Broadcastnow is a premium subscription site featuring TV industry news, data, comment and analysis, along with The Commissioning Index (TCI) carrying up-to-the-minute information on the latest commissions. Click here to tour TCI.

Coronation Street

"Cautious" product placement approved Subscription Required

9-Feb-2010 | By Chris Curtis

Product placement is to be allowed on British TV but the Rovers Return won’t be able to sell real beer brands after the government opted for a “cautious approach”.

Jonathan Ross

BBC spent £229m on talent last year Subscription Required

9-Feb-2010 | By Katherine Rushton

The BBC paid on-air talent more than £229m last year, including £54m for presenters paid over £150,000.

Richard Deverell

BBC execs cut back on presents Subscription Required

9-Feb-2010 | By Katherine Rushton

BBC executives have dramatically tightened purse strings since their expenses started getting published – cutting back on claims for presents and extravagant schmoozing.

Sky sells 10.4% ITV stake at £348m loss Subscription Required

9-Feb-2010 | By Kate McMahon

BSkyB sold 10.4% of its stake in ITV for around £196m this morning – a loss of about £348m.

Undercover Boss (USA)

Undercover Boss draws 38.6m in US Subscription Required

9-Feb-2010 | By Michael Rosser

The US version of Undercover Boss was seen by a massive audience of 38.6m, airing after the Super Bowl on Sunday night.

BBC

BBC criticised for "sloppy" spending on events Subscription Required

9-Feb-2010 | By Katherine Rushton

The BBC’s accounting is “sloppy” and its refusal to open its books to the National Audit Office looks “inexplicably evasive and self-indulgent,” the House of Commons public accounts committee has said.

Wimbledon

BBC to reveal stars' pay to MPs only Subscription Required

9-Feb-2010

The BBC has agreed to reveal licence fee-funded payments to some of its leading sports presenters to a House of Commons spending watchdog but not to the public.

C4 to offer viewers a third Gok fix Subscription Required

9-Feb-2010 | By Robin Parker

Gok Wan is to re-team with fashion buyer Brix Smith-Start for a third series of Channel 4 series Gok’s Fashion Fix.

Genius

BBC2 re-orders comedy double Subscription Required

9-Feb-2010 | By Robin Parker

BBC2 has greenlit second runs of Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle and Dave Gorman’s show Genius.

Digital

Motive raises £400k to develop DTT Subscription Required

9-Feb-2010 | By Chris Curtis

DTT technology firm Motive Television has raised £400,000 by issuing new shares and has an eye on making acquisitions.

Avatar

BBC4 doc vies with Avatar at green awards Subscription Required

9-Feb-2010 | By Robin Parker

A BBC4 documentary is to vie with James Cameron’s record-breaking movie Avatar for an environmental prize at the Cinema for Peace Awards next week.

Mark Wood

Merger creates new broadcast fitness firm Subscription Required

9-Feb-2010

Former ITN chief executive Mark Wood is to lead a new new health and fitness broadcast company following the merger of two lifestyle channel operators.

MORE NEWS

NEWS ANALYSIS

Adam Crozier

Execs urge Crozier to focus on ITV growth Subscription Required

By Kate McMahon

Top-level ITV execs are cautiously optimistic about the surprise choice of Adam Crozier as the company’s new chief executive, expressing hope that the “transformational leader” will increase in-house hits and revive the broadcaster’s digital ambitions.

Jonathan Wall

Jonathan Wall, Radio 5 Live Subscription Required

By Chris Curtis

Radio 5 Live’s Jonathan Wall is making a plea to indies to help establish the station as a genuine alternative to Radio 4 - and it’s not all about sport, as he tells Chris Curtis.

Melanie Leach

Melanie Leach, Twofour Subscription Required

By Katherine Rushton

Melanie Leach, managing director of Broadcast indie of the year Twofour, tells Katherine Rushton what it’s planning next.

One Born Every Minute

One Born Every Minute, C4 Subscription Required

The use of a multi-camera rig proved inspired with The Family, but would it work in a more dramatic environment, asks Magnus Temple.

MORE

James Cameron

Leader of the film pack Subscription Required

Alpha leader or team player? Bill Britten examines the two styles and explains why investment in leadership training can benefit the industry and improve artistic and technical excellence.

MORE FEATURES

C4 to offer viewers a third Gok fix Subscription Required

9-Feb-2010 | By Robin Parker

Gok Wan is to re-team with fashion buyer Brix Smith-Start for a third series of Channel 4 series Gok’s Fashion Fix.

More commissions

Undercover Boss (USA)

Undercover Boss draws 38.6m in US Subscription Required

9-Feb-2010 | By Michael Rosser

The US version of Undercover Boss was seen by a massive audience of 38.6m, airing after the Super Bowl on Sunday night.

More international news

DTG concerned about disengaged Project Canvas

9-Feb-2010 | By Will Strauss

The Digital Television Group (DTG) has turned against Project Canvas, stating that its members are concerned that the proposed joint-venture companies have not fully engaged with rest of the industry.

More tech news

Hustle

Hustle ends on 6m Subscription Required

By Kate McMahon

Hustle rustled up a solid audience of 6m for its final outing last night on BBC1, narrowly escaping Law & Order: UK.

Glee

Glee hits high note with 1.4m Subscription Required

By Kate McMahon

US musical drama Glee is continuing to grow in popularity, setting a new audience high for its sixth episode on E4 last night.

MORE RATINGS

Getting Our Way

9 Feb '10

“An amazingly captivating programme.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.

MORE CRITICS

Sun, Sea and A&E

Sun, Sea and A&E (series 2), Bravo Subscription Required

Series producer Suzanne Attewell provides a look behind the scenes of Bravo series Sun, Sea and A&E.

Paul Robinson

Robinson on the Rajars Subscription Required

Wogan may have left on a high, but it spells a major challenge for Chris Evans, writes Paul Robinson.

MORE COMMENT

BROADCAST AWARDS 2010

Inbetweeners

Gallery: Broadcast Awards 2010 Subscription Required

From Inbetweeners to indie winners, we’ve rounded up the best pictures from the Broadcast Awards, including those all important winners.

Print Issue

Print Issue

The Hot 100

Are you in or out? Subscription Required

Broadcast’s definitive annual guide to TV and radio’s power players.

READ MORE

Sally Miles

Sally Miles, Passion Distribution Subscription Required

By Michael Rosser

Passion distribution chief executive Sally Miles on her recent acquisitions, what she is looking for and the opportunities ahead.

More Buyer's

Poll

Is Adam Crozier the right man to lead ITV?

Newsletter Sign-up

Job of the week

SIS

Broadcast Engineer

Competitive + benefits | South East; Buckinghamshire

More Jobs

Digital Development Executive

Competitive | London

Global Brand Director- Syfy Channel

Competitive | North America; United States

Technical Services Director

Commensurate with experience | South East; Hertfordshire

TRANSMISSION/TRANSMITTER ENGINEERS

Competitive | London

Unit Supervisors-Picture Editing

Competitive | Middle East; Qatar