The BBC has admitted today that a subsidiary compnay kept more than £100,000 of charity money that was raised from TV phone ins.
The BBC statement read:
“We are disclosing today that £106,000 which should have gone to charity was wrongly retained by Audiocall. This sum was in relation to calls made outside of the window in which votes were counted in a number of shows over a two year period, ending in August 2007. This was a serious oversight in Audiocall which must never be allowed to happen again. Read More »
Virgin Media (NASDAQ: VMED) today announced a partnership with the BBC to launch BBC iPlayer onto its platform, making its 3.5 million TV customers the first in the UK to get the popular service via a TV platform.
Viewers using BBC iPlayer on Virgin Media will be able to watch full screen pictures at full quality on their television set without the need for downloading.
As of today, Virgin Media customers will be able to catch up on their favourite BBC programmes by pressing the red button on any BBC channel. Read More »
Actor James Nesbitt has criticised TV Channels who chase viewer ratings rather than make quality TV shows.
He told the Radio Times: “There’s a damaging relationship between the channels where they’re just throwing things at each other in the ratings war.
“Murphy’s Law, which I love, has not been recommissioned yet, because it was up against Doc Martin.
“It’s cheating the audience. They’ll move away - there are plenty other distractions out there for audiences these days - and then where will we be?” Read More »
April 28, 2008 – 11:14 am
Former My Family actor, Kris Marshall, has been admitted to intensive care after being hit by a car and sustaining head injuries.
The 34-year-old star of BT broadband ads was on a night out in Bristol city centre when the accident happened.
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police said: “There was a collision between a car and pedestrian shortly before 1am on Sunday.
“It happened in St Augustine’s Parade in Bristol City Centre. A man in his 30s was taken to hospital with head injuries not considered to be life-threatening. Read More »
April 23, 2008 – 12:18 pm
ITV are planning to make more than 260 hours of TV programmes available for sale on Apple’s iTunes store.
ITV executive Dawn Airey said the broadcaster wanted to “give viewers the opportunity to watch their favourite shows wherever they are.”
“ITV has thousands of hours of classic content in the archive which we are bringing to a whole new audience,” she said. Read More »
TV chat show host, Trisha Goddard has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer according to The Sun.
Trisha had a routine mammogram two weeks ago when the lump on her breast was discovered. She now faces a gruelling course of chemotherapy.
Trisha has since had a biopsy on her lymph glands and doctors told her on Saturday that they fear the cancer may have spreead. Production staff from Trisha’s channel Five chat show have been onformed that Trisha will not be at work for the next two weeks.
Newsreader, Natasha Kaplinsky is three months pregnant, a friend revealed today.
Her pal told The Daily Mirror:
‘She could not be happier but obviously the timing could have been a bit better.’
‘But she will be able to spend much of the day with her baby and go to the studio a bit later.’
Natasha just made the move from the BBC to Five News last month, and since her relocation Five News viewing figures have soared by more than 70%.
Former ITN news reader, Carol Barnes has died at the age of 63.
Carol was rushed to a hospital in Brighton last weekend after suffering a massive stroke,
Her former boss Stewart Purvis said it was a “very, very sad day”. Her son James called her “beautiful and kind”.
He said: “My mum was a beautiful, kind and delicate person - a person loved by many and whom I am desperately proud to call my mother.”
Former ITN chief executive Mr Purvis said: “Even though Carol’s death seemed inevitable it’s still a very, very sad day, at such a comparatively young age for somebody who was still absolutely full of life and vigour and excitement. Read More »
Former ITV newsreader, Carol Barnes has been rushed to hospital after suffering what was thought to be a massive stroke.
Friends fear the worst for the 63 year old who collapsed at her home in Brighton last night.
Her agent Knight Ayton Management said: “Carol Barnes is seriously ill and is being cared for at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. Her son James and close friends have asked for their privacy to be respected.” Read More »
February 20, 2008 – 11:09 am
Reading all the recent news about the cuts being made by the BBC, in both their staffing levels and their budget for new programmes, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Beeb is very short of cash.
However, it may then surprise you to find out that the strapped TV channel managed to shell out over £30 million last year on flights and accomodation for many of its stars and big wigs.
The Sun has revealed that the BBC splashed out up to £5000 on one return business class flight alone, and that it’s executives were treated to breaks in top class hotels such as Ciragan Palace in Istanbul where, for about £600 a night, you can “live like a Sultan”.
A BBC spokesman denied the claims saying that the figure was actually down on last year and that they only book travel when absolutely necessary.
However lower sources in the channel revealed to the newspaper: “Graham Norton filmed scenes over in Las Vegas for his show The One And Only.
“What purpose did that have? Nothing. Just more cash down the drain. Read More »
