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Big Brother Death
Threats
Channel 4 executives have revealed that they have called in police after a
crazed Big Brother fan threatened to kill boss Andy Duncan's daughter if
they did not reinstate the show's live feed.
Duncan has two young girls and officers are investigating the sick email
which was sent to executives, according to a newspaper report
The anonymous email said: "Bring back the live feed or I'll kill your
daughter."
A spokeperson for the channel confirmed: "Members of staff received a
written threat from a member of the public.
"We have taken this threat seriously and the matter has been referred to the
police."
18:51
June
12 2009 - waveguide.co.uk
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Changes For Autumnwatch
Changes are being made to the format of BBC Two's Autumnwatch and it will no
longer be stripped over two weeks.
The series will instead be broadcast weekly from September.
Executive producer Tim Scoones said that the level of
multiplatform engagement had prompted the format change.
“We have one of the world’s fastest-growing Flickr groups, we are receiving
125 home movies a day and the number of comments on the website is
phenomenal.
“Just from people’s suggestions and tips alone on the website, we have
enough material and missions for half of the next series already,” he said.
“We’ve realised our audience is one step ahead of us, so we have to develop
the show and its website so it can handle the viewer interaction we are now
getting. By reconfiguring the show, we will be more reactive to our
audience. We will be able to ask very specific questions online, and fold
this social media side into the programme much more effectively.”
Scoones added: “Normally when you think of multiplatform brands you think of
urban, young males. This is families, grannies and grandpas that are just
really interested in nature.”
16:29
June
12 2009 - waveguide.co.uk
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Search For
Football's Next Star
Sky1 has announced a nationwide search for a new teen
football star, the winner of which will earn a season's contract with Jose
Morinho's Inter Milan.
Football's Next Star is open to 16-18-year-old boys and trials will be held
at four centres: Dublin - 26-29 June; Manchester - 3-6 July; London - 10-15
July; and Glasgow - 17-20 July.
The best 40 players chosen from these four venues, overseen by former
England star Jamie Redknapp, will proceed to a two-day camp in London, from
which 12 will be chosen to spend five weeks at Inter Milan's Interello
training complex.
Morinho said: "This will be a special experience for the boys who come to
Inter Milan. They will learn the Inter way, and what it takes to get to the
top.
"We are there to help them. For the player who wins the contract at the
Inter Milan academy, this could be an incredible opportunity."
The series will air late this year on Sky 1 and Sky 1 HD.
16:29
June
12 2009 - waveguide.co.uk
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Setanta Rescue Bid
US tycoon Len Blavatnik has tabled a proposed rescue deal for pay-television
firm Setanta, it has been confirmed.
The £20 million offer for 51 per cent of Setanta is aimed at
securing the future of the cash-strapped Irish broadcaster by helping it
avoid administration.
The Irish-based broadcaster has around 1.2 million subscribers, but that is
short of the reported 1.9 million it needs to break even.
Blavatnik founded Access Industries, a privately owned industrial group, in
1986. It also has interests in Top-up TV, which is Freeview's pay TV
service, Israeli television's Sport 5 and online sports provider Perform
Group.
Access currently has a holding of less than 5 per cent in Setanta.
A statement from the firm said: "Access Industries can confirm that this
morning it submitted a proposal to the board of Setanta to acquire a
majority interest in Setanta, refinancing the company.
"The Access proposal is subject to a number of pre-conditions being met.
"Access believes that this proposal would secure the future of the
broadcaster for customers, football and employees."
The spokesman said he was unable to disclose the terms of the proposal.
Setanta has TV rights including the FA Cup, World Cup qualifiers, Premier
League, Scottish Premier League, and the Blue Square Conference - but is
struggling to pay for them as customer numbers have dwindled in the
recession.
16:29
June
12 2009 - waveguide.co.uk
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Peter Sissons To
Retire
Britain's longest serving newsreader, Peter Sissons, is
leaving the BBC and retiring from broadcasting after 45 years.
Sissons, 66, plans to write his memoirs and said he would leave the BBC in
the summer.
Now a presenter on BBC News Channel, during his career
Sissons has anchored flagship news programmes including several BBC One
bulletins, ITV's News At One and Channel 4 News.
Sissons told the Daily Mirror: "The longest newscaster before me was Dickie
Baker, who did the BBC news for 28 years. Some people think I am still
working for ITN, even though I left 20 years ago."
"I do feel I'm still on top of my game and I still enjoy it - I don't know
how much I'll miss it until I stop but I don't think I'll be sitting in a
darkened room."
Kevin Bakhurst, controller, BBC News Channel, said: "We would like to thank
Peter for his outstanding contribution to the BBC over the past 20 years.
He's been a towering figure in TV news and it's been a privilege for our
teams to work with him. He will be missed and we wish him all the best with
his future endeavours."
Sissons hit the headlines in 2002 after he was criticised for wearing a
burgundy tie rather than a black one when he announced the Queen Mother's
death on BBC TV.
11:44
June
12 2009 - waveguide.co.uk
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