http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/magazine/graphics/logo.png http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/cautious-product-placement-approved/5010556.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/cautious-product-placement-approved/5010556.article 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”. Tue, 9 Feb 2010 12:10 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/bbc-spent-229m-on-talent-last-year/5010551.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/bbc-spent-229m-on-talent-last-year/5010551.article The BBC paid on-air talent more than £229m last year, including £54m for presenters paid over £150,000. Tue, 9 Feb 2010 11:38 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/bbc-execs-cut-back-on-presents/5010565.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/bbc-execs-cut-back-on-presents/5010565.article BBC executives have dramatically tightened purse strings since their expenses started getting published – cutting back on claims for presents and extravagant schmoozing. Tue, 9 Feb 2010 13:00 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/sky-sells-104-itv-stake-at-348m-loss/5010541.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/sky-sells-104-itv-stake-at-348m-loss/5010541.article BSkyB sold 10.4% of its stake in ITV for around £196m this morning – a loss of about £348m. Tue, 9 Feb 2010 09:27 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/international/undercover-boss-draws-386m-in-us/5010567.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/international/undercover-boss-draws-386m-in-us/5010567.article The US version of Undercover Boss was seen by a massive audience of 38.6m, airing after the Super Bowl on Sunday night. Tue, 9 Feb 2010 13:20 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/bbc-criticised-for-sloppy-spending-on-events/5010537.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/bbc-criticised-for-sloppy-spending-on-events/5010537.article 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. Tue, 9 Feb 2010 08:53 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/bbc-to-reveal-stars-pay-to-mps-only/5010538.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/bbc-to-reveal-stars-pay-to-mps-only/5010538.article 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. Tue, 9 Feb 2010 08:55 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/commissioning/c4-to-offer-viewers-a-third-gok-fix/5010523.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/commissioning/c4-to-offer-viewers-a-third-gok-fix/5010523.article Gok Wan is to re-team with fashion buyer Brix Smith-Start for a third series of Channel 4 series Gok’s Fashion Fix. Tue, 9 Feb 2010 09:36 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/commissioning/bbc2-re-orders-comedy-double/5010543.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/commissioning/bbc2-re-orders-comedy-double/5010543.article BBC2 has greenlit second runs of Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle and Dave Gorman’s show Genius. Tue, 9 Feb 2010 10:25 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/indies/motive-raises-400k-to-develop-dtt/5010545.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/indies/motive-raises-400k-to-develop-dtt/5010545.article DTT technology firm Motive Television has raised £400,000 by issuing new shares and has an eye on making acquisitions. Tue, 9 Feb 2010 10:56 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/people/bbc4-doc-vies-with-avatar-at-green-awards/5010539.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/people/bbc4-doc-vies-with-avatar-at-green-awards/5010539.article 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. Tue, 9 Feb 2010 09:13 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/merger-creates-new-broadcast-fitness-firm/5010547.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/merger-creates-new-broadcast-fitness-firm/5010547.article 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. Tue, 9 Feb 2010 10:41 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/true-may-midsomer-will-thrive-with-new-barnaby/5010548.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/true-may-midsomer-will-thrive-with-new-barnaby/5010548.article The producer of Midsomer Murders says he is confident the programme will remain successful, despite shaking up the cast by replacing John Nettles. Tue, 9 Feb 2010 11:03 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/sky-will-cut-itv-stake-finally/5010517.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/sky-will-cut-itv-stake-finally/5010517.article BSkyB has ended its lengthy battle to hang on to its 17.9% stake in ITV and will reduce it to the 7.5% threshold set by regulators. Mon, 8 Feb 2010 17:00 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/bbc-dg-reassures-staff-over-in-house-production/5010505.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/bbc-dg-reassures-staff-over-in-house-production/5010505.article BBC director general Mark Thompson has hinted to staff that in-house production will not be significantly affected by the size and scope review. Mon, 8 Feb 2010 12:34 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/itv-fined-for-rat-killing-celebrity-episode/5010497.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/itv-fined-for-rat-killing-celebrity-episode/5010497.article ITV has been fined for animal cruelty after contestants on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! killed and ate a rat, the Australian RSPCA has said. Mon, 8 Feb 2010 09:12 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/dannii-minogue-set-for-itv2-series/5010516.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/dannii-minogue-set-for-itv2-series/5010516.article X Factor judge Dannii Minogue is in talks to star in her own ITV2 reality series, which her agents will co-produce. Mon, 8 Feb 2010 12:42 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/bbc/freeview-slots-up-for-grabs/5010507.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/bbc/freeview-slots-up-for-grabs/5010507.article The BBC and Arquiva have been given the green light to auction off two new Freeview slot thanks a major spectrum reshuffle. Mon, 8 Feb 2010 11:37 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/commissioning/itv-greenlights-trevor-eve-drama/5010514.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/commissioning/itv-greenlights-trevor-eve-drama/5010514.article Trevor Eve is to star as an international hostage negotiator in new ITV1 drama Kidnap and Ransom. Mon, 8 Feb 2010 12:27 GMT http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/mentorn-poaches-iwc-medias-ransford/5010504.article?referrer=RSS http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/mentorn-poaches-iwc-medias-ransford/5010504.article Mentorn Media has hired How To Look Good Naked commissioner Philippa Ransford as executive producer for features and formats. Mon, 8 Feb 2010 12:08 GMT