch of a broadband service by Carphone Warehouse was a "bruising" and "painful" experience, Mkt W 5.
OBITUARY: Rod Liddle writes on the death of Steve Irwin, Spec 22.
NB: Publication of Broadcast has been delayed
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