Broadcast
1 April 2011

View all stories from this issue.

1 April '11

“A show that is both awful and impossible to switch off.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.
28 Mar '11

“Brilliant, the best thing on television for yonks.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.
29 Mar '11

“There could hardly be anyone better qualified to examine Britain’s care-home culture.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.
30 Mar '11

“If Silk’s finale was better than its mid-run outings that was much to do with an injection of senior acting talent.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.
31 Mar '11

“As a consumer show, it is close to useless: apparently Ibiza is cheaper off season.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.
4 April '11

“Another intriguing crime thriller to get swallowed up in.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.
Adobe targets pay TV

Adobe has released authentication software to enable pay-TV subscribers to access premium content from internet-connected devices, simplifying the validation process.
Air plans move into production

Air Studios wants to move into film and TV production after setting up a new company and taking on two senior executives.
All3Media takes first step in sales process

All3Media has appointed financial services firm UBS to conduct a strategic review of the business that is likely to lead to its eventual sale.
Are leaks a price worth paying for BBC on DQF?

80% said Yes / 20% said No
BBC apologises for web blackout

BBC bosses have apologised after the corporation’s website went offline for almost an hour.
BBC Breakfast: 46% to make Salford move

More than half the BBC Breakfast team will not make the move to Salford – including presenters Sian Williams and Chris Hollins.
BBC Hindi closures an "own goal", claims Seth

Author Vikram Seth has blasted the BBC’s decision to cut the World Service’s Hindi output, saying it has created a “great loss of goodwill” for Britain and an “increase of mistrust”.
BBC invites sailing tender

The BBC is to open to tender coverage of sailing during the 2012 Olympic Games.
BBC plans to turn Hasidic Jews doc into full series

The BBC is keen to turn a one-off doc on the Hasidic Jewish community in Stamford Hill into a full series.
BBC stands firm over government ads

The BBC has said it will continue to resist the government’s wish to run advertising for charities or community groups on any of its platforms, arguing it would compromise the broadcaster’s independence.
BBC to hear doc concerns

The BBC is to listen to the concerns of documentary distributors, who have complained that the corporation is not acquiring enough independent factual films.
BBC to keep senior newsreaders tied to the desk to cut costs

Flagship BBC news bulletins will no longer be produced at the location of a big story, unless an exceptional case can be made for doing so.
BBC to revive classic TOTP

BBC4 is to bring Top of the Pops back to the screen – by airing classic episodes from the corporation’s archive.
BBC1 could lose kids’ block under DQF proposals

Flagship children’s series Blue Peter could no longer play out on BBC1 in the latest proposal to emerge from the BBC’s Delivering Quality First initiative.
BBC1 reorders two Saturday night shows

BBC1 has recommissioned two Saturday night formats, both of which will be recorded at the broadcaster’s Glasgow Pacific Quay studios later this year.
BBC4 makes a Killing

SATURDAY: Danish crime thriller The Killing closed the case with its biggest audience figures of the series for BBC4.
BBC4 orders more Dirk Gently

BBC4 has commissioned a mini-series of the Douglas Adams adaptation Dirk Gently after a successful TX pilot last December.
BBC4's Anna Nicole opera draws 70,000

FRIDAY: An opera based on tragic glamour model Anna Nicole Smith struggled to draw viewers to BBC4.
BBCW names sport boss

BBC Worldwide has merged its sport sales and motion gallery divisions and appointed a new head to run the department.
Being Human/Skins US

Zodiak and All3Media Rework UK Hits on US Cable
BFI to spend £3m more on UK film

The BFI has revealed its UK production funding will rise from £15m to £18m on the day that it takes over as the UK’s lead body for film.
Body of Proof (ABC)

ABC entertainment trials European premiere for crime drama
Boldface debuts on UTV

Boldface Productions, an indie that focuses on working with disadvantaged youth, has had a series of shorts picked up by Northern Irish broadcaster UTV.
Bring us your ideas first, Sky tells indies

Sky’s portfolio of channels is hunting an 8pm documentary series, a female-focused drama and more ideas with “true multiplatform potential”, execs have told suppliers.
Bubble TV wins HIT Entertainment post deal

Bubble TV will complete full sound and video post production on Hit Entertainment’s new 52 x 12-minute series Mike The Knight.
C4 audience interaction plan kicks off with Fern

Daytime series Fern has become the first Channel 4 programme to trial audience interaction after transmission as part of the broadcaster’s wider plans to develop direct relationships with its audience.
C4 campaigns take over TV

This week’s channel overview considers factual fare from Jamie’s Dream School to Wonders of the Universe.
C4 recruits editor for convergent formats

Channel 4 has handed control of its £2m convergent formats fund to ITV Studios digital executive Anna Cronin.
C4 sales chief to step down

Long-serving Channel 4 sales director Andy Barnes, who is responsible for delivering more than £12bn of sales revenue, is leaving the broadcaster after nearly 20 years.
C4 to serve up more Friday Night Dinner

Channel 4 has ordered second helpings of Robert Popper sitcom Friday Night Dinner.
C4's Superscrimpers debut banks 1.9m

WEDNESDAY: A new series on saving cash during tough economic times provided a decent pay off for Channel 4.
Candy Cabs, BBC1

Making a BBC comedy was a new experience for an indie with no history of scripted programming. Creator Jane Lush recalls the drama on and off set.
Carluccio and Contaldo to front BBC2 cookery show

Two “godfathers of Italian cooking” are fronting a new series for BBC2, made by Jamie Oliver’s indie.
Catch-up figures aiding recommissions

Traditional linear broadcasters have in recent times felt somewhat besieged by the inexorable march of technology. But one form of technology might be turning out to be more of a champion of old style TV.
Celebrity Juice beats terrestrials

THURSDAY: ITV2 panel show Celebrity Show has beaten BBC2, Channel 4 and Channel 5 with its highest audience figures to date.
Coming Out of Nowhere

This week’s digital focus focuses on Everything and Nothing, Katie Price, a White Van Man and the return of Spartacus.
Crimson Petal... / Campus / The Dales

Dene Films’s Claire Storey and Mentorm Media’s Steve Anderson on Seedy London, sex pests and brass bands.
Dancing on Ice finale draws 8.8m

SUNDAY: ITV1’s Dancing on Ice concluded with the lowest-rated finale in the show’s history - as a new Formula One season raced away with a staggering 51% share earlier in the day.
Daughter's anger at ITV's Fred West drama

The daughter of serial killer Fred West has said she is “absolutely appalled” that an ITV drama is being made about his life.
Daytime believer, or rolling news?

The proposal to replace BBC2 Daytime with rolling news could save £20m, but what would the channel be losing? Stephen Price analyses the schedule and weighs up its performance
Demographic Focus

Explore the ratings breakdown demographically across the main terrestrial and multichannel broadcasters for 21-27 March.
Discovery first to buy Gypsy Weddings in acquisitions strategy

Firecracker Films’ ratings smash Big Fat Gypsy Weddings is to air in seven Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (CEEMEA) territories as the broadcaster hones its acquisitions strategy.
Discovery teams with British Library for sci-fi season

Discovery is to launch a short season dedicated to science fiction following a partnership with the British Library.
Doc Martin (DRG)

Digital Rights Group takes flexible approach to drama remake.
Dooley takes 780,000 to Thailand

MONDAY: Stacey Dooley’s latest investigation for BBC3 drew her biggest audience to date.
Downton Abbey opens doors in 100 territories

NBC Universal has revealed that more than 100 territories around the world have now licensed period drama Downton Abbey, as the second series rolls into production.
DRG ties with Norwegian broadcaster

DRG has secured a deal with leading Norwegian broadcaster NRK to distribute its formats worldwide.
Endemol buys 50% Holy Moly stake

Endemol UK has snapped up a 50% stake in Holy Moly in a deal which will see the secret identity of the celebrity gossip website’s founder formally revealed.
England's score draw nets 7.6m

TUESDAY: England’s first ever clash with Ghana scored a peak audience of more than 7.6m viewers for ITV.
Episodes (Hat Trick/Showtime/BBC)

Indie Hat Trick, US cable net Showtime and the BBC used star power to secure global sales.
Fern debuts with 1m

MONDAY: Fern Britton’s new Channel 4 teatime chat show had a sluggish start amid tough competition.
Gala TV goes online-only

Digital media group ETV is relaunching interactive bingo channel Gala TV via the site galabingo.com.
Genre Overview

Browse the top 10 children’s, factual, drama, entertainment, comedy, sport and current affairs from 21-27 March.
Glenister to star in BBC legal drama

Ashes to Ashes star Philip Glenister is to explore another side of the law - by playing a solicitor in a new BBC drama.
GoPro acquires compression firm Cineform

US-based sports camera company GoPro has acquired video compression firm Cineform.
Grade calls for BBC ombudsman

The BBC needs an independent ombudsman to deal with complaints, the corporation’s former chairman Michael Grade has said.
Great Migrations (Nat Geo)

National Geographic goes ultra blue-chip.
Greenlight round-up: Spring arrives on BBC4

This week’s round-up of the latest commissions includes the latest new drama and documentaries revealed at BBC4’s spring/summer schedule launch, including a new film starring Doctor Who’s Karen Gillan.
Gypsy Weddings producers come under fire

The producers of Big Fat Gypsy Weddings have been confronted by members of the travelling community angry at their portrayal in the series – in an exchange that has been caught on camera.
Henshaw to tell Lords that Ed Pol Unit is ‘wholly unnecessary'

The award-winning producer of Undercover Mosque and Secret NHS Diaries is set to tell the Lords’ Communications Committee that the BBC’s Editorial Policy Unit should be scrapped.
Horse & Country saddles US deal

Horse & Country TV has launched a branded block of programming on US cable and satellite channel HRTV.
Hot Picks 2011: Entertainment

From trapdoors to popularity contests
Hot Picks 2011: Fact Ent

From Australia’s Jamie to media wannabees
Hot Picks 2011: Factual

From 9/11 to the story of DNA
Hot Picks 2011: Scripted

From renaissance Italy to super-volcanoes
How a recession diet got the UK TV industry in shape

The last couple of years have been pretty grim, but the survivors are leaner, tougher and certainly wiser, writes Thomas Dey. Now it is time to start talking growth and blowing the dust of those expansion plans.
How do you stop your TV format idea being stolen?

Measures you can take to protect IP will come under scrutiny at MipTV, says Jonathan Coad.
Hunt: BBC must not cut core services

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has warned the BBC not to cut core services as it struggles to deal with a real terms reduction in its licence fee.
Huw Edwards to anchor BBC royal wedding coverage

The BBC has confirmed Huw Edwards will anchor its coverage of the royal wedding.
Idiot goes further abroad

Hit Sky1 travel series An Idiot Abroad, starring Ricky Gervais sidekick Karl Pilkington, has been picked up in new territories around the world.
Ignore Midlands at your peril

Julia Higginbottom on ways for post houses to beat the recession.
Internet ad spend tops £4bn

A quarter of money spent on advertising in the UK is used on internet campaigns, a study conducted by the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) and the accountancy firm PwC has revealed.
Ionoco opens US office

UK-based broadcast technology firm Ionoco has opened an office in Los Angeles in a bid to boost the service it provides to US clients.
ITN all set for royal wedding bonanza

ITN is eyeing a major royal wedding payday after hiring out its facilities to more than 100 staff from international broadcasters and lining up sales of its coverage of the event.
ITN strikes development deal with Mercury Media

ITN Productions has signed a deal with distributor Mercury Media to develop four topical magazine show formats for the international market.
ITV eyes US event format deal

ITV is looking to one of the biggest live event companies in the US to end its five-year search for a homegrown entertainment mega hit.
ITV homepage relaunched

ITV has relaunched its homepage as the first step in its wider online overhaul.
ITV strikes new IPL deal

ITV has struck a new four year rights deal to broadcast the Indian Premier League cricket competition.
ITVS poaches Million Pound Drop exec

ITV Studios has appointed Million Pound Drop Live co-developer and executive producer Nic McNeilis.
ITVS to tackle talent drain

ITV boss Adam Crozier has revealed he will consider acquisitions to address the shortage of “creative talent” at the company’s in-house production arm.
James Murdoch takes new role at News Corp

News Corporation has created a new role for James Murdoch, the son of chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch, it has been announced.
Junior Doctors pulse drops for BBC3 finale

TUESDAY: The health of BBC3 hit Junior Doctors took a turn for the worse, ending on a series low.
Katie Piper series heads to NZ

The ongoing story of acid burns victim Katie Piper is to be broadcast in New Zealand and Sweden following new sales by Mentorn International.
Kerry Katona returns to ITV2

WEDNESDAY: Kerry Katona returned to ITV2 with nearly 600,000 as part of the digital channel’s night of chatshow and fly on the wall programmes.
Khanna to leave NBCU in reshuffle

Roma Khanna is to step down as president of global channels at NBC Universal following a top-level restructure.
Lark Rise writer to pen political drama for BBC1

Lark Rise To Candleford writer Bill Gallagher is penning a drama series for BBC1 in which a local politician attempts to atone for his sins.
Lemon squeezed into Sing if You Can

Leigh Francis character Keith Lemon has replaced Vernon Kay on ITV1’s primetime entertainment format Sing if You Can after a pilot revealed the show would work better in the hands of a comedian.
Lion pounces on Betty exec

Lion TV is expanding its entertainment team by hiring Betty head of development Joff Powell as entertainment executive.
Live debate graphics 'sway voters'

TV companies’ use of interactive “worm” graphics during political leaders’ debates could distort voting enough to swing a general election, researchers have claimed.
London to go digital before 2012 Games

Television sets in London will all be equipped with digital capability by the time the Olympics are staged in the capital next summer, it has been confirmed.
Love Thy Neighbour bumped to More 4

Love Thy Neighbour, Channel 4’s townies-move-to-the-country format, has been bumped to More 4 halfway through its run due to low audience numbers.
Mad Men creator signs $30m deal

Acclaimed TV drama Mad Men is to return in 2012 with creator Matthew Weiner on board - but will end after three more seasons.
Mad Men to return in 2012

US drama Mad Men is to return in early 2012, despite negotiations between cable network AMC and creator Matt Weiner remaining unresolved.
Manufacturers back industry skills manifesto

Harris, EVS and Sony are among 80 firms that have signed the International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers (IABM) Lifelong Learning Manifesto.
Mary Anne Hobbs to join Xfm

Former Radio 1 DJ Mary Anne Hobbs is to host a new Saturday evening show for Xfm.
MasterChef (Shine)

Shine group breathes life into 20 year-old format with major rollout.
MatrixStore links with Interplay

Object Matrix has integrated disk-based archive product MatrixStore with Avid’s Interplay, potentially lowering the cost of storage for the production management suite.
Maverick teams with Brit School on £25m academy

Maverick TV, the indie behind the Model Agency and Embarrassing Bodies, is to partner with the Brit School on a new £25m creative academy.
McFly on the wall doc for 5*

McFly is to feature in a fly on the wall documentary as the first original commission for 5* since its relaunch in March.
Million Pound Drop to be remade in Italy and Brazil

Channel 4 gameshow the Million Pound Drop is to be remade for audiences in Italy, Brazil and the Netherlands following a series of deals by Endemol.
MipTV: 20 top deals

The stories behind the world’s biggest shows… plus this year’s Hot Picks
Model Agency final to air online first

Channel 4’s The Model Agency has become the first series to premiere its last episode on 4oD ahead of broadcast – part of its ongoing drive to capture information from its audiences.
Money Drop (Endemol)

Endemol moves fast to build brand.
Mr T to search for World’s Craziest Fools for BBC3

Legendary hardman Mr T will front a new comedy-entertainment clipshow series made by Roughcut for BBC3.
MTV to take Monkey Quest international

MTV Networks UK is to roll out an international version of virtual world Monkey Quest following its launch in the US on 18 March.
Netflix (CBS)

CBS wakes from slumber with web archive deal.
Ofcom budget facing 22.5% cut in 2011/12

Ofcom is to slash its budget by 22.5% (£26.7m) over the coming year as part of a four-year cutback strategy at the regulator.
Off Cuts: Sound Choice for Radio 4

Broadcast is making its non-verbal radio debut next month in Radio 4 comedy Fags, Mags & Bags - and here we are with writer Sanjeev Kohli.
Open up BBC training to develop skills base

I want to support some of Matt Born’s points in BBC Training: Friend or Foe? (Broadcast, 11.03.11) and try to take the discussion forward.
OTF swings Monkey Thieves order

Off the Fence Productions has been recommissioned to follow a rogue gang of thieving monkeys.
Pact contacts Ofcom over concerns at C5

Pact has raised concerns with Ofcom that Channel 5 is failing to meet its PSB obligations, and is taking legal advice over its treatment of suppliers.
Peep Show’s Bain joins team for next series of Rev

Peep Show co-creator Sam Bain is to help pen the second series of Rev for Big Talk Productions.
Pineapple Dance creative director decides to leave the floor

Jonathan Stadlen, the creative behind Pineapple Dance Studios, is to leave Pulse Films this month.
Playing against stereotypes

On-screen portrayal of women of a certain age is still two-dimensional.
Plum Pictures: building business brick by brick

Having constructed a house out of Lego for James May’s Toy Stories, the Plum founders are clearly up for a challenge. Balihar Khalsa speaks to the former BBC duo about setting up on their own.
Prince Charles to front BBC4 doc

BBC4 has revealed a raft of cultural commissions that will play out over its spring and summer schedule, including a documentary fronted by Prince Charles and a drama starring Doctor Who actress Karen Gillan.
Prospect hires Jamie's Dream School producer

DCD-owned factual producer Prospect has expanded its team with the hire of Cal Turner as executive producer.
Radioplayer goes live

Online radio station aggregator Radioplayer has launched with around 3m existing online listeners expected to instantly start using the service.
Ramsay locked in for new Channel 4 series

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is to visiting prisons for a new Channel 4 series that aims to reduce the cost of keeping prisoners behind bars and getting them back to work.
Red Arrow takes Mob Film stake

Mob Film, the indie behind Sky1’s fantastical Terry Pratchett adaptations, has sold a 51% stake to Germany’s Red Arrow Entertainment.
Red's Epic-X camera delayed by Japan quake

High-end camera firm Red is the latest broadcast equipment manufacturer to be affected by the Japanese earthquake, with deliveries of its digital camera, Epic-X, delayed.
Review urges C4 Education to push web work

A review into Channel 4 Education’s long-term strategy is expected to recommend more cross-platform projects to raise awareness of the department’s web-based work.
Rich race boats as poor riot

Boat Race divides society while Dancing On Ice reminds us of its worth as a big hitter
Rob Brydon fools Ken Bruce's listeners

Listeners were left baffled by the erratic behaviour of Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce today - until it emerged the show was being hosted by comedian Rob Brydon.
Shine Oz among 10 indies to win Secret Fortune

The Australian arm of Liz Murdoch’s Shine Group has picked up local format rights to BBC1 quiz format Secret Fortune.
Shine poaches BBC Scotland comedy boss

BBC Scotland’s head of comedy is to step down and head a new regional joint venture between Shine-owned Kudos and Brown Eyed Boy.
Silk wins second series

controller Danny Cohen has commissioned a second series of popular legal drama Silk.
Skinner gets opinionated with 1.8m

FRIDAY: Frank Skinner’s Opinionated returned with nearly 1.8m viewers, beating Channel 4 comedy Friday Night Dinner.
Sky (HBO)

HBO deal freezes out competition
Sky Arts to air sextuplets series

Sky Arts is to screen a series on the phenomenon of sextuplets, as part of a raft of sales by indie Off the Fence.
Sky Atlantic to air The Pacific

Sky Atlantic has announced that it will broadcast HBO’s multi Emmy Award-winning series The Pacific later this year.
Sky1's Runaway audience of 426,000

THURDAY: Sky1’s latest Martina Cole adaptation managed a strong start, but could not match previous hit The Take.
So You Think You Can Dance stumbles on return

SATURDAY: So You Think You Can Dance returned to BBC1 with nearly 1.6m fewer viewers than its previous series launch.
Sony Radio award nominations announced

Record-breaking DJ Chris Moyles is to take on musicians-turned-presenters Ronnie Wood and Jarvis Cocker for one of the biggest accolades in radio.
Studio 7 invests in virtual camera system

Motion capture facility Studio 7 has invested £50,000 on a new virtual camera system and motion capture kit.
Tern investigates wildlife crime for ITV1 series

Tern TV is to make a series for ITV1 looking into the surge in wildlife crime in the British countryside, and the illegal trade in endangered species behind it.
The days of vanity rebrands are over

Rebranding a channel was once an exercise in vanity for some. But those days are over and establishing your identity in an increasingly fragmenting market is key, write Marc Heal and Dom Sykes.
The Drivers (FME/Scott Free)

FME, Headline Pictures, Sennet Entertainment and Scott Free team up for Le Mans drama.
The Professionals set for big screen remake

Cult crime classic The Professionals is to be remade for the big screen following a deal with studio Lionsgate.
The Voice of America (John de Mol)

NBC takes on Fox with John de Mol’s singing contest.
Three in a Bed tucks in 1.1m

THURSDAY: Three in a Bed tucked in more than 1m viewers on its return, as the Great British Food Revival bowed out with a series low.
Tic Toc House (Zodiak)

Zodiak teams up with Korean animators for children’s show.
Tiger Aspect co-founder seeks new opportunities at Alaska

Tiger Aspect Productions co-founder Paul Sommers is stepping down after 18 years with the company to start working on projects with new indie Alaska.
Titanic (ITV Studios)

ITV Studios secures multiple partners for £10m drama.
TLC (Discovery)

Discovery gets local with female-targeted shows.
Tom Loosemore to lead gov't website project

Former 4iP boss Tom Loosemore has been recruited to oversee a project to rebuild public services online.
Top 100 network programmes

Find out who topped the ratings league table for network programming from 21-27 March and browse the top 100.
Top 30 BBC2, Channel 4, Channel 5

Find out the top 30 programmes on BBC2, Channel 4 and Channel 5 from 21-27 March as well as the performance of all the terrestrials across week 12.
Top 30 multichannel programmes

Find out the top 30 multichannel programmes for 21-27 March as well as the share of viewing across digital homes.
Top Gear sued over fake race claim

The BBC’s Top Gear programme is being sued by electric car manufacturer Tesla over claims that the show faked a race.
Torchwood (BBCW)

BBCW/Starz team up for transatlantic sci-fi blockbuster
Touch and Nat Geo forge format venture

Touch Productions and National Geographic’s UK distribution arm have come together to establish a new factual entertainment formats business.
TV alcohol advert ban proposed

A bid to impose a total ban on alcohol advertising on television has been launched in Parliament.
TV’s frequently unasked questions

There are some things that baffle even the sharpest student of media, says Steven D Wright.
Twofour films Prince Harry trek to North Pole

BBC1 has commissioned a documentary following Prince Harry and a band of wounded soldiers as they trek to the North Pole for charity.
UKTV to host first live events

UKTV is to host a series of four Dave-themed comedy nights as the broadcaster extends into live events for the first time.
UKTV's Mote to join Current TV

UKTV executive Jane Mote is leaving the broadcaster after five years to join topical multiplatform channel Current TV as its first UK managing director.
Undercover Boss (Studio Lambert/All3)

Studio Lambert and All3Media strike gold after Superbowl coup.
Undercover Boss US to return

A US version of Undercover Boss, made by Studio Lambert, is to return for a third season on the CBS network.
Unesco unites with Nat Geo in web docs project

National Geographic has produced a series of five ad-funded documentary shorts to be distributed online and edited into a full-length programme for broadcast.
Viacom (Hulu)

Hulu truce leads to overnight daily show downloads.
Victorious (MTVNI)

MTV Networks International takes relaxed view of show premiere.
Vuguru (Content Media)

Content Media offers wider reach for web dramas.
Warner Bros ties with Outline

Outline Productions, the indie behind BBC2’s Great British Food Revivial, has signed a two-year distribution deal with Warner Bros.
Wise Buddah to produce Nemone on 6 Music

Radio indie Wise Buddah Manchester has won a pitch to produce BBC 6Music’s Weekend Breakfast Show with Nemone.
Wise Buddha to make Wogan’s show for Radio 2

Wise Buddah has been commissioned to produce Terry Wogan’s BBC Radio 2 weekend show - the first time one of the DJ’s regular shows has been outsourced to the indie sector.
You Deserve It

SevenOne International-led JV wins ABC pilot for untested format.

BC

Broadcast1 April 2011

Broadcast
1 April 2011