Media UK

Trouble - news archive

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

TV firm attacked over 'walkout' by Queen in more reality show trouble
From Media Guardian. Posted July 12 2008, 11.02pm
Participants in Channel 4 reality show claim it was edited to make them look ridiculous (more)

Journalism News Digest: A troubled week for Trinity
From Hold the Front Page. Posted July 4 2008, 1.00pm
All the stories that have been making the news this week on HoldtheFrontPage (more)

Obituary: Charles Wheeler
From Media Guardian. Posted July 4 2008, 12.21pm
For more than four decades Charles Wheeler, who has died aged 85, reported for BBC radio and television from most of the world's trouble spots. By Harold Jackson (more)

Noel 'hated' 'No Deal' phone in comp
From Digital Spy. Posted July 3 2008, 9.02am
Noel Edmonds says he always "hated" the phone-in that got Deal Or No Deal in trouble for misleading viewers. (more)

Noel 'hated' 'No Deal' phone-in comp
From Digital Spy. Posted July 3 2008, 9.02am
Noel Edmonds says he always "hated" the phone-in that got Deal Or No Deal in trouble for misleading viewers. (more)

Don Imus in trouble again
From Radio Today. Posted June 24 2008, 8.27am
America radio host Don Imus has found himself in the media spotlight again for his comments about a Dallas cowboys cornerback. (more)

Sex, lies... and the curse of 'This Morning' presenters
From The Independent. Posted June 22 2008, 12.00am
It's the curse of sex, lies and daytime TV. Britain's best known psychiatrist, Dr Raj Persaud, became the latest face connected with This Morning to run into trouble when he began a three-month ban on practising on Friday for plagiarism. He joins a list of presenters and guests of the show to find themselves in a pickle; others have faced theft and rape allegations. Former This Morning anchors Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, who helped to make him a household name, have offered Dr Persaud their support; he was told they would welcome his work as "a valued contributor". Presumably as long as it hasn't been swiped from anybody else. (more)

Trouble in the Capital over comp
From Radio Today. Posted June 20 2008, 9.44am
Capital 95.8 have re-started a competition worth 155,000 pounds, despite the prize been won a fortnight ago.The original winner has been deemed ineligible by the station. Capital have referred the details of regulator Ofcom, who are looking into the matter. (more)

UTV strikes deal with ITN Source over selling news footage
From Media Guardian. Posted May 27 2008, 5.50am
Belfast-based media group Ulster Television has struck a deal with archive sales business ITN Source to sell clips including footage of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. By Mark Sweney (more)

James Nesbitt and Liam Neeson set for Ulster drama
From Media Guardian. Posted May 8 2008, 6.18am
BBC2 has commissioned a major drama about the Troubles in Northern Ireland that will feature James Nesbitt, with Liam Neeson also lined up for a starring role. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Preview: Three's a crowd in 'Gossip Girl'
From Digital Spy. Posted April 30 2008, 5.30pm
An old friend causes trouble for Dan and Serena in the next episode of Gossip Girl. (more)

Welsh drama blasted for toilet sex scene
From Digital Spy. Posted April 23 2008, 10.23am
Welsh drama Caerdydd is in trouble for filming a sex scene in the Welsh assembly building. (more)

Arnold reveals his choices to head up troubled UBS
From Daily Telegraph. Posted April 17 2008, 12.01am
Luqman Arnold has increased the pressure on UBS by naming three heavyweight bankers as alternative candidates to be the next chairman of the Swiss lender. (more)

Online video troubles service providers
From Financial Times. Posted April 10 2008, 3.00am
With the BBC iPlayer moving to new platforms, such as the Nintendo Wii, usage is expected to grow rapidly. The prospect alarms some internet service providers (ISPs)... (more)

Claudia Cahalane on the use of 'lesbian' as an insult
From Media Guardian. Posted April 8 2008, 11.09pm
Claudia Cahalane: Controversial British journalist Christopher Hitchens has stirred up more trouble with comments on US news programme MSNBC. (more)

Claudia Cahalane on the use of 'lesbian' as an insult
From Media Guardian. Posted April 8 2008, 11.09pm
Claudia Cahalane: Controversial British journalist Christopher Hitchens has stirred up more trouble with comments on US news programme MSNBC (more)

Axe falls on Sony TV soap - 'Amber Dhara'
From Biz Asia. Posted April 2 2008, 11.35pm
Sony Entertainment Television Asia has axed another one of its underperforming soaps. Sanjay Upadhyay, Creative director, SET India, confirms the development and he reveals that since the TRPs never picked up, the channel has decided to give 'Amber Dhara' a last period. "We had earlier asked the creative team to restructure the plot. We can't wait indefinitely for it to pick up, and now have decided to discontinue the show." Upadhyay asserts. Recently, there were reports of how the producers of the show had taken control of the creative input, the channel has had no say in the content for quite a while now. The producer for the conjoined twins' saga, Vikas Seth, meanwhile, claims ignorance about the recent developments. But actor Ali Merchant doesn't sound surprised at the news. "Some of the tracks were stretched beyond necessary," he says. Will the twins be separated by surgery? Upadhyay maintains a no comments stance saying, "It's entirely up to the creatives. We have never interfered." Recently, Smriti Z Irani's soap 'Viruddh' was taken off the air due to poor ratings. Related links: Sony TV's 'Amber Dhara' in troubled water? Sony TV set to launch conjoined twins drama (more)

'I would love to interview Castro'
From Media Guardian. Posted March 24 2008, 12.03am
Veteran broadcaster David Frost talks to Owen Gibson about his softly, softly approach to interviewing, the reported trouble at al-Jazeera English, a Frost Report reunion - and how life is still deliciously full (more)

ZEE TV to axe 'Har Ghar Kuch Kehhta Hai'
From Biz Asia. Posted March 18 2008, 2.46pm
ZEE TV is pulling another one of its least performing shows 'Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai' to ensure it continues to lead the way in the Hindi GEC fight in India. The troubled drama, which launched with much fanfare in August last year is being axed next month to make way for another family affair - details of, which will be announced shortly. Pearl Shahi, ZEE's creative head confirms to TellyChakkar that the show is going off-air. She says, "Yes, the show is going off-air as it is not doing well. The show is not getting the expected TRPs. We will be introducing a new show as its replacement. We do not want to lose out on GRPs of our channel. We had given notice to the producer Sheel Kumar a month ago." ZEE TV has recently witnessed a surge in ratings in India, which it doesn’t want jeopardised with any type of weak property. Earlier this month it was confirmed, ZEE TV will also be axing 'Ardhangini' due to its faltering ratings. Related link: ZEE TV axes 'Ardhangini' (more)

New 60-minute strand to launch on Sony TV
From Biz Asia. Posted March 16 2008, 4.01pm
A new 60-minute strand by the name of 'Sitaare Zameen Par' launches on Sony Entertainment Television Asia on Monday (17th March). Three shows - 'Bura Na Maano Holi Hai', 'Television' and 'Ustaadon Ke Ustaad', will come under the banner 'Sitaarein Zameen Par - Television Ka Maha Event' between 22:00 and 23:00. The first show appears to be a take-off on 'Champion Chaalbaaz'. The second will crown the most popular male and female faces on the tube. And 'Ustaadon Ke Ustaad' sounds as if it will spark off controversies galore. Albert Almeida, Executive Vice-president and Business head, Sony Entertainment Television, said, "In line with our vision of offering the biggest and the best, we bring to our viewers an innovative Sitaare Zameen Par. Kicking off with the festival of colors the show promises to bring home the biggest stars in a celebration like never before on Indian television. This month long special offers some exceptional entertainment with a spirit of camaraderie and competition." This contest will pit the winners of reality shows against one another. Aamir Ali, one of the performers at the 'Bura na Maano...' finale, was apparently approached for 'Ustaadon Ke Ustaad'. Ali says that neither Sanjeeda Sheikh nor he (winners of Nach Baliye 3) need to prove themselves. "We don't want to take part in any contest right now," he states. Some of the celebrities who have been confirmed so far are Varun Badola and Rajeshwari Sachdev (Nach Baliye), Shveta Salve and Logines (Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa), Sandhya Mridul and Javed (Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa) and Poonam Narula and Mannish Goyal (Nach Baliye). Related links: Sony TV's 'Amber Dhara' in troubled water? Sony TV overhauls primetime programmes (more)

Sony TV's 'Amber Dhara' in troubled water?
From Biz Asia. Posted March 11 2008, 9.49pm
Sony Entertainment Television Asia's much publicised drama 'Amber Dhara' is currently caught up in a nasty tug-of-war between the channel and the production house. (more)

A month in Ambridge
From Media Guardian. Posted March 7 2008, 12.04am
Nancy Banks-Smith: The trouble with Ambridge is that every second person is an Archer and the rest are married to one (more)

Northern Rock to be nationalised
From BBC News. Posted February 17 2008, 3.41pm
Troubled bank Northern Rock will be taken into public ownership, the BBC's business editor reports. (more)

BBC Resources sell-off delayed
From Media Guardian. Posted February 15 2008, 7.18am
The troubled sale of BBC Resources has taken another twist after the operation's chief executive told staff the disposal may be delayed. By Tara Conlan (more)

Virgin 'is Rock bid frontrunner'
From BBC News. Posted February 12 2008, 9.43pm
Virgin has been told it is the frontrunner to take control of troubled bank Northern Rock, the BBC learns. (more)

Virgin 'is Rock plan frontrunner'
From BBC News. Posted February 12 2008, 9.43pm
Virgin has been told it is the frontrunner to take control of troubled bank Northern Rock, the BBC learns. (more)

Mail shrugs off troubles
From The Scotsman. Posted February 7 2008, 12.00am
THE publisher of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday has shrugged off recent turbulence in the economy with better-than-expected figures. (more)

Northern Rock jobs under threat
From BBC News. Posted February 6 2008, 6.03am
Jobs at Northern Rock will be cut if Virgin Group ends up controlling the troubled bank, the BBC learns. (more)

Two new shows head STAR Plus UK in Feb
From Biz Asia. Posted January 31 2008, 11.18pm
Two new shows from opposite genres will be heading the STAR Plus UK schedule in February. 'Jai Maa Durga' takes the Friday 20:00 slot (starting 22nd February). The story of the mythological revolves around Surath, and his consort, Sumukhi, the Princess of neighbouring Vijaydurg. Sumukhi is a devout worshipper of the Goddess Durga. It is the story of devotion. Sumukhi turns to the unseen force whenever she is in trouble. A drama, which has been performing well since its launch two months ago in India will take the Monday to Thursday 19:30 slot (starting 18th February) replacing 'Meri Awaz Ko Mil Gaye Roshni'. 'Santaan' talks about the struggle for parents to bring up their children and then the pain of these children moving away and leaving home. The STAR Screen Awards, which were held earlier this month will get their screening on STAR Plus UK in February and March over a four week run in 60-minute capsules. Time to be confirmed. (more)

Al-Jazeera English in 'staffing crisis'
From Media Guardian. Posted January 30 2008, 10.19am
Al-Jazeera's troubled English language news channel is facing a 'serious staffing crisis' amid claims of a revolt over working conditions. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Waking up to a new era
From Media Guardian. Posted January 17 2008, 7.23am
As breakfast TV reaches its 25th birthday, John Mair looks back at the early success of the BBC's Breakfast Time - and how TV-am overcame its teething troubles (more)

Main protagonist quits ZEE TV's 'Kasamh Se'
From Biz Asia. Posted January 16 2008, 9.50pm
ZEE TV's 'Kasamh Se' could be in trouble after news emerged today that its lead actress Prachi Desai will be leaving the drama next month. Reportedly, the actress’ professional life took a leap after she won the dance competition 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 2' and since then has had filmmakers queuing up to sign her. She has also just completed the shooting of 'Rock On', her debut movie, alongside director turned actor Farhan Akhtar. A source from Balaji Telefilms told Mumbai Mirror, "Prachi has been and will always be remembered as the Bani of Kasamh Se. She definitely is the face of the show and gave a big boost to Balaji’s already growing popularity. After winning JDJ 2, the actress immediately got the offer for a film with Farhan Akhtar. However, the film’s contract stipulates that she cannot be seen on small screen during the promotion of the movie. Understandably, she won’t have the time to shoot for Kasamh Se once she starts shooting for Rock On in February." 'Pia' played by Roshni Chopra quit the same show last month. Ekta said, "Prachi will shoot her last episode with us by the end of January. It was a tough decision, but it’s okay. Iqbal Khan left Karam Apna Apna, Smriti Irani left Kyunki... but we went on without any hiccups," added Ekta. Related link: Lead protagonist of 'Kasamh Se' to leave (more)

Tributes flow for blunt talking ICI legend
From The Times. Posted January 11 2008, 7.55am
Tributes have poured today in for Sir John Harvey-Jones, the former ICI chief who became the face of business to the wider public through his groundbreaking TV show Troubleshooter. (more)

TV's popular face of capitalism dies at 83
From Media Guardian. Posted January 10 2008, 11.43pm
Britain's first celebrity businessman, the chemical magnate turned TV troubleshooter Sir John Harvey-Jones, has died in Herefordshire aged 83 (more)

Sir John Harvey-Jones
From Media Guardian. Posted January 10 2008, 9.15pm
Obituary: Successful, outspoken industrialist who became a television troubleshooter (more)

Sir John Harvey-Jones dead at 83
From BBC News. Posted January 10 2008, 7.57pm
Former ICI boss and TV "troubleshooter" Sir John Harvey-Jones dies in his sleep following a long illness. (more)

Sir John Harvey-Jones dies at 83
From BBC News. Posted January 10 2008, 7.57pm
Former ICI boss and TV "troubleshooter" Sir John Harvey-Jones dies in his sleep following a long illness. (more)

Channel 4 must no longer be a hostage to indecision
From Media Guardian. Posted January 7 2008, 12.22am
Opinion, Emily Bell: We've all heard about mixed schedules, but for one broadcaster to be in such profound trouble over its ill-judged celebrity reality programme, and to produce four of the year's outstanding dramas, is spanning a spectrum - and then some (more)

STAR's 'Kyunki Saans Bhi...' causes a storm
From Biz Asia. Posted January 4 2008, 7.48am
STAR Plus' long running show 'Kyunki Saans Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' has landed itself in trouble over a dialogue featured in an episode aired this week. (more)

Newspaper's online mapping hopes to solve city's congestion troubles
From Hold the Front Page. Posted December 28 2007, 12.00am
Evening paper to use web technology in bid to beat the jams (more)

Dragon James Caan eyes troubled Erinaceous
From Daily Telegraph. Posted December 20 2007, 12.01am
James Caan, the entrepreneur who sits on the panel of BBC2's Dragons' Den, is studying the possibility of making an offer for some or all of embattled property services company Erinaceous. (more)

Northern Rock up on Bradford & Bingley hope
From Daily Telegraph. Posted December 19 2007, 8.05am
Shares in Northern Rock rose after reports that Bradford & Bingley approached the troubled lender about buying a stake in it several weeks ago. Although the mortgage lender is not looking to buy the bank outright, it could become part of a private sector rescue, according to the BBC. (more)

TVCatchup faces legal battle
From Media Guardian. Posted December 17 2007, 7.13am
A new broadband service allowing users to record TV shows from free-to-air channels could be in legal trouble with broadcasters. By Mark Sweney (more)

Teething troubles with Bluewin TV
From Rapid TV News. Posted December 13 2007, 8.45pm
Swiss telco Swisscom has admitted to various problems in connection with its IPTV platform Bluewin TV distributed on its ADSL broadband networks. (more)

News Corp supports Macrovision's Gemstar deal
From Financial Times. Posted December 7 2007, 10.01pm
Macrovision, an anti-piracy company, agreed to acquire Gemstar-TV Guide International, a troubled television listings business part-owned by News Corp, in a cash and stock deal valued at $2.8bn (more)

'Kajjal' latest Sony TV soap to face axe
From Biz Asia. Posted December 6 2007, 7.54am
Sony Entertainment Television Asia has been in revamp mode these past few weeks. After the demises of 'Thodi Khushi Thodi Gham' and 'Durgesh Nandini', the next to see the chop is 'Kajjal'. According to a report on Mumbai Mirror, Bollywood actor Mohnish Behl was set to star filming for the troubled show, however he was told the soap was being wound up due to faltering viewing figures. Apparently, he was really disappointed when he got to know that the show had to be wrapped up. Says Mohnish, "I was signed for Kajjal and I did shoot for one day but a couple of days later, the channel decided to pull it off air." Says Misha Gautam, producer, "We had a mind-blowing role for Mohnish. We spent about Rs 4 lakh on the promos. Now the show is going off air, we can feel the monetary loss and the fact that we lost out on a fabulous actor. We are also upset since we had worked out the character well and were looking forward to his entry to boost the TRPs of the show." The last episode of 'Kajjal' will be shown on Thursday 20th December. Related links: Sony TV announces 'Thodi Khushi...' replacement Sony TV unveils primetime shows shakeup (more)

Bangla TV in trouble over scroll adverts
From Biz Asia. Posted December 3 2007, 9.37pm
Digital channel Bangla TV has had a severe telling off by media regulator Ofcom for scrolling adverts during two separate shows. A viewer complained about the advertising scroll, which aired during 'Looking for the Actual Person' on 10th May 2007. A part of the code of conduct, the regulator requires broadcasters to, "ensure that the advertising and programme elements of a service are kept separate". Rules on the Amount and Distribution of Advertising (RADA) states that, "in any one clock hour there must be no more than 12 minutes of advertising spots and/or teleshopping spots". Ofcom sought a recording of Bangla TV’s output for 10th May 2007 between 16:00 and 17:00, which showed that the bar was scrolling in other programmes. During this hour there were also two advertising breaks of approximately six minutes each. Bangla TV said the scrolled advertisements were broadcast by mistake, due to human error, and it had taken steps to ensure no scrolled advertising would in future be featured "during the news hour". However, Bangla TV believed that the duration of its advertising breaks between 16:00 and 17:00 on 10th May 2007 complied with Ofcom’s requirements. It added that the remaining promotional material broadcast in that same period comprised only trails of future Bangla TV output. Ofcom said the material in question included two commercial breaks, which totaled 12 minutes of advertisements. However, the scrolled information screened in the same hour also contained a significant quantity of advertising. Bangla TV’s output therefore exceeded the total amount of advertising minutage permitted in any one hour. Ofcom permits TV channels to scroll editorial information during programming time, however in this instance a combination of editorial and advertising was featured, going against Ofcom rules and regulations. Furthermore, to Ofcom's surprise, Bangla TV was in breach again two months later. On 16th July, Ofcom sampled the channel's output to discover another drama (Jyoti), throughout which a mix of news and advertising was scrolled. In response, Bangla TV apologised but again claimed to have broadcast the scrolled material in error. Ofcom found the hour of output provided was similar to the previous material and had considered this as breach of the Code for similar reasons. Bangla TV apologised again for its errors in compliance, and outlined staffing changes and a detailed, regular and ongoing training schedule that it had put in place to ensure much greater awareness of Ofcom’s Code requirements among all Bangla TV’s editorial, marketing and transmission staff. While Ofcom considers the broadcaster is making efforts to ensure future compliance, it has taken note of Bangla TV’s compliance failures as serious, especially given its repeated breaches. Ofcom will consider taking further regulatory action in the event of any future Code breach. (more)

talkSPORT in trouble again
From Radio Today. Posted December 3 2007, 10.56am
National AM station talkSPORT are in trouble with Ofcom for the second time in a month, after a promotional trailer featuring the phrase “mother-crushers” was found to be in breach of the regulator’s rules. (more)

Virgin 'preferred bidder' for Northern Rock
From Daily Telegraph. Posted November 25 2007, 6.58pm
A consortium led by Richard Branson's Virgin Group is the choice of Northern Rock's management to take over the troubled lender, according to the BBC. (more)

Chat magazine in trouble over murder reconstruction photo
From Media Guardian. Posted November 14 2007, 3.02pm
The PCC has upheld a complaint against Chat magazine for publishing a staged photograph of a murdered woman. By Ben Dowell (more)

The trouble with CBeebies
From Media Guardian. Posted November 2 2007, 12.18am
Viv Groskop: on the ghastly sexism of the BBC's flagship channel for young children (more)

Christian TV station in Middle East forced to stop broadcasts
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 30 2007, 2.36pm
The only Christian TV station in the Holy Land will stop its broadcasts at the end of this month because of reported death threats, trouble with the Palestinian authorities and insurmountable financial debts. The Nativity (‘Al Mahed’ in Arabic ) has been broadcasting since 1996 and has become known as a unique voice of Christianity [...] (more)

Britz director Kosminsky backs Channel 4's 'trouble-making' programming
From The Stage. Posted October 25 2007, 6.50pm
(more)

ZEE Cinema in trouble over "violent" movie
From Biz Asia. Posted October 9 2007, 9.22pm
Media regulator Ofcom has given ZEE Cinema a telling off over "violent" scenes it broadcast during the day in the movie 'Ek Ajnabee' in May. A viewer expressed her concerns to Ofcom stating she was shocked along with her nephews at watching such a violent film during the afternoon at the weekend. Ofcom asked ZEE TV to respond with regard to Rule 1.3 of the Code (children must be protected from unsuitable material by appropriate scheduling). In a response to Ofcom, ZEE TV said that the programme in question was broadcast in edited form to ensure the content was editorially justified and suitable for broadcast pre-watershed. As a consequence, the channel argued that the film would not have disturbed a child viewer. The broadcaster suggested that an experienced programming team had taken care to edit the film to ensure that the Code was complied with satisfactorily, without affecting the story line. While ZEE TV stated it was sorry a viewer was offended, it argued that in this case any offence could have been mitigated had the viewer exercised personal discretion and turned the film off. Ofcom concluded ZEE Cinema was in breach of Rule 1.3, i.e. inappropriate scheduling of unsuitable material at a time when children could be viewing television. Furthermore Ofcom said, "This 18-rated film as broadcast contained material of a highly adult, and often violent nature – kidnapping, torture, shoot outs, suicide and drugs use. Ofcom notes ZEE TV’s attempts to minimise harm to children and offence through editing. Upon viewing the material, however, Ofcom found that in its opinion many of the edited scenes were still too harmful to be shown before the watershed at the time of broadcast. For example, although torture scenes may have been edited so that violent detail of the protagonist inflicting pain on his victims was minimised, these scenes were still nevertheless too extreme by their very nature, including body parts such as fingers and ears being severed, and the chief protagonist toying with the idea of suicide, by placing a gun in his mouth. In addition, certain sequences containing unsuitable content still remained in the film as broadcast – for example, a brief scene of a criminal snorting cocaine. Ofcom considers that this film was clearly unsuitable for children and it was not appropriate to broadcast it before the watershed. It was therefore in breach. (more)

Caan circling Erinaceous
From Daily Telegraph. Posted October 9 2007, 12.01am
Asian entrepreneur James Caan, who is joining the panel on the BBC's Dragons' Den show next week, is circling troubled property services group Erinaceous after building a 3pc stake in the company. (more)

'Ghar Ek Sapna' lead actress to leave?
From Biz Asia. Posted October 2 2007, 9.03am
Sahara One's 'Ghar Ek Sapna' could be in trouble if reports today are anything to go by. The lead actress Sayantani Ghosh is currently in a tug of war between Sahara One (current employers) and ZEE TV. The latter wants to sign Sayantani as their female protagonist for their upcoming weekend show 'Naagin...Waadon Ki Agni Pariksha' produced by Aruna Irani. Sahara One is unhappy with the new development and is planning to sack Sayantani from 'Ghar Ek Sapna'. Says a source from the production house told Mumbai Mirror, "Actors cannot simultaneously play the lead roles on two channels as the novelty factor goes away. So, when Sayantani signed up for Aruna Irani's Naagin on ZEE, Sahara One was left fuming." However, when Mumbai Mirror contacted, Sayantani was clueless about the matter. "I have no idea whether they have decided to throw me out. But, I have definitely informed them before signing up for Naagin," she said. Sayantani further added, "The story is moving into a new track in which is do not have much of a role to play. I barely shoot for 14-15 days in a month. I had ample time in hand and the offer in Naagin was quite exciting." So, is losing Ghar Ek Sapna a good decision for Sayantini? "I am shooting for the show as of now. I know they were not very happy when I told them about my new show. I have given up my career in the Bengali film industry for my career on television. So, now when I am getting a good show, why I shouldn't I take it?" she said. 'Naagin...Waadon Ki Agni Pariksha' will launch on Friday 12th October in the 21:30 slot on ZEE TV. Related link: ZEE TV to add more new shows in October (more)

ZEE TV axes troubled show 'Mamta'
From Biz Asia. Posted September 22 2007, 8.12pm
ZEE TV has confirmed that it will be axing its troubled daily soap 'Mamta'. It was reported earlier this month that the channel had decided to drop its female protagonist Narayani Shastri/from the soap due to her demanding ways. According to Mid-Day, Narayani is set to shoot her death scene and producer Sheel Kumar is working overtime to give the show a logical end. Narayani told Mid-Day, "Sheel told me he was terminating my character a little before the last episode as that would save him money. I’m going by his word. I will be shooting the death scene day after tomorrow. It has to be done in the next 48 hours as I’m leaving for Mauritius for the Gold Awards soon." 'Mamta' ends on Wednesday 10th October in India and will be taken off ZEE TV UK at the end of October. ZEE is expected to replace 'Mamta' with a new Jay Mehta soap. Related link: Narayani facing chop from ZEE TV soap 'Mamta'? (more)

BBC Asian Network film show lands in trouble
From Biz Asia. Posted September 20 2007, 8.13pm
The BBC Asian Network's former Bollywood show 'Film Café' has come under scrutiny for serious rule breach. (more)

Diary Stories of Zimbabwe on Five News
From Merry Media. Posted September 17 2007, 10.41pm
Five News are running a week of personal diary stories from Zimbabwe which started today. Zimbabwe will tell the story of the troubled African country every day this week at 5.30pm.. (more)

Virgin Media boss in £1.3m bonanza
From Daily Telegraph. Posted September 17 2007, 12.01am
Virgin Media chairman James Mooney has been awarded $2.6m (£1.3m) of shares by the troubled cable company, which has mothballed its auction due to the credit crunch. (more)

Problems over Northern Rock sale
From BBC News. Posted September 16 2007, 10.00am
No takeover move in imminent for troubled mortgage lender Northern Rock, the BBC learns. (more)

NBC and News Corp internet venture runs into trouble
From Brand Republic. Posted September 7 2007, 9.15am
LONDON - Lulu.com, a digital-media publishing firm, is suing Hulu.com, the online video joint venture from NBC Universal and News Corp, alleging trademark infringement. (more)

Michele Hanson: Why is it always women with tummy troubles in TV ads?
From Media Guardian. Posted September 4 2007, 1.00am
Michele Hanson: You can tell that the nation's innards are in deep trouble just by watching your telly - but the ads feature only women being tormented by their intestines. (more)

Channel I to replace Channel S NTV on Sky
From Biz Asia. Posted August 28 2007, 1.04pm
Troubled Bangladeshi service NTV, distributed in the UK by Channel S will be replaced by Bangla news provider Channel I, according to the broadcaster. Channel S NTV was previously available on Sky Digital EPG 826; however its transmission was disrupted in February when a fire struck in the building where the channel is based in Dhaka. Since then, the UK feed had to rely on looped NTV shows, which subsequently were suspended to make way for a temporary channel replacement by the name of MTN. The religious channel will remain on air until mid-September before its EPG space is permanently taken over by Channel I. Channel I was the first digital channel to launch in Bangaldesh in 1999. The channel broadcasts educational, news and entertainment content. There are also plans to resurrect NTV in the UK once its broadcast has been rectified in Bangladesh. Related link: Fire at Bangladesh's NTV channel halts output (more)

Virgin Media insists sale is still on after chief walks out
From Media Guardian. Posted August 22 2007, 1.00am
Troubled cable TV company Virgin Media suffered a fresh blow yesterday with the news that its chief executive Burch, was leaving for 'family and personal reasons'. By Katie Allen (more)

Boxer Khan gets ready for Channel 4 series
From Biz Asia. Posted August 20 2007, 11.11pm
Boxing sensation Amir Khan will take part in a new Channel 4 series where he will try to help six troubled young men whose violent and antisocial behaviour is spiraling out of control. The Commonwealth lightweight champion will star in a three-part series entitled 'Amir Khan's Angry Young Men', to be aired on August 21. Amir explained why he wanted to make this series: "I just wanted to give them a chance, in a way; those six angry young men. They've had a tough life, and they wanted to change their lives around. Boxing is the toughest sport out there, and it's going to give them discipline and help them to control their lives better." Amir will use the discipline required in boxing to help them turn their lives around in just four weeks. (more)

Bankers wait and hope for calm ahead
From The Times. Posted August 16 2007, 12.00am
Yesterday it was Endemol, the day before it was Cadbury, and the day before that it was Sainsbury’s. In the current market, not a day goes by without news that the financing of another high-profile acquisition or buyout has run into trouble. (more)

Virgin Media heading for trouble, says Moody's
From Media Guardian. Posted August 10 2007, 1.00am
Credit rating agency Moody's heaped further woe on Virgin by downgrading the outlook on its credit rating to 'negative' from 'stable'. By Richard Wray. (more)

Spectator ad lands GCap in trouble
From Media Guardian. Posted July 30 2007, 1.00am
GCap has been found in breach of Ofcom's radio advertising code over a Spectator promotion. By Jemima Kiss. (more)

Double trouble in daft driver copy: More press funnies
From Hold the Front Page. Posted July 17 2007, 12.00am
Ready for the weekend already? Let our latest batch of comical cuttings raise a smile (more)

A 4x4 too far: Clarkson hits trouble on fragile salt flats
From Media Guardian. Posted July 8 2007, 1.00am
BBC faces eco-outrage after Top Gear sends presenter into unspoilt Botswana wilderness. By Vanessa Thorpe and Juliette Jowit. (more)

Clarke promoted at Virgin Media Television
From Digital Spy. Posted June 28 2007, 10.16am
David Clarke is appointed to the newly created post of channel controller Bravo, Bravo2, Challenge and Trouble. (more)

Ramsay accused of dirty tricks on US TV show
From Media Guardian. Posted June 20 2007, 1.00am
The bad boy of British cuisine, Gordon Ramsay, is having trouble with New Yorkers again. By Ed Pilkington in New York. (more)

Bubba the Love Sponge Fan in Trouble with City Employer
From radio.about.com. Posted June 3 2007, 11.21am
Out of St. Petersburg, Florida this nutty story reported by sptimes.com: "A city employee who appears in two raunchy videos on Bubba the Love Sponge's Web site has been put... (more)

Virgin Media's Benham quits
From Digital Spy. Posted May 30 2007, 5.04pm
The controller of Challenge and Trouble is to step down from her role after nine years. (more)

Clarkson in trouble for 'gay' gaffe
From Media Guardian. Posted May 21 2007, 1.00am
1pm: Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has fallen foul of TV regulators for describing a car as 'gay'. By Mark Sweney. (more)

Aaj TV in Pakistan faces closure?
From Biz Asia. Posted April 24 2007, 12.52pm
A month after the offices of Pakistan’s leading private television channel Geo were ransacked by the law enforcement agencies, the second largest television channel, Aaj, faces suspension of its transmissions for its 'irresponsible coverage' of the proceedings of the presidential reference against the suspended chief justice of the Supreme Court. However, the management of the Aaj television says that the channel was being targeted by the information ministry for defying the government attempts to influence its reporting of the ongoing judicial crisis, which has created a plethora of troubles for General Musharraf. According to Arshad Zuberi, the managing director of Aaj Television, the management has been served with a legal notice asking it to explain why it had not sought government permission to uplink its signals from the country. The notice accuses the channel of inciting violence by casting the armed forces in an unfavourable light. The channel has been given three days to reply or face the consequences. He made it clear that Aaj won’t take the chief justice case off air, as desired by the government. "The judicial crisis was not created by television channels but by the government and it will have to tackle it now", Zuberi said. The channel is owned by the Zuberi family, which also operate the Business Recorder, Pakistan’s oldest and most respected financial newspaper. According to Zuberi, the suspension of the chief justice and the subsequent crisis has literally paralysed the government which has resorted to underhand tactics to silence the fourth pillar of the state. Related link: Geo TV's Pakistan offices raided by police (more)

Sky One Sends Ross Kemp Into Trouble
From Merry Media. Posted March 29 2007, 12.37pm
Sky One is sending Ross Kemp into the heart of some of the most troubled areas in London.. (more)

Sunday Times in trouble over Hendrix CD
From Media Guardian. Posted March 20 2007, 12.00am
2.30pm: The Sunday Times is embroiled in a legal fight over a Jimi Hendrix CD giveaway. By Stephen Brook. (more)

Phone-in trouble for Blue Peter
From Media Guardian. Posted March 14 2007, 12.00am
1.15pm update: Blue Peter has joined the TV phone-in scandal as it emerged it faked a competition winner. By John Plunkett. (more)

Union anger as TVR 'bought back'
From BBC News. Posted February 22 2007, 8.19pm
The troubled sports car firm TVR is sold back to its previous owner, sparking anger among union officials. (more)

Union anger as TVR is bought back
From BBC News. Posted February 22 2007, 8.19pm
The troubled sports car firm TVR is sold back to its previous owner, sparking anger among union officials. (more)

Anger as TVR is bought back
From BBC News. Posted February 22 2007, 8.19pm
The troubled sports car firm TVR is sold back to its previous owner, sparking anger among union officials. (more)

Child support trouble for 600,000
From BBC News. Posted February 9 2007, 5.06pm
Up to 600,000 families will not receive maintenance once the Child Support Agency's replacement is scrapped, the BBC learns. (more)

Channel 4 chairman considers bidding for FishWorks
From The Times. Posted February 3 2007, 12.00am
Luke Johnson, the chairman of Channel 4, is considering making an offer for FishWorks, the troubled AIM-listed restaurant operator, through his Risk Capital Partners private equity vehicle, The Times has learnt.... (more)

Celebrity Big Brother Trouble Continues
From Merry Media. Posted January 18 2007, 3.36pm
Ofcom made a statement today about the racism row over Celebrity Big Brother with the television regulator having received 27,000 complaints and now Carphone Warehouse have pulled out of the sponsorship deal.. (more)

Trouble for the Indy as daily and Sunday sales plummet
From Brand Republic. Posted January 12 2007, 12.01pm
LONDON - December proved a dismal month for the newspaper market and especially The Independent, as the daily title's circulation fell 5.9% and sister title the Independent on Sunday fell 6.59% in the latest ABC figures. (more)

Redundancy notices for TVR staff
From BBC News. Posted January 5 2007, 12.39pm
Workers at troubled sports car maker TVR have been made redundant, union officials confirm. (more)

Ad revenues slump at flagship ITV channel
From The Scotsman. Posted December 20 2006, 12.35am
TROUBLED broadcaster ITV lost 1.8 per cent from its share price after revealing it has been hit by a further drop in advertising revenues for the year. (more)

Last night's TV: Penguin Week with Nigel Marven | The Trouble With Atheism | Losing Gemma
From Media Guardian. Posted December 19 2006, 12.00am
Sam Wollaston on Penguin Week with Nigel Marven | The Trouble With Atheism | Losing Gemma (more)

Zoe Williams: Last night's TV
From Media Guardian. Posted December 13 2006, 12.00am
Zoe Williams on JFK's Women - The Scandals: Revealed | Monty Don - Growing Out of Trouble (more)

Trouble Bru-ing for drinks firm
From The Scotsman. Posted December 1 2006, 12.10am
BARR is criticised for using The Snowman in the company's new TV advert featuring a boy drinking the sweet drink. (more)

Agencies welcome Grade's imminent arrival at ITV
From Brand Republic. Posted November 28 2006, 2.11pm
LONDON - The shock appointment of Michael Grade as executive chairman at ITV this morning on a package worth an estimated �8m was welcomed by the media industry today, with the industry pointing to Grade's commercial background as a good omen for the future of the troubled broadcaster. (more)

ITV rebuffs NTL as Ofcom eyes BSkyB stake
From The Scotsman. Posted November 22 2006, 2.28am
ITV has officially rejected a �4.7 billion cash and shares takeover offer from NTL claiming it "materially undervalued" the trouble broadcaster. (more)

NTL hits back at BSkyB's ITV deal with appeal to competition watchdog
From The Scotsman. Posted November 19 2006, 1.22am
NTL is to appeal to the UK and European competition authorities to block BSkyB's surprise purchase of a �940m stake in ITV as it tries to wrest back the initiative for control of the troubled TV group. (more)

BSkyB in surprise �940m swoop on weak ITV
From The Scotsman. Posted November 18 2006, 1.34am
MEDIA giant BSkyB last night announced it had acquired a �940 million stake in the troubled commercial broadcaster ITV - effectively becoming the largest single shareholder in the company. (more)

Coronation Street loses sponsor
From BBC News. Posted November 14 2006, 4.42pm
Cadbury's is to end its �10m sponsorship of Coronation Street, in a fresh blow for troubled broadcaster ITV. (more)

ITV shareholders tell cable company to 'forget takeover' without �5bn cash
From The Independent. Posted November 12 2006, 12.00am
Shareholders in ITV will not consider accepting the takeover of the company by NTL unless the cable group makes a �5bn cash offer for the troubled broadcaster. (more)

Troubled media groups may find solace in each other
From The Times. Posted November 10 2006, 12.00am
NTL works fast. Earlier this week Jim Mooney, NTL's chairman, called Sir Peter Burt, the beleaguered ITV head, to see whether there was any merit in a tie-up between the cable company and the broadcaster.... (more)

Timberlake asks for Trouble in UCG video promotion
From Brand Republic. Posted November 9 2006, 11.11am
LONDON - Teen TV channel Trouble's user-generated content network Homegrown has agreed a deal with pop idol Justin Timberlake to invite fans to feature in the pop star's forthcoming promotional video. (more)

Timberlake asks for Trouble in UGC video promotion
From Brand Republic. Posted November 9 2006, 11.11am
LONDON - Teen TV channel Trouble's user-generated content network Homegrown has agreed a deal with pop idol Justin Timberlake to invite fans to feature in the pop star's forthcoming promotional video. (more)

ITV to launch innovation arm
From Media Guardian. Posted November 3 2006, 12.00am
1.15pm: ITV is to launch a new division - ITV Imagine - to bring new and innovative ideas to the troubled broadcaster. By Mark Sweney. (more)

Rare good day for SMG shares
From The Scotsman. Posted October 31 2006, 12.20am
SMG enjoyed one its best days in the City for months yesterday, when its shares rose more than 7 per cent to 60p on the back of ongoing speculation that ITV was poised to make a bid for the troubled Glasgow media company. (more)

Zoo stirs up trouble as it follows Star with 'Muslim' spread
From Brand Republic. Posted October 23 2006, 8.10am
LONDON - Emap's lads weekly Zoo magazine will this week publish a double-page spread making fun of Muslim law following the Daily Star, which was last week forced to drop a similar idea. (more)

Trouble TV to make user-generated show
From The Stage. Posted October 12 2006, 1.45pm
(more)

Crosby distances himself from chairman's role at troubled ITV
From The Scotsman. Posted October 10 2006, 12.50am
SIR James Crosby, the former HBOS chief executive, is believed to have ruled himself out of taking on the chairman's role at embattled broadcasting giant ITV. (more)

Apax in renewed bid for troubled ITV
From Digital Spy. Posted October 3 2006, 4.59pm
Renewed private equity bid for ITV from Apax as it faces row with NUJ over redundancy payments (more)

Obituary: James Hawthorne
From Media Guardian. Posted September 21 2006, 1.00am
Obituary: BBC Northern Ireland chief who faced down pressure to manage news of the Troubles. (more)

Trouble picks up 'Teachers', 'Desire'
From Digital Spy. Posted September 15 2006, 12.11pm
Trouble picks up three drama series including re-run rights to Channel 4's Teachers. (more)

Troubled Paisley station set for new name and move to Glasgow’s east end
From Media Network Weblog. Posted August 28 2006, 11.29am
Paisley radio station Q96 looks set to receive a new name and a new home in the east end of Glasgow after a consultation into the plan met little resistance. If the proposed takeover by Real Radio Scotland owner GMG Radio from UTV for a “nominal sum�? goes ahead, chief executive John Myers said the [...] (more)

Decline in ITV1 advance bookings brings more gloom
From Brand Republic. Posted July 14 2006, 9.07am
LONDON - ITV1's troubles are set to continue into the autumn with media buyers estimating advance ad bookings for September are down as much as 12% year-on-year. (more)

'Wossie' in trouble over the 'T-word'
From The Independent. Posted June 25 2006, 12.00am
The BBC was forced on the defensive last night after senior Conservatives attacked it for broadcasting "disgusting" remarks about Baroness Thatcher by Jonathan Ross. (more)

New job means Trouble for former BBC exec
From Media Guardian. Posted June 22 2006, 10.01am
9am: Former BBC factual executive Celia Taylor has been appointed controller of Flextech channels Trouble and Challenge TV. By Ben Dowell. (more)

Still Games Returns with More Thrills
From Merry Media. Posted June 18 2006, 8.53pm
The new series of Scots sitcom Still Game returns tomorrow night on BBC Two with some thrills and more madness and mayhem from the 2 old trouble makers Jack and Victor. Episode 1 tomorrow night will see the return of the bookmaker who ran off with Winstons winnings a couple of seasons ago and the gang try to get the cash back for Winston. Episode 2 will see the local barman Boaby is exposed as a pornstar with an old tape played on the giant screen in Buchanan Street in Glasgow City Centre.. (more)

Generation gap troubles TV viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted May 16 2006, 4.47pm
A Romanian reality show about a teenage schoolgirl and her 48-year-old millionaire lover has come under fire for setting a bad example to other children. By Katy Duke. (more)

Suzuki ad drives into trouble
From Media Guardian. Posted April 5 2006, 8.38am
8am: A TV ad for Suzuki has been pulled after viewers complained they heard a voice saying 'I fucking love you'. By Mark Sweney. (more)

Andrea Catherwood: My Life In Media
From The Independent. Posted March 20 2006, 12.00am
Andrea Catherwood returned to presenting the ITV Weekend News last week after giving birth to twins eight months ago. Now 38, she was born and raised during the Troubles in Northern Ireland and has been in the business since she was 16, reporting from conflict areas including Kosovo, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan, where she was injured by shrapnel from a hand grenade. She lives in London with her husband Gray Smith, a lawyer, her two-year-old son and new twins. (more)

The confessions of Oprah
From The Independent. Posted February 19 2006, 12.00am
Oprah Winfrey, the billionaire US chat show host who pioneered the genre of confessional television, has used a rare British interview to talk frankly for the first time about her own troubled upbringing. (more)

Barrymore's redemption: Fifteen minutes of blame
From The Independent. Posted February 5 2006, 12.00am
Seven days is a long time in television. Long enough for Michael Barrymore to be transformed from being the troubled comic with too many dark problems to grace primetime TV ever again into the host of this weekend's Friday Night Project. Thanks to his penitent appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, Barrymore has managed what most believed almost impossible - to rehabilitate himself in viewers' eyes. (more)

Misquote lands CNN in trouble
From Media Guardian. Posted January 16 2006, 5.07pm
4.45pm: CNN has reportedly been barred from working in Iran after misquoting president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as saying his country was entitled to 'nuclear weapons'. By Claire Cozens. (more)

Barrymore bookies' early favourite to win Celebrity Big Brother
From Brand Republic. Posted January 6 2006, 11.01am
LONDON - Troubled former TV presenter Michael Barrymore is the bookies' favourite to win the latest series of 'Celebrity Big Brother' after it kicked off last night. (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)

New York's Hot 97 Starting Year Off Back in Trouble
From radio.about.com. Posted January 2 2006, 7.30am
The New York Daily News reports Hot 97 (WQHT-FM) radio personality Miss Jones is under fire - again. This time from the a member of city council who didn't take kindly to Jones' derogatory remarks about the head of the... (more)

Troubled Doherty records BBC tribute to comic Hancock
From Brand Republic. Posted December 21 2005, 11.12am
LONDON – Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty has recorded a track dedicated to his idol, comedian Tony Hancock, for a Boxing Day BBC Two documentary, 'The Unknown Hancock'. (more)

First Night: Celebrity Big Brother, Channel 4
From The Independent. Posted January 1 1970, 12.59am
Many people have trouble sticking to their New Year diets; but Channel 4's determination to shed weight seems to know no bounds. As Davina McCall (apparently, though I wouldn't have recognised her - what does she think she's doing scraping her hair back like that?) announced at the start, this year's Celebrity Big Brother is the longest yet: 25 days of television without substance or purpose. (more)

Can brand Branson bail out cable TV?
From The Independent. Posted January 1 1970, 12.59am
A strange symbol is going to appear on millions of TV screens across the country on Thursday. To the uninitiated, it resembles a fat-bottomed number eight that has fallen on its side. But the abstract squiggle is the logo for Virgin Media, the new name for NTL, the troubled cable company. (more)