The Federal Government has not ruled out a possible merger between the two national broadcasters, ABC and SBS, after an analysis predicted that a merger could save the government as much as $45 million.
An options paper prepared for ABC by Boston Consulting Group outlines four possible scenarios in merging… Continue Reading >>
Industry, Television January 31st 2009 — 2:44 pm
The US Senate have passed a second bill in an effort to delay the transition to digital television next month to June after the first was defeated in the House of Representatives.
While the second bill is predominantly the same as its predecessor, a number of changes have been made… Continue Reading >>
Digital Television, International Media January 30th 2009 — 11:31 pm
Figures released yesterday have shown a 4.4 per cent slump in spending on television advertising for the six months to December 2008 – down to $1.96 billion – with metropolitan television recording a 5.3 per cent drop.
For the calendar year overall, as much as $80 million less was spent… Continue Reading >>
Advertising, Television January 30th 2009 — 10:46 pm
The Federal Government has announced a pilot package aimed at getting more TV viewers geared up for digital.
Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, said in a statement today:
“Digital television delivers many benefits to viewers and this package will help achieve the smoothest possible… Continue Reading >>
Digital Television, Industry, Television January 29th 2009 — 10:14 pm
Ian Major, Melbourne radio broadcaster, has died of cancer at Cabrini Hospital.
Major was 65.
He was best known for his VFL/AFL commentary and calls with Jack Dyer aka Captain Blood. The Captain and The Major worked on 3KZ for 21 years – from 1970 to 1991. … Continue Reading >>
Celebrities / Personalities, Radio January 29th 2009 — 6:08 am
The BBC is refusing to broadcast an appeal for the people of Gaza run by the Disasters Emergency Committee saying that doing so would compromise the broadcaster’s impartiality.
Pressure is mounting on the broadcaster to change its stance, with more than 50 MPs signing an Early Day Motion which will… Continue Reading >>
International Media, Television January 26th 2009 — 10:23 am
Former television newsreader Brian Henderson, Australian Idol judge Marcia Hines and scriptwriter Geoffrey Atherden have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day honours list.
A former radio announcer, Henderson was newsreader for TCN9 Sydney from 1964 through to his retirement in 2002. He was also a host of the early… Continue Reading >>
Celebrities / Personalities January 26th 2009 — 12:30 am
Concerns from the Congress and the new Obama administration over the readiness for America to switch off analogue television has caused Congress to put forward legislation moving the date from 17 February to June. Under the bill, the new switchover date will be set as 12 June, but will allow… Continue Reading >>
Digital Television, International Media January 25th 2009 — 11:49 am
Handheld digital television trials have commenced in Sydney again, but unlike previous trials the units being used are commercially available in Australia.
The previous trial that ran between 2005 and 2007 was for technical and commercial testing purposes with limited access using Nokia and Samsung handsets. The latest trial will… Continue Reading >>
Digital Television January 23rd 2009 — 3:16 pm
The rumours in Hunter Valley media circles appear to be correct.
The Spy Report, along with other local blogs, have been inundated with tips in the past few weeks that suggest The Weather Channel’s Gavin Morris is heading home to Newcastle to fill Garry Youngberry’s shoes at NBN News.
Youngberry… Continue Reading >>
Celebrities / Personalities January 23rd 2009 — 1:57 pm
The ABC should use Australian Muslims to provide a 24 hour international radio service to educate Islamic communities overseas, one of 2,400 public submissions to a federal government review suggests.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy predicts the submissions, now available online, will spur lively debate about the future of national broadcasting… Continue Reading >>
Digital Television, Radio, Television January 23rd 2009 — 1:45 pm
Seven has buried Jamie Durie’s only program this year, with his globe-trotting gardening program, The Outdoor Room axed.
The network golden boy, poached from Nine on an annual salary of $1.5 million, re-signed a new two-year deal with CEO David Leckie on Christmas Eve, but has no air-time slated this… Continue Reading >>
Celebrities / Personalities, Television Programmes January 22nd 2009 — 6:03 am
Big Brother firm Endemol has confirmed that it is to acquire Australian producer-distributor Southern Star Group, adding 14,000 hours of programming including hit soap Home & Away to its library.
The Dutch production giant is buying 100% of the company from Australia’s Fairfax Media. UK-based Oxford Scientific Films and children’s… Continue Reading >>
Industry January 20th 2009 — 9:44 am
A dedicated childrens television channel is expected to be apart of a package of six policies formulated from the hundreds of ideas generated by last years 2020 summit. Set to be announced next week, the policies will be the Government’s final response to the report generated from the summit.
Originally a… Continue Reading >>
Television January 20th 2009 — 8:02 am
The Herald Sun reports that Leigh Matthews will replace Rick Olarenshaw and David Schwarz on Seven’s Friday night AFL coverage. The former premiership coach signed with the network after quitting as coach of the Brisbane Lions.
Olarenshaw and Schwarz will remain with the network working on Sunday football, according to… Continue Reading >>
Appointments, Celebrities / Personalities, Industry, Television, Television Programmes January 19th 2009 — 8:53 pm