Satellite news 15.02.05 - Sky

SATDUDE · 15-02-2005, 22:50

Satellite news 15.02.05

News

Extasi TV deemed to be 'unacceptable'

The Government is to restrict access to Extasi TV, an adult TV channel which it says broadcasts 'unacceptable violent pornography'. From the end of February it will be illegal to supply a decoding card or other equipment that gives access to the channel - and the station will also be banned from placing adverts in UK magazines or supplying its TV listings. However, it will not be illegal to watch the channel and anyone who already has a subscription or viewing card will not be breaking any law. Broadcasting Minister Andrew McIntosh said: "I was notified by Ofcom that the content of Extasi TV is unacceptable and should be the subject of a proscription order. I have viewed material from the channel and consider that a proscription order would be in the public interest, in particular to ensure that children are not exposed to such potentially harmful material."

Ofcom outlines digital switch-off schedule

Media regulator Ofcom has finally outlined its schedule for switching off the UK's analogue TV signal. It said a region-by-region process would start in 2008, with analogue transmitters being gradually turned off. In order to reach its proposed December 31, 2012 deadline for the final switch-over, it is proposing a phased switchover by ITV region rather than geography over the course of four years. Viewers in London and the Channel Islands will be among the last to have to make the digital transition. The Government is now considering Ofcom's timetable before deciding whether to give it the go-ahead.

ITV News Channel returns to Freeview

The ITV News Channel looks set to reappear on Freeview this Spring. According to a Sky Viewers Enquiries helpline, the channel will resume in the Central region in mid March; Granada, Yorkshire and Tyne Tees in mid April; Meridian, Anglia, HTV West and HTV Wales in mid-May; Scottish and Grampian in late May; Ulster in mid July; and the Westcountry and Border regions in late July.

TalkSport TV moves to new Sky channel

TalkSport TV has moved to a new channel on Sky Digital after its format was bought by bookmaker William Hill. TalkSport TV has been timesharing each day with Get Lucky TV, from 4pm until 10pm, on channel 235, but is now on William Hill's Channel 425 between 4pm and 7pm each day. The bookmaker bought the TV channel's format on a one year contract for an undisclosed sum.

BBC is 'guaranteed licence fee for 10 years'

The BBC is guaranteed to receive the proceeds of the UK's TV licence fee for another decade, according to Whitehall sources quoted in The Guardian. However, the government is likely to review the level of the licence fee in five years' time - amid concerns in some quarters that the BBC is still complacent and believes it has done enough to demonstrate it has put its house in order post-Hutton.

Extra £20m for E4's programme budget

Channel 4 is pumping an extra £20m into the programme budget of E4, its digital entertainment channel. The channel's annual spend will grow by 50% to £60m, helping to fund a combination of original programmes, US acquisitions and spin-offs of existing Channel 4 shows. The news comes as E4 appointed a new head at the station - Julian Bellamy replaces Murray Boland, who was poached last week by programme producer Celador.

£25k fine for Playboy TV's hardcore broadcast

Playboy TV has been fined £25,000 for broadcasting a graphic sex film in breach of the UK's strict programme rules. Ofcom, the UK's media watchdog, said the breach was "not to be tolerated" and fined the encrypted satellite channel for screening the film, called Sandy Babe Abroad, in May last year. Playboy TV made several breaches, including broadcasting material at 8.30pm in a free-to-air promotional slot that was "too explicit", and on another occasion screened an encrypted promotion pre-watershed that should have been broadcast after 10pm. Playboy TV admitted the breaches were serious but claimed the main breach had caused minimal offence because the film had been shown after midnight.

Top Up TV subscriber numbers 'going to plan'

David Chance, the chairman of Top Up TV, the digital terrestrial pay TV service, has said the service's acquisition of subscribers is “going according to plan" with around 150,000 customers having signed up. He added: "We said we’d achieve our break-even target of 250,000 within two years and we’re on target." The comments came amid speculation that the service is under pressure because of the low number of Freeview boxes equipped with pay TV card slots and its poor content line-up, which contains no sport or film channels.

More digital TV news in brief...

Sony has announced that all of its new TVs larger than 26 inches will in future be digital-only systems rather than analogue sets... Upcoming entertainment channel SoundTV, which launches on Sky on February 26 at 7pm, will also be screening kids shows and cartoons in addition to mainstream comedy and entertainment... UKTV Gardens has begun test broadcasts on Sky Digital under the ident ''6520' at 11.817GHz/V, SR 27500 and FEC 2/3... ITV4, the new digital channel launching later this year, will target male viewers... ITV soap Coronation Street is to add 'red button interactivity' to its programme on Sky this summer. Interactive features planned for the soap will include additional sub-plots and background stories, out-takes, behind-the-scenes coverage and competitions... Arts TV channel Performance (on Sky channel 202) has been sold by the Daily Mail Group to Eicom, formerly known as the Einstein Group, for £365,000... Adult channel Red Hot has launched on Freeview channel 61 and is charged at £5.99 per night.

MTV launches new global music programme

MTV has teamed up with burger chain McDonalds to launch a monthly global music programme dedicated to showcasing emerging music talent. Advance Warning, a 12-part series, has previously aired in the US and has helped to launch the careers of Joss Stone and Kanye West. Locally adapted versions of Advance Warning, tailored specifically for MTV's international audiences, will begin airing on MTV around the world starting on February 19 in Europe.

BBC planning new sports TV channel

The BBC has confirmed it is considering the launch of its own dedicated sports TV channel covering minority sports. Peter Salmon, director of BBC sport, said: "In the course of the next licence period, there should be a really good debate over the BBC and the diversity of its sports provision - including a specialist channel. I think it would be good for the nation's sporting life and good for the BBC as a public service broadcaster if we were in that business." The BBC has been linked to such a channel several times in recent years but the plans have never before come to fruition.

Regards Satdude.

15-02-2005, 22:50	#1
SATDUDE Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ireland Services: None FTA Posts: 972	Satellite news 15.02.05 Satellite news 15.02.05 News Extasi TV deemed to be 'unacceptable' The Government is to restrict access to Extasi TV, an adult TV channel which it says broadcasts 'unacceptable violent pornography'. From the end of February it will be illegal to supply a decoding card or other equipment that gives access to the channel - and the station will also be banned from placing adverts in UK magazines or supplying its TV listings. However, it will not be illegal to watch the channel and anyone who already has a subscription or viewing card will not be breaking any law. Broadcasting Minister Andrew McIntosh said: "I was notified by Ofcom that the content of Extasi TV is unacceptable and should be the subject of a proscription order. I have viewed material from the channel and consider that a proscription order would be in the public interest, in particular to ensure that children are not exposed to such potentially harmful material." Ofcom outlines digital switch-off schedule Media regulator Ofcom has finally outlined its schedule for switching off the UK's analogue TV signal. It said a region-by-region process would start in 2008, with analogue transmitters being gradually turned off. In order to reach its proposed December 31, 2012 deadline for the final switch-over, it is proposing a phased switchover by ITV region rather than geography over the course of four years. Viewers in London and the Channel Islands will be among the last to have to make the digital transition. The Government is now considering Ofcom's timetable before deciding whether to give it the go-ahead. ITV News Channel returns to Freeview The ITV News Channel looks set to reappear on Freeview this Spring. According to a Sky Viewers Enquiries helpline, the channel will resume in the Central region in mid March; Granada, Yorkshire and Tyne Tees in mid April; Meridian, Anglia, HTV West and HTV Wales in mid-May; Scottish and Grampian in late May; Ulster in mid July; and the Westcountry and Border regions in late July. TalkSport TV moves to new Sky channel TalkSport TV has moved to a new channel on Sky Digital after its format was bought by bookmaker William Hill. TalkSport TV has been timesharing each day with Get Lucky TV, from 4pm until 10pm, on channel 235, but is now on William Hill's Channel 425 between 4pm and 7pm each day. The bookmaker bought the TV channel's format on a one year contract for an undisclosed sum. BBC is 'guaranteed licence fee for 10 years' The BBC is guaranteed to receive the proceeds of the UK's TV licence fee for another decade, according to Whitehall sources quoted in The Guardian. However, the government is likely to review the level of the licence fee in five years' time - amid concerns in some quarters that the BBC is still complacent and believes it has done enough to demonstrate it has put its house in order post-Hutton. Extra £20m for E4's programme budget Channel 4 is pumping an extra £20m into the programme budget of E4, its digital entertainment channel. The channel's annual spend will grow by 50% to £60m, helping to fund a combination of original programmes, US acquisitions and spin-offs of existing Channel 4 shows. The news comes as E4 appointed a new head at the station - Julian Bellamy replaces Murray Boland, who was poached last week by programme producer Celador. £25k fine for Playboy TV's hardcore broadcast Playboy TV has been fined £25,000 for broadcasting a graphic sex film in breach of the UK's strict programme rules. Ofcom, the UK's media watchdog, said the breach was "not to be tolerated" and fined the encrypted satellite channel for screening the film, called Sandy Babe Abroad, in May last year. Playboy TV made several breaches, including broadcasting material at 8.30pm in a free-to-air promotional slot that was "too explicit", and on another occasion screened an encrypted promotion pre-watershed that should have been broadcast after 10pm. Playboy TV admitted the breaches were serious but claimed the main breach had caused minimal offence because the film had been shown after midnight. Top Up TV subscriber numbers 'going to plan' David Chance, the chairman of Top Up TV, the digital terrestrial pay TV service, has said the service's acquisition of subscribers is “going according to plan" with around 150,000 customers having signed up. He added: "We said we’d achieve our break-even target of 250,000 within two years and we’re on target." The comments came amid speculation that the service is under pressure because of the low number of Freeview boxes equipped with pay TV card slots and its poor content line-up, which contains no sport or film channels. More digital TV news in brief... Sony has announced that all of its new TVs larger than 26 inches will in future be digital-only systems rather than analogue sets... Upcoming entertainment channel SoundTV, which launches on Sky on February 26 at 7pm, will also be screening kids shows and cartoons in addition to mainstream comedy and entertainment... UKTV Gardens has begun test broadcasts on Sky Digital under the ident ''6520' at 11.817GHz/V, SR 27500 and FEC 2/3... ITV4, the new digital channel launching later this year, will target male viewers... ITV soap Coronation Street is to add 'red button interactivity' to its programme on Sky this summer. Interactive features planned for the soap will include additional sub-plots and background stories, out-takes, behind-the-scenes coverage and competitions... Arts TV channel Performance (on Sky channel 202) has been sold by the Daily Mail Group to Eicom, formerly known as the Einstein Group, for £365,000... Adult channel Red Hot has launched on Freeview channel 61 and is charged at £5.99 per night. MTV launches new global music programme MTV has teamed up with burger chain McDonalds to launch a monthly global music programme dedicated to showcasing emerging music talent. Advance Warning, a 12-part series, has previously aired in the US and has helped to launch the careers of Joss Stone and Kanye West. Locally adapted versions of Advance Warning, tailored specifically for MTV's international audiences, will begin airing on MTV around the world starting on February 19 in Europe. BBC planning new sports TV channel The BBC has confirmed it is considering the launch of its own dedicated sports TV channel covering minority sports. Peter Salmon, director of BBC sport, said: "In the course of the next licence period, there should be a really good debate over the BBC and the diversity of its sports provision - including a specialist channel. I think it would be good for the nation's sporting life and good for the BBC as a public service broadcaster if we were in that business." The BBC has been linked to such a channel several times in recent years but the plans have never before come to fruition. Regards Satdude.