BEN - news archive

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

C4 reprimanded over documentary
From Financial Times. Posted July 22 2008, 3.00am
Channel 4 was reprimanded by Ofcom yesterday over a documentary on climate change that breached impartiality rules, writes Ben Fenton . The broadcasting... (more)

Pope hits out at TV sex and violence
From Digital Spy. Posted July 18 2008, 10.15am
Pope Benedict XVI criticises TV and the internet for presenting sex and violence as "entertainment". (more)

S4C to give English commentary option on sports coverage
From Media Guardian. Posted July 15 2008, 4.45pm
S4C is to provide English commentary on its domestic football and rugby coverage to supplement its main Welsh language coverage. By Ben Dowell (more)

'Beauty Queen at 11' shines on BBC Three
From Digital Spy. Posted July 15 2008, 2.01pm
The controversial story of 11-year-old "beauty queen" Sasha Bennington earned a strong audience for BBC3 last night. (more)

TVC Holdings buys 11% stake in UTV £15m
From Media Guardian. Posted July 15 2008, 12.59pm
Investment company TVC Holdings has paid nearly £15m for an 11% stake in the Belfast-based media group UTV, making it the single largest shareholder of the company. By Ben Dowell (more)

TVC Holdings buys 11% stake in UTV for £15m
From Media Guardian. Posted July 15 2008, 12.59pm
Investment company TVC Holdings has paid nearly £15m for an 11% stake in the Belfast-based media group UTV, making it the single largest shareholder of the company. By Ben Dowell (more)

Hilary Benn to address Newspaper Conference lunch
From Hold the Front Page. Posted July 15 2008, 10.10am
Environment Secretary to meet regional political hacks, football debate for sports journalists ? and more news in brief (more)

Hilary Benn to address Newspaper Society lunch
From Hold the Front Page. Posted July 14 2008, 6.50am
Environment Secretary to meet regional political hacks, football debate for sports journalists ? and more news in brief (more)

The Guardian profile: Jana Bennett
From Media Guardian. Posted July 10 2008, 11.15pm
Profile: Commissioning chief, Jana Bennett, has recovered from royal row to earn £100,000 pay rise (more)

BBC executive pay rises
From Media Guardian. Posted July 8 2008, 11.04pm
Jana Bennett, the BBC executive who presided over fakery scandals and premium phone line controversy has received a six-figure pay rise. By Owen Gibson (more)

BBC annual report: executive bonuses remain despite job cuts and calls for management restructure
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted July 8 2008, 4.21pm
The BBC's executive directors' pay rose by £708,000 in 2007/8 with pay for the 10 directors totalling £4,960,000, according to figures from the corporation's annual report. Jana Bennett, director of BBC Vision, received a bonus of £41,000, while outgoing director of Future Media & Technology Ashley Highfield received £34,000. Director general Mark Thompson rejected the offer [...] (more)

BBC forced to reveal EastEnders costs under Freedom of Information Act
From Media Guardian. Posted July 8 2008, 3.58pm
The BBC has been ordered to reveal the annual staff costs of its flagship soap EastEnders following a freedom of information request. By Ben Dowell (more)

BBC Trust report: BBC1 urged to strive for quality
From Media Guardian. Posted July 8 2008, 12.41pm
The BBC Trust has called on the new BBC1 controller, Jay Hunt, to reach the heights of quality programming 'more frequently'. By Ben Dowell (more)

BBC annual report: BBC1 urged to strive for quality
From Media Guardian. Posted July 8 2008, 12.41pm
The BBC Trust has called on the new BBC1 controller, Jay Hunt, to reach the heights of quality programming 'more frequently'. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - July 7: New series of BBC1's New Tricks wins 9 million viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted July 8 2008, 10.08am
BBC1's popular detective drama New Tricks returned strongly for the start of a new series last night, attracting nearly 9 million viewers in the 9pm hour. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - July 7: New series of BBC1's New Tricks wins 8.7 million viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted July 8 2008, 10.08am
BBC1's popular detective drama New Tricks returned strongly for the start of a new series last night, attracting almost 9 million viewers in the 9pm hour. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - July 5: Doctor Who finale triumphs with 9.4m tuning in
From Media Guardian. Posted July 7 2008, 10.57am
The finale of the fourth series of Doctor Who was watched by 9.4 million viewers on Saturday. By Ben Dowell (more)

'Amy Winehouse would be a great Doctor'
From Media Guardian. Posted July 6 2008, 11.05pm
The man responsible for bringing the Time Lord back to life is standing down as head writer after five years. He talks to Ben Dowell about the importance of fighting monsters, mosquitoes - and the Daily Mail (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)

TV ratings - July 1: Criminal Justice arrests 4.8m
From Media Guardian. Posted July 2 2008, 10.12am
The second episode of BBC1 thriller Criminal Justice attracted nearly 5 million viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - June 27: Mandela concert on song
From Media Guardian. Posted June 30 2008, 1.19pm
ITV1's coverage of Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday concert in London's Hyde Park was watched by 3.8m viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings: Euro 2008 final scores 10m viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted June 30 2008, 10.30am
BBC1's live coverage of the Germany v Spain final attracted the best audience of the Euro 2008 tournament. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - June 29: Euro 2008 final scores 10m viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted June 30 2008, 10.30am
BBC1's live coverage of the Germany v Spain final attracted the best audience of the Euro 2008 tournament. By Ben Dowell (more)

My Life In Media: Ben Shephard
From The Independent. Posted June 30 2008, 12.00am
Ben Shephard, 33, is a television presenter who is best known for his work with GMTV. He can also be seen, alongside Denise van Outen, fronting ITV1's primetime series Who Dares Sings. A staunch West Ham supporter and gym fanatic, Shephard is a father of two and has been married to his wife Annie for four years. He lives in south-west London. (more)

Jon Snow takes role in web game for Channel 4's Disarming Britain season
From Media Guardian. Posted June 26 2008, 6.43am
Channel 4 News anchor Jon Snow is making his computer game debut in support of the broadcaster's Disarming Britain season. By Ben Dowell (more)

Daily Star: deputy editor Ben Knowles leaves to join charity helping war-hit children
From Media Guardian. Posted June 25 2008, 12.58pm
Daily Star joint deputy editor Ben Knowles is leaving the paper to join the charity War Child. By Stephen Brook (more)

Sky News new beta site
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted June 25 2008, 12.35pm
Sky News has launched a beta version of its new website, to run in parallel with its existing news site. It has adopted a top story carousel for the homepage that displays the latest breaking news in video and pictures. It has also added a story tracker in the right column, which lets you follow a story as it develops, and in the left column a See Your News personalisation feature. "What you are visiting is very much work in progress. We are testing and trialling new features and a very different design," Steve Bennedik, editor of Sky News Networked Media, wrote on his blog. "At the same time we are still offering our existing site. When we are ready, we will switch off the old site and this will be our public face." http://blogs.news.sky.com/editorsblog/Post:68413633-1b1b-46c3-a21a-e6e2db41a8c2 (more)

John Leslie claims he faces 'trial by media'
From Media Guardian. Posted June 24 2008, 4.04pm
Former Blue Peter presenter John Leslie has claimed he faces 'another trial by media' after being arrested over an alleged rape. By Ben Dowell (more)

Al-Jazeera: Arab-language network buys up ITN footage
From Media Guardian. Posted June 24 2008, 12.24pm
Arab-language news network al-Jazeera has bought access to more than 800,000 hours of ITN-owned video content. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - June 23: BBC's Primark Panorama documentary watched by 4.2m
From Media Guardian. Posted June 24 2008, 10.28am
An hour-long Panorama special about the high street clothes retailer Primark that BBC1 parachuted into the schedule was watched by 4.2 million viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - June 20: 6m watch Turkey beat Croatia on penalties
From Media Guardian. Posted June 23 2008, 2.01pm
BBC1's coverage of the Turkey v Croatia Euro 2008 quarter final was watched by nearly 6 million viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

ITV1 orders third series of 'Benidorm'
From Digital Spy. Posted June 23 2008, 1.10pm
ITV1 orders an hour-long special and a third series of Benidorm. (more)

ITV Euro coverage scores viewing record
From Media Guardian. Posted June 23 2008, 12.42pm
ITV1's coverage of the Russia v Holland Euro 2008 quarter final attracted the best ratings of the tournament so far. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - June 21: ITV Euro coverage scores viewing record
From Media Guardian. Posted June 23 2008, 12.42pm
ITV1's coverage of the Russia v Holland Euro 2008 quarter final attracted the best ratings of the tournament so far. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - June 22: Top Gear return pushes Royal into third place
From Media Guardian. Posted June 23 2008, 10.32am
The return of Top Gear and the Italy/Spain Euro 2008 quarter final pushed ITV1 period hospital drama The Royal into third place. By Ben Dowell (more)

ITV: Third series of Benidorm commissioned by Fincham
From Media Guardian. Posted June 23 2008, 9.04am
ITV1's Bafta-nominated sitcom Benidorm is to return next year for a third series and a one hour special. By Tara Conlan (more)

Channel 4 examines the emotional dramas that lie beneath the crime headlines
From The Independent. Posted June 23 2008, 12.00am
"Knife mad Britain", says the Sunday Mirror. "Girl 13, knifed in playground", is a headline in London's Evening Standard. "Crime of our time", opines the Daily Mail. Read virtually any story on knife crime and you are left in no doubt that the press sees it as a growing problem, with the ages of those involved helping to drive the subject to the top of the media agenda. But for award-winning writer Roy Williams, who has been commissioned by Channel 4 to shed light on this wave of stabbings by making a 90-minute drama as a centrepiece for its Disarming Britain season, tabloid stories do little more than scratch the surface of the issue. (more)

TV ratings - June 17: France v Italy scores Euro 2008 audience high
From Media Guardian. Posted June 18 2008, 11.27am
Coverage of the France v Italy match on BBC1 attracted 6.5 million viewers - the highest figures so far for the tournament. By Ben Dowell (more)

'Media Quarter' to Benefit from Promotional Campaign
From allmediascotland - Spike. Posted June 17 2008, 8.08am
A promotional campaign to encourage media companies ‘set up shop’ in the Pacific Quay area of Glasgow - where the BBC Scotland and SMG headquarters are already based - is to be launched later this year. It follows the appointment of marketing communications agency, BD-NTWK,... (more)

Rory McGrath and Paddy McGuiness to tour UK for Channel Five
From Media Guardian. Posted June 16 2008, 3.53pm
Comedians Rory McGrath and Paddy McGuiness are to take a sporting road trip around Britain in a new series for Channel Five. By Ben Dowell (more)

Rory McGrath and Paddy McGuinness to tour UK for Channel Five
From Media Guardian. Posted June 16 2008, 3.53pm
Comedians Rory McGrath and Paddy McGuinness are to take a sporting road trip around Britain in a new series for Channel Five. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - June 14: BBC1 scores against Euro 2008
From Media Guardian. Posted June 16 2008, 12.45pm
ITV's live coverage of the Euro 2008 Greece v Russia game on Saturday night averaged nearly 4 million viewers, but lost out to BBC1. By Ben Dowell (more)

ProSiebenSat1 to sell Nordic pay TV unit to Swedish TV4
From Media Network Weblog. Posted June 16 2008, 11.56am
German media group ProSiebenSat1 is to sell Scandinavian pay TV unit C More to the Swedish company TV4, ProSieben said today. The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, is worth around €320 million ($490 million), a statement said. ProSiebenSat1 announced several months ago that it would sell several units, and planned to use revenue raised [...] (more)

TV ratings - June 13: First Big Brother kick-out draws 3.5m
From Media Guardian. Posted June 16 2008, 11.42am
The first eviction on this year's Big Brother was watched by 3.5 million viewers - up on last year's ratings. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - June 13: First Big Brother eviction draws 3.5m
From Media Guardian. Posted June 16 2008, 11.42am
The first eviction on this year's Big Brother was watched by 3.5 million viewers - up on last year's ratings. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - June 16: Viewers discover a taste for Turkey
From Media Guardian. Posted June 16 2008, 10.29am
Live coverage of Turkey's late, late victory over the Czech Republic was watched by an average of nearly 5 million viewers on ITV1. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - June 15: Viewers discover a taste for Turkey
From Media Guardian. Posted June 16 2008, 10.29am
Live coverage of Turkey's late, late victory over the Czech Republic was watched by an average of nearly 5 million viewers on ITV1. By Ben Dowell (more)

Sky One: Noel Edmonds live show leads 'refresh' of channel
From Media Guardian. Posted June 16 2008, 6.16am
Sky One controller Richard Woolfe has commissioned an entertainment show fronted by Noel Edmonds that he says will help mend 'broken Britain'. By Ben Dowell (more)

Benazir Bhutto photo wins double award for Getty Images
From Press Gazette. Posted June 12 2008, 12.00am
A simple image of former Pakistan president Benazir Bhutto adjusting her headscarf has won photograph of the year in The Press Photographer's Year awards. (more)

The Apprentice: Ruth Badger blasts 'lip gloss and hair gel brigade'
From Media Guardian. Posted June 11 2008, 1.24pm
Former Apprentice finalist Ruth Badger has criticised this year's candidates, insisting she has 'no idea what most of them can actually do'. By Ben Dowell (more)

ASA bans Nestlé wholegrain cereal ad
From Media Guardian. Posted June 11 2008, 6.09am
The ad watchdog has ordered Nestlé not to repeat a TV advert for its cereals that made unfounded claims about the benefits of eating wholegrain. By Natalie Whelan (more)

ProSieben mulling non-core unit sales in Scandinavia and the Netherlands
From Media Network Weblog. Posted June 10 2008, 3.56pm
German commercial broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 is looking at a sale of non-core activities in Scandinavia and the Netherlands, the company said today. Revenue from the sale would be used to help reduce its 3.4 billion euros ($5.4 billion) of debt, which soared when it bought European rival SBS Broadcasting last year, outgoing Chief Financial Officer Lothar [...] (more)

BBC to build web page for every TV show, says Jana Bennett
From Media Guardian. Posted June 10 2008, 12.53pm
The BBC is to create a web page for every episode of every television programme it has ever produced as part of a huge online archive that will span nearly 80 years. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

The Simpsons: Channel 4 apologises for pre-watershed swearing
From Media Guardian. Posted June 9 2008, 2.33pm
Channel 4 has apologised for an administrative error that led to the broadcast of the word 'wankers' in an edition of The Simpsons shown last month at 6pm. By Ben Dowell (more)

BBC4 rapped by Ofcom over 'unfair' editing
From Media Guardian. Posted June 9 2008, 2.23pm
BBC4 has been reprimanded by Ofcom for 'unfair' editing in an edition of its documentary Crisis at the Castle broadcast in June 2007. By Ben Dowell (more)

Channel 4: Mykura to take over as More4 head
From Media Guardian. Posted June 9 2008, 10.48am
Channel 4's head of documentaries, Hamish Mykura, is to take over from Peter Dale as head of More4. By Ben Dowell (more)

Benazir snap secures top photography prize
From Hold the Front Page. Posted June 9 2008, 9.10am
A brace of awards for Getty Images photographer at pres awards scheme (more)

The Benefits of Hiring an Agent to Sell Your Book Idea or Script
From allmediascotland - Spike. Posted June 6 2008, 7.58am
Some flattery at the outset: it is generally a joy – as an agent – to work with journalists. Really. Of my 50-plus clients, a significant percentage have – or still do – work in newspapers. And the advantages are manifold. F Firstly, most importantly and... (more)

Al Murray: ITV1 orders fresh sketch series
From Media Guardian. Posted June 4 2008, 6.16am
ITV1 has commissioned comedian Al Murray to write and perform an array of new comedy characters. By Ben Dowell (more)

Christopher Morgan: journalist and broadcaster dies
From Media Guardian. Posted June 3 2008, 2.24pm
The former religious affairs correspondent of the Sunday Times has died after a long battle with depression. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - May 30: Britain's Got Talent semi-final shines for ITV
From Media Guardian. Posted June 2 2008, 1.32pm
Britain's Got Talent dominated the ratings, with an audience of 11.4 million viewers between 9pm and 10.30pm on ITV1. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - June 1: Florence Nightingale drama brings healthy result for BBC1
From Media Guardian. Posted June 2 2008, 12.40pm
BBC1's drama about Victorian nurse Florence Nightingale drew 4.7 million viewers to BBC1. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings: Britain's Got Talent wins talent tussle
From Media Guardian. Posted June 2 2008, 10.23am
The results show for ITV1's Britain's Got Talent drew an audience of 13.1m beating BBC1 rival I'd Do Anything. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - May 30: Britain's Got Talent wins reality tussle
From Media Guardian. Posted June 2 2008, 10.23am
The results show for ITV1's Britain's Got Talent drew an audience of 13.1m beating BBC1 rival I'd Do Anything. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - May 31: Britain's Got Talent wins reality tussle
From Media Guardian. Posted June 2 2008, 10.23am
The results show for ITV1's Britain's Got Talent drew an audience of 13.1m beating BBC1 rival I'd Do Anything. By Ben Dowell (more)

Van Outen, Shephard for ITV1 song show
From Digital Spy. Posted May 30 2008, 5.16am
Denise Van Outen and Ben Shephard are to front a new ITV1 singing gameshow. (more)

Pushing Daisies: ITV website to air 'missing' episode
From Media Guardian. Posted May 28 2008, 8.23am
The 'missing' second episode of ITV1's US drama import Pushing Daisies is to be shown on the broadcaster's website on Saturday. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - May 25: DiCaprio documentary draws fewer than 1m
From Media Guardian. Posted May 27 2008, 1.43pm
Channel 4's broadcast of the Leonardo DiCaprio environment documentary The 11th Hour was watched by 800,000 viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

Frasier star Kelsey Grammer to appear in remake of BBC2 sitcom
From Media Guardian. Posted May 27 2008, 12.06pm
Frasier star Kelsey Grammer is to star in the US version of BBC2 comedy Roman's Empire. ByBen Dowell (more)

Multichannel ratings - May 25: Gladiators audience takes a tumble
From Media Guardian. Posted May 27 2008, 12.01pm
The third instalment of Sky One's Gladiators revival attracted 814,000 viewers - down almost 700,000 on the launch two weeks ago. By Ben Dowell (more)

Who Benefits Most from the SIRIUS - XM Satellite Radio Merger?
From radio.about.com. Posted May 27 2008, 1.00am
The Federal Communications Commission is considering a proposed merger of the two Satellite Radio companies which currently serve the United States. Will such a business merger help the growth of... (more)

CBBC food show to encourage kids to stew worms, catch farts in jars and bake toenail cakes
From Media Guardian. Posted May 22 2008, 9.02am
CBBC is to make a 13-part food series called Gastronuts that will encourage children to stew worms, catch farts in jars, and bake toenail cakes. By Ben Dowell (more)

Ben Whishaw to star in BBC thriller Criminal Justice
From Media Guardian. Posted May 22 2008, 6.16am
The BBC is to broadcast a drama from Hawking writer Peter Moffat, starring Ben Whishaw as a young man imprisoned for murder despite protesting his innnocence. By Ben Dowell (more)

BBC2 documentary wins Premier Prize at Sandford St Martin Trust religious radio and TV awards
From Media Guardian. Posted May 21 2008, 12.20pm
BBC2 documentary The Boys from Baghdad High has won the Premier Prize at the Sandford St Martin Trust religious radio and TV awards. By Ben Dowell (more)

Ireland's Dustin The Turkey fails to make Eurovision final
From Media Guardian. Posted May 21 2008, 11.58am
Dustin the Turkey, Ireland's novelty entry for this Eurovision song contest, has failed to make it to the final. By Ben Dowell (more)

Profile: Steven Moffat
From Media Guardian. Posted May 20 2008, 4.47pm
A look at the career of Doctor Who's new showrunner. By Ben Dowell (more)

Steven Moffat to replace Russell T Davies as Doctor Who lead writer and executive producer
From Media Guardian. Posted May 20 2008, 3.05pm
Scriptwriter Steven Moffat has been named lead writer and executive producer on hit BBC1 drama Doctor Who. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - May 19: Duchess bows to BBC rival
From Media Guardian. Posted May 20 2008, 12.01pm
The opening installment of ITV1's high profile two-part documentary The Duchess in Hull pulled in 5 million viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

BBC to air Marje Proops drama
From Media Guardian. Posted May 20 2008, 5.58am
The BBC has confirmed that it is developing a biographical drama based on the life of legendary Daily Mirror journalist Marje Proops. By Ben Dowell (more)

BBC lines up Marje Proops drama
From Media Guardian. Posted May 20 2008, 5.58am
The BBC has confirmed that it is developing a biographical drama based on the life of legendary Daily Mirror journalist Marje Proops. By Ben Dowell (more)

Cross media ownership lacked commercial benefit for DMGT
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted May 19 2008, 11.00pm
Expansion into ownership of radio and TV properties failed to bring commercial benefits to the Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), its chief executive has said (more)

Terrestrial TV ratings - May 18: Indiana Jones fights off rivals
From Media Guardian. Posted May 19 2008, 11.28am
A timely BBC1 repeat of the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was watched by 7.3 million viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - May 18: Indiana Jones fights off rivals
From Media Guardian. Posted May 19 2008, 11.28am
A timely BBC1 repeat of the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was watched by 7.3 million viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

Multichannel TV ratings - May 18: Gladiators' ratings knocked down
From Media Guardian. Posted May 19 2008, 10.39am
The second instalment of Sky One's Gladiators revival attracted 1.1 million viewers, down 400,000 on its debut. By Ben Dowell (more)

Last night's TV: Am I Derren's evil plaything?
From Media Guardian. Posted May 16 2008, 11.03pm
Leo Benedictus on Derren Brown: Trick or Treat and Peep Show (both Channel 4) (more)

Charity to Benefit from Peek at the Stars
From allmediascotland - Spike. Posted May 16 2008, 8.12am
A charity set up by a former astrologer on the Sunday Mail has captured the services of the newspaper’s current stargazer to help it celebrate its 21st birthday. Next month, Frank Pilkington presents his specially created one-man show on behalf of the Darlinda Charity for Renal... (more)

Channel 4 to show Leonardo DiCaprio environment documentary
From Media Guardian. Posted May 14 2008, 12.01pm
Channel 4 is to broadcast The 11th Hour, the polemical documentary about the environment fronted by Leonardo DiCaprio. By Ben Dowell (more)

BBC3 to air Manchester music comedy starring Ralf Little and Johnny Vegas
From Media Guardian. Posted May 14 2008, 6.20am
BBC3 has commissioned a comedy series about a fictional Manchester record label starring Ralf Little and Johnny Vegas. By Ben Dowell (more)

Leo Benedictus on last night's TV
From Media Guardian. Posted May 13 2008, 11.14pm
Leo Benedictus on Gordon Ramsay's F Word | The World's Tallest Woman and Me (more)

MediaGuardian Edinburgh TV Festival lineup unveiled
From Media Guardian. Posted May 13 2008, 5.00pm
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is to give the Richard Dunn Memorial Interview at this year's MediaGuardian Edinburgh TV Festival. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - May 12: Duke battles drama for ratings honours
From Media Guardian. Posted May 13 2008, 10.19am
ITV's profile of the Duke of Edinburgh drew an impressive 5.3 million viewers, challenging BBC1's Waking the Dead. By Ben Dowell (more)

CBBC series to focus on deadly animals
From Media Guardian. Posted May 13 2008, 6.21am
Children's BBC controller Anne Gilchrist has commissioned a 20-part series in which Steve Backshall investigates the world's most deadly creatures. By Ben Dowell (more)

Madonna lets rip live on the BBC
From Media Guardian. Posted May 12 2008, 11.16am
An expletive-laden performance by Madonna on live television and radio on Saturday has attracted just four complaints to the BBC. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - May 2: BBC's satirical quiz beats Benidorm
From Media Guardian. Posted May 6 2008, 12.15pm
BBC1 had the upper hand over ITV1 in the topsy-turvy battle of the 9pm comedy shows when Have I Got News for You beat Benidorm. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

BBC/ITV satellite service Freesat goes live
From Media Guardian. Posted May 6 2008, 11.22am
Freesat, the BBC and ITV free digital satellite joint venture, is finally launching with the service promising to feature up to 200 channels by the end of the year. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - May 4: ITV1's Flood inundated with viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted May 6 2008, 10.13am
Flood, ITV1's apocalyptic drama about a catastrophic flood hitting London, opened impressively with 7.2 million viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

Jo Burgin's al-Jazeera employment tribunal adjourned until September
From Media Guardian. Posted May 1 2008, 4.24pm
A potential £1m tribunal brought by a former al-Jazeera English executive has been adjourned until September after a day of legal wrangling. By Ben Dowell (more)

al-Jazeera English faces £1m employment tribunal
From Media Guardian. Posted May 1 2008, 2.14pm
A former executive at al-Jazeera English is seeking compensation potentially in excess of £1m following her dismissal from the news channel. By Ben Dowell (more)

Spotlight on ITV performance after Airy resigns
From Financial Times. Posted April 30 2008, 7.32pm
When ITV's board extended Michael Grade's executive chairmanship by a year in February, with a new management line-up beneath him, one veteran industry adviser likened the situation to the court politics of a Tudor monarch (more)

Spotlight on ITV performance after Airey resigns
From Financial Times. Posted April 30 2008, 7.32pm
When ITV's board extended Michael Grade's executive chairmanship by a year in February, with a new management line-up beneath him, one veteran industry adviser likened the situation to the court politics of a Tudor monarch (more)

Sony TV releases info on 'Indian Idol 4'
From Biz Asia. Posted April 29 2008, 9.49pm
Sony Entertainment Television Asia has announced it has signed up actress Sonali Bendre as a judge on its latest series of 'Indian Idol', which starts in the coming weeks. Bendre was incidentally a part of Sony TV's other show 'Mr. & Miss TV'. She will join regulars Anu Malik and Javed Akhtar on the panel. Kailesh Kher has also been roped in to form the new series. Contestants from the last series Meiyang Chang and Deepali Kishore have been named as hosts for the initial auditions process of the show. A channel spokesman said if viewers respond positively towards the two, they may be considered as permanent fixtures for the show. (more)

TV ratings - April 28: Medical show avoids embarrassment
From Media Guardian. Posted April 29 2008, 12.47pm
The first episode of Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies, which focuses on intimate medical complaints, attracted 2.6 million viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - April 26: Sun shines on ITV1's Benidorm
From Media Guardian. Posted April 28 2008, 12.14pm
Benidorm wrested the 9pm comedy crown back, after two weeks of being beaten by the BBC1 competition. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

Voting opens for Channel of the Year Award
From Media Guardian. Posted April 28 2008, 6.03am
The search is on for the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival Channel of the Year. By Ben Dowell (more)

Ben Dowell on television comedy
From Media Guardian. Posted April 27 2008, 11.02pm
Television comedy has long borrowed from radio. But should commissioners be casting their nets wider, asks Ben Dowell (more)

Dave Gorman's Radio 4 show Genius is to be made for BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted April 25 2008, 4.37pm
Dave Gorman's Radio 4 entertainment show Genius is to transfer to BBC2 as a six-part series. By Ben Dowell (more)

CNN presenter Richard Quest goes into rehab
From Media Guardian. Posted April 25 2008, 1.18pm
CNN's UK-born presenter Richard Quest has embarked on a course of drug rehabilitation following his arrest last Friday in New York. By Ben Dowell (more)

Heroes pulls in 3.7 million viewers on BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted April 25 2008, 9.53am
The return of the US sci-fi drama import Heroes pulled in 3.7 million viewers to BBC2. By Ben Dowell (more)

Rafa Benitez in libel bid against News of the World
From Press Gazette. Posted April 25 2008, 12.00am
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is suing News Group Newspapers over a story which appeared in the News of the World. (more)

MPs back Badass Wombles campaign in early day motion
From Media Guardian. Posted April 24 2008, 3.41pm
An early day motion backing a campaign to save UK-originated children's TV programmes has won the support of 100 MPs. By Ben Dowell (more)

Gavin & Stacey stars James Corden and write BBC3 show
From Media Guardian. Posted April 24 2008, 10.26am
BBC3 has commissioned James Corden to make a new sketch show which he has co-written with his Gavin & Stacey co-star Mathew Horne. By Ben Dowell (more)

BBC3 orders full series of Being Human
From Media Guardian. Posted April 24 2008, 6.18am
BBC3 has ordered six more episodes of Being Human on the strength of the one-off drama pilot broadcast earlier this year. By Ben Dowell (more)

ITN's Robin Elias says scrapping regional news will harm national news
From Media Guardian. Posted April 23 2008, 3.44pm
ITN managing editor Robin Elias has said abolishing ITV's commitment to regional news would "badly hit" national news delivery. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - April 21: Waking dream for BBC
From Media Guardian. Posted April 22 2008, 9.51am
BBC1's police drama Waking the Dead continued to win the drama head-to-head with ITV1 as 6.3 million watched the first episode of the latest two-parter. By Ben Dowell (more)

Ex-Times deputy Ben Preston to join the Independent
From Media Guardian. Posted April 21 2008, 1.00pm
Former Times deputy editor Ben Preston is set to join Roger Alton at the Independent. By Stephen Brook (more)

TV ratings - April 18: Triumphant return for satirical quiz
From Media Guardian. Posted April 21 2008, 11.28am
Have I Got News For You made a strong return to BBC1, pulling in 5.9 million viewers and beating ITV1's sitcom Benidorm. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

Steve Coogan to star as gambling addict in BBC1 Craig Cash sitcom
From Media Guardian. Posted April 21 2008, 6.28am
Comedian Steve Coogan is to star as a gambling addict in a new BBC1 comedy drama co-written by Craig Cash. By Ben Dowell (more)

Sir Martin Sorrell predicts growing role for advertisers in films and TV
From The Times. Posted April 21 2008, 12.00am
It is a phenomenon first parodied by The Truman Show in 1998 — creating entertaining content for the benefit of the advertising industry. Ten years on, advertisers and agencies are keen to turn the concept into reality. Sir Martin Sorrell, the chief executive of WPP, the advertising group, is pushing for his industry to work more closely with Hollywood stars and media companies to help to finance films and television series in which it can promote its clients’ products. As traditional spot advertising between programmes comes under increasing pressure, Sir Martin foresees the advertising industry co-owning a slice of productions and possibly having involvement in the creative process of programme-making. “There are some experiments being made by us and our competitors involving significant amounts of money,” he says. Product placement is commonly used in Hollywood blockbusters and British programmes on commercial television are widely sponsored, but the advent of advertisers and agencies funding programme-making, and potentially determining plotlines, would be a departure. It would also spark controversy about the quality of television programming. The European Union is considering recommending the relaxation of rules governing advertising on television. At the same time, Ofcom, the British regulator, which continues to enforce legislation governing product promotion on all forms of media in Britain, appears to be leaning towards more lenient rules concerning television advertising. In America, where rules governing advertising are less stringent, WPP has already created some branded content, co-producing the drama series October Road with Touchstone Television. That move took Group M, the media planning and buying division of WPP, into a role that traditionally is held by a production company, using its own finances to invest in the production. It then marketed opportunities within the show to advertisers. The advertising group said at the time that many similar productions were likely to follow, suggesting that this was the start of a trend. October Road, based on the return of a bestselling author to his small town American roots, made a strong debut on ABC when it aired in March last year. Although audiences tailed off, it averaged 10.5 million viewers and was recommissioned for a second series, with an option for a third. “We want to do it [October Road-style production deals] everywhere,” Sir Martin said at the time. “Content and intellectual property does give us an opportunity to add, or develop, a new business approach and a new structure to the way we develop our business, particularly in media planning and buying.” To help to ensure that big-name stars are involved in future shows, Sir Martin also wants to forge closer ties with Hollywood talent agents. “One of the things I think we don’t do well enough is develop intellectual property with people we know. For example, one of the things that’s struck me . . . is to work with Hollywood talent agencies like CAA, Endeavour, UTA or William Morris. We should work more closely with those people in trying to develop content ideas.” (more)

Sir Martin Sorrell of WPP sees big role for advertisers in films and TV
From The Times. Posted April 20 2008, 11.10pm
It is a phenomenon first parodied by The Truman Show in 1998 - creating entertaining content for the benefit of the advertising industry. Ten years on, advertisers and agencies are keen to turn the concept into reality. Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of WPP, the advertising group, is pushing for his industry to work more closely with Hollywood stars and media companies to help to finance films and television series in which it can promote its clients’ products. As traditional spot advertising between programmes comes under increasing pressure, Sir Martin foresees the advertising industry co-owning a slice of productions and possibly having involvement in the creative process of programme-making. “There are some experiments being made by us and our competitors involving significant amounts of money,” he says. Product placement is commonly used in Hollywood blockbusters and British programmes on commercial television are widely sponsored, but the advent of advertisers and agencies funding programme-making, and potentially determining plotlines, would be a departure. It would also spark controversy about the quality of television programming. The European Union is considering recommending the relaxation of rules governing advertising on television. At the same time, Ofcom, the British regulator, which continues to enforce legislation governing product promotion on all forms of media in Britain, appears to be leaning towards more lenient rules concerning television advertising. In America, where rules governing advertising are less stringent, WPP has already created some branded content, co-producing the drama series October Road with Touchstone Television. That move took Group M, the media planning and buying division of WPP, into a role that traditionally is held by a production company, using its own finances to invest in the production. It then marketed opportunities within the show to advertisers. The advertising group said at the time that many similar productions were likely to follow, suggesting that this was the start of a trend. October Road, based on the return of a bestselling author to his small town American roots, made a strong debut on ABC when it aired in March last year. Although audiences tailed off, it averaged 10.5 million viewers and was recommissioned for a second series, with an option for a third. “We want to do it [October Road-style production deals] everywhere,” Sir Martin said at the time. “Content and intellectual property does give us an opportunity to add, or develop, a new business approach and a new structure to the way we develop our business, particularly in media planning and buying.” To help to ensure that big-name stars are involved in future shows, Sir Martin also wants to forge closer ties with Hollywood talent agents. “One of the things I think we don’t do well enough is develop intellectual property with people we know. For example, one of the things that’s struck me . . . is to work with Hollywood talent agencies like CAA, Endeavour, UTA or William Morris. We should work more closely with those people in trying to develop content ideas.” (more)

TV ratings - April 17: Norton holds his own with chatshow return
From Media Guardian. Posted April 18 2008, 10.22am
The Graham Norton Show returned to BBC2 in a 9pm slot with 1.7 million viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

Gervais agent wins £125k payout from former employer PFD
From Media Guardian. Posted April 18 2008, 6.26am
Ricky Gervais' agent, Duncan Hayes, has been awarded a payout of more than £125,000 from his former employer PFD. By Ben Dowell (more)

Jonathan Glazier named Talent TV entertainment director
From Media Guardian. Posted April 17 2008, 9.42am
Jonathan Glazier is returning to the UK to replace John Kaye Cooper as director of entertainment at Talent Television. By Ben Dowell (more)

Sky to air adaptations of novels by Martina Cole
From Media Guardian. Posted April 17 2008, 6.24am
Sky One has commissioned two adaptations of books by award-winning crime author Martina Cole that will be shot in high definition. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - April 15: The Age of Terror captures 1m viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted April 16 2008, 10.35am
The opening episode of BBC2's new Peter Taylor documentary series was watched by 1.1 million viewers in the 9pm hour. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings: April 11 - My Family overruns Benidorm
From Media Guardian. Posted April 14 2008, 12.11pm
The start of a new series of long-running BBC1 sitcom My Family knocked ITV1's Benidorm off its perch on Friday night. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

TV ratings – April 11: My Family overruns Benidorm
From Media Guardian. Posted April 14 2008, 12.11pm
The start of a new series of the long-running BBC1 sitcom My Family knocked ITV1's Benidorm off its perch on Friday night. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

Charlie Brooker to pen horror series for E4
From Media Guardian. Posted April 14 2008, 5.51am
E4 has commissioned Guardian columnist Charlie Brooker to write the channel's first scripted horror series. By Ben Dowell (more)

Partnership with Radio Misty brings BBC to FM in North Bengal and Sikkim
From Media Network Weblog. Posted April 11 2008, 4.10pm
Audiences in North Bengal and Sikkim can listen to the BBC’s special FM programming for the first time. Thanks to a partnership agreement between the BBC and Siliguri-based Radio Misty 94.3 FM, listeners in the region can now tune in to the BBC’s infotainment updates and chat shows tailor-made for India’s FM market. Known by its [...] (more)

'Shocking' Xbox game ad banned by ASA over violence
From Media Guardian. Posted April 9 2008, 6.22am
A 'graphic' and 'shocking' poster, press and TV ad campaign for Xbox game Kane & Lynch has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority. By Ben Dowell (more)

Strictly Come Dancing star Gethin Jones leaves Blue Peter
From Media Guardian. Posted April 8 2008, 4.52pm
Blue Peter presenter Gethin Jones is leaving after two years at BBC1's flagship children's programme. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - April 7: BodyShock beats Clowns in 9pm slot
From Media Guardian. Posted April 8 2008, 11.32am
Channel 4's latest BodyShock special about a man with 20kg of facial tumours attracted 3.5 million viewers over the 9pm hour. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - April 4: Benidorm keeps ITV buoyant
From Media Guardian. Posted April 7 2008, 12.36pm
ITV's comedy Benidorm, starring Johnny Vegas, kept its audience above 6 million viewers. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

Fincham, Hunt and Gale to start on May 12
From Digital Spy. Posted April 3 2008, 4.18pm
Peter Fincham, Jay Hunt and Ben Gale will start new jobs controlling ITV1, BBC One and Five on May 12. (more)

Jay Hunt, Peter Fincham and Ben Gale set to start new jobs on May 12
From Media Guardian. Posted April 2 2008, 12.08pm
The new heads of BBC1, ITV1 and Channel Five will all start work on May 12. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Ben Elton: 'BBC is scared of Islam'
From Digital Spy. Posted April 2 2008, 11.21am
Ben Elton says the BBC is too scared to make jokes about Islam. (more)

The BBC is too 'scared' to allow Islam jokes, says Ben Elton
From Media Guardian. Posted April 2 2008, 9.30am
The comedian and writer Ben Elton has accused the BBC of being too 'scared' to allow jokes about Islam. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

Michelle Ryan makes UK TV comeback in ITV1 comedy Mr Eleven
From Media Guardian. Posted April 1 2008, 5.03pm
Michelle Ryan, the former EastEnders actress and star of the NBC drama Bionic Woman, is to return to the UK to star in the new ITV1 romantic comedy Mr Eleven. By Ben Dowell (more)

'Sexy Money' wilts in 'Benidorm' sun
From Digital Spy. Posted April 1 2008, 9.14am
Top ratings for returning ITV1 comedy Benidorm see Dirty Sexy Money lose 1.3m viewers. (more)

BBC3 recommissions Lily Allen and Friends
From Media Guardian. Posted April 1 2008, 6.30am
BBC3 is bringing back Lily Allen and Friends for a second series. By Ben Dowell (more)

BBC buys Aussie school mockumentary Summer Heights High
From Media Guardian. Posted March 31 2008, 2.59pm
BBC3 controller Danny Cohen has bought antipodean mockumentary series Summer Heights High from Australian broadcaster ABC. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - March 28: Viewers flock to ITV's Benidorm
From Media Guardian. Posted March 31 2008, 11.49am
ITV1's comedy zone had a successful launch with the second series of Benidorm pulling in 6.5 million viewers. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Donal MacIntyre to make series on CCTV for Channel Five
From Media Guardian. Posted March 31 2008, 6.19am
Channel Five has commissioned a series in which Donal MacIntyre lifts the lid on CCTV operators across the UK. By Ben Dowell (more)

The daughter also rises: Ms Murdoch conquers America
From The Independent. Posted March 31 2008, 12.00am
One morning last May, Elisabeth Murdoch was leaving a Starbucks in London when her cellphone rang. Her good friend Ben Silverman was calling from Los Angeles to say he could no longer discuss selling her his independent television production company, Reveille. (more)

Charlie Brooker on the benefits of a good slagging off
From Media Guardian. Posted March 30 2008, 11.04pm
Charlie Brooker: We're all led to believe that we're somehow unique and important. But there are billions of us - we can't all be special (more)

Sunday dramas return to ITV1
From Media Guardian. Posted March 26 2008, 7.27am
ITV1 has recommissioned two of its Sunday night drama ratings hits, Kingdom and Wild at Heart. By Ben Dowell (more)

Stephen Fry Twinings tea ads cleared of racism by ASA
From Media Guardian. Posted March 26 2008, 7.26am
Two Stephen Fry-fronted TV ads for Twinings Tea have been cleared after a complaint that they presented a negative stereotype of a black man as sexually promiscuous. By Ben Dowell (more)

Five confirms Gale as programmes chief
From Digital Spy. Posted March 25 2008, 2.23pm
The BBC's Ben Gale will be the new director of programmes at Five, it is confirmed. (more)

Gale confirmed for Five job
From Media Guardian. Posted March 25 2008, 1.00pm
Channel Five has confirmed that BBC commissioning editor Ben Gale will be its new director of programmes. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Ben Gale confirmed for Channel Five job
From Media Guardian. Posted March 25 2008, 1.00pm
Channel Five has confirmed that BBC commissioning editor Ben Gale will be its new director of programmes. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

BBC will screen Minghella's final drama
From Media Guardian. Posted March 18 2008, 5.21pm
The BBC is to go ahead with its transmission of The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency in spite of the sudden death of its director and co-writer Anthony Minghella. By Ben Dowell (more)

Gale tipped for Five job
From Media Guardian. Posted March 14 2008, 3.45pm
BBC factual entertainment executive Ben Gale is poised to become Channel Five's new director of programmes. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Geldof group wins Teachers TV contract
From Media Guardian. Posted March 14 2008, 1.52pm
A consortium including Bob Geldof's Ten Alps and ITN is to retain the Teachers TV digital television contract. By Ben Dowell (more)

Corinne Hollingworth quits ITV
From Media Guardian. Posted March 13 2008, 3.38pm
Corinne Hollingworth, the ITV executive in charge of dramas including Coronation Street and Emmerdale, is leaving the company after four years. By Ben Dowell (more)

Channel 4 fund targets 'new creative generation'
From Media Guardian. Posted March 13 2008, 12.18pm
Birmingham has been chosen as the first UK 'commissioning hub' for Channel 4's new fund supporting digital media content. By Ben Dowell (more)

Channel 4 unveils public service 'blueprint'
From Media Guardian. Posted March 13 2008, 11.32am
Channel 4 is setting up a £50m fund to support public service digital media content over the next two years and has vowed to show more new content. By Ben Dowell (more)

Sony TV buys 200 movies from Shemaroo
From Biz Asia. Posted March 12 2008, 10.41pm
Sony Entertainment Television (SET) India has acquired the worldwide satellite rights for about 200 films from Shemaroo Entertainment for an undisclosed amount for a period of five years. Some of the movies are Jeans, Mahaan, Hulmaa, Love In Shimla, Oh Darling Yeh Hai India, Maya Memsaab, Udhar Ki Jindagi, Sanam Bewafa, Khwahish, Kis Kis Ki Kismat, Joroo Ka Ghulam, Zindagi Zindagi, Ek Nazar, Baaz – A Bird In Danger, Heer Ranjha, The Great Gambler, Benaam, Khuda Gawah, Do Raaste, Around The World, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Aaj-Ke-Sholey, Kuch Meetha Ho Jaaye, Shiva, Souten, Kaalia, Namak Halaal, Hadh Kar Di Aapne, amongst others. These rights have been exclusively acquired for cable, satellite, pay TV, satellite subscription TV, DTH, direct broadcasting service, cable through distribution and PPV. Non-exclusive rights for VOD and IPTV have also been acquired for the movies. Related link: Sony TV acquires 16 new films from Eros Int. (more)

Fixer on target with viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted March 11 2008, 10.31am
ITV1's new drama series The Fixer opened strongly, averaging 6.2 million viewers in the 9pm hour. By Ben Dowell (more)

BBC Worldwide gets global brands boss
From Media Guardian. Posted March 10 2008, 5.49pm
Marcus Arthur has been promoted to the post of managing director of BBC Worldwide's global brands division. By Ben Dowell (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)

BBC sells ??Allo ?Allo? to German TV channel
From Media Network Weblog. Posted March 10 2008, 2.49pm
The BBC has sold a hit British television comedy series which makes fun of the Gestapo in Nazi-occupied France to a German broadcaster. German audiences will be able to watch “‘Allo ‘Allo” - which ran in Britain from 1982-1991 - for the first time after ProSiebenSat1 bought all 83 episodes from BBC Worldwide, the British [...] (more)

BBC2's working class heroes draw 1.7m
From Media Guardian. Posted March 10 2008, 1.31pm
The launch of BBC2's controversial season about the white working class averaged 1.7 million viewers on Friday. By Ben Dowell (more)

Informal learning is key to honing skills of trade
From Press Gazette. Posted March 10 2008, 12.00am
Kevin Marsh, editor-in-chief of the BBC’s College of Journalism, on the benefits of “learning without borders” (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)

ITN staff angry at plans to cut costs
From Media Guardian. Posted March 6 2008, 7.30am
Staff and unions at ITN have expressed anger at plans to cut back on taxis and other benefits in a bid to cut costs. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

City demand BBC apology over Benjani 'scare story'
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