|
Forward
Back
Setanta - Final
Whistle
Talks between the SPL and Setanta are ongoing as a question
mark remains over the broadcaster's ability to honour their television deal.
The board of the Irish-based company met this morning and
will continue to work on a rescue package, with the next couple of days
expected to be crucial.
Fears were raised when Setanta failed to pay the final instalment of this
season's TV deal last week.
A payment of £3million was due last Monday but that money has still not been
received by the SPL tonight.
However, league bosses are keen to find a resolution rather than terminate
the contract with Setanta and face the prospect of seeking a new broadcast
partner.
Setanta have already asked to renegotiate their four-year deal with the SPL
after losing one of their contracts with the Premier League.
The 12 SPL clubs came to an agreement in April following Setanta's request
to change the terms of the contract due to begin at the start of the 2010-11
season, which was initially worth £125million.
Estimates claimed up to £20million could be wiped off the value of that
increased deal but the apparent inability to meet one of the demands of
their £13.5million annual contract raises further fears.
23:30
June
08 2009 - waveguide.co.uk
Click
here to comment on this story
Five To Launch
Casino Service
Five will launch an online casino and bingo service later
this year after signing a deal with web gaming company PartyGaming.
The Five-branded site will be operated by PartyGaming and promoted
extensively by the broadcaster. It is part of Five’s strategy to build its
digital business and create new revenue streams online.
Five chief Dawn Airey said: “Five is looking aggressively at how to expand
its presence in digital media, both in terms of its core broadcast content
as well as allied offerings that reflect the channel’s unique sense of
dynamism and fun.”
19:27
June
08 2009 - waveguide.co.uk
Click
here to comment on this story
Richie
Benaud Returns To Cricket
Richie Benaud is to return to television during Five's Ashes
coverage this summer.
It will be the veteran cricket commentator's first television
role in the UK since England's win over Australia in 2005.
Benaud, 78, quit cricket commentating in the UK at the end of the 2005 Ashes
series, when Channel 4 lost live Test cricket coverage to Sky.
He will return as part of Five's presenting team for its highlights
coverage, appearing on the Saturday of each Test match to analyse the day's
play with the main presenter, Mark Nicholas.
Benaud said: "I thoroughly enjoyed working for 42 years on British
television from 1963 to 2005 and I am very happy to be back again with
Cricket on Five - but definitely not in the commentary box,"
"The last of those moments in the United Kingdowm was when Glenn McGrath
bowled Kevin Pietersen at the Oval in 2005 after he had blazed England to an
unbeatable position in the final Test with his remarkable 158.
"That was the best Test series I have ever seen and I hope this one,
starting in Cardiff, will approach it for excitement, tension and wonderful
skills."
Five has shown a nightly highlights programme of domestic Test matches since
the live rights were picked up by Sky from 2006.
The broadcaster's Ashes commentary team will feature Nicholas, Geoff Boycott
and Simon Hughes.
The Five head of sport, Robert Charles, said Benaud would "bring his own
perceptive view of proceedings in his own inimitable style - the Ashes just
wouldn't be the same without Richie".
Benaud, who was the voice of the BBC's live TV Test cricket coverage and
moved to Channel 4 when it picked up the rights in 1999, continues to work
for Austral;ia's Nine Network.
17:05
June
08 2009 - waveguide.co.uk
Click
here to comment on this story
Big
Brother Charity Donations Scrapped
Channel 4 said it can no longer afford to give money from Big
Brother voting lines to charity.
Since 2006, the channel has given 10p to charity for every vote cast in the
reality TV show, which returned for its 10th series last week. It blamed the
ongoing economic downturn and slump in advertising for the decision.
Channel 4 said the Big Brother vote line had been losing money for the last
couple of years, and it was no longer prepared to bear the cost. Phone votes
for the new series will be charged at 35p from a landline.
A Channel 4 spokesman said: "The costs associated with running the Big
Brother vote line have meant it has run at a considerable loss for the last
couple of years.
"Given the current climate, after very careful consideration, Channel 4 has
regretfully decided not to make charity donations for this series of Big
Brother in order to limit this loss and ensure we are managing our finances
optimally to allow us to continue delivering our public service remit."
The broadcaster said the decision to axe the charity payments had been made
in response to a downturn in the UK advertising market that has led Channel
4 to cut its programme and content budget for this year.
12:56
June
08 2009 - waveguide.co.uk
Reader Comment
Quite frankly, I'm surprised Channel 4 keep running this
Summer fiasco. They have cut the 24/7 'live' streaming red button feed to E4
and Virgin Media and the internet this year, giving the only opportunity for
eavesdropping to insomniacs live overnight on E4, the reason given... the
feeds were unpopular and viewers prefer to watch highlights on you tube.(LOL)
Now they remove the charitable donation. The series has been cut so much
from its original format is there really any point in continuing? Channel
for should return to the testcard until 4.45pm each day like the early years
if their budgets are so tight and then provide better quality programmes for
those people interested watching the rest of the time. This generic
automated 24 hour tv is dreadful.
nicksugden
Click
here to comment on this story
Ashes To Ashes
Set For Return
Ashes to Ashes is to return to BBC One for a third and final
series next year, the BBC has confirmed.
The 80s spin-off to Life on Mars, starring Philip Glenister and Keeley
Hawes, has been recommissioned following a popular second series.
Creator Ashley Pharoah said: "We have thoroughly enjoyed following Alex
Drake on her journey in the 80s and seeing her fiery relationship with Gene
Hunt develop.
"We are also as excited as the viewers to see how her journey ends and we
promise the third series will be packed full of intriguing twists and turns
to keep viewers guessing about the final outcome."
Simon Crawford Collins, executive producer for the programme's makers Kudos
Film and Television, added: "Viewers will not be left disappointed because
the series promises to finish with a bang!"
Filming on series three will begin in the autumn and Ashes to Ashes will
return to BBC One in 2010.
12:05
June
08 2009 - waveguide.co.uk
Click
here to comment on this story
The Apprentice
Restaurant owner Yasmina Siadatan has won a job with Sir Alan Sugar in The
Apprentice.
The 27-year-old was hired ahead of rival Kate Walsh – despite
marketing a collection of inedible chocolates in her final task.
Sir Alan said it was 'gut instinct' that led to him choose Siadatan.
She said: "I am in shock. I don't feel like I've beaten Kate because we both
deserved that job.
"We feel we just had different qualities and Sir Alan needed my qualities
over hers.
"I don't think mine were any better. I'm sure Kate will do just as well as I
do but on a different path."
Failed contestants from this year's BBC One series were drafted in to help
the finalists create a new brand of chocolates which they had to pitch to
industry experts.
Kate Walsh, 27, and her team designed a three-tiered box of chocolates for
couples.
The concept was praised by Sir Alan but he said charging £13 for a box was
not commercially viable.
Siadatan's team created a brand called Cocoa Electric, which was designed to
'shock' with flavours such as basil and strawberry, and popping candy
chilli.
Sir Alan said the branding was excellent but the taste – which even caused
one model to spit out a chocolate after filming the advert – needed work.
Siadatan will swap her job running Mya Lacarte restaurant in Caversham,
Reading, to take up a post with Sir Alan working on digital signage.
07:00
June
08 2009 - waveguide.co.uk
Click
here to comment on this story
Top
Forward
Back
|
