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Published 17 May 2011
Having people like Sir David Attenborough and Prof Brian Cox defending the BBC in front of a Lords communications select committee is worth much more than a thousand “Delivering public…
Published 4 May 2011
As the new chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten has wasted no time in signalling his future intentions, thereby abruptly drawing to a close an allegedly soft-touch Sir Michael…
Published 4 April 2011
Ever since the last administration reclassified the UK TV licence fee as a tax (as opposed to a service charge) in 2006, there has been a theoretical danger that the…
Published 11 March 2011
It’s hard to know exactly what BBC management are thinking with their latest money-saving proposal to be made public, namely to replace some local radio broadcasts with a simulcast of…
Published 14 December 2010
The BBC Trust has predictably had a rough ride since its inception, especially as it was initially created through political expediency as opposed to a natural requirement for change, therefore…
Published 20 October 2010
Given the pro-BBC lobby’s near-meltdown at the merest thought of yesterday’s licence fee settlement (not only frozen but with additional expenditure tacked on as well), it’s rather perplexing to still…
Published 19 October 2010
It’s true that the BBC has now managed to secure licence fee funding for another six years, but only the most pessimistic would have thought anything otherwise under the circumstances;…
Published 16 September 2010
Perhaps a very predictable thing to happen to the TV licence fee given recent events, but the decision to freeze the fee until at least 2013 further highlights ongoing weaknesses…
Published 5 July 2010
The announcement that BBC Radio 6 Music has been saved from closure may have dominated today’s media news, but that’s not the only thing that the BBC Trust has been…
Published 4 July 2010
Since the recently proposed BBC cutbacks (6 Music/Asian Network closures and website downscaling) were originally leaked to The Times newspaper ahead of publication, it’s unsurprising to learn of another ‘leak’…
Published 24 June 2010
Whilst waiting to discover its eventual fate, the BBC Trust has to at least appear ‘useful’ as a regulator of the BBC, therefore it’s no surprise to learn that the…
Published 6 April 2010
Whilst the BBC Trust is trying to appear useful by blocking the UK launch of dedicated iPhone (and iPad) applications for various BBC services, BBC Worldwide has gone ahead and…
Published 10 March 2010
Pop Justice: Another quick thing about BBC radio then we’ll be quiet BBC chief: 6 Music listeners ‘at heart of commercial radio demographic’ Steve Lamacq attacks ‘public flogging’ of 6…
Published 3 March 2010
Although the article leads on a poll result that suggest that the majority of the UK population are “broadly in favour” of the proposed BBC cuts, a new poll published…
Published 2 March 2010
BBC to cut £100m from overhead costs and axe digital stations BBC Strategy Review document (PDF file) When proposing something as major as the closure of public services like radio…
Published 18 February 2010
Paid Content: UK Newspapers Want BBC Mobile Apps Blocked For ‘Undermining’ Them, BBC Disagrees I have a message for anyone within the BBC who is considering whether or not to…
Published 22 September 2009
BBC’s Sir Michael Lyons weighs into row over Strictly scheduling clash It seems very obvious at this point in time that the BBC Trust has to at least look as…
Published 17 September 2009
Ben Bradshaw and Sir Michael Lyons clash over BBC licence fee It’s no wonder that the BBC Trust has turned into little more than a ‘cheerleader’ for the BBC when…
Published 3 July 2009
ITN newsreader Alastair Stewart calls for ‘Beeching’ inquiry into BBC Weirdly misappropriate-yet-somehow-highly-appropriate analogy of the month: TV presenter demands inquiry that results in major cutbacks based on short-term desires which…
Published 15 December 2008
Strictly Come Dancing voting fiasco sparks 200 complaints Although the BBC has promised to carry over all phone votes on this occasion so avoiding any direct accusations of fraud, the…
Published 6 December 2008
BBC Trust: Survey of BBC services aimed at 13-34 year-olds If you have a spare moment or two today, the BBC Trust are actively seeking views from members of the…
Published 7 November 2008
Radio 2’s Dave Barber resigns ahead of on-air apology for Brand-Ross calls Apologies in advance for mentioning the ‘S’ word again, but I’ll try to keep it relatively brief this…
Published 3 November 2008
Lyons may regret speaking out as regional publishers call in lawyers Newspaper Society Press Release Based on a comment made by Sir Michael Lyons that slightly hinted that he might…
Published 30 October 2008
By suspending Ross and Brand, BBC boss Mark Thompson reveals himself a coward No matter what Mark Thompson and other BBC executives say or do from now onwards in relation…
Published 28 October 2008
Gordon Brown criticises Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross’s BBC phone prank The transcript of what was said What started out as a “schoolboy prank” (except of course neither participants are…
Published 29 May 2008
BBC Trust to scrutinise ‘distinctiveness’ of BBC’s digital ambitions This is a tricky issue which may never be resolved to the true satisfaction of the BBC’s commercial competitors, namely in…
Published 1 January 2005
Richard Elen finds the Green Paper less dangerous than the DG