BBC Trust fires shot over the bows of government over licence fees for over 75s July 7, 2015 BBC director general Tony Hall insisted that the broadcaster had achieved “the right deal” yesterday, after it was confirmed that the broadcaster would start paying the licence fee for Brits over 75 from 2018. However, Rona Fairhead, the chairman of the BBC Trust, which represents licence fee payers, appeared to be less happy about the [...]
John Whittingdale confirms the BBC will pay for over-75s license fees from 2018 July 6, 2015 The culture, media, and sport secretary John Whittingdale has confirmed that the BBC will pay for free television licences for those aged over 75 from 2018. Whittingdale confirmed the move in response to an urgent question posed in parliament by his Labour shadow, Chris Bryant, following widespread reports over the weekend that the costs would be passed on to [...]
NME to go free as Time Inc attempts to boost circulation to 300,000 July 6, 2015 Time Inc. will make NME free from September and increase its circulation to 300,000 in a bid to reverse the iconic music magazine's flagging fortunes. Read more: Metal Hammer and Classic Rock magazines sold off by Future The 63-year-old magazine will be given away nationally at train stations, university campuses and selected retailers in a similar [...]
Advertising tech giant AppNexus preparing to go public next year July 6, 2015 Pioneering advertising technology firm AppNexus is preparing to float on the stock market, in a move worth around $2bn (£1.27bn). Sir Martin Sorrell’s WPP advertising empire is a major shareholder in the firm, with a 15 per cent stake and a board seat. AppNexus is thought to be updating its practices to pave the way [...]
Is Chris Moyles coming back to breakfast radio? XFM job would put ex-BBC presenter up against Radio One’s Nick Grimshaw July 5, 2015 Former Radio One superstar DJ Chris Moyles is rumoured to be returning to breakfast radio where he made his name – this time with XFM. According to reports in the Sun on Sunday, the new show is going to start in September, after Moyles spends a couple of months putting together some ideas. If confirmed, [...]
Channel 4 sale “worth considering” says former chairman Luke Johnson July 5, 2015 A former chairman of Channel 4 has said a sale of the public broadcaster is "worth examining". Luke Johnson, the entrepreneur behind Pizza Express who is now chairman of Risk Capital Partners and the Centre for Entrepreneurs, said it was worth considering, speaking to Andrew Neil on the BBC's Daily Politics Show following reports that the government [...]
Facebook battles YouTube by rolling out video ads July 3, 2015 Facebook is taking on YouTube, as the platform is set to start paying video creators for uploading clips, through a share of the ad revenue. Facebook has been getting serious about video for some time, and is now launching a curated feed of “suggested videos”, where clips will play interspersed with adverts. Creators of popular [...]
Younger viewers are turning away from traditional television viewing and watching Netflix and iPlayer instead July 2, 2015 Only half of young people are watching broadcasts through live television. The figures are from media watchdog Ofcom’s latest research into the state of Public Service Broadcasters, released today. It found that viewers aged 16 to 24 years old are increasingly using online, on demand, streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and the [...]
BBC to cut more than 1,000 jobs to cover £150m licence fee losses July 2, 2015 The BBC will cut over 1,000 jobs due to a £150m shortfall in its licence fee income, director Lord Tony Hall has confirmed. Read more: BBC loses Olympic broadcast rights as Eurosport signs £922m deal With the number of households owning television sets falling as audience's consumption practices change, the broadcaster's income from license fee subscriptions [...]
Steve Jobs movie official trailer: Watch Michael Fassbender as Apple guru in Danny Boyle and Aaron Sorkin biopic July 1, 2015 It's time for Apple geeks to get excited – and to geek-out even more. The first full-length trailer for the movie biopic of Steve Jobs starring an uncannily Jobs-resembling Michael Fassbender has been revealed. Due out in November, the hugely anticipated film also boasts the directing chops of 28 Days Later director Danny Boyle and [...]