High-speed broadband connectivity for the entire UK has moved one step closer following the laying of legislation setting the design of the broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) Comms regulator Ofcom now has up to two years to implement the scheme, meaning that by 2020, everyone in the UK will have a legal right to an […]
Britain’s creative industries are set to consolidate the nation’s position as a global creative powerhouse, following a new Industrial Strategy deal agreed between government and the Creative Industries Council (CIC) on behalf of the sector. As part of a Creative Industries Sector Deal, to be announced by the Digital and Culture Secretary Matt Hancock, Business […]
One of the panels at last week’s Satellite 2018 conference looked at the amount of cash flowing into the industry from Venture Capital funds and other investors. Bryce Space & Technology, in a presentation to delegates of its report (Startup Space: Update on Investment in Commercial Space Ventures) said that for 2017 some 164 investors […]
NextUp, the stand-up comedy SVoD service has announced that, due to demand, its latest investment round size has doubled and is currently overfunding at 111 per cent via the online equity investing platform SyndicateRoom. In addition, NextUp has announced that Bruce Tuchman, the former president of AMC Global and Sundance Channel Global, will serve as […]
Tens of thousands of businesses and homes across the UK are set to benefit from a £67 million (€75.9m) investment in faster Internet connections, the Chancellor Philip Hammond has announced. The Nationwide Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) will provide vouchers worth up to £3000 for a small or medium sized business or £500 to residents […]
Following pressure at a ministerial level and consultation on how public service broadcaster Channel 4 could most effectively contribute to regional economic growth, stimulate regional creative industries, and better serve regional audiences to deliver a stronger economy and a fairer society, the service has announced a strategy that it says will significantly boost jobs in […]
The success of the BBC’s commercial activities will be critical to the BBC and licence fee payers in the immediate years ahead, according to the UK’s National Audit Office (NAO) which has published its first report on the BBC’s commercial activities, following an expansion in its statutory powers under the BBC Royal Charter. These activities […]
BBC Three is expanding its commissioning remit, with an additional £10 million (€11.17m) investment to launch a new editorial pillar, two years after going online. “This is an exciting creative moment for the channel and the production community as we are broadening the scope of our commissioning,” commented Damian Kavanagh, Controller BBC Three. “We have […]
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has called for “creative options” to address the licensing problems likely to be faced by UK-based broadcasters following the UK’s departure from the European Union. In a detailed speech setting out her vision for the future economic partnership between the United Kingdom and the European Union, May noted that broadcasting […]
The Swiss public have voted overwhelmingly in favour of retaining the licence fee in a national vote held on March 4th 2018. The ‘No Billag’ initiative was filed in Switzerland in late 2015, calling for the abolition of the TV and radio licence fee. Billag is the name of the private company responsible for collecting […]