Challenge - news archive

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

Analysis: Colleagues welcome Roly Keating's move to new archive role
From Media Guardian. Posted July 22 2008, 2.42pm
Roly Keating's appointment as the BBC's first director of archive content presents him with a major managerial challenge - and allows BBC2 to get a fresh injection of new blood. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Dando accused will not give evidence in retrial
From Media Guardian. Posted July 21 2008, 11.03pm
Defence challenges significance of fibre retrieved from raincoat of murdered TV presenter (more)

Ofcom Chair Acknowledges stv's Public Service Cost Challenge
From allmediascotland - Spike. Posted July 21 2008, 7.57am
The chair of the broadcasting regulators, Ofcom, has acknowledged that stv might have difficulties fulfilling its obligations providing news and other programmes which have a public service value, but don’t necessarily make financial sense. David Currie was speaking following... (more)

The chairman's challenge: Who can step into Ofcom boss David Currie's shoes?
From Media Guardian. Posted July 20 2008, 11.02pm
As Ofcom boss David Currie prepares to step down, the focus is on who could take over the role - another economist, someone able to cope with political flux? By Maggie Brown (more)

Media secretary: BBC Trust will rule on local video plan
From Press Gazette. Posted July 17 2008, 12.00am
Media Secretary Andy Burnham has ducked a challenge to intervene in the row between regional newspapers and the BBC over the corporation's controversial plans to develop its own local video news services. (more)

BSkyB cleared over carbon-neutral ads
From Media Guardian. Posted July 9 2008, 8.43am
BSkyB has survived a challenge to its carbon-neutral status after the ASA rejected complaints about an ad trumpeting its eco policy. By Mark Sweney (more)

Fogle, Cracknell to ski 450 miles for BBC2
From Digital Spy. Posted July 5 2008, 6.34am
Ben Fogle and James Cracknell are to follow their Atlantic rowing adventure with a South Pole ski race challenge. (more)

Belgian newspaper group to take European Commission to court again after its first challenge over news aggregator fails
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 3 2008, 10.04am
Belgian newspaper group Copiepresse - yes, the one that's in that legal wrangle with Google - is about to re-enter a copyright battle with a second online publisher - this time it's the European Commission. Copiepresse will attempt to sue the EC for a second time after it had its copyright infringement case against the EC's [...] (more)

Virgin to launch Challenge gaming channel
From Digital Spy. Posted June 30 2008, 12.00pm
Virgin Media is to launch a Challenge-branded interactive gaming channel. (more)

BSkyB taunts Ofcom for pessimistic view on public service
From Financial Times. Posted June 30 2008, 3.00am
British Sky Broadcasting has challenged the assumptions of what constitutes public-service broadcasting (PSB) and taunted Ofcom for what it described as the industry... (more)

BBC executive dismisses ITV's global ambitions
From Media Guardian. Posted June 25 2008, 1.35pm
A BBC Worldwide executive has questioned ITV's global ambitions, saying the commercial broadcaster is not a serious challenger internationally. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

BBC response to consultation on the future of public service broadcasting
From Media Network Weblog. Posted June 24 2008, 1.39pm
The BBC has submitted its response to the consultation on the future of public service broadcasting (PSB) by UK communications regulator Ofcom. The BBC’s submission argues that securing the reach, impact and quality of PSB in the digital age is the central challenge ahead for broadcasters. It therefore questions whether the case for intervening to support [...] (more)

Sky mulling legal action over EU STB tax
From Digital Spy. Posted June 24 2008, 9.21am
Pay TV firms and manufacturers may challenge the EU's imposition of import duty on some set-top boxes. (more)

TV set-top makers to challenge EC ruling
From Financial Times. Posted June 23 2008, 3.00am
Pay-television operators and set-top box makers are considering legal action against the European Commission after a tax ruling left many of them facing millions of... (more)

TV set-top makers to challenge ruling
From Financial Times. Posted June 22 2008, 7.11pm
Pay-television operators and set-top box makers are considering legal action against the European Commission after a tax ruling left many of them facing millions of pounds in unexpected cost (more)

Huq, Jamelia feature in BBC3 Beauty Season
From Digital Spy. Posted June 20 2008, 7.36pm
BBC Three plans a series of programmes which seek to challenge conventional notions of beauty. (more)

ITV creative chief faces challenges
From Financial Times. Posted June 20 2008, 6.37pm
Lee Bartlett faces some tough tests as the new head of global content for ITV, as commercial pressures and a falling share price contrive against him (more)

Male kiss adds sauce to Heinz mayo ad
From Media Guardian. Posted June 16 2008, 2.16pm
Heinz is set to challenge some viewer expectations with a light-hearted TV campaign that features two men sharing a kiss. By Mark Sweney (more)

Dave challenges BBC in Channel of the Year Awards
From The Stage. Posted June 16 2008, 1.40pm
(more)

Editor 'pilots' tandem for 560-mile charity challenge
From Hold the Front Page. Posted June 12 2008, 8.20am
Keighley News editor Malcolm Hoddy joins partially-sighted Natasha Hudson for week-long event (more)

'Paanchvi' outperforms rivals celebrity shows
From Biz Asia. Posted June 11 2008, 5.58pm
One can't miss the array of Bollywood celebrities descending on the small screen, since the craze started in 2000 with legend Amitabh Bachchan on 'Kaun Banega Crorepati'. Last weekend saw Salman Khan debut as a TV host after numerous appearances as a special guest on other programmes. According to the overnight TV audience measurement system from Audience Measurement and Analytics (AMap), '10 Ka Dum' on Sony Entertainment Television Asia, had an average of 1.65% and a television rating (TRP) of 2.6% during peak time. As compared to KBC3, which unfurled on January 22, 2007, which had an average rating of 3.4% and a peak rating of 4.9%, 10 Ka Dum is way below. 'Junoon-Kuch Kar Dikhane Ka', which starred Hrithik Roshan as a celebrity judge being telecasted on NDTV Imagine, had an average rating of 0.82% and a peak rating of 1.1%. ZEE TV's programme 'Rock And Roll Family', which has Ajay Devgan, Kajol and Tanuja as celebrity judges, and launched on 14th March, had an average TRP of 2.4% and a peak of 3.2%, according to AMap. Similarly, 'The Great Indian Laughter Challenge 4', with Shatrughan Sinha as a judge on STAR One, also managed to score just 0.54% as average rating and 1% as peak rating. In comparison, Shah Rukh Khan hosted 'Kya Aap Panchvi Pass Se Tez Hain', debut on April 25, had an average rating of 2.7% with a peak of 3.5%. (more)

Journalist throws down gauntlet in running challenge
From Hold the Front Page. Posted June 9 2008, 9.10am
Reporters can represent their profession and get fit at the same time (more)

'Scrapheap Challenge' drops Llewellyn
From Digital Spy. Posted June 5 2008, 12.02pm
Robert Llewellyn isn't returning for the 11th series of Scrapheap Challenge. (more)

'Apprentice' hopefuls struggle in interviews
From Digital Spy. Posted June 4 2008, 12.02am
The candidates struggle with an intensive interview challenge on this week's Apprentice. (more)

Letters: How Mad Men challenges the conventions we live by
From Media Guardian. Posted May 26 2008, 11.05pm
Letters: At its essence Mad Men is about consciousness; the need to be aware of those conventions that make up our daily lives (more)

Mercury mountaineers to conquer Three Peaks challenge
From Hold the Front Page. Posted May 23 2008, 9.00am
Reporter and photographers to take on three highest mountains and raise charity cash (more)

Sun challenge lifted ban on reporting jailing of Joey Barton
From Press Gazette. Posted May 22 2008, 12.00am
A reporting restriction order which had prevented the media from reporting the conviction of Premiership footballer Joey Barton was lifted following representations by a barrister representing the publisher of The Sun newspaper. (more)

ZEE set to revitalise Indian Cricket League
From Biz Asia. Posted May 21 2008, 10.02pm
In order to counter the heat generated by the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) launched by BCCI, the rebel cricket body — Indian Cricket League (ICL) — is all set to take its tournament outside the country. Not only will the Subhash Chandra-owned Twenty20 tournament go to West Asia in September, its prize money will also go up. ICL will also launch a high-voltage multi-media campaign beginning August-September other than considering roping in film stars to not only own cricket teams, but to play the Twenty20 matches. The bottom line is that the Essel Group is gearing up to take on the Indian Premier League which has kept television viewers glued to Sony's SET Max channel. Says a senior ZEE executive: "The ICL is now very big on the agenda for the group. Several steps are being taken to increase the interest of both the viewers and the advertisers when the tournament starts in September-October this year. Don't forget, we saw the big potential in the Twenty20 format much before anyone else did." To lend freshness to the game, the ICL executives are looking at several international cricketing venues in the Gulf. The belief is that the company may finally zero in on Dubai or Sharjah as Taj Television, the holding company of Ten Sports that shows the matches, is based in Dubai. ZEE owns a 50 per cent stake in Ten Sports. However, in the face of competition from IPL, establishing ICL as a vibrant television property will be an uphill task for the Essel Group. "IPL is a successful television property with consistent ratings of about 4-5, similar to any popular show on a general entertainment channel. The initial tournaments of ICL got ratings of 1-2. To attract the viewers to another Twenty20 tournament will be a tough challenge for the ICL team," says a senior media planner. Winning against IPL will be a challenge on other counts as well. For a start, IPL is an official tournament with the backing of the International Cricket Council (ICC) while ICL is a rebel league comprising either retired international cricketers or not so known cricket players from both within and outside the country. Also, the ICL matches aired on ZEE Sports and later on Ten Sports as well, managed to attract viewers for 6-12 minutes on an average. The average time spent on Set Max (for IPL) has been over 40 minutes. Himanshu Modi, business head, ICL, however, is unfazed. In an emailed response to Business Standard earlier, he said: "It is important for everyone involved or following the league to understand that in terms of product life cycle we are in the introductory stage. Like any other sporting product, the ICL will need time to build its support base…" IPL has become a phenomenal television success, agree advertising experts. "If any one has to even match its intensity in future, they will have to put in something 'extra'," a senior executive in an advertising agency concludes. International venues and celebrities may work wonders for the sub-continent expats, but for the viewers back home, much more may be required," a senior executive in a Gurgaon-based advertising agency concludes. Related links: Hyderabad to host ZEE's ICL World Series IPL outperforms Shah Rukh show on STAR Plus ZEE Network thanks BCCI for ICL success Confirmed: ZEE Music to show ICL cricket Buzz surrounding BCCI's T20 IPL cricket ZEE's Indian Cricket League teams confirmed ZEE Network to form own Indian cricket league (more)

Networking online is the next challenge for Evening Chronicle
From Hold the Front Page. Posted May 20 2008, 5.10am
Facebook presence follows on from YouTube and blogging channels (more)

ZEE TV's 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' new series in June
From Biz Asia. Posted May 18 2008, 7.04pm
ZEE TV's flagship musical show 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa: Challenge' returns in the last week of June, BizAsia.co.uk can reveal. The charttopping series in which budding singers from around the world compete for the title as the voice of the nation will once again be hosted by Aditya Narayan. Details of the judges and performers are yet to confirmed. Last year Aneek Dhar walked away with nearly 4 crore of the votes, beating Raja Hassan and Amanat Ali to second and third respectively. Raja lost by a margin of 13 lakh. 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa: Challenge 2008' starts on 28th June at 20:00 and will be aired on both Saturday and Sunday with a spin-off show on ZEE Music. (more)

TV ratings - May 16: Invisibles trio challenge Midnight Man
From Media Guardian. Posted May 16 2008, 11.58am
BBC1 drama The Invisibles closed the gap on its ITV1 rival Midnight Man to 200,000 viewers. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Tim Berners-Lee and Media Standards Trust win News Challenge grant
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted May 14 2008, 11.00pm
British project awarded £180,000 to develop 'source tagging' technology (more)

Why isn't there a British equivalent of the Knight News Challenge?
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted May 13 2008, 11.00pm
Oliver Luft, Journalism.co.uk (more)

Marketing Slogans: A Cut Above the Rest
From allmediascotland - Spike. Posted May 12 2008, 8.43am
The skills of Scotland’s top marketeers was put to the test at an annual awards ceremony, held on Friday: come up with a slogan for a shop specialising in, er, circumcision. It was a challenge set by compere, BBC Scotland presenter, Dougie Vipond, following a gag that began:... (more)

Sterling Media's Teji Singh up for award
From Biz Asia. Posted May 10 2008, 1.11am
Teji Singh, media impresario and founder of international communications agency, Sterling Media, has been nominated for the Media Professional of the Year Award at the forthcoming Asian Women of Achievement Awards, taking place on Tuesday 20th May at London Hilton, Park Lane. The Asian Women of Achievement Awards applaud and celebrate the commitment, dedication and determination of Asian women from all over the UK and from all walks of life. Teji Singh is a name synonymous with determination, fortitude and the ability to succeed, even in the face of adversity. As an Asian single mother and media professional, she has challenged stereotypes surrounding the ‘role’ of Asian women in the workplace, as well as the home environment. Teji began her career in media when she was headhunted for the position of news anchor on the first Asian television channel in the UK, TV Asia. She embraced the opportunity and accompanying challenges, quickly rising in rank to one of TV Asia’s head news anchors. She stayed with the channel for four years, as a fundamental contributor to TV Asia’s growth from a modest channel into a global media brand that would shape and influence the Asian community for years to come – ZEE TV. In commenting about her nomination, Teji Singh comments, "I am truly honoured and humbled to be recognised for my efforts in this way. It has been a challenging journey, on both a personal and professional level, to get to where I am today. There have been constant hurdles to overcome, barriers to break through, and boundaries to push forward. "Through my own work, I want to demonstrate that you can achieve anything, if you really put your heart and soul into it. One should not worry about pleasing others, so long as you have faith, courage and integrity in your heart. "As a single, Asian woman, trying to get ahead in a male-dominated professional environment, I have challenged the stereotypes, and want to be testament that anything can be achieved in this life. The only person that can stop you is yourself." (more)

'Apprentice' Jenny admits to espionage
From Digital Spy. Posted May 7 2008, 12.02am
On this week's Apprentice Jenny and Michael admit to using espionage to try to win the challenge. (more)

My week: Suzanne Goldenberg, US correspondent, The Guardian
From Press Gazette. Posted May 2 2008, 12.00am
With TV and the web all over the race for the Democrat presidential nomination, finding fresh angles for a printed title in another time zone proves a challenge (more)

Myners attacks advertising on BBC.com
From Media Guardian. Posted April 23 2008, 3.21pm
Guardian Media Group chairman Paul Myners has challenged the BBC's decision to allow advertising on its international website BBC.com. By Stephen Brook (more)

'Apprentice' team split on ice cream task
From Digital Spy. Posted April 23 2008, 11.06am
There is a rift within Team Alpha during this week's ice cream-selling challenge on The Apprentice. (more)

Gruelling challenge is over for news execs on 24-hour 120km 'ultra-marathon'
From Hold the Front Page. Posted April 18 2008, 8.50am
African adventure ends in success and relief for Herald duo (more)

TV ratings - April 16: The Apprentice snaps up 7m viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted April 17 2008, 10.42am
BBC1's business reality programme continued to build its audience, hitting the 7 million viewer mark as its contestants took on a photography challenge. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

New Abu Dhabi paper faces tough challenge
From Financial Times. Posted April 16 2008, 2.23am
The government is launching The National, an English-language newspaper, to bring higher standards of journalism to the UAE amid strict press laws in the emirate (more)

Content Head Spells Out Gaelic TV Programming Challenge
From allmediascotland - Spike. Posted April 9 2008, 8.13am
Finding niche and distinctive programmes are among the top priorities for the head of content at a soon-to-launch new digital TV station, dedicated to the Gaelic language. While Alan Esslemont is excited that Gaelic language programmes will be on air during peak viewing times, he recognises... (more)

'Ultra' week ahead for newspaper execs on 120km desert challenge
From Hold the Front Page. Posted April 7 2008, 5.40am
Herald news chiefs hope to add to thousands already raised for hospice charity (more)

Les Dennis to front home video series
From Digital Spy. Posted April 3 2008, 3.13pm
Les Dennis is to present a new home video series on the Challenge channel. (more)

On Demand Group Selects ConSentry?s Intelligent Switches for Control at Network Edge
From Press Release, via webitpr. Posted April 3 2008, 1.14pm
ConSentry?s Intelligent Switching Architecture Provides Network Control and Granular Visibility to Address Present and Future Business Challenges Milpitas, CA ? April 3, 2008 ? ConSentry Networks, the leader in intelligent switching, today announced that On Demand Group (ODG), the leading video on demand (VDO) and pay per view (PPV) TV operator, has deployed the LANShield? Switch platform. ConSentry?s intelligent switch provides integrated user and application controls and granular network visibility of all branch-office user activity... (more)

Hyderabad to host ZEE's ICL World Series
From Biz Asia. Posted April 2 2008, 11.47pm
The top brass of the Indian Cricket League appear to be so overwhelmed by the response from cricket lovers in Hyderabad city, that just a day after shifting the second and third finals of the Edelweiss 20s Challenge from Panchkula to here, they have announced their next tournament and named Hyderabad as the venue. The ICL 20s World Series 2008 is a triangular series involving India, Pakistan and the Rest of the World and will be played at the Lal Bahadur Stadium. The seven-match tournament will be held from April 9 to 15. According to the format, each team will play the other twice and the top two teams will clash for the title. All the matches will begin at 19:00 and are to be telecast live on Ten Sports and ZEE Sports. A UK telecast time is yet to be confirmed. Announcing the World Series, Kapil Dev, Chairman, Executive board, ICL said, "The standard was so good in the 20s Challenge matches and the boys came out with such standout performances that cricket fans at all our venues got their money's worth. Therefore, we have decided to give them more as also provide our promising domestic players an opportunity to face two of the mightiest teams in the world." The Indian team is to be picked on the basis of the players' performances in the 20s Challenge as well as their growth prospects. The team will be announced after the second semifinal. Inzamanul-Haq will lead the ICL Pakistan team while Chris Cairns will lead the ICL World team. Related links: Bollywood.tv acquires ICL cricket action ZEE Cinema to telecast ICL: Championships (more)

Letter: Hockney's challenge to smoke-free BBC
From Media Guardian. Posted April 1 2008, 11.06pm
Letter: Polly Toynbee is saying the BBC has a lot of cowards running things. I have a problem with the BBC, as I belong to a legal group of people (about 12 million) which they decided to be against (more)

Video: First challenge in 'Project Runway'
From Digital Spy. Posted March 27 2008, 4.31pm
Click to watch an exclusive preview of this week's Project Runway. (more)

How to challenge a Contempt of Court Act postponement order
From Hold the Front Page. Posted March 26 2008, 10.25am
Reporters should challenge orders which can hold up reporting for months (more)

MPs launch High Court challenge against expenses disclosure ruling
From Press Gazette. Posted March 26 2008, 12.00am
Freedom of Information campaigners and journalists have expressed surprise and anger after MPs launched a legal battle to keep how they spend a £23,000-a-year expense allowance secret. (more)

Afghans unite to cheer their brave new stars as The X-Factor comes to Kabul
From Media Guardian. Posted March 23 2008, 12.00am
A TV talent show that challenges gender, tribal and religious boundaries is transfixing the nation's people - and antagonising religious scholars, reports Vanessa Thorpe (more)

Chris Tarrant to front Challenge gameshow
From Digital Spy. Posted March 19 2008, 2.11pm
Challenge hires Chris Tarrant to front new gameshow series It?s Not What You Know. (more)

Ten new tribes, six new athletes, only one victor ? Last Man Standing is back on BBC Three
From BBC Press Ofice. Posted March 13 2008, 10.30am
The ultimate test of strength stamina and skill is back on BBC Three this autumn as six intrepid athletes face their biggest challenge yettaking part in ancient tribal sporting festivals in remote locations around the world. (more)

Newspaper challenge overturns 'invalid' order in toddler death case
From Hold the Front Page. Posted March 13 2008, 8.25am
Herald wins battle to fully report details of ex-soldier's murder trial - but has to meet legal costs (more)

Airey: ITV to take global battle to BBC
From Media Guardian. Posted March 13 2008, 7.05am
ITV's Dawn Airey has said she plans for the broadcaster to show 'imperialistic tendencies' to challenge BBC Worldwide in exploiting programming franchises. By Mark Sweney (more)

Granada boss Nohr to depart
From Media Guardian. Posted March 10 2008, 4.48pm
Nadine Nohr, managing director of ITV's distribution arm Granada International, is to step down to pursue 'other challenges'. By Ben Dowell (more)

Challenge for Cheeseman at Radio Manchester
From Merry Media. Posted March 10 2008, 3.59pm
A Radio Manchester presenter will be running a lap at each of the area's four Premier League Football Clubs and covering the distance between them on foot. . (more)

Reckitt faces inquiries over 'plan' to maintain Gaviscon's dominance
From The Times. Posted March 7 2008, 11.40pm
Reckitt Benckiser faces a series of investigations by competition and health regulators over an alleged secret plan to maintain a monopoly in the supply of Gaviscon, the lucrative heartburn medicine. Internal documents show that executives at Reckitt, the Hull-based drug and cleaning products company, plotted under the codename “Project Eric” to block rivals from selling cheaper generic copies of Gaviscon. One former senior executive said Reckitt had “cheated the NHS”. It is thought that a cheaper, generic version of Gaviscon could have saved the health service £40 million a year. E-mails between executives discuss how to “drag out as long as possible” the process of other companies being allowed to manufacture generic versions, and their intention to create “a further barrier to competitors” and “restrict entry for new competitors”. The company announced an internal investigation into the allegations, made by BBC2’s Newsnight, insisting that it was “a responsible company in the way it conducts its business”. A spokesman for the Office of Fair Trading said: “We are aware of the story and are considering whether there may be a competition case to answer.” The NHS Counter Fraud Service is also considering whether an inquiry falls within its remit, and the House of Commons Health Select Committee may also investigate. Kevin Barron, MP, chair of the committee, said he was “disturbed” by the e-mails. “I will be taking it back to the committee to look at,” he said. However, it is not clear whether any laws have been broken. One regulatory source said: “Members of the public might not find it particularly wholesome. It might be sharp practice and they may be sailing close to the wind, but that doesn’t mean it’s illegal.” Before a rival company can create a generic drug, the British National Formulary must give it an official title. Reckitt tried to claim Gaviscon was unique and such a title could not be issued. It objected in 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2006. The drug company also successfully lobbied the British Pharmacopoeia Commission (BPC), part of the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency, that for health and safety reasons, a detailed quality specification known as a monograph was needed. One Reckitt executive wrote: “Should we not drag it out as long as possible . . . £9 million of business is at stake”. The e-mails talk of “a clever idea” - to make a near-identical product with a different name. “There must be something we can dig out of the cupboard!” one executive wrote. Reckitt also tried to persuade doctors to prescribe the new Gaviscon Advance. In 2005 the industry’s watchdog found it guilty of unethical behaviour. The news comes shortly after the European Commission began an inquiry into whether pharmaceutical companies were employing illegal tactics to delay generic versions. In January, it raided the offices of some of the world’s largest drug companies, including Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Astrazeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co and Sanofi-Aventis. In 2005 AstraZeneca, the Anglo-Swedish drug manufacturer, was fined €60 million for trying to delay rival versions of its ulcer drug, Losec, thereby keeping prices artificially high. A spokesman for Reckitt said: “We are shocked by the allegations . . . and by the inappropriate sentiment expressed in some of the internal correspondence of 2003.” A spokesman for the BPC said it was “aware that the company would want to protect its market”. He added: “When Reckitt sought to protect the monograph being published with a legal challenge, the BPC rejected this request and proceeded with its publication.” (more)

JP warns of ad market 'challenges' as earnings hit
From The Scotsman. Posted March 5 2008, 12.00am
NEWSPAPER group Johnston Press today warned that advertising markets will remain "challenging" as it posted a 6.3 per cent drop in pre-tax profits over the past year. (more)

Ex-BBC1controller set for battle with successor after switching sides
From Media Guardian. Posted February 29 2008, 12.11am
Peter Fincham agrees to take on the formidable challenge of rebuilding ITV (more)

DTT: huge challenges ahead
From Rapid TV News. Posted February 26 2008, 2.39pm
Digital Terrestrial TV is a huge success in Europe, but as Freeview sales falter there are major challenges ahead, says a new report. (more)

Virgin Media challenges BSkyB rulings
From Financial Times. Posted February 25 2008, 11.22pm
The Competition Appeal Tribunal will face two conflicting complaints over British Sky Broadcasting's stake in ITV, after Virgin Media lodged a last-minute appeal against the decision to force its satellite rival to sell most of its holding (more)

Virgin to challenge BSkyB ruling
From BBC News. Posted February 25 2008, 3.48pm
Virgin Media is to challenge the ruling that BSkyB must reduce its stake in ITV, saying it does not go far enough. (more)

Virgin challenges Sky-ITV stake ruling
From Media Guardian. Posted February 25 2008, 2.49pm
Virgin Media has launched a legal challenge to the ruling on BSkyB's 17.9% ITV stake, arguing that the satellite broadcaster should be forced to sell its entire holding. By Mark Sweney (more)

Google tops UK corporate brands list
From Media Guardian. Posted February 25 2008, 6.57am
Google has beaten challenges by BBC Worldwide and technology rival Microsoft to be named the UK's strongest corporate brand. By Mark Sweney (more)

Sky buys time with legal challenge
From Media Guardian. Posted February 22 2008, 10.41am
BSkyB may have bought itself up to six extra months as it attempts to avoid being forced to sell its 17.9% stake in ITV. By Chris Tryhorn and Mark Sweney (more)

BSkyB challenges commission in ITV stake ruling
From Daily Telegraph. Posted February 22 2008, 12.01am
Satellite broadcaster BSkyB will today launch a legal challenge with the Competition Appeal Tribunal against the Government's decision to force it to sell down its 17.9pc stake in ITV to below 7.5pc. (more)

BSkyB appeals ruling on ITV stake
From The Scotsman. Posted February 22 2008, 12.00am
BSKYB is to challenge the Competition Commission's decision to force the satellite broadcaster to sell down its stake in rival terrestrial broadcaster ITV. (more)

BSkyB to challenge government ruling on ITV stake
From The Stage. Posted February 21 2008, 6.05pm
(more)

BSkyB legally opposes ITV ruling
From BBC News. Posted February 21 2008, 3.44pm
BSkyB is to challenge the Competition Commission's move forcing the firm to reduce its stake in ITV. ITV from 17.9% to below 7.5%. (more)

TV faces crisis of trust, survey says
From Media Guardian. Posted February 21 2008, 3.41pm
Broadcasting industry faces a challenge building on this source of revenue following a series of scandals that have dented viewer trust, according to research. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

Lack of trust may hit TV revenues survey says
From Media Guardian. Posted February 21 2008, 3.41pm
The broadcasting industry faces a challenge rebuilding revenues from TV voting and competitions following a series of scandals that have dented viewer trust, according to research. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

Sky plans legal challenge on ITV stake
From Digital Spy. Posted February 21 2008, 3.22pm
Sky confirms it will submit a legal challenge to the ruling that its ITV stake is anti-competitive. (more)

Sky to launch legal challenge over ITV competition ruling
From Media Guardian. Posted February 21 2008, 2.32pm
BSkyB has confirmed it will launch a legal challenge against the competition regulators' ruling ordering it to sell the majority of its 17.9% stake in ITV. By Mark Sweney (more)

Business stars vie for £35m in entrepreneur challenge competition
From The Times. Posted February 2 2008, 10.50pm
THE Sunday Times is today offering entrepreneurs the chance to win the most valuable prizes ever seen in a competition for British businesses. (more)

BSkyB given secret deadline to reduce its ITV holding to 7.5%
From The Times. Posted January 30 2008, 12.00am
BSkyB is considering a legal challenge to a decision taken yesterday by John Hutton, the Business Secretary, which forces the satellite broadcaster to cut its holding in ITV from 17.9 per cent to 7.5 per cent. (more)

Labour gives Murdoch a bloody nose
From Daily Telegraph. Posted January 29 2008, 12.01am
Hutton ruling that BSkyB must cut its stake in ITV is most direct challenge yet to media tycoon's empire, reports Juliette Garside (more)

Digital jazz contenders challenge BBC
From Media Guardian. Posted January 25 2008, 12.05am
John L Walters argues that a new competitor for Radio 3 has at last reinvigorated jazz broadcasting (more)

BBC freedom of information exemption challenged at Court of Appeal
From Press Gazette. Posted January 25 2008, 12.00am
The BBC is facing a renewed legal attempt to force public disclosure of the Balen Report, an internal review of its Middle East reporting. (more)

Author murder trial to be held in secret despite media challenge
From Press Gazette. Posted January 15 2008, 12.00am
Parts of a murder trial will be held in secret it was ruled today, despite a legal challenge from the BBC and six national newspapers. (more)

Editor completes year-long 80-race running challenge
From Hold the Front Page. Posted January 7 2008, 12.00am
Jogging journalist completes daunting race mission- and plans a book on his challenge (more)

Sky wants Picnic as ITV faces challenges
From Daily Telegraph. Posted January 6 2008, 12.01am
2008 will be one of explosive change for television. All the main broadcasters face crucial challenges in TV's most important year since 1990. Mathew Horsman reports. (more)

UK remake should be arresting viewing
From Financial Times. Posted January 3 2008, 2.00am
The UK remake of Law & Order for ITV follows a long line of programme ideas and formats that have travelled across the Atlantic. From University Challenge... (more)

Newsquest challenges court gagging order on adult defendant
From Press Gazette. Posted December 21 2007, 12.00am
Newspaper group Newsquest challenged an order under section 39 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 which purported to prohibit the identification of an adult defendant. (more)

Hendon Times challenges gagging order on adult defendant's ID
From Hold the Front Page. Posted December 21 2007, 12.00am
Children and Young Persons Act order allows adult to remain anonymous (more)

Changing 'Times': the challenges facing new editor James Harding
From The Independent. Posted December 10 2007, 12.20am
Like King Lear, the ageing Rupert Murdoch has split his kingdom into two. The difference is that he has taken the precaution of hanging on to the more important part. He keeps America as well as Australia, where it all started. His younger son James gets Europe and Asia. He will take over from his father as non-executive chairman of BSkyB, and gains control of Sky Italia and the Star TV network in Asia. The British newspapers ? The Sun, News of the World, The Times and The Sunday Times ? will also come under his thrall. And he's only 34! (more)

Pepsi's unlikely challenge to Apple online music
From Daily Telegraph. Posted December 7 2007, 12.01am
iTunes, the Apple online music store, is to face an unlikely challenger for market dominance - PepsiCo, a newspaper reports. (more)

Sony TV announces 'Thodi Khushi...' replacement
From Biz Asia. Posted December 4 2007, 8.45pm
Sony Entertainment Television Asia is on a roll to jazz up its primetime schedule. Last month we announced that the drama 'Thodi Khushi Thodi Gham' is being axed due to sluggish viewing figures. We can now reveal the name of its replacement. From Monday 10th December, 'Salaam Zindagi' produced by Sphere Origins (producers of Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand on STAR Plus and Saat Phere on ZEE TV) will occupy the Monday to Thursday 20:30 band. 'Salaam Zindgi' will showcase an engaging journey of a young girl, Manya, who becomes a resilient police inspector with her grit and determination. Manya is faced with obstacles on her way but with a fighting spirit, she takes on every challenge thrown her way. Commenting on the new daily Set creative director and head of fiction Sanjay Upadhyay said, "Salaam Zindgi with its simple and promising storyline will appeal to the viewers across all sections of society." The cast includes Deepak Qazir, Anita Kulkarni, Gopi Desai and the protagonist is played by Pariva Pranati who is also playing the character of Sandhya in 'Virrudh'. Related link: Sony TV unveils primetime shows shakeup (more)

ZEE Network thanks BCCI for ICL success
From Biz Asia. Posted December 1 2007, 7.45pm
Indian Cricket League (ICL) may have been dismissed as a rebel-venture by the BCCI, but the organisers say they are thankful to the Indian cricket Board (BCCI) for the successful start to its Twenty20 tournament. "We are thankful to the BCCI for doing our marketing. All thanks to them for building this hype before our event took off," Essel (ZEE) Group Chairman Subhash Chandra said on Saturday. He said first rumours were spread that ICL will never take off, but this had been belied by its grand inauguration on Friday. Chandra even said tickets priced at Rs 100 were in great demand during the inaugural match played last evening and people were even prepared to pay Rs 1500 to watch the match. Six teams, featuring a host of current domestic and former international cricketers, are taking part in the 17-day long tournament and greats like Brian Lara, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Chris Cairns are participating. "The TV response to the tournament has been phenomenal and telecast is going to over 30 million homes in India. Moreover, cricket administrators around the world are also watching young talent play side-by-side experienced campaigners," Chandra, whose Group owns the ICL, said. Chandra said now more and more sponsors were also showing interest in the League. "ICL has taken it up as a challenge to hone young talent and bring them to a level where they can take on the best in the world," he said, adding domestic players were getting a salary varying Rs 15-35 lakh per year. Asked where he saw the League going after this tournament, he said, "the baby took birth only yesterday. (ICL executive board chairman) Kapil Dev and his team are working on it. Lets see." Haryana Sports Minister Kiran Chaudhry also watched today's match between Hyderabad Heroes, led by former Pakistani skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Mumbai Champs, led by batting legend Brian Lara. Bollywood stars Diya Mirza and Jimmy Shergill were also in the stadium to watch the match. "I am watching a cricket match for the first time in my life. I must say that Twenty20 looks fresh, innovative and have lots of pace," Mirza said, adding that her favourite cricket hero is Indian pacer S Sreesanth. In the UK, ZEE Music is the official broadcaster of the ICL tournament. Details of telecast can be found here. Article from IndiaTimes Cricket Related links: Confirmed: ZEE Music to show ICL cricket Buzz surrounding BCCI's T20 IPL cricket ZEE's Indian Cricket League teams confirmed ZEE Network to form own Indian cricket league (more)

ZEE TV's new show 'Alladin' causes a stir
From Biz Asia. Posted November 22 2007, 7.58am
The name of ZEE TV's new show 'Alladin' is being challenged after filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh claimed he has the same title registered to him. (more)

Court staff urged to deal with media after PA challenge
From Press Gazette. Posted November 19 2007, 12.00am
Staff at magistrates' courts in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are being reminded to comply with guidance on giving information to the media after the issue was raised by the Press Association. (more)

ZEE Muzic to launch 'Best of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa...'
From Biz Asia. Posted November 14 2007, 8.10am
ZEE Muzic continues to milk the network's flagship show 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007', weeks after it culminated on ZEE TV. A new series the 'Best of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007' is being launched later this month, which will feature behind the scenes drama of 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007'. ZEE Muzic business head Irshwin Balwani said, "With Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Hungama (on ZEE Muzic), we had captured the backstage reality of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. It was the number one show across all music channels. The Best of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa will relive the best moments of the popular show and again bring in the forefront some amazing talent." Roy added, "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2007 Hungama was my first foray into television production and a very successful one at that. This show is interspersed with the finalists performances onstage and candid talks, with many a startling revelation." The new show will be hosted by Shraddha Nigam where she will chat with the 11 finalists about their experiences. Related links: 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Challenge '07' winner crowned ZEE TV to air mega 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' weekend ZEE TV and STAR Plus fight - neck and neck! ZEE TV's 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' gains record ratings (more)

Tanzanian Vice-President challenges Kiswahili broadcasters
From Media Network Weblog. Posted November 13 2007, 2.52pm
Broadcasters in the Kiswahili language worldwide have been urged to air more serious programmes that educate the society in developing nations. Opening an International Symposium on Kiswahili broadcasters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Vice-President, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, called for more emphasis to be put in educational programmes. “There some stations that only report on crisis [...] (more)

Regulator to challenge US cable TV sector
From Financial Times. Posted November 12 2007, 1.39am
The FCC seeks to expand its authority over the cable TV industry in a bid to unbundle channel offerings and provide independent programmers greater access to the cable market (more)

Express reporter's terrifying cliff challenge
From Hold the Front Page. Posted November 12 2007, 12.00am
Hannah Russell raises funds for the Anthony Nolan Trust (more)

How to get the measure of online video
From Media Guardian. Posted November 11 2007, 11.53pm
Online video brings a wealth of new opportunitiesfor news sites and broadcasters —but it also presents a new challenge whenit comes to audience measurement. Jemima Kiss reports (more)

Legendry singer Lata to grace 'STAR Voice Of India'
From Biz Asia. Posted November 1 2007, 8.29am
The nightingale of Indian cinema Lata Mangeshkar has agreed to be a part of STAR Plus' successful reality TV show 'Voice Of India', which comes to an end later this month (Saturday 24th November). The show's producer-director Gajendra Singh couldn't contain his excitement. "She has agreed to give the winner the trophy. It took a lot of persuasion, a lot of perseverance. But then it's worth it because Lataji is no ordinary mortal. She's goddess Saraswati reincarnated. And to have her grace our show is the best gift I've received in my 14 years of service to the cause of music," Singh told IANS. Interestingly, Lataji's sister Asha Bhosle served as the guest judge on the rival music contest show - ZEE TV's 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge' a few months ago. "But Lataji coming on our show isn't something we planned after Ashaji came on the other show," protested Singh. "We've been trying to persuade her for years to come on our show. This time she has finally agreed." She met the 'Voice Of India' finalists at her residence during the Ganesh Mahotsav. "Her advice to the contestants was not to copy any of the established voices. She has always said it's relatively easy to sing popular numbers, much harder to sing original numbers," said Singh. Seven years ago Lata co-produced STAR's 'Meri Awaaz Suno'. 'STAR Voice Of India' will be shown in the UK in the coming weeks. (more)

James Murdoch looks to challenge operators
From Financial Times. Posted November 1 2007, 2.00am
BSkyB's chief executive argues that telecoms groups have been charging too much for too long (more)

Trainee challenges court clerk on validity of S39 order
From Hold the Front Page. Posted October 31 2007, 12.00am
Judge had not imposed a full or partial order but clerk disagreed (more)

Google challenges ITV1's ad revenues
From Media Guardian. Posted October 30 2007, 4.36pm
Google is poised to outstrip the quarterly revenues of the UK's leading commercial TV channel, ITV1. By Chris Tryhorn. (more)

Nine down and nine across; it?s The Sun Crossword Challenge
From Press Release, via webitpr. Posted October 23 2007, 11.00am
The UK?s most popular newspaper crossword comes to the Nintendo DS London: 23rd October, 2007 The UK?s best loved newspaper, The Sun, today announces that it will be releasing The Sun Crossword Challenge on the Nintendo DS in Europe this November. The Sun Crossword Challenge operates like a traditional crossword puzzle but with a twist. Like the daily crossword in The Sun newspaper, each puzzle will have two sets of clues - coffee time with... (more)

ITV seeks redundancy volunteers in Manchester
From Media Guardian. Posted October 19 2007, 1.00am
8am: ITV has opened a voluntary redundancy scheme for staff in its Manchester factual department, home to Tonight and University Challenge. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Journalist with fear of heights plans 95ft high zipwire challenge
From Hold the Front Page. Posted October 19 2007, 12.00am
Salford Advertiser reporter set to ride 300ft wire (more)

Challenges and opportunities for BBC Wales
From BBC Press Ofice. Posted October 18 2007, 12.30pm
BBC Wales has outlined how it plans to deliver greater value to audiences in Wales as part of radical changes unveiled by the Corporation today. (more)

�7.35m tabled for midlands winners in Connect Midlands Investment Challenge
From Press Release, via webitpr. Posted October 16 2007, 10.29am
Nine Midlands companies were last week (October 10) announced as winners in the Connect Midlands �5 Million Investment Challenge. The East Midlands winners were Nottingham-based CellAura Technologies and Pacemaker UK, SAKS Electronics from Derby, SynchroPulse Ltd from Lincoln and Daventry-based Green Energy Options and the West Midlands winners were Coventry-based Opscape and PPL Party, RedWeb Security from Tamworth and Aldridge Piling Equipment from Cannock. The Challenge, sponsored by BT Business, offers up to �5 million... (more)

Fox launches US business channel
From BBC News. Posted October 15 2007, 3.55pm
News Corp launches a US business TV network to challenge in the market for mainstream business news. (more)

Editor still ap-peeling in a banana race for 80-run challenge
From Hold the Front Page. Posted October 15 2007, 12.00am
No slip-ups in Bananaman Chase as keen runner nears finish line of year-long fundraiser (more)

Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam returns to ZEE TV
From Biz Asia. Posted October 14 2007, 12.49am
Popular playback singer Sonu Nigam is returning to where he started in on TV - ZEE TV's 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa'. It has been confirmed by the channel that Sonu will be one of three judges forming the panel in the upcoming children's series 'Lil Champs'. Sonu Nigam was the host of 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' when the show first started in the mid-90s. He left the show to concentrate on his singing and acting career. A few years later, he joined rival show 'Indian Idol' as a mentor. However, he subsequently quit this because of reasons unknown. Sonu will be joined by music director Pritam on the panel when the new series of 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Lil Champs' kicks off this Saturday (20th October) on ZEE TV. Aditya Chopra will continue to front the show. Earlier today, Aneek Dhar was crowned the winner of 'Challenge 2007' after five months on-air. Related links: 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Challenge '07' winner crowned Two judges drop out of Sony's 'Indian Idol 3' (more)

'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Challenge '07' winner crowned
From Biz Asia. Posted October 13 2007, 8.10pm
This year's 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Challenge' came to an end with Aneek Dhar from Bengal being crowned the winner. Aneek walked away with nearly 4 crore of the votes, beating Raja Hassan and Amanat Ali to second and third respectively. Raja lost by a margin of 13 lakh. The finale held at Mumbai's Andheri sports complex had a very enthusiastic audience and a line-up of celebrities. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar who was present at the finale declared Aneek as the winner. His prize includes a contract worth Rs 50 lakh with Universal and a new Chevrolet Spark car. The much anticipated finale came to an end today after a five-month run on ZEE TV. The programme has surpassed the TV ratings of all general entertainment Hindi shows recently. It has also managed to topple STAR Plus' 'Kyunki Saans Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' from the number one position in India after reigning the slot for the past few years. According to an article on Business Standard India the current run of 'Challenge 2007' has earned the channel close to Rs 120 crore from advertisements and sponsors for its 26 episodes beating STAR Plus' 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' with Shah Rukh Khan's advertising revenue from earlier this year. In the UK, the finale of 'Challenge 2007' boasted of ten sponsors - the highest for a UK Asian TV show to date. Related links: ZEE TV to air mega 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' weekend ZEE TV and STAR Plus fight - neck and neck! ZEE TV's 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' gains record ratings (more)

Carol Smillie Hosting New Quiz Show for STV
From Merry Media. Posted October 12 2007, 12.26am
STV are producing a brand new quiz show which starts on the 12th November and running every Monday evening at 8pm for 40 episodes. The series, called Postcode Challenge, will be presented by Carol Smillie.. (more)

ZEE-STAR 'Antakshari' war of words over!
From Biz Asia. Posted October 9 2007, 9.47pm
The Bombay high court, in a verdict on the ZEE TV versus STAR TV battle over the latter's music show 'Antakshari — The Great Challenge', restrained STAR from "passing off" its popular programme as the original 'Antakshari'. The court, however, held that there was no violation of copyright by STAR as charged by ZEE and that the word 'Antakshari' could be used by STAR in its show. In other words, the show may have to change its format. The order has been stayed till 4th November to enable Star to go in appeal before a division bench. This means the show can continue on air as it is. The legal song and dance was initiated by ZEE Entertainment earlier this year against STAR and programme director Gajendra Singh for allegedly violating its copyright over the show and for coming up with a similar concept note. ZEE's 'Antakshari' show was also conceptualised and directed by Singh who was the channel's programme director until last year. ZEE, through its counsel Janak Dwarkadas, had raised several issues including saying that a concept note could be treated as a 'literary work' and had copyright value under the law. He also argued that given ZEE 'Antakshari's' popularity—it ran for ten years and is mentioned in the Limca Book of World Records as the longest running show by one director—Star, by calling its show 'Antakshari - The Great Challenge', was trying to "pass off" the show as the original 'Antakshari'. Justice Shiavax Vazifdar of the Bombay high court while deciding the suit came to three conclusive findings. He held that the existence of the 'concept note' has not been established by ZEE and thus there's been no infringement of copyright by STAR or Gajendra Singh. The judge also held that there was no infringement of cinematography of ZEE's original show by STAR. The court, however, noted that Singh had been an employee of ZEE and not an independent producer/director for the show. Sameer Rao, Vice-president, STAR, had opposed all claims made by ZEE and in an affidavit filed in court stated that its show was completely different from that of ZEE. He denied that ZEE could claim any "proprietary rights'' with respect to the word 'Antakshari' in connection with a television game show based on the traditional antakshari. He also denied that ZEE had any copyright over the show or any alleged literary work about the show. Star's basic argument was that ideas can't be copyrighted and denied that it had violated any copyright in the television show. STAR's contention is also that it had in 2000-2002 launched and broadcast a show called 'Chalti ka naam Antakshari', which had become very popular and hence wanted to produce another programme based on the 'antakshari' format but with unique features. Article from TelevisionPoint Related links: ZEE drags STAR to court over 'Antakshari' ZEE TV welcomes back 'Antakshari' in January Producer Gajendra Singh quits ZEE TV ZEE's 'Betiyaan' row over; STAR renames show (more)

Debojit to host new show for ZEE TV
From Biz Asia. Posted October 8 2007, 10.36pm
With 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Challenge 2007' coming to an end this weekend, the channel is making sure its winner from 2005, Debojit, is not forgotten. Debojit's claim to fame has been his singing. The channel has decided to capitalise on that in a music-based show called 'Rock the Dhun'. Reportedly, the show bears a strange similarity with 'Harmony' (on Sony Entertainment Television Asia) which has recently gone off air. Some prominent singers will appear as guests on the show. They will sing both old and new songs, with a live orchestra playing. Debojit told Mumbai Mirror, "I'm really excited about my new show. I'm happy that they chose me to host it. Alongside hosting, I will also sing on the show with the guests." Like all other reality show winners, Debojit has been busy with stage shows. "I have been travelling and busy doing shows in different parts of the country. I have, so far, shot only two days for the show. Shooting for the second schedule is set, for this month end," he adds. Related link: ZEE TV's Sa Re Ga Ma Pa winner announced (more)

ZEE TV to air mega 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' weekend
From Biz Asia. Posted October 5 2007, 8.58pm
ZEE TV is pulling out all the stops to lap up as big an audience possible for its flagship show 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa -Challenge 2007'. (more)

Setanta gets on to Foxtel
From Rapid TV News. Posted October 2 2007, 9.30pm
Setanta Sports is launching a pay-TV sports channel aimed at Australian homes, the first challenger to Fox Sports since the collapse of the Seven Network’s C7 in 2001. (more)

Radiohead challenges labels with free album
From Daily Telegraph. Posted October 2 2007, 12.01am
Radiohead, the internationally renowned band, has taken the unusual step of telling fans that they can pay as much or as little as they like for the band's new album, In Rainbows. (more)

Carole Malone 'can't say no' to NoW challenge
From Press Gazette. Posted October 1 2007, 12.00am
Outgoing Sunday Mirror columnist Carole Malone said she is leaving her “spiritual home” to move to the News of the World. (more)

Ryan makes a bionic leap from Walford to Hollywood
From The Independent. Posted September 29 2007, 1.00am
When Michelle Ryan swapped her role as a cockney resident of Walford in the BBC soap EastEnders to follow in the footsteps of Lindsay Wagner on American television, few could have denied she faced a challenge. (more)

Bush in bid to challenge Fox over expletives
From Financial Times. Posted September 28 2007, 3.22am
The solicitor-general will seek a review of a court ruling that found federal regulator's policy on fleeting expletives on broadcast television 'arbitrary and capricious' (more)

Success as trainee challenges bid for reporting ban on murder accused
From Hold the Front Page. Posted September 28 2007, 12.00am
Reporter told court that Section 11 did not apply in the circumstances of the case (more)

Ant and Dec become weather presenters
From Digital Spy. Posted September 27 2007, 2.54pm
Ant and Dec become weather presenters at GMTV for the morning as part of a TV challenge. (more)

'Om Shanti Om' & 'Saawariya' war spills on TV
From Biz Asia. Posted September 27 2007, 9.00am
After Kareena Kapoor unveiled the soundtrack of her forthcoming release 'Jab We Met' (out 25th October) on ZEE TV's hit music show 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Challenge 2007', the makers of 'Om Shanti Om' and 'Saawariya' are also taking their rivalry to television. 'Om Shanti Om' starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone is one of two blockbusters getting its theatrical release on Diwali (9th November). The other is 'Saawariya', which marks the debut of Ranbir Kapoor (Rishi Kapoor's son) and Sonam Kapoor (Anil Kapoor's daughter). The outcome of their box office battle will only be known in November; meanwhile the 'Saawariya' team has been confirmed for an appearance on STAR Plus' 'Voice Of India'. 'Om Shanti Om' team on the other hand will be seen on rival ZEE TV's 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Challenge 2007'. Both episodes will go head-to-head this weekend. 'Voice Of India's' producer-director Gajendra Singh said: "Having Sanjay Bhansali and the two 'Saawariya' debutants on our show was such a delight. Sanjayji is a complete music person." The 'Om Shanti Om' special features Shreyas Talpade, Deepika Padukone and director Farah Khan. Apparently lead actor Shah Rukh Khan couldn't do the show because of his contract with STAR. "But he sent a list of requests for the contestants to sing. Those will be featured in the second-half of the show. During the first-half we'll have the contestants singing the 'Om Shanti Om' tracks since two of our judges Vishal and Shekhar are also the music directors of Farah Khan's film," says Payaol Patel of 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Challenge 2007'. (more)

Reporter dares to do red-hot barefoot challenge
From Hold the Front Page. Posted September 26 2007, 12.00am
Walking on embers five times hotter that boiling water was like "stepping on a warm carpet" (more)

ITV under Grade: ‘In right direction’
From Rapid TV News. Posted September 17 2007, 11.12pm
UK commercial TV network ITV, wrapping up a major strategic review, is moving in the “right directions” says a major bank report, but there are challenges ahead, especially in its online plans. (more)

Trainee's challenge sees teen rapists named
From Press Gazette. Posted September 17 2007, 12.00am
A trainee reporter with the Croydon Guardian persuaded a judge to lift a Section 39 order which had banned the press from identifying two rapists. (more)

Channel 4's next challenge
From Daily Telegraph. Posted September 1 2007, 12.01am
New C4 content boss Julian Bellamy has issued a 'creative call to action' to independent television producers. But what does that mean for the future health of the sector? Neil Midgley reports. (more)

Jackson's Capital challenge
From Media Guardian. Posted August 31 2007, 1.00am
Paul Jackson's departure from Virgin Radio to take charge of GCap's Capital Radio is as intriguing as it was unexpected, writes John Plunkett. (more)

Royal Television Society lecture: Lilley to discuss the 'me' in media
From Media Guardian. Posted August 28 2007, 1.00am
The Royal Television Society has chosen new media specialist Anthony Lilley to give a lecture on the challenges facing the TV industry. By Mark Sweney. (more)

Laloo Prasad appears on 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa'
From Biz Asia. Posted August 27 2007, 10.54am
Indian politician (Union Minister for Railways) Laloo Prasad Yadav has agreed to appear on ZEE TV's hit show 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa: Challenge 2007', according to Mumbai Mirror. However, before he accepted the offer, he made sure the contestants would only wear Indian attire. Even the show's theme, which was earlier a western one, had to be changed to an Indian theme on Laloo's insistence. A source told Mumbai Mirror, "The creative team of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa were quite apprehensive before approaching Laloo. They were wondering if he'd accept their offer. But, they were pleasantly surprised when the Laloo agreed to be a guest on the show. But, he had just one pre-condition. His public relation officer told the creative team that Laloo wants none of the female participants to wear western clothes." Payaol Patel, creative director of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, confirms the news and says, "It was easy to approach Lalooji's as his PRO is an avid watcher of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. As the episode's theme is UP-Bihar, all the female participants will be wearing ghagra-cholis while the male participants, judges and anchor will be wearing dhoti and kurta. Getting the Union Minister for Railways as a guest on our show is a big achievement for us, so we are also transforming the set into a village." The security measures on the show have been made tighter for Laloo's arrival. The security arrangements were already very high after Himesh Reshmamiya, who is a judge on the show, got threats from the underworld. The Laloo special episode will be screened on ZEE TV UK, US and India this weekend. Related link: Laloo Yadav support ZEE's cricket league (more)

BBC offers free English lessons via podcasts
From Media Network Weblog. Posted August 15 2007, 4.20pm
English learners, wherever they are, can now access a range of BBC Learning English programmes as free podcasts. The fun weekly programmes, How To…, Grammar Challenge and Talk About English, which come in bite-size formats and show students how to tackle tricky aspects of the English language, are now available for downloading on demand via [...] (more)

University Challenge heads to Edinburgh TV festival
From Media Guardian. Posted August 13 2007, 1.00am
Channel Five's Chris Shaw and World at One host Martha Kearney will join teams in an Edinburgh TV festival version of University Challenge. By Leigh Holmwood. (more)

Lyons to oversee BBC reforms
From Media Guardian. Posted August 9 2007, 1.00am
BBC chairman Sir Michael Lyons has hit back at critics of his handling of the deception row, but admitted the corporation faces a 'big challenge' to win back trust. By Owen Gibson. (more)

Bath Chronicle conversion team prepares for series of challenges
From Hold the Front Page. Posted August 9 2007, 12.00am
Editor reveals priorities as city's daily prepares for historic move to become weekly (more)

ZEE TV's 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' gains record ratings
From Biz Asia. Posted July 28 2007, 10.46am
ZEE TV is celebrating after its show 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Challenge 2007' hit a record ratings high last week. It scored a rating of 8.4 TVRs on Saturday 21st July 21 (featuring Salman Khan) and 5.8 TVRs on Friday 20th July. This show helped the channel fetch a weekly GRP of 303 ratings, overall making 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007' the highest rated programme in the entire GEC segment in the week. The one and a half hour long programme had a reach of 18.2%, taking ZEE TV to 303 GRP, while STAR Plus and Sony Entertainment Television Asia had 351 GRP and 138 GRP, respectively. Ashish Kaul, Executive Vice-President, ZEEL, remarked, "We are thrilled with ratings of the Challenge 2007. The 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' series has been very successful since inception. We are overwhelmed by the response the show has garnered since the time it was launched. It provides an impetus to strive harder and clearly boosts the morale of the team. We will continue to put in our best efforts into making other shows such a grand success." Rival shows Friday 20th July Sa Re Ga Ma Pa: 5.8 Indian Idol 3: 5.5 STAR Voice of India: 3.7 Saturday 21st July Sa Re Ga Ma Pa: 8.4 Indian Idol 3: 4.2 STAR Voice of India: 3.2 (Tam Peoplemeter System, C&S 4+, HSM, Week 29, 15 - 21 July.) (more)

Singapore Telecom launches pay TV service
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 20 2007, 3.34pm
Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) on Friday announced its entry into the pay television market, offering an Internet protocol-based service to challenge the monopoly of rival StarHub. Called “mio TV,” the service will allow customers full flexibility to watch what they want without being tied to fixed programme schedules, SingTel said in a statement. Initially featuring 33 channels, the [...] (more)

ZEEL Q1 results show impressive figures
From Biz Asia. Posted July 18 2007, 9.13am
ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) has reported its first quarter consolidated revenues of Rs 3,916 million, representing a 35 per cent growth over the corresponding period in the previous fiscal. The consolidated operating profit stood at Rs 1,197 million. These are higher by 81 per cent as compared to the corresponding quarter last fiscal. Operating profit margin rose by 30.6 per cent from 23 per cent, as compared to the corresponding quarter last fiscal. Profit before tax for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 was Rs 1,225 million, while net profit was Rs 813 million, recording a growth of 51 per cent over the corresponding period last year. The company registered advertisement revenue of Rs 2,044 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2007, an increase of 47 per cent as compared to the corresponding period last fiscal. The average channel share of the flagship channel increased to 25 per cent within the general entertainment genre, which increased by 10 per cent from the previous quarter. Subhash Chandra, Chairman, ZEEL, said, "We are pleased that operating margins have improved to 30.6 per cent, compared to the 23 per cent in the first quarter last fiscal. Most of us are aware of the exciting opportunities ahead of us in the television content business. We are making the right investments in capturing a larger mind share of the viewers, both nationally and globally. With rapid transformation in the Indian media scenario through digitisation, the coming years hold a lot of promise and we are confident of delivering long term shareholder value." Punit Goenka, Director, ZEEL, said, "We continued to gain market share in the general entertainment genre. ZEE TV has maintained its ratings across time bands and has averaged 234 gross rating points during the quarter, and an average channel share of 25 per cent within the general entertainment category, up from 23 per cent during the previous quarter.” He further stated that during the quarter, ZEE TV had come closest ever to the genre leader in the last seven years. Goenka explained that STAR Plus’ 'KBC-3', which went off-air in mid-April, helped both 'Kasamh Se' and 'Saat Phere' to regain their respective leadership positions. 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2007' continues to be the leader despite many shows based on a similar theme. Elaborating on the performance, Pradeep Guha, CEO, ZEEL, said, "Our team has done well, both in gaining viewership share and in monetising that effectively. We are pleased with the good start to the fiscal year. On the international business front, we continued to do well, though rising strength of rupee has impacted our revenues." Guha further said that in terms of sports, his company had got out of the cricket contract, and that it is looking forward to build franchise in football. He said that the channel would showcase cricket from the Indian Cricket League. The sports genre for the flagship company saw Ten Sports as a clear winner as it registered a 51 per cent viewership share. ZEE Sports and Ten Sports will now look forward to a strong second quarter with a variety of joint ventures. They will increase their joint impact on the market, particularly in August, as both channels will share a new line-up of football rights, including deals with various football clubs. Article from Exchange4Media (more)

Legal wrangle to force 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' off air?
From Biz Asia. Posted July 18 2007, 8.55am
ZEE TV's flagship show 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa: Challenge 2007' could be forced to go off air if a legal dispute over music copyright is not settled. (more)

Three Asians shine in Guardian'

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