Advanced Television

FTA

That’s TV ad-free Valentine weekend on Freeview

That’s TV, the UK music channel, will rebrand as That’s 60s on Freeview on February 13th/14th, and will go completely ad-free so millions of viewers across the UK can get into the spirit of Valentine’s Day with no interruptions. The ‘60s’ rebrand will see some of the hippest music from the swinging sixties broadcast non-stop […]

February 11, 2021

PSBs to integrate Digital UK and Freesat

UK public service broadcasters the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 plan to integrate Digital UK – the joint venture which facilitates the provision of Freeview TV services and Freesat – which offers access to the UK’s subscription-free satellite television service. They say the integration of Digital UK and Freesat will help ensure viewers continue to […]

February 10, 2021By Colin Mann

TV licence fee increase confirmed

The UK Government has confirmed that from April 1st 2021, the cost of the annual television licence fee will increase from £157.50 (€178.90) to £159.00. The Government, which is responsible for setting the level of the licence fee, announced in 2016 it would rise in line with inflation for five years from April 1st 2017. […]

February 9, 2021By Colin Mann

Court TV launches on Freeview

Court TV will launch on Freeview, the UK DTT platform, on February 15th. Court TV, a multi-platform network devoted to live and in-depth legal reporting and expert analysis of some of the biggest trials in the US, will be available on channel 89. Freeview viewers will have access to Court TV’s live coverage and analysis […]

February 9, 2021By Nik Roseveare

F1 maintains strong audience position

Formula 1 has released its annual audience figures, which show viewership trends comparing well to other sports that were affected by shutdowns caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the fact that the revised 2020 season had four fewer races than 2019, Formula 1 maintained a strong audience position with an average audience per Grand Prix […]

February 8, 2021By Colin Mann

ITV Management Board appointments

UK commercial PSB ITV has confirmed that Magnus Brooke, Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, and Dan Colton, Group Strategy and Transformation Director, are to join the company’s Management Board with immediate effect. The appointments follow the announcement of ITV’s restructure of its broadcast business and completes its review of governance to ensure ITV and […]

February 8, 2021

Italy’s broadcasting sector sees 10% revenue drop

Italy’s broadcasting sector saw a 10.7 per cent annual drop in revenues during the first half of 2020, to €3.9 billion, largely brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a report by Mediobanca, radio suffered the most (-29 per cent), followed by free-to-air TV (-14 per cent), while pay-TV revenue was relatively stable (-0.8 […]

February 5, 2021

PURE ETCR nets FTA TV deal in NZ with Three

PURE ETCR has announced that the all-electric multi-brand touring car championship will be broadcast free-to-air in New Zealand in 2021 on Three. Three, part of Discovery Group, is the home of motorsport on TV for New Zealand’s five-million population, screening action from across the spectrum every week, from Monster Trucks to the popular NZ V8 […]

February 5, 2021

BBC reveals financial transformation results

The BBC has set out how it has transformed its finances over the past decade to ensure it continues to deliver exceptional value for all audiences. The Corporation has faced an effective real-terms reduction in income of around 30 per cent since 2010/11 as a result of increased funding obligations, such as the World Service […]

February 3, 2021By Colin Mann

Data: Strong growth for Oz BVoD

Data from research firm Roy Morgan shows 8.6 million Australians now watch Broadcast Video on Demand’(BVoD) services which include ABC iView, SBS On Demand, 7plus, 9Now and 10 Play. All five leading services have grown strongly during 2020 as Australians endured a nation-wide lockdown from late March until early June and Victorians experienced a second, […]

February 3, 2021