Media UK

Radio Rovers - news archive

This is an archive of news about Radio Rovers. Some links may no longer work, due to the transient nature of the internet.

Channel 4 to be censured over controversial climate film
From Media Guardian. Posted July 18 2008, 11.06pm
Watchdog finds documentary was unfair to scientists but did not mislead viewers (more)

France 24 chief becomes head of Radio France Internationale
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 2 2008, 4.22pm
The head of a new, streamlined French media group, Alain de Pouzilhac, took over as CEO of Radio France Internationale on Tuesday, marking one of the first steps in a controversial overhaul of public broadcasting in France. Pouzilhac is already the head of Audiovisuel extérieur de la France (AEF), a group set up to bring [...] (more)

The Replaced Weighs in on the Replacer: Kuby on Imus
From radio.about.com. Posted June 24 2008, 8.39pm
Earlier this week, during a discussion about football player, Adam "Pacman" Jones, a remark by Don Imus sparked a controversy which has put him back in the racial bullseye. (Right:... (more)

I-man Comment on Pacman Bring Quick Response
From radio.about.com. Posted June 24 2008, 4.39am
Not quite 6 months into his new stint doing mornings on WABC/New York, Don Imus is once again at the center of a race controversy. During a discussion about football... (more)

I-man Comment on Pacman Brings Quick Response
From radio.about.com. Posted June 24 2008, 4.39am
Not quite 6 months into his new stint doing mornings on WABC/New York, Don Imus is once again at the center of a race controversy. During a discussion about football... (more)

Thai journalists and media advocates oppose controversial frequency allocation bill
From Media Network Weblog. Posted June 18 2008, 4.35pm
Journalists and media advocates in Thailand today petitioned House Speaker Chai Chidchob to withdraw the controversial frequency allocation bill. The petitioners, 18 media groups, are upset by an amendment to the bill which allows the cabinet to appoint the 10-member National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). The appointed commissioners would be empowered to design a master [...] (more)

Big Brother, take nine: Still crazy - and controversial - after all these years
From Media Guardian. Posted June 5 2008, 11.35pm
Reality TV show Big Brother reaches its ninth series touting a 'zero tolerance' policy (more)

Radio Farda reporter denied entry to UN Food Summit
From Media Network Weblog. Posted June 4 2008, 12.28pm
Italian authorities denied Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reporter Ahmad Rafat admission to the UN Food Summit in Rome yesterday and declared him ‘persona non grata.’ Mr Rafat’s recent reports on Radio Farda - which broadcasts Persian-language news and information to Iran - have focused on the controversy surrounding Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s trip to [...] (more)

KBS evaluation report sparks controversy
From Media Network Weblog. Posted May 27 2008, 10.37am
A controversy is growing over the management evaluation report on the state-run Korea Broadcasting System (KBS). The report, submitted by the KBS management evaluation committee to its board of directors, is said to carry biased contents. The report is criticized as being unfair, as it praises “Media Focus,” a much-criticized program for its biased stance [...] (more)

Danny Baker returns to BBC Radio Five Live
From Media Guardian. Posted May 20 2008, 9.44am
Controversial DJ Danny Baker is making another return to BBC Radio 5 Live next month as part of the station's coverage of Euro 2008. By Jemima Kiss (more)

Lamb crowned 'rising star' despite row
From Media Guardian. Posted May 13 2008, 9.08am
Controversial BBC 6 Music DJ George Lamb was named 'rising star' in the Sony Radio Academy Awards. By John Plunkett (more)

Arab broadcasters criticise media charter
From Media Network Weblog. Posted May 5 2008, 12.38pm
Media companies in the Middle East say a controversial charter adopted by many countries in the region needs to be rewritten because it has become another tool of censorship by authoritarian governments. At a conference of the Arab Broadcast Forum in Abu Dhabi, several broadcasters complained about the charter, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported. Adopted by [...] (more)

The Big Question: Why is there such controversy over TV talent shows and the West End?
From The Independent. Posted April 18 2008, 12.00am
(more)

'Today' showdown leaves Des Browne in tight spot
From The Independent. Posted April 13 2008, 12.00am
The Defence Secretary Des Browne has been accused of misrepresenting key details of a controversial court case regarding treatment of service personnel on active duty during a mauling at the hands of John Humphrys on yesterday's Radio 4 Today programme. (more)

Irish News wins landmark appeal against controversial libel case
From Press Gazette. Posted March 10 2008, 12.00am
The Irish News today won a landmark appeal which overturned the awarding of £25,000 to a Belfast restaurateur over a critical review. (more)

BBC pulls controversial sponsorship website
From Media Guardian. Posted March 7 2008, 5.53pm
The BBC has taken down a website detailing sponsorship opportunities around its events after a series of complaints from commercial rivals. By Owen Gibson (more)

BBC closes controversial website hunting sponsors
From The Times. Posted March 7 2008, 3.41pm
The BBC today withdrew a controversial website aimed at persuading advertisers to pay to sponsor live events such as <i>Children in Need</i> or <i>Saving Planet Earth</i>, in return for on-air exposure of their brands in front of millions of viewers. (more)

BBC closes controversial sponsorship website
From The Times. Posted March 7 2008, 3.41pm
The BBC today withdrew a controversial website aimed at persuading advertisers to pay to sponsor live events such as <i>Children in Need</i> or <i>Saving Planet Earth</i>, in return for on-air exposure of their brands to millions of viewers. (more)

Newspaper watchdog locks horns with author over controversial complaints stats
From Hold the Front Page. Posted February 22 2008, 2.00am
PCC chief to address "untrue" figures in new book (more)

FCC plan to let AM stations to use FM at night controversial
From Media Network Weblog. Posted February 20 2008, 12.38pm
Almost everyone has signaled thumbs up on a Federal Communications Commission plan that would allow AM radio stations in the US to duplicate their programming on FM translators. The formal comment period for the proceeding has concluded, but filings keep arriving. The latest came in on 8 February from Rep Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), endorsing the [...] (more)

TVCatchup suspended after complaints
From Media Guardian. Posted February 18 2008, 12.50pm
The controversial TV recording tool TVCatchup.com has had its service suspended after complaints from the BBC, Channel 4, ITV and Channel Five. By Jemima Kiss (more)

Barack Obama twice voted to cut off funding to Radio/TV Martí
From Media Network Weblog. Posted January 26 2008, 11.08am
The Sarasota Herald Tribune notes that Barack Obama, who is competing with Hillary Clinton for the nomination as Democratic candidate for the US Presidential Election, has twice voted to cut off funding to the controversial Radio and TV Martí broadcasts. As the paper points out, these stations receive $35 million a year from the US government to beam anti-Castro [...] (more)

BBC under fire after staff member posed as radio competition winner
From The Independent. Posted January 25 2008, 12.00am
The BBC fell into further introspection and controversy last night after an internal report revealed a member of staff posed as a competition winner and another entrant's name was invented on radio shows presented by Russell Brand and Jo Whiley. (more)

CityTalk's controversial start
From Radio Today. Posted January 22 2008, 12.18am
Emap's new all speech station for Liverpool is set to cause a stir - even before the microphone goes live. Posters for the launch campaign includes controversial statements from the main presenters, including Pete Price claiming "Racism is alive and well in Liverpool". (more)

Bob Grant's Real Award: The Support of His Radio Listeners
From radio.about.com. Posted January 22 2008, 12.00am
Longtime talk radio host, Bob Grant, was recently at the center of a controversy when a trade magazine first offered him a lifetime achievement award and then, suddenly withdrew it.... (more)

Radio Trade Magazine Rescinds Lifetime Award to Bob Grant
From radio.about.com. Posted January 18 2008, 2.43pm
Bob Grant, a pioneer in talk radio, has been embroiled in a controversy this week. Newsmax.com says: "...Radio & Records magazine decided against awarding him a lifetime achievement award... (more)

New Polish government reviews EU grant to Catholic anti-Semitic radio
From Media Network Weblog. Posted January 10 2008, 2.46pm
The new Polish Liberal government will reexamine the European Union grant awarded to a controversial Catholic radio station, the press reported. According to Polska newspaper, Poland’s Environment Minister, Maciej Nowicki, is making a critical review of a 15/3 million euro EU grant to Radio Maryja, known for its anti-Semitic and anti-European opinions. Nowicki reportedly hopes to [...] (more)

Perennially controversial Golden Globes reduced to press conference
From Press Gazette. Posted January 9 2008, 12.00am
The perennially controversial Golden Globes Awards are making bigger headlines than usual this year. (more)

Rovers Return for another bite at Friday nights
From Media Guardian. Posted January 2 2008, 11.56pm
ITV1 is to bolster its Tuesday and Friday night schedules by moving episodes of Coronation Street and Emmerdale from their current Sunday slots (more)

Rovers Return to get smoking area
From Media Guardian. Posted January 2 2008, 1.26pm
Coronation Street makers deny reports that the pub will be replaced by a trendy wine bar. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Capital Radio ditches DJ Bam Bam
From Media Guardian. Posted December 6 2007, 7.29am
Capital Radio has axed controversial DJ Bam Bam - just nine months after he joined the GCap Media-owned London station. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

Ofcom clears controversial 'Baby' show
From Digital Spy. Posted December 5 2007, 9.36am
Ofcom clears Channel 4 show Bringing Up Baby of wrongdoing despite it prompting 752 complaints. (more)

Heat settles sticker controversy with charity donation
From Press Gazette. Posted December 4 2007, 12.00am
Katie Price has halted her complaint against Heat magazine for making fun of her disabled son after it apologised and paid a donation to a children’s charity. (more)

Croydon Guardian vows to investigate controversial adverts
From Hold the Front Page. Posted November 15 2007, 12.00am
Sex trade under investigation again as spotlight falls on small ads (more)

U-turn on BBC radio news rebrand
From Media Guardian. Posted November 6 2007, 7.12am
BBC radio executives have abandoned the controversial rebranding of the corporation's news bulletins. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

BBC to air controversial Queen documentary
From Digital Spy. Posted November 5 2007, 9.35pm
The BBC presses ahead with plans to air a five-part documentary looking at the life of the Queen. (more)

Geo Network to distribute controversial Pak movie
From Biz Asia. Posted November 1 2007, 7.52am
Pakistani media brand Geo Network is releasing one of the most talked about Pakistani movies of this year - 'Khuda Kay Liye'. Incidentally the film is also produced by Geo and stars Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah. 'Khuda Kay Liye' evokes many issues such as marital rape and jihad in the light of Muslim radicals. In a recent interview with Newsweek magazine Geo TV chief Mir Ibrahim Rehman expressed, "It's heroic for the population to want to see this film." 'Khuda Kay Liye' is released through Geo Films and the soundtrack out on the Geo Music label. 'Khuda Kay Liye' releases in the UK on Friday 2nd November. Extracts: RadioSargam Related link: Geo News Int. begins test transmissions on Sky (more)

Former Northcliffe editor lifts the lid on controversial departure
From Hold the Front Page. Posted October 15 2007, 12.00am
New book reveals behind-the-scenes story of ups and downs in regional press journalism (more)

Don Imus Poised for Return to Radio
From radio.about.com. Posted October 3 2007, 8.54pm
Newsday.com is reporting: "Citadel Broadcasting is close to finalizing a contract with Don Imus that would bring the controversial radio host back to the airwaves, a person familiar with... (more)

Kid Nation kicks off on a wave of controversy
From Media Guardian. Posted September 17 2007, 1.00am
Kid Nation, the latest US reality TV show, shares one thing with William Golding's Lord of the Flies: controversy. By Dan Glaister in Los Angeles. (more)

BBC's Yentob in 'noddy' controversy
From Digital Spy. Posted September 7 2007, 9.40am
The BBC's Alan Yentob reportedly recorded 'nodding' shots for his Imagine series, which were edited with interviews he didn't conduct himself. (more)

BBC's Alan Yentob in 'noddy' controversy
From Media Guardian. Posted September 7 2007, 1.00am
8am: The BBC has admitted that Alan Yentob performed 'noddy shots' on interviews that he did not conduct for his series Imagine. By Ben Dowell. (more)

RTL to scrap controversial reality show inherited from Tien
From Media Network Weblog. Posted August 24 2007, 1.13pm
The boss of RTL Nederland, Fons van Westerloo, has told Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant that the controversial reality TV show ”The Golden Cage” will be scrapped by the end of the year. RTL took over the show when it bought John de Mol’s struggling TV channel Tien, which closed last Friday. The controversial show has frequently been criticised [...] (more)

Channel 4 to hand over controversial 'Dispatches'
From Biz Asia. Posted August 21 2007, 9.15pm
Channel 4 has been ordered to hand over unbroadcast footage from its documentary 'Dispatches: Britain Under Attack' to the Metropolitan Police. (more)

Tabling of India?s Broadcast Bill may be delayed
From Media Network Weblog. Posted August 8 2007, 10.01am
The controversial Broadcast Bill 2007, which has been described as a draconian piece of legislation by broadcasters, is not likely to be introduced in the coming monsoon session of the Indian parliament. The bill, which provides for a broadcast regulator and seeks to impose severe cross-media restrictions, has been stoutly opposed by the Indian media [...] (more)

Fired jock Imus close to CBS settlement
From thenoise.co.uk. Posted July 30 2007, 9.59pm
Controversial US talk show host Don Imus is understood to be about to reach a settlement with the broadcaster that fired him over a “racial slur”. CBS Radio pulled the syndicated Imus in the Morning show from 60 radio stations after the presenter referred to an all-black women’s basketball team as “nappy-headed hos”. Imus, who had presented [...] (more)

Sharpton Says Don Imus "...Has as Right to Make a Living"
From radio.about.com. Posted July 20 2007, 2.39am
That's a quote as reported by Hollywood.com. In addition, it reports: "Rev. Al Sharpton has made a controversial u-turn...Imus should be allowed to make a return to radio--on the condition... (more)

Controversial year for Radio 1
From Radio Today. Posted July 4 2007, 8.36am
Radio 1 has given the BBC a controversial year, according to the first Annual Report of the BBC Trust for the 12-month period ending March 31st. Presenters Chris Moyles and Scott Mills are most to blame after an Ofcom rulings against the duo for separate incidents. (more)

Trust highlights Radio 1's 'controversial' year
From Media Guardian. Posted July 3 2007, 1.00am
Annual report: The BBC Trust has highlighted a 'controversial' year for Radio 1, during which Ofcom censured two of its presenters. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Controversial FOI bill fails to win support in House of Lords
From Hold the Front Page. Posted June 14 2007, 12.00am
Opponents hail news as a triumph for democracy (more)

Red Dragon FM Backtrack on Sacking
From Merry Media. Posted May 31 2007, 4.13pm
Red Dragon FM have back tracked on their controversial decision to terminate Allan Lake's contract last week. The evening presenter was popular with listeners and Red Dragon listened to public opinion and decided to keep him on.. (more)

Radio 4 denies 'sneaking out' Hanif Kureishi short story
From Media Guardian. Posted May 30 2007, 1.00am
Radio 4 last night aired Hanif Kureishi's controversial Iraq story Weddings and Beheadings. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Radio 4 denies 'sneaking out' Hanif Kureishi drama
From Media Guardian. Posted May 30 2007, 1.00am
1.15pm: Radio 4 last night aired Hanif Kureishi's controversial Iraq drama Weddings and Beheadings. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Controversy over appointment of new Director General for Bulgarian National Radio
From Media Network Weblog. Posted May 11 2007, 4.20pm
Controversy has broken out in Bulgaria following today’s announcement that Valeriy Todorov has been elected Director General of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR). It was reported that five members of the Council for Electronic Media (CEM) voted ‘for’, and that he was chosen at first voting among eight candidates. Three other candidates got one vote each, [...] (more)

Milwaukee Radio Host Expresses Glee Over Death of Rival's Mother
From radio.about.com. Posted May 7 2007, 1.00am
According to themilwaukeechannel.com: "A former alderman and controversial radio talk show host said he's happy the mother of his radio rival is dead. Michael McGee Sr. made the comments during his... (more)

Radio Host Larry Elder Puts Al Sharpton Into Perspective
From radio.about.com. Posted April 16 2007, 1.00am
Syndicated radio host, Larry Elder, has put together a very biting chronology of controversial events and affairs Al Sharpton has been involved in over the years. In light of the... (more)

Is Don Imus Radio's New "Janet Jackson"?
From radio.about.com. Posted April 11 2007, 3.01pm
It occurred to me this morning that this Imus controversy has mushroomed into such a fervent, national spectacle and debate that whatever happens to him might only be the beginning... (more)

Controversial Character Returns to The Archers
From Merry Media. Posted April 5 2007, 10.33am
A controversial character made her return to Ambridge in BBC Radio 4's The Archers last night.. (more)

Spring Drama Highlights on BBC Radio 3
From Merry Media. Posted March 27 2007, 9.31am
Joe Orton's controversial first theatre play, Entertaining Mr Sloane, receives its premier radio broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on Sunday 15 April.. (more)

Channel 4 drama tackles Iraq controversy
From Media Guardian. Posted March 27 2007, 1.00am
Hard-hitting Channel 4 film The Mark of Cain is expected to be the first in a wave of dramas based on the Iraq conflict. By Owen Gibson. (more)

C4 drama tackles Iraq controversy
From Media Guardian. Posted March 27 2007, 1.00am
Hard-hitting Channel 4 film The Mark of Cain is expected to be the first in a wave of dramas based on the Iraq conflict. By Owen Gibson. (more)

Time cover's fake tear prompts controversy
From Press Gazette. Posted March 19 2007, 8.37am
The redesign of Time magazine – the first big change in decades – didn’t provoke too much controversy. (more)

Another CBBC show in phone-in controversy
From Digital Spy. Posted March 17 2007, 10.52am
The BBC is accused of cheating its viewers of Sunday Morning Smile. (more)

Phone-in row hits radio stations
From Media Guardian. Posted March 12 2007, 12.00am
12.30pm: Icstis is to hold a meeting with radio broadcasters as Virgin and LBC are pulled into the controversy. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

Controversial speed cam stats handed over after two-year Free Press fight
From Hold the Front Page. Posted February 28 2007, 12.00am
Tribunal rules on paper's investigation to show speed cameras brought in �1.2m (more)

Kelvin Mackenzie and Richard Hammond in race to co-host Radio 4 Woman's Hour
From thenoise.co.uk. Posted February 24 2007, 5.00pm
Former Sun editor Kelvin Mackenzie, Top Gear crash survivor Richard Hammond (pictured) and Radio 4 comic Andy Hamilton are to compete for the chance to co-present a one-off edition of Woman's Hour for Comic Relief.BBC Radio 4 has announced that one of the three men will co-host the Friday 16 March edition with presenter Martha Kearney.The decision on who will end up on air is being put to a public vote, with proceeds from the premium rate number donated to Comic Relief.None of the three contestants is a stranger to radio. Andy Hamilton is a regular appearance on Radio 4's comedy shows, including The News Quiz.Richard Hammond — the Top Gear presenter who miraculously survived a 300 mile per hour crash — started his broadcasting career on a string of BBC local radio stations, including Radio York and Radio Leeds.And Kelvin Mackenzie — after introducing viewers to L!ve TV's news bunny and the weather in Norweigan — headed a consortium to buy Talk Radio in 1998, renaming the station talkSPORT.The former Sun editor — whose relations with Liverpool FC supporters remain tense following his controversial coverage of the Hillsborough disaster — is planning to launch an internet-only sport radio station, thecommentator.com, later this year.Earlier this week, Woman's Hour host Martha Kearney was announced as the new presenter of Radio 4's World At One.From April, she will take over the role of main presenter on the lunchtime show, succeeding veteran broadcaster Nick Clarke, who died from cancer in November last year. (more)

Capital line up Bam Bam for radio return
From Media Guardian. Posted February 20 2007, 12.00am
1.15pm: Capital lines up controversial former Kiss DJ Bam Bam for return to airwaves. By John Plunkett. (more)

Mail takes centre-stage in controversy over elected mayor for city
From Hold the Front Page. Posted February 19 2007, 12.00am
More than 100 readers and politicians make their views known at debate organised by paper (more)

New Dutch government will give more financial support to public broadcasters
From Media Network Weblog. Posted February 7 2007, 3.37pm
After a difficult few years, the Dutch domestic public broadcasters are looking forward to a less stressful period under the proposals contained in the Coalition Agreement unveiled today. The controversial plans of former Deputy Minister Medy van der Laan to radically alter the structure of public broadcasting, and to decrease government funding, have been abandoned. In fact, the [...] (more)

Venezuelans in South Florida turning to radio to blast Chávez
From Media Network Weblog. Posted February 4 2007, 11.37am
Taking a cue from the Cuban-American exile community, Venezuelans in South Florida are turning to radio to slam their homeland’s controversial leader and unify their community. The move is happening on two fronts: Venezuelan radio networks are buying time on local airwaves, broadcasting fiery political talk shows directly from Caracas; and Cuban-owned stations in South Florida [...] (more)

Controversy over Legal TV's EPG listing
From SkyDigi Online. Posted January 23 2007, 1.15pm
Controversy surrounds the name, which has been listed on Legal TV's schedule tonight on Sky Digital's EPG. BSkyB Legal TV to remove the title of a 1980s Crown Court episode from the EPG because it contains a racist term. The episode, titled 'Paki Basher', features the case of an Asian man who is tried for attacking a white youth and is due to air at 20:30. Sky is concerned that the title of the show may offend viewers. The channel, however, remains adamant to keep the show name listed as it is on the EPG to make the point that what was acceptable when the episode first aired in 1984 is no longer acceptable today. Legal TV is based on EPG 215. (more)

Broadcasting Board of Governors Chairman decides to quit
From Media Network Weblog. Posted January 10 2007, 9.27am
Controversial US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) Chairman Kenneth Y Tomlinson has asked President Bush not to put his name in nomination for another term. Tomlinson said he serves at the pleasure of the President and plans to remain in office until his successor is confirmed. In a letter to President Bush dated 9 January, Tomlinson [...] (more)

Amid Controversy and Odd Events, Radio's Art Bell Continues to Go Bump in the Night
From radio.about.com. Posted January 5 2007, 12.00am
Art Bell is the syndicated Radio host who found great success with an overnight show that featured stories and reports of aliens, ghosts, chupacabras, contrails, and anything else out of... (more)

South Korean Cabinet approves controversial broadcasting bill
From Media Network Weblog. Posted January 3 2007, 11.49am
The South Korean government yesterday approved a much-disputed bill that would allow President Roh Moo-hyun to appoint all five members of a new broadcasting and communications regulatory body. Critics accuse the government of attempting to keep the broadcasting industry under direct control ahead of the presidential election slated for December. The Cabinet yesterday endorsed a motion [...] (more)

Changes in Australian media could start early
From Media Network Weblog. Posted December 13 2006, 10.33am
Australia’s controversial media law changes could take effect in May, after confirmation of a timetable to auction two new digital services next year. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released a paper confirming that the two services — known as Channel A and Channel B — will be allocated by August for the [...] (more)

Tommy Sheridan takes his brand of fire to the airwaves
From Media Guardian. Posted December 11 2006, 12.00am
Controversial MSP Tommy Sheridan kicks off his Sunday morning radio show on Edinburgh's Talk 107. By Kirsty Scott. (more)

Voice of Russia?s website ignores poisoning death of Putin?s critic
From Media Network Weblog. Posted November 29 2006, 10.22am
Ted Lipien writes: The Voice of Russia’s (VOR) English website has ignored the poisoning death in London of Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB agent who became a strong critic of President Putin. The state-funded radio station has been silent in recent years about a number of controversial news developments that proved to be highly embarrassing [...] (more)

Moyles teams up with Rugby minnow
From Breaking Radio. Posted November 18 2006, 8.31pm
Featherstone Rovers and Chris Moyles are insisting a new deal between them is a marriage made in heaven after the rugby renamed their ground in honour of the controversial Radio 1 DJ. (more)

Japanese order to NHK to focus on North Korea causes controversy
From Media Network Weblog. Posted November 10 2006, 9.35am
Japan today officially ordered public broadcaster NHK to give airtime to a dispute with rival North Korea on abductions, despite criticism the government was trampling on freedom of speech. Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshihide Suga said he handed over instructions for NHK to choose content in its overseas shortwave radio broadcasts “keeping the abduction issue [...] (more)

Radio 1's 'girl next door' apologises for race gaffe
From The Independent. Posted November 8 2006, 12.00am
When Edith Bowman was given an afternoon show on Radio 1, the station hoped she would provide a counterbalance to controversial "shock-jock" presenters such as Chris Moyles and Sara Cox. (more)

“Muslim hackers�? target Vatican Radio’s website
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 13 2006, 2.27pm
Extremist Muslims have, according to the Italian police, been busy in recent days hacking into various websites of the Vatican. Italian press agency Ansa says that the the Internet pages of Vatican Radio are amongst those which have been targeted. The “attacks�? are assumed to be related to the controversy over remarks made by Pope [...] (more)

Martin Daubney: My Life In Media
From The Independent. Posted October 9 2006, 12.00am
As the editor of Loaded, Martin Daubney has displayed a flair for the controversial. The Vatican tried to sue over a doctored picture of the Pope with a pint of ale, and animal rights activists fumed over a feature about shooting radioactive wolves in Chernobyl. He is also the man who used a remote-controlled helicopter to ferry hamburgers to David Blaine's Perspex cage at Tower Bridge. (more)

President of Miami Herald publisher resigns following Radio Martí controversy
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 3 2006, 2.26pm
Newspaper company McClatchy Co has announced that Jesus Diaz Jr has resigned as president of The Miami Herald Media Co to seek opportunities outside the newspaper industry. MHMC’s general manager, David Landsberg, has been named to the post, McClatchy said in a statement. Landsberg, a longtime Herald employee, will move into the job immediately. Diaz has [...] (more)

Slovak nationalist wants more control of country?s TV, radio
From Media Network Weblog. Posted September 29 2006, 12.09pm
A controversial nationalist in Slovakia’s government coalition hopes to overhaul the country’s public television and radio stations, the Pravda newspaper reported Friday. Jan Slota, an ally of Prime Minister Robert Fico, and his Slovak National Party (SNS) have proposed “switching media politics to nationalist,” the report said. The full cabinet led by Fico’s Smer party will now [...] (more)

C4 courts controversy with mock Bush assassination
From Media Guardian. Posted September 1 2006, 1.00am
Channel 4 is set to spark a furore in the US this month when it unveils a documentary-style film in which George Bush is assassinated. By Owen Gibson. (more)

BBC pulls controversial radio show
From Media Guardian. Posted August 23 2006, 1.00am
1.15pm: The BBC has pulled a radio comedy show featuring sketches including a cow flying into the twin towers. By John Plunkett. (more)

Kazakh parliament passes controversial media law
From Media Network Weblog. Posted June 29 2006, 2.57pm
Kazakhstan’s upper house passed new media legislation today despite criticism from the United States and others that the changes represented a setback to press freedom in the Central Asian state. President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has ruled the former Soviet country since 1989, has to sign the amendments for the new law to come into effect. In [...] (more)

GCap faces shareholder anger over executive pay
From Media Guardian. Posted June 28 2006, 6.13pm
5.15pm: Radio group GCap Media is heading for a row with shareholders over its controversial �1.13m payoff to former chief executive David Mansfield. By Chris Tryhorn. (more)

BBC World uses immigration controversy for launch of 24-hour US station
From Brand Republic. Posted June 1 2006, 12.06pm
NEW YORK - Americans are being invited to 'see both sides of the story' as the BBC backs today's launch of its 24-hour news channel in the US with a poster ad campaign, tapping into the immigration controversy with images of people being stopped at the border. (more)

Bridget Jones sparks controversy with sexual trailer
From Brand Republic. Posted May 30 2006, 12.05pm
LONDON - The BBC has been slammed by media regulator Ofcom for showing a trailer featuring a raunchy scene from 'Bridget Jones's Diary' straight after 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. (more)

Songs by Subject: "Da Vinci Code" Stirs Controversy
From radio.about.com. Posted May 19 2006, 4.02am
Radio stations, programmers, and deejays have used The Green Book of Songs By Subject for years. Each week, The Green Book of Songs By Subject provides a new list of... (more)

Television frequency awards in Serbia spark controversy
From Media Network Weblog. Posted May 17 2006, 12.44pm
Serbia's broadcasting agency has come under fire over its recent allocations of TV broadcasting stations. The financial stakes are high, and the cases could end up in court. The Republican Broadcasting Agency's (RBA) recent allocations of television frequencies were not universally welcomed. At the end of April, the RBA awarded frequencies to TV B92, TV Pink, TV Avala and TV Fox, and Kosava TV and (more)

BBC Radio 4 Admits Call-In Show Controversy Was Hoax
From radio.about.com. Posted May 14 2006, 5.51pm
From tmcnet.com: A RADIO 4 phone-in show which attracted complaints over its "racist and sexist" content was a spoof, the station have revealed...One caller was an elderly, gay Holocaust denier... (more)

Controversial baby TV channel could be coming to the UK
From Brand Republic. Posted May 12 2006, 11.05am
LONDON - A controversial new television channel aimed the under-threes could be available in the UK by the end of the year. (more)

Diamond FM goes to Parliament
From Radio Today. Posted May 4 2006, 10.30am
The controversial award of the Plymouth FM licence to Australian bank Macquarie reached the House of Commons on Tuesday, where a leading minister was accused of 'passing the buck' by a local MP. Plymouth MP Linda Gilroy said the win by Diamond FM had provoked 'consternation, disbelief, astonishment and downright anger' amongst the residents and businesses of the city. Broadcast minister James Purnell said Gilroy had made an 'extremely powerful case', in that Ofcom's decision had been unpopular locally, however the decision was not a matter for the Government. "We need to recognise that licensing is a matter for Ofcom, which take decisions independently of Government. That is quite proper. It is not for me to justify or defend Ofcom's decision." (more)

CBS and XM Satellite Radio reach deal on controversial radio duo
From Media Network Weblog. Posted April 24 2006, 6.25pm
CBS Corp said today it planned to bring back controversial radio hosts "Opie & Anthony," allowing their popular show to run on CBS Radio and XM Satellite Radio. The agreement calls for CBS radio stations in New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, Cleveland, Dallas and West Palm Beach to start carrying the show on Wednesday, April 26, some four years after the broadcaster pulled the duo off the (more)

Poland's Radio Maryja accused of anti-Semitism
From Media Network Weblog. Posted April 5 2006, 10.41am
Poland's controversial religious broadcaster Radio Maryja, which has become the mouthpiece of the ruling conservatives, was chided on Tuesday by a media ethics group for airing "primitive, anti-Semitic" views. The country's Media Ethics Council called on Radio Maryja - the self-proclaimed "Catholic voice in your home" - to stop broadcasting what it called xenophobic views and urged the state media (more)

Yvonne Roberts meets controversial educational motivator Yolande Beckles
From Media Guardian. Posted April 5 2006, 8.10am
A new TV series showing educational motivator Yolande Beckles 'kicking butt' in her efforts to improve pupils' behaviour has caused outrage. Yvonne Roberts met her. (more)

Voice from Jamaica divides Radio 4 listeners
From The Independent. Posted April 1 2006, 12.00am
His voice has appalled and delighted Middle England's Radio 4 listeners in equal measure. And Neil Nunes, the continuity announcer whose Jamaican accent caused the controversy, is finding life in the front line less than appealing. (more)

Ofcom explains Plymouth award
From Radio Today. Posted March 20 2006, 11.48am
In one of the most controversial licence awards to date by Ofcom, the awarding of the Plymouth licence has been explained in a document released today. One of the main reasons Ofcom awarded the licence to Diamond FM (Radio UK Holdings Limited - a wholly-owned subsidiary of Macquarie Bank) was their proposals to broaden listener choice more than any of the other proposals. It felt that Diamond�s mix of classic rock from the last five decades with relatively low speech, as well as its promise to play youth-focused alternative rock during evening output, would broaden choice more than any of the other proposals. (more)

RTVE to scrap 4500 jobs - El Mundo
From Media Network Weblog. Posted March 10 2006, 12.29pm
According to a report in El Mundo, based on a leaked document, Spanish public broadcaster RTVE is to announce the scrapping of 4500 jobs - about half of its current workforce. The most controversial part of the plan is the the closure of Radio Nacional's Catalan service, Radio 4. The plan also calls for the closure of RTVE's television service in the Canary Islands. Most of the other cuts will (more)

RTVE to scrap 4500 jobs: El Mundo
From Media Network Weblog. Posted March 10 2006, 12.29pm
According to a report in El Mundo, based on a leaked document, Spanish public broadcaster RTVE is to announce the scrapping of 4500 jobs - about half of its current workforce. The most controversial part of the plan is the the closure of Radio Nacional's Catalan service, Radio 4. The plan also calls for the closure of RTVE's television service in the Canary Islands. Most of the other cuts will (more)

Colorado High School Teacher Controversy Fueled by Radio Show
From radio.about.com. Posted March 4 2006, 10.00pm
RegisterGuard.com reports: "It was the day after President Bush's State of the Union address, and social studies teacher Jay Bennish was warning his world geography class not to be taken in. 'Sounds a lot like the things that Adolf Hitler... (more)

Gilligan attacks outgoing Today editor
From Media Guardian. Posted March 1 2006, 5.51pm
Andrew Gilligan has accused his former boss, the outgoing Today editor Kevin Marsh, of saving his own job by steering away from controversy. By John Plunkett. (more)

Gilligan attacks Marsh
From Media Guardian. Posted March 1 2006, 4.11pm
4pm: Andrew Gilligan has accused his former boss, the outgoing Today editor Kevin Marsh, of saving his own job by steering away from controversy. By John Plunkett. (more)

RadioShack chief resigns over resume controversy
From Media Network Weblog. Posted February 21 2006, 1.08pm
Electronics retailer RadioShack Corp. announced yesteday that its President and Chief Executive, David Edmondson, has resigned in the midst of an investigation into credentials listed on his resume. Edmondson, who became RadioShack's CEO last May after being groomed for the spot, admitted last week that he had "clearly" misstated his academic record on his resume and on the company's Web (more)

A HISTORY OF CARTOON CONTROVERSY
From Press Gazette. Posted February 9 2006, 12.00am
Despite the outrage caused by the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in several European newspapers, such controversy is nothing new in the realm of political caricature. (more)

BBC Radio 4 UK Theme to be released commercially
From Media Network Weblog. Posted February 4 2006, 12.12pm
The controversy over the plans to drop the five-minute medley of patriotic tunes that opens BBC Radio 4 each morning has taken a new turn. Musician Mike Flowers says he's producing a commercial release of the medley by the Royal Ballet Symphonia, that will be available on CD and download before the end of this month. Mr Flowers says he has the backing of Ingrid Spiegl, widow of the composer. (more)

Celebrity Big Brother courts controversy with Barrymore signing
From Brand Republic. Posted January 3 2006, 8.01am
LONDON – Troubled presenter Michael Barrymore is tipped to make his TV comeback on 'Celebrity Big Brother' alongside former Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith and comedian Johnny Vegas. (more)

Celebrity Big Brother courts controversy with Barrymore
From Brand Republic. Posted January 3 2006, 8.01am
LONDON – Troubled presenter Michael Barrymore is tipped to make his TV comeback on 'Celebrity Big Brother' alongside former Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith and comedian Johnny Vegas. (more)

Paul Gambaccini: Here, there and everywhere
From The Independent. Posted January 1 1970, 12.59am
Who, a decade ago, would have thought it possible that the then controversial Paul Gambaccini would become the revered figurehead of the British radio industry? (more)