|
Forward
Back
CelebAir Takes Off
As reported last month by Waveguide, ITV2 will be launching a
new reality show, CelebAir - with a real aircraft, flying to real places,
staffed by 'celebrities'.
In the new eight-part series, ten celebrities will take on a range of jobs
on the ground and in the air to battle it out ultimately to become
CelebAir’s star employee and win thousands of pounds for the charity of
their choice.
CelebAir flights will operate to destinations such as Faro,
Alicante, Malaga, Ibiza, Menorca, Tenerife and Cyprus. A Monarch airbus has
been rebranded and will operate in CelebAir colours until the end of the
series
Overseeing the action and presenting the show will be former CBBC presenter
Angellica Bell, who previously worked on the BBC travel series Departure
Lounge.
Speaking about hosting the show, she said: “I am very excited to be a part
of CelebAir. It will be great fun to watch as the celebrities are put under
pressure and taken out of their comfort zone. Let’s see how they handle it!”
Functioning as a regular airline, members of the public can book to fly with
CelebAir to a number of destinations as the celebrity crew take on roles
from check-in clerks to air stewards.
At every stage of the journey the famous faces will be judged and rated by
their own passengers, and each week the worst performing celebrity gets
given the boot.
However, before any of the famous faces are allowed to start their new jobs,
they will have to undertake a rigorous six week training programme run by
Monarch, and they will be required to
adhere to Monarch’s standards whilst working for CelebAir.
Members of the public can book CelebAir flights from July 14
via the Monarch Airlines website.
Zai Bennett, Controller of ITV2 said: "CelebAir promises to
be a huge reality event this autumn on ITV2. It is an incredibly ambitious
project on a scale not seen before in reality TV. This definitely isn't a
show for work-shy celebrities, we're taking on a real plane, with real
passengers with real holidays to go on - it promises to be an amazing trip."
17:20
July
11 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
Click
here to comment on this story
Kerry Katona -
The Afterbirth
Kerry Katona has been signed by MTV to appear in a second
series of fly-on-the-wall documentaries.
It will follow on from the birth of her latest child and is
expected to air later this year.
Meanwhile, Jade Goody is to appear in a new series for
Living.
She will star in Living With Jade Goody.
Details have still to be released.
16:13
July
11 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
Click
here to comment on this story
New Dominic
Littlewood Series
Dominic Littlewood is to host a new BBC daytime series
following investigators who track down benefit cheats and reallocate the
money they have taken to those in need.
The fifteen part series is called Saints and Scoundrels and
is produced by Flame TV who also produced Don't Get Done Get Dom, which was
fronted by Littlewood.
Saints and Scoundrels is expected to be broadcast later this
year.
11:33
July
11 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
Click
here to comment on this story
Secret
Policeman's Ball 2008
This autumn, Channel 4 is set to broadcast The Secret
Policeman's Ball 2008.
The event is to return to The Albert Hall and Amnesty International is
to host the star-studded night of comedy, entertainment and music this
October, and Channel 4 will have the exclusive broadcast rights.
The rebirth of Amnesty International's legendary Secret Policeman's Ball at
the Royal Albert Hall in 2006 was a major success.
Andy Hackman, Amnesty International UK's Head of Brand and Events said:
"Amnesty is all about bringing people together to make a difference and The
Secret Policeman's Ball has always been able to do that. I'm delighted that
Channel 4 have committed to broadcasting for a second time an outstanding
comedic event that is set to amuse and provoke.”
Andy Auerbach, Commissioning Editor, Channel 4 said:
“This year there’s an unbelievable line-up of comic talent and it’s a
fantastic honour for Channel 4 to be involved in such a prestigious comedy
event.”
11:25
July
11 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
Click
here to comment on this story
Ofcom Digital Report
Latest figures published today by Ofcom show that over
two-thirds (68 per cent) of the 60 million television sets in the UK are now
digitally – linked via cable, satellite or digital terrestrial.
The Digital Progress Report for the first quarter of 2008
shows that the total number of digitally-linked sets has grown by around 7
million from 33.5 million to 40.5 million over the past twelve months as
householders focus on converting secondary television sets to digital.
The survey uses new consumer research which gives Ofcom a more accurate view
of take-up of digital television in residential households.
Under the new methodology, the survey states that the total
number of households who have converted their main television set to digital
in January, February and March of 2008 was up slightly on the previous
quarter from 86.5 per cent to 87.2 per cent.
Key trends for the first quarter of 2008 include:
Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT)
There are over 9.6 million homes with DTT on their main
television set – an increase of almost 1.3 million over the past twelve
months.
Nearly 14 million homes had converted secondary sets to DTT by the first
quarter of 2008 bringing the total number of DTT sets to over 23 million.
Since the launch of Freeview in 2002, the total number of DTT sales has
exceeded 30 million.
Digital Satellite Television
Sky grew its UK subscriber base by 43,000 to 8.3 million
households, an increase of 332,000 over the past twelve months
The number of Sky subscribers taking the Multiroom service,
which allows viewers to receive Sky services on another television set,
stood at nearly 1.6 million, an increase of 40,000 on the previous quarter
and 274,000 additions over the past twelve months.
Sky+, the digital video service, saw another quarter of
growth, adding 262,000 subscribers, taking the total number of subscribers
with this service to almost 3.4 million, around 38 per cent of its
customers.
Sky’s high definition service added 43,000 subscribers to
reach 465,000 subscribers.
Ahead of the BBC/ITV launch of its Freesat service in May,
some 720,0000 homes were receiving free satellite services by the end of
March 2008.
Cable Television
The total number of Virgin Media cable subscribers is now
over 3.5 million, up by 36,800 in the first quarter of this year.
An additional 102,000 cable viewers subscribed to Virgin
Media’s digital video recorder service known as V+ during the quarter,
bringing the total number of users to 364,200.
Almost half of Virgin Media customers (48 per cent) were
using its video on demand service , with viewing up 10 per cent on the
previous quarter.
11:13
July
11 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
Click
here to comment on this story
TV Channel Fined
£17,000 Ofcom has fined Square 1
Management Ltd £17,500 for breaches of Ofcom's Broadcasting Code in
respect of its service Smile TV (now operating as Blue Kiss TV).
Square 1 Management was fined for transmitting
explicit sexual content, which Ofcom considered to be 'adult-sex'
material, on a free-to-air channel.
The broadcast was found in breach of Ofcom's
rules, which are aimed at protecting under 18s.
Ofcom received a complaint about the explicit sexual nature
of the content broadcast on Smile TV on May 22 2007 at around 22.25.
Smile TV began transmitting in April 2007 (and since July
2007 has operated under the name Blue Kiss TV). It is a free-to-air TV
channel operated by Square 1, broadcasts without encryption and is listed in
the “adult” section of the Sky Electronic Programme Guide (“EPG”). It shows
mainly live programmes using female presenters (known as “babes”), who
invite viewers to contact them using premium rate services.
09:00
July
11 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
Click
here to comment on this story
Mark Speight
Memorial Service
The life of the late children's TV presenter Mark Speight is
to be celebrated at a memorial service in London next month.
It will be held at the Parish Church of Saint Paul - also known as "the
actors' church" - in Covent Garden on August 6.
The 42-year-old, who presented CBBC art show SMart, hanged himself in April
following the death of his fiancée.
In May, Speight's father created a foundation in his son's name to uncover
youngsters with artistic talent.
Mark Speight was found dead in a remote area of Paddington railway station,
in central London, with a suicide note in his pocket.
His fiancée Natasha Collins died at the couple's flat in St John's Wood,
north London, earlier this year after taking cocaine, sleeping tablets and
alcohol.
08:50
July
11 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
Click
here to comment on this story
Top
Forward
Back
|
