Broadcast
2 March 2012

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1 Mar '12

“A smashing film about nothing more than one couple’s marriage, and nothing less either.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.
2 March '12

“The film showed how even a small degree of racial prejudice can cause huge distress.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.
27 Feb '12

“The remade Upstairs Downstairs is never going to be capable of carrying the weight Thomas seems determined to place on it.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.
28 Feb '12

“An authored documentary should have something to say and Paxman’s did.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.
29 Feb '12

“It was pacey, strikingly filmed and good-humoured”. Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV.
Adele in good company

The Brits hits the right note for ITV1, while The Diamond Queen reigns supreme for BBC1.
Animation UK steps up fight for tax credits

Animation UK has been keeping up the momentum of its tax credits campaign with an eleventh-hour meeting with the Treasury.
Arqiva adds European playout centre

Arqiva has opened a playout centre for its European clients.
BBC Daytime head given peaktime powers

BBC Daytime controller Liam Keelan has been given responsibility for an additional 30 hours of peaktime programming.
BBC1's Empire conquered by Whitechapel

MONDAY: Jeremy Paxman’s new series about the British Empire failed to conquer primetime for BBC1, losing out to ITV1 crime drama Whitechapel.
BBC2 to probe Mitt Romney's Mormonism

The Mormon beliefs of US presidential candidate Mitt Romney is to be examined in a new documentary for BBC2.
BBCW agrees Polish co-pro for Spies of Warsaw

BBC Worldwide has secured its first drama co-production deal in Poland for thriller Spies Of Warsaw.
BBCW secures major content deal with Australia’s FetchTV

Australia’s FetchTV has acquired more than 1,750 episodes of BBC Worldwide programming for its VoD service.
Benidorm returns with 6.24m

FRIDAY: Benidorm returned with a slot winning audience of 6.24m viewers, but was more than a million below last year’s series debut.
BFGW dresses lose sparkle

Channel 4’s Big Fat Gypsy Weddings saw a large drop in numbers for its second episode of the series.
Big Talk recruits for Threesome's second run

A raft of creatives have been recruited for the second series of Big Talk Production’s Threesome for Comedy Central.
Black Mirror nominated for Rose d’Or

Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror and Ricky Gervais’ Life’s Too Short have been nominated for international awards at the Rose d’Or Festival.
Boomerang profits up 8%; Bulb division launched

Boomerang Plus has posted operating profits of £950,000 over its last reported six months and is now looking to extend its output via fledgling production division Bulb.
Bright start for Grimm

The debut of US fantasy drama Grimm drew more than a million viewers - the second highest-rating programme ever on UKTV’s Watch.
Broadcasters to appeal Dale Farm footage ruling

The NUJ, BBC, ITN, BSkyB and Hardcash Productions are appealing a Crown Court order for them to hand over footage to the police that was recorded during the Dale Farm evictions.
C&IN revisits Essex Boy murders

Crime & Investigation Network has ordered a one-off docu-drama about a set of infamous drug-related murders from the 1990s.
C4 acquires Labyrinth and Pillars of the Earth sequel

Channel 4 has acquired an adaptation of Kate Mosse thriller Labyrinth and the sequel to medieval drama The Pillars of the Earth.
C4 briefs for Hollyoaks app

Channel 4 is looking for a company to create a companion app for youth drama Hollyoaks, but has ditched plans for a playalong game to accompany a comedy panel show.
C4 News and Sky News sign pledge

Channel 4 News and Sky News have become the first organisations to sign Broadcast’s pledge to try to improve the ratio of male-to-female experts appearing on screen in news and current affairs shows.
C4 orders daily Paralympics show

Channel 4 will broadcast a daily breakfast and teatime show during the Paralympics as part of its commitment to provide the most extensive coverage ever provided of the event.
C4 picks up Fred Perry subculture doc

Channel 4 has picked up a series of online films ordered by clothes brand Fred Perry that will document six decades of subculture - from soul boys to punks.
C4 researches needs of online producers

Channel 4 Online has kicked off a research project to help it gain a better understanding of the needs of producers, as the broadcaster puts more focus on multiplatform content.
C4 to lift the lid on phone sex

Channel 4 will explore the phone sex industry in a one-off film which will follow three women operating in the industry.
C4's Proud and Prejudiced under fire

Channel 4 doc Proud and Prejudiced has been slammed by Luton Borough Council, Unite Against Fascism and the English Defence League for its portrayal of Luton and extremism within it.
C5 orders upbeat Twofour business show

Channel 5 is to put ambitious chefs and estate agents through stunt job interviews for an upbeat Twofour business show.
Campaign for tax breaks gathers pace

Broadcast is urging the industry to back calls for tax breaks in drama and animation, as more voices join the campaign.
Canon EOS-1D X to ship in April

Canon’s flagship DSLR, the EOS-1D X, will be available to buy from the end of April.
Catweazle creator Richard Carpenter dies

Richard “Kip” Carpenter, the Bafta-award winnning television screenwriter behind Catweazle and Robin of Sherwood, has died aged 78.
Causes worth fighting for

Campaigns for tax breaks and more female experts need support.
Celebrities: TV’s only saving grace

Let’s face it, the reason we’re in this dull line of work is to mix with ‘stars’, says Steven D Wright.
Constructed reality is doing serious business

Borne out of economic reality, the genre is wooing German fans, says Felix Wessler.
Content to sell BBC thriller Line of Duty

Content Television has secured the international distribution rights to new BBC thriller Line of Duty.
Crozier: product placement rules 'too restrictive'

ITV is being prevented from making serious money on product placement deals as a result of overly restrictive regulations, Adam Crozier has said.
Cut BBC radio execs to meet savings, report says

The BBC could save £11m from its local radio service without having to resort to sharing programmes, according to a new report.
Demographic Focus

Explore the ratings breakdown demographically across the main terrestrial and multichannel broadcasters 20-26 February.
Dixons to launch TV download store

Electrical retail Dixons has struck deals with Disney, Momentum Pictures and Warner Bros ahead of the launch of a pay-as-you-go TV and movie digital download store.
Documentary strands: adapting to a new era

Strands like Cutting Edge and Storyville are bywords for quality, but how do they stay relevant in a multichannel world?
DTG updates Freeview EPG

The Digital TV Group’s (DTG) latest technical specifications for Freeview include a backwards EPG and navigation from the programme guide to the web.
England friendly peaks with 8.2m

WEDNESDAY: England’s defeat to the Netherlands, their first international clash since manager Fabio Capello quit last month, peaked with more than 8m.
Ex-Crackit/Twofour exec heads to Canada

A factual exec at Crackit Productions and Twofour is moving to Canada to join Frantic Films.
Ex-VMTV boss resurfaces at Branson indie

Former Living TV Group managing director Johnny Webb is returning to the TV industry, heading a factual indie start-up founded by Richard Branson’s son.
Female line up for BBC2's Orbit

BBC2 is to launch a new factual series investigating how the Earth’s journey through space affects us on the ground, with an all-female line up.
First sales for Downs series Punky

Animated series Punky – featuring a lead character with Down Syndrome – has been sold into a raft of new territories and has secured award nominations in Ireland.
Flying the flag for Wales

How Welsh are network shows filmed in Wales? Michael Burns looks at four major productions - and the talent employed both behind the scenes and in front of the camera.
FM acquires Canadian cookery format

FremantleMedia has acquired the format and licensing rights to Recipe to Riches, a cookery competition from Canada’s Temple Street Production.
Gambling Commission to call for tighter control

The Gambling Commission (GC) is to recommend a tightening up of TV game show regulations as ITV prepares to ditch the giant roulette wheel that forms the centrepiece of Simon Cowell’s Red Or Black?.
Genre Overview

Browse the top ten children’s, factual, drama, entertainment, sport and current affairs programmes from 20-26 February.
Greg James takes Scott Mills’ Radio 1 slot

Scott Mills is to be dropped from BBC Radio 1’s drivetime show after nearly eight years and replaced by Greg James as part of a schedule shake-up.
Gypsy Weddings back over 4m

TUESDAY: Channel 4’s Big Fat Gypsy Weddings soared back over the 4m mark, following a dip in viewers last week at the hands of the Brit Awards.
Henson in talks with BBC for puppet show

The Jim Henson Company is creating a set of puppets for BBC1 to appear in what is hoped will become a new Saturday teatime series.
Horrocks: relocation will give BBCW influence

World Service staff could start feeding into network productions at the BBC, as its 1,400 London-based team members relocate to join the rest of the corporation.
Idea of splitting DG role mooted again

The possibility of splitting the BBC’s top job has emerged once again, as headhunters put together a succession plan for Mark Thompson’s departure.
Idiot Abroad 3 in pre-production

Ricky Gervais has kicked off pre-production of a third series of Sky1’s An Idiot Abroad, this time featuring Warwick Davis alongside Karl Pilkington.
Indies win Radio 1 contracts

BBC Radio 1 shows including Annie Nightingale, Benji B and Matt Edmondson are to be produced by indies for the first time as the station opens up external indies.
Industry mobilises support for Twickenham Studios

Industry concern over the potential demolition and redevelopment of Twickenham Studios is growing.
ITFC restores Renown films

ITFC has signed a deal with Renown Films to restore and archive some of the UK production and distribution company’s vintage black and white films.
ITV orders Selfridges drama

ITV is looking to replicate the success of Downton Abbey with a new period drama charting the story of high-end retailer Selfridges.
ITV profits up as production grows

ITV’s annual profits have increased by nearly a quarter as its five-year transformation plan has begun to show signs of traction.
ITV1 seeks ‘escapist’ ideas for teatime slot

ITV1 has called for ideas for its weekday 4pm slot following the success of in-house shows such as Ade in Britain.
ITV2 can’t do without Kyle

If ITV2 considers Celebrity Juice and The Only Way is Essex to be brand-defining, then the Jeremy Kyle Show might be the series it can’t ever do without.
ITVS developing Pineapple-style dance show

ITV Studios is developing an observational documentary about an elite female burlesque dance troupe led by the sister of Doctor Who’s Matt Smith.
ITVS surges – but ent misses out

ITV has heralded its production arm as a key driver of revenue growth last year – but has admitted it must boost its entertainment format output.
James Hunt, Sky Arts

Sky Arts director James Hunt wants to polish Sky’s ‘gem’ by signing up top talent and ordering ‘surprising’ content. And he wants indies to share his ambition.
James Murdoch quits News Int'l; remains at Sky

James Murdoch has stepped down from his position as executive chairman of News International but remains chairman of BSkyB.
John de Mol planning UK indie

John de Mol, creator of Big Brother and The Voice, is looking to launch his own UK indie.
Leavesden nears completion

Warner Bros is putting the finishing touches to its £100m rebuild of Leavesden film and TV studios, with one of the sound stages already in use.
Let’s Dance loses 1m

SATURDAY: BBC1’s Let’s Dance for Sport Relief lost nearly a million viewers, as ITV1’s Take Me Out posted its second biggest audience of the series.
Liverpool triumph nets 10.5m

SUNDAY: Liverpool and Cardiff’s tense League Cup final penalty shoot-out peaked with an impressive 10.45m, as Top Gear and Wild at Heart benefited from the absence of Call the Midwife.
Logan to leave Live With Gabby

Gabby Logan is stepping down from Channel 5’s Live With Gabby to be replaced with a host of guest presenters including Myleene Klass and Fern Britton.
Love Life / Alcatraz / The Indian Doctor

PBS’s Katie Cook and Objective’s Paul Routledge on love triangles, lost inmates and smallpox.
Make Bradford British starts strongly

THURSDAY: Channel 4’s exploration of multiculturalism in Bradford began strongly, outperforming its slot average by around 800k viewers.
Make Bradford British, Channel 4

Richard McKerrow provides a behind the scenes look at documentary Make Bradford British, which aired last night.
Marie Colvin remembered

Atlantic Productions’ boss Anthony Geffen remembers his time working with Marie Colvin, the award-winning Sunday Times journalist killed in Syria last week.
Mews subsidiary in liquidation over HMRC debt

One of the companies in The Mews group has gone into liquidation with debts of £1.7m.
Micropayments on agenda as ITV results loom

Adam Crozier is expected to provide an update on ITV’s long-awaited micropayments strategy this week, as the broadcaster looks set to report a relatively flat 2011.
Misfits indie unveils new sci fi dramas

Clerkenwell Films, the indie behind superhero series Misfits, are developing futuristic and supernatural dramas for US cable network BBC America.
Music & Sound Awards winners announced

Envy and Clerkenwell Films were among the first winners of the inaugral Music & Sound Awards, which took place last week.
New Girl tops 4oD chart

New Girl, one of Channel 4’s latest US acquisitions, has topped the 4oD chart for January by more than a million views.
New Watch branding revealed

UKTV has unveiled its new on-air branding for entertainment channel Watch that will be used across all programming from 9 March.
O’Grady explores love of dogs in return to ITV1

Paul O’Grady is to front a six-part ITV1 series on the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home just months after his talk show was axed by the channel.
Objective format moves into C4’s property slot

Objective Scotland has secured an order from Channel 4 daytime for the broadcaster’s 11am property slot.
Off Cuts: Jesus saves... the day

After weeks of 10th birthday celebrations, getting talent to come to a CBeebies/CBBC press launch proved hard.
Oxford Union debates to be televised

Oxford Union debates, which attract speakers as diverse as Johnny Depp and David Cameron, could be televised after a new production company clinched the rights to broadcast the events.
Pinewood eyes digital push to woo TV

Pinewood Studios is to plough millions of pounds into digital technology as it plans a charm offensive towards the TV sector.
Racing UK gallops onto Freeview HD

Racing UK has launched a channel via IPTV on internet-connected Freeview HD boxes and is drawing up plans to introduce pay-per-view and VoD races.
Red Arrow completes CPL deal

Red Arrow Entertainment has completed the acquisition of a controlling stake in A League of Their Own producer CPL Productions.
Revenue rises at Pinewood Shepperton

Pinewood Shepperton has posted “record” results with revenue up 17% to £50.7m last year.
Ridley Scott to make Japan in a Day

Scott Free London is teaming with Japan’s Fuji TV to capture a snapshot of a day in Japan – marking the anniversary of last year’s deadly earthquake and tsunami.
Robinson on BBC local radio cuts

Cuts to BBC local radio drivetime programming proposed by BBC management have been decisively rejected by a new report in the wake of falling listening figures, writes Paul Robinson.
Sales for Sinbad in Canada and France

Impossible Pictures’ Sinbad has been pre-sold by BBC Worldwide to Space in Canada and both Canal+ and NRJ12 in France.
Sky 1 finds recipe for food and business with Splash

Sky 1 is continuing its push on business-related factual entertainment with a major order for a format that mixes cooking and entrepreneurship.
Sky Arts reorders Exposed series

Society photographer Richard Young is the subject of Brassneck TV’s second Exposed series for Sky Arts.
Sky Business names new MD

Sky Business has appointed a new managing director to oversee its business-to-business products including 3D and HD.
Sky Living acquires Aniston and Moore directed films

Sky Living has acquired five film shorts directed by Hollywood stars including Alicia Keys, Demi Moore and Jennifer Aniston from Sony Pictures Television to support International Woman’s Day.
Sky/Nat Geo serve up 3D storms

Sky 3D and National Geographic US have ordered a four-part 3D series that will recreate the devastating power of nature and its impact on people and infrastructure.
Soho firm th1ng heads to New York

Animation and graphics company th1ng Corp is opening a New York studio.
Sony Movie Channel lined up for UK launch

Sony Pictures Television is launching the film-dedicated Sony Movie Channel this spring - a first for the brand outside of the US.
Sony snaps up Silver River and eyes more UK indies

Sony Pictures Television is planning an indie spending spree after agreeing to buy Daisy Goodwin’s Silver River Productions.
Splice agrees leasing deal in £1m facility expansion

Splice TV has agreed a £200,000 leasing deal with Azule Finance as part of a £1m expansion programme.
Talksport extends global reach

Talksport has signed a partnership deal with multiplatform radio aggregator TuneIn that will see its content distributed internationally to over 30m listeners.
Talpa makes its Voice heard

De Mol vehicle is repositioning for dominance, says Kate Bulkley.
Target Entertainment goes into administration

International distributor Target Entertainment has gone into administration just 18 months after being bought by Metrodome.
Tax breaks clamour grows

The UK’s foremost high-end drama producers and directors have joined the call to arms for the TV tax break campaign.
The drama behind ITV's results - and the challenge ahead

Broadcast’s Jake Kanter analyses ITV Studios’ performance and the progress the broadcaster is making on its transformation plan.
The Mill appoints head of production

The Mill has appointed Nick Drew to the role of head of production/executive producer for the TV and film division.
Tina McCann, Nickelodeon UK

Managing director, Nickelodeon UK.
Tom Beck joins C4 entertainment team

Gallowgate’s head of entertainment, Tom Beck, has joined Channel 4 as an entertainment commissioning editor.
Top 100 network programmes

Find out who topped the ratings league table for network programming from 20-26 February 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 20-26 February as well as the performance of all the terrestrials across week 8.
Top 30 multichannel programmes

Find out the top 30 multichannel programmes for 20-26 February as well as the share of viewing across digital homes.
Top consolidated programmes

Find out which programmes gained the biggest audience through recording from 13-19 February and browse the top titles.
UK loses out on drama cash

The UK economy lost out on nearly £12m from BBC1’s Parade’s End and Sky 1’s Strike Back because the lack of a UK tax credit for high-end drama drove both productions overseas.
UKTV's Home ties with Aviva

Insurance firm Aviva has struck a year-long brand partnership deal with UKTV’s lifestyle channel Home that will include the production of 12 online shorts.
US firm to control Agatha Christie literary estate

IP firm Chorion has sold a majority stake of the Agatha Christie’s literary estate to US firm Acorn Media Group.
Vision Mixers show heads to Riverside Studios

The Vision Mixers Show will take place on 15-16 March at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. The free event organised by The Vision Mixers Guild will showcase kit including Sony MVS 8000X, Snell’s Kahuna 360, Ross Carbonite and For-A’s HVS 4000HS.
Wales: Roath Lock - a home fit for doctors, Daleks and flappers

From Crimewatch to Casualty, productions at BBC Wales’ new studio are already benefi ting from sharing skillsets, reports Ben Dowell.
Wallander and Whitechapel head to Japan

British TV detectives will be displaying their powers of deduction in Japan following several new deals by BBC Worldwide.
Warner Bros ties with Japan's Asahi TV in development deal

The production arm of Warner Bros, the majority stakeholder in Shed Media, has struck a formats deal with major Japanese commercial broadcaster TV Asahi Corporation.
What ITV's tax battle means for television

ITV is poised to lose a second court appeal in a long-running legal battle with HMRC to avoid paying more tax for hiring high-profile actors, but the result could also place a financial burden on production companies, says Liz Brion.
Wife Swap grows reach with seven further deals

Wife Swap is continuing to prove popular around the world with seven new deals for the format throughout Eastern Europe and Korea.
Would I Lie To You gets sixth run

Comedy panel show Would I Lie To You? will return to BBC1 for a sixth series in an earlier, pre-watershed slot.

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Broadcast
2 March 2012