BBC

BBC’s Clementi makes case against subscription model 

A move away from licence fee finding to a subscription model means that the BBC would “no longer be the BBC you and I know” and would undermine the public service broadcaster principle of universality, according to Sir David Clementi, the pubcaster’s governor.  Speaking at the Voice of the Listener and Viewer at the end […]

Sky Sports to become exclusive home of the Masters

Sky Sports has won the exclusive UK rights to the Masters, the first major golf tournament of the season.  From 2020, pay TV channel Sky Sports Golf will be the only place that UK viewers will be able to see the premier golf tournament. The deal extends a relationship between Sky and the Masters that […]

Prince Andrew Newsnight special draws record audience

An episode of BBC Two investigative strand Newsnight that featured Prince Andrew discussing his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has gripped the UK and drawn record ratings. In the episode, the prince is interviewed by Newsnightjournalist Emily Maitlis about his relationship with US financier Epstein, who committed suicide this summer while awaiting trial for […]

Sky and BBC sign content and tech deal, bringing iPlayer to Sky Q

The BBC and Sky have signed a collaborative deal across content and technology.  The main feature of the deal is the availability of the BBC iPlayer app and connected red-button service on Sky Q. From today, Sky Q users will have access to the full iPlayer experiences, building upon the range of on-demand content already […]

Discovery sees success with regional strategy ahead of busy 2020

Discovery has seen a positive quarter ahead of the launch of a range of streaming ventures in 2020.  The company reported a total revenue increase of 3% for the quarter, with revenue reaching US$2.68 billion and net income of US$262 million. This is compared to a total revenue of US$2.59 billion and net income of […]

BritBox launches, signs up Channel 4 and secures EE distribution deal

Channel 4 has joined the BBC and ITV’s joint streaming service BritBox as it launches in the UK almost nine months after plans were first confirmed. The fledgling platform has struck a three-year deal with C4 for more than 1,000 hours of content from catch-up service All 4, including comedy, drama and non-scripted programmes, as […]

Labour’s Watson: “Vote Labour to save free TV licences”

With the UK general election campaign well underway, Labour has pledged to keep free TV licences for over-75s should the party win. In June, the BBC announced its controversial plans to start charging over-75s for a TV licence. This would result in up to 3.7 million households will lose their free TV licence and having […]

Ofcom: BBC sustainability at risk as ‘lost generation’ switches off

The BBC risks a “lost generation” of younger viewers as its reach among 16-24 drops below 50% for the first time, according to Ofcom’s latest annual report on the public broadcaster. The regulator said that the pubcaster will face a threat to its future sustainability if it cannot engage young people sufficiently. Ofcom’s study of […]

Culture secretary will not intervene in BBC decision to scrap free TV licences for over 75s, “open-minded” to subscription model

UK culture secretary Nicky Morgan has said she is “open-minded” about changes to the way the BBC is funded, including moving from a licence-fee model towards a subscription-led service. Morgan was responding to a question during a Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee meeting in which she was asked whether she would […]

BBC defends over-75s licence fee plans following damning DCMS committee report

The BBC has responded to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee report into the PSB’s decision to cut free TV licences for over-75s, backing its new ruling.  The report said that the body was “disappointed with the BBC’s decision not to continue free licences for the over-75s.” As quoted by a […]

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