Broadcast
24 February 2012
View all stories from this issue.
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‘Tax breaks can earn the UK £1bn’
Tax breaks for British-made high-end drama would “transform” the industry and could yield a net return of £1bn annually to the UK economy, a report submitted to the government has claimed. -
20 Feb '12
“It is sophisticated television, but easy to engage with.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV. -
21 Feb '12
“It compounded her exposure unnecessarily.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV. -
22 Feb '12
“Naff, operatic and entirely guessable in one way but believable and entirely watchable in many others.” Read on for the verdict on last night’s TV. -
A gateway to the world of TV at the Albert Docks
BBC Showcase increasingly represents the whole TV industry, says Steve Macallister. -
A nursery slope for TV talent
Many have started in kids’ TV – long may it continue, says Reem Nouss. -
Aircrash Confidential
Full post on the 6 x 60-minute doc series about aviation disasters. -
Andy’s Wild Adventures, CBeebies
Combining natural history archives with the latest technology to immerse children in wildlife was challenging yet rewarding, says John Miller. -
BBC and ITV resolve Love Life clash
Love has broken out between the BBC and ITV after the two broadcasters resolved a clash that could have seen them air romantic dramas with the same name. -
BBC appoints new S&PP chief
BBC exec Anna Mallett has been appointed chief executive of the broadcaster’s Studios and Post Production operation. -
BBC Bristol execs exit ahead of factual move
Bristol-based BBC execs Andrew Jackson and Ben Gale are leaving the corporation amid the relocation of its Birmingham factual team to the city. -
BBC drama head leaves for Kudos
The BBC’s creative director of drama production is leaving to return to Spooks indie Kudos. -
BBC sets out London 2012 Super Hi-Vision plans
BVE: The BBC has revealed extra details of its plans for Super Hi-Vision screenings of the London 2012 Olympics. -
BBC1 orders Postcode Lottery series
BBC Daytime has commissioned a new investigative series looking at how where we live can affect our life. -
BBC2 buys rights to Ad Hoc’s QPR story
The tempestuous boardroom activities at Queens Park Rangers Football Club are the focus of a documentary acquired by BBC2. -
BBC3 rejigs QT spin-off
BBC3 series Young Voters’ Question Time is being overhauled, rebranded and expanded into a regular monthly format, with Formula One presenter Jake Humphrey taking on hosting duties. -
Bectu slams BBC Olympics volunteer scheme
Bectu has criticised the BBC for asking staff to volunteer for production roles during the Olympics, dubbing the move “completely unacceptable”. -
Beeny helps homeowners on C4
Sarah Beeny will use her renovation skills convince people that they don’t need to move house to find their dream home, in a Red House TV series for Channel 4. -
Being Human dips to 540k
SUNDAY: Supernatural drama Being Human has dropped to its second lowest audience to date on BBC3 – while TOWIE pulled more than a million on ITV2. -
Brit Awards return to US
The US acquired this week’s Brit Awards for the first time since 2009. -
Brits reign with four-year high
TUESDAY: The Brit Awards walked away with its biggest audience in four years, thrashing Big Fat Gyspy Weddings, which posted its lowest overnights to date. -
C4 debuts Facejacker audio trigger app
Channel 4 is to launch its first mobile app that reacts to hidden audio triggers, for prank show Facejacker. -
C4 defends Gypsy Weddings after open letter
Channel 4 has responded to an open letter from a teenage Romany Gypsy that asked for the broadcaster to put “humans above ratings”. -
C4 gets Gypsy Wedding gift
This week’s channel overview considers the return of Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and new series Daddy Daycare. -
C4 orders Springer’s Baggage pilot in deal with Chocolate
Channel 4 is gearing up to pilot a UK version of Game Show Network’s Jerry Springer-fronted dating show Baggage. -
C4 sponsor receives Gypsy ad complaints
Outraged viewers have contacted Channel 4 documentaries sponsor, Honda, to complain about the film Gypsy Blood and the Big Fat Gypsy Wedding marketing campaign. -
C5 goes Inside the Titanic with Dangerous Films
Channel 5 has picked up the UK rights to Inside the Titanic, a big-budget factual drama from producer Dangerous Films. -
C5 nets Europa League high
THURSDAY: Channel 5 scored its best European football ratings in at least six years with Manchester United’s defeat to Ajax, as Kidnap and Ransom returned to ITV1 with its lowest ratings to date. -
C5 takes global road trip for Gadget Show revamp
Channel 5’s The Gadget Show is set for its biggest shake-up after 16 series, swapping its studio for an international road trip format and dropping three presenters. -
Canon wins BVE camera battle
BVE: Canon’s recently released C300 came out on top in the battle of the cameras at BVE 2012 at Earl’s Court last week. -
CBeebies Iconicles go west
Kids series Iconicles has been sold to broadcasters across the Americas and Canada. -
CBeebies/CBBC's 10th birthday
As the BBC’s children’s channels reach the ripe old age of 10, their controllers speak to Catherine Neilan about supporting UK producers and the impact of the move to Salford. -
Champion's League worst since 2009
WEDNESDAY: Inter Milan’s trip to Marseille netted ITV1’s lowest Champions League audience in two-and-a-half years. -
Children of the Tsunami
Complete full post on the documentary about the children who survived last year’s disaster. -
Comedy Central rapped over swearing and nudity
Topless college girls and swearing have landed Comedy Central in trouble following an unedited airing of The Dukes of Hazzard before the watershed. -
Cone joins Rushes team
Freelance Flame artist Glenn Cone has joined Soho post facility Rushes. -
Crufts gets third run on More 4
Crufts is returning to More 4 for its third year on the channel with Clare Balding presenting. -
Custom builds TVC wall
Custom Consoles has completed the installation of a multi-screen monitor wall for BBC Studios and Post Production at Television Centre in London. -
CVP hit by £1m theft
CVP has been hit by a massive theft, with cameras, camcorders, lenses and ancillaries stolen from the company’s warehouse. -
DCMS calls for TV tax breaks
The DCMS has called on the Treasury to safeguard the future of British-made animation and high-end drama by introducing tax breaks, Broadcast has learned. -
Demographic Focus
Explore the ratings breakdown demographically across the main terrestrial and multichannel broadcasters 13-19 February. -
Dooley investigated by 356k
MONDAY: Stacey Dooley’s latest investigation for BBC3 drew less than half the audience that watched her previous film on sex trafficking. -
Downton Abbey helps PBS to ratings high
The finale of the second series of Downton Abbey helped PBS to a three-year ratings high in the US. -
Educating Essex shifts location for return to C4
Fixed-rig documentary series Educating Essex is set to be recommissioned by Channel 4 – but with the cameras moving to a new school in a different part of the country. -
Facilis updates shared storage software
BVE: Facilis Technology debuted version 5.5 of its TerraBlock Shared Storage System. -
Farewell to nurses and cons
Two stellar performers bow out, while channels take cover as C4’s Gypsy bandwagon rolls in. -
Fellowes’ Titanic sails to South Africa
ITV’s epic Titanic drama, written by Julian Fellowes, is to air in South Africa on the day the UK broadcast concludes. -
First look: BBC1's The Voice
The BBC has released the first image of talent show The Voice, with its all star line up of Tom Jones, Jessie J, will.i.am and The Script’s Danny O’Donoghue. -
Foyle’s War to return to ITV1
ITV1 is to revisit Foyle’s War after the rights to detective series were rescued from defunct indie Greenlit. -
Frostrup series leads Sky Arts into new era
Mariella Frostrup is to front a Sky Arts series in which the likes of Damien Hirst, Sir Paul Smith and Manolo Blahnik discuss the world’s most desirable objects before donating their own prized possessions for a charity auction. -
Genre Overview
Browse the top ten children’s, factual, drama, entertainment, comedy, music and arts programmes from 13-19 February. -
Glubox Mio Converter
HD/SD-SDI to HDMI/DVI converter. -
Gok Wan turns chef for C4
Fashion stylist Gok Wan will try his hand at cooking in a Channel 4 series that will see him appearing alongside his chef father. -
Government to consider retransmission fees
The government is to consider whether broadcasters should pay to appear on paid-for platforms such as BSkyB as part of the Communications Bill, it has confirmed. -
Halo gains Dolby badge
Halo Post Production’s largest dubbing theatre in its Noel Street base has become one of 18 facilities globally to achieve Dolby’s Premier Certificate standard. -
HHB tackles loudness issue
BVE: Broadcast audio technology specialist HHB Communications demonstrated loudness products for outside broadcast, live production, post-production, playout and archive at BVE, including TC Electronic’s LM2 and TM9 TouchMonitor loudness meters. -
Honda backs C4 after "gypsier" complaints
Channel 4 documentaries sponsor Honda has re-iterated its support for Big Fat Gypsy Weddings despite a wave of recent complaints over the marketing campaign. -
Hustle bows out on high
FRIDAY: The last ever episode of Hustle bowed out with a series high audience for BBC1. -
ITV apologises for interrupting Adele’s Brits speech
ITV has apologised after it cut Adele’s acceptance speech short at The Brit Awards last night. -
ITV axes Eternal Law
Eternal Law, ITV1’s high-concept drama from the makers of Life on Mars, will not be returning for a second series. -
ITV extends Corrie product placement deal
ITV has extended its product placement deal with Nationwide Building Society to keep a branded cash machine in Coronation Street. -
ITV set to lose out in HMRC actors dispute
ITV is poised to lose a second court appeal in a long-running legal battle with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to avoid paying substantially more tax for hiring high-profile actors. -
ITV Studios takes 100 Mile Challenge
A new format in which families can only eat food produced within 100 miles of them has been optioned by ITV Studios. -
ITV1 plans push on weekend mornings
ITV1 is targeting a major push on original content for weekend mornings and is lining up a rival to BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen plus a fresh stab at Let’s Do Lunch With Gino & Mel. -
ITV2’s Brits coverage draws 500k
TUESDAY: Celebrity Juice host Keith Lemon helped pull more than 500,000 viewers to the red carpet and backstage coverage of the Brit Awards. -
Jeremy Clarkson's union rant cleared by Ofcom
Jeremy Clarkson’s rant against striking union members was not in breach of broadcasting codes, Ofcom has ruled. -
Kidnap and Ransom, ITV1
Executive producer Rachel Gesua reveals the challenges behind bringing ITV drama Kidnap and Ransom back for a second run. -
Kit's Jardine joins Oasys
Oasys has appointed Fraser Jardine (pictured) to the role of vice-president of global sales. -
Let’s Dance returns with 6.5m
SATURDAY: Let’s Dance for Sport Relief returned with 6.5m - around a million viewers down on the equivalent episode last year. -
Lion promotes Snowball
Lion Television has promoted Andrew Snowball into a new senior role at its Scottish base. -
LOTR's Monaghan going wild for Channel 5
Dominic Monaghan, best known for roles in Lord of the Rings and Lost, to front a series for Channel 5 in which he will hunt for the world’s most dangerous and elusive insects. -
Mark Wright pilots ITV1 show
Former The Only Way is Essex star Mark Wright could be handed his first primetime ITV1 show - an entertainment vehicle based on a hit German format. -
'Maturing' 3D market takes a back seat
BVE: 3D seemed less prominent at BVE 2012, with fewer stereoscopic screens on display and manufacturers placing less emphasis on 3D cameras. -
Midwife best BBC1 drama in decade
SUNDAY: Call the Midwife bowed out with a series high and Upstairs Downstairs attracted its lowest audience to date, as Homeland performed well for C4. -
Millions head to Cornwall
ITV is pulling millions of viewers with its latest Caroline Quentin series and comedy panel show Celebrity Juice while E4 is continuing to struggle with the latest series of Skins. -
More sex please C4, we’re missing out
After reading Barry McFlynn’s searingly honest polemic ‘What is Channel 4 actually for?’ I feel compelled to throw my hat into the ring and pose a question that has been bothering me for some time: C4, where has all the sex gone? -
Nearly 2m board The Tube
MONDAY: BBC2 launched a hat trick of new shows, with a documentary on the London Underground proving the biggest draw. -
Ofcom clear C4's "Dangerous Doctor"
Channel 4 Cutting Edge film A Very Dangerous Doctor has been cleared by Ofcom following a complaint from one of the main contributors. -
Off Cuts: Sky Living seeing double
To mark the launch of US drama Ringer, in which Sarah Michelle Gellar plays twins, Sky Living has been seeing double with a guide to the celebrity lookalikes in its midst. -
Outside Broadcasting: summer of sport
The quick succession of Euro 2012 and the Olympics threatens a shortage of skilled crew. Adrian Pennington finds out how the UK’s outside broadcasters will cope. -
Parkinson returns to TV for Sky Arts
Sir Michael Parkinson is to host a six part series for Sky Arts as the talk show veteran returns with his first show in more than five years. -
PBS UK to show Murdoch film a day after US debut
An investigative documentary about Rupert Murdoch’s US media empire will air in the UK less than 24 hours after its US premiere. -
Prospect Cymru explores rise in metal theft for BBC1
BBC1 is to explore the surge in metal theft around the UK in a 10.35pm doc made by DCD-owned Prospect Cymru. -
Radio Fast Train ideas interest commissioners
Five out of eight pitches selected for a session at BBC Radio Fast Train have won a commission, development funding or the promise of further discussions with commissioners. -
Radio Fast Train: freelance skills
The BBC Academy’s training day for radio freelancers offered sessions from the likes of Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac and Woman’s Hour presenter Jane Garvey. Ben Dowell reports on the key events. -
Regan lands wider remit at MTV
MTV UK has created a new permanent role for former freelance editorial director Steve Regan, making him senior editorial director of commissioning and production, responsible for all original content on the channel. -
Russell Tovey to star in ITV comedy pilot
ITV1 has ordered a comedy pilot based in a job centre from the makers of Rev. -
S4C head of content departs
S4C’s head of content Meirion Davies is leaving the broadcaster after nearly 20 years to return to the indie sector. -
Sarah Farrell, Comedy Central
Director of development and content, Comedy Central. -
Scratch Lab adds F65 support
Assimilate has added native support for Sony’s F65 to its dailies tool Scratch Lab. -
Sky 1 picks up C4 pilot Chickens
Sky 1 has plucked Simon Bird, Jonny Sweet and Joe Thomas’ comedy Chickens from Channel 4 in a deal that will see Big Talk Productions produce its first show for the channel. -
Sky app offers F1 fans split-screen viewing options
Sky is planning to offer F1 fans the ability to watch races in a multi split-screen mode via its iPad app and website. -
Sky Arts in star-led Playhouse push
Sky Arts is beefing up its Playhouse comedy and drama strand with 12 plays, including Sir Tom Jones in his first acting role and Emma Thompson playing the Queen. -
Sky Arts to air original Homeland
The Israeli drama that provided the inspiration for new US thriller Homeland has been acquired by Sky Arts. -
Sky Atlantic books Richard E Grant hotel series
Richard E Grant is to front a “luxurious” travel series for Sky Atlantic that marks the first commission for Clive Tulloh’s new indie. -
So Wrong It's Right returns to R4
Radio 4 comedy panel show So Wrong It’s Right will return in May for a third series in the 6.30pm slot. -
Southern Star names new CEO
Southern Star, the Australian production giant owned by Endemol, has hired a Seven Network executive as its new chief executive. -
Squeamish
Design and produce titles and content graphics and stings for the new Discovery series. -
Stephenson examines effects of fame for More 4
Psychologist Pamela Stephenson will ask Oscar winner Tatum O’Neal, former Spice Girl Mel C and actor John Hurt about the psychological impact of being famous, in a 60-minute documentary for More 4. -
STV plots major data drive
STV is plotting a major audience data collection drive as part of plans to bolster its digital revenues and make more informed commissioning decisions. -
STV profits fall 88%
Scottish broadcaster STV saw its profits plummet to £600,000 as the cost of settling its legal dispute with ITV hit home. -
Survival depends on tax breaks
Treasury must listen to the cause of British animation and drama. -
The force is with Stella
Breaking news from this week’s Stella; it turns out Darth Vader isn’t Luke’s father after all; rather, he’s a Welsh bloke called Rob. -
The Ronnie Wood Show, Sky Arts 1
The Ronnie Wood Show, which debuts on Sky Arts 1 tonight, happened by accident, according to series producer Ian Sharpe. -
The Voice opts for multiplatform content over spin-off
BBC1 talent show The Voice will be supported by a major multiplatform push by producer Wall to Wall that will effectively take the place of a spin-off show. -
This World to profile China execution show
BBC2 will lift the lid on the Chinese talk show that features interviews with death row prisoners before their execution. -
Those Who Kill / Catholics / Jedward’s Big Adventure
Northern Upstart’s Judith Holder and Holler’s Alex Pullin on Danish drama, priests-to-be and Jedward. -
Timothy Spall: All at Sea, BBC4
Paul Crompton reveals how making Timothy Spall: All at Sea for BBC4 proved an eye-opening experience. -
Top 100 network programmes
Find out who topped the ratings league table for network programming from 13-19 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 13-19 February as well as the performance of all the terrestrials across week 7. -
Top 30 multichannel programmes
Find out the top 30 multichannel programmes for 13-19 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 6-12 February and browse the top titles. -
Turner across Ballooniverse
Turner Broadcasting has ordered a live-action pre-school series featuring a balloon artist and a magician from 2 Sides TV for Cartoonito. -
Twickenham Studios set to close
Twickenham Film Studios has gone into administration. -
UK firms win VES prizes
BlueBolt triumphed at last week’s Visual Effects Society (VES) awards in Los Angeles -
UTV ousts chairman
UTV has ousted its chairman John B McGuckian because of his “close association” with one of the Northern Irish broadcaster’s biggest shareholders. -
Vic and Bob honoured by RTS
Comedy duo Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer took home a major prize at the weekend’s RTS North East and the Border Awards, in recognition of their work in comedy. -
Victoria Wood pens Joyce Hatto biopic for BBC1
Left Bank Pictures and Octagon Films are producing a BBC1 biopic written by Victoria Wood about the pianist Joyce Hatto. -
Video: Animation UK on the case for tax breaks
Blue Zoo managing director and Animation UK chairman Oli Hyatt reveals how the battle for tax breaks is faring, and the potential IP and economic benefits that they could offer. -
Viewer engagement comes with having a personality
Channel 4 benefits from allowing journalists to give views online, says Benjamin Cohen. -
Vizrt, Pro Motion and Ross stand out
BVE: GFX and asset management company Vizrt picked up the Best Stand award at this year’s BVE. -
Walking Dead rises again with 324k
FRIDAY: The Walking Dead returned to FX after its winter hiatus and drew nearly three times more than the channel’s usual audience. -
Walliams' Mr Stink adapted for BBC1
David Walliams’ best-selling children’s book Mr Stink is to be adapted as a comedy drama for BBC1. -
White Van Man
Full post on the BBC sitcom about the challenges and frustrations of a reluctant handyman -
Wild Productions: Simon Cowell and Jim Incledon
The two-man team behind Wildlife SOS talk to Robin Parker about spreading an ethical message – and why Frozen Planet got it wrong. -
Woolfe exits Prime Focus for ‘new venture’
Former Channel 5, Sky 1 and Living controller Richard Woolfe has left post-production house Prime Focus after less than a year. -
World Productions plans move into comedy following sale
World Productions will look to push into comedy and add to its drama development slate, following its acquisition by Marcus Evans Entertainment. -
Would having cameras in courts make for good TV?
55% said Yes / 45% said No -
Zeebox plans TV ads and more features
Second screen companion app Zeebox is set to launch a TV advertising campaign and plans to incorporate a raft of new features and third party functionality.
