Business News Holding

Tag: bbc

  • BBC Launches Live Wi-Fi TV Service For Smartphones

    The BBC has launched a service that allows UK viewers to watch live TV programs from suitable Wi-Fi connected mobile phones.

    BBC Live TV is available in a beta test form, offering a limited number of the broadcaster’s channels, plus its radio stations.



    Some smartphones already support use of the BBC iPlayer catch-up TV service over a Wi-Fi connection, but this is the first time the corporation has offered live streaming of programmes to mobile phones

    The service currently only works over a Wi-Fi connection and broadcasts a 176 x144 image, but the broadcaster hopes to extend Live TV out to 3G networks and to add more channels during the coming months.

    Live TV is thought to work with a selection of smartphones, including the Android G1 and Nokia N Series devices. It is also supposed to work with Apple iPhone soon.

    There is no need to install any applications in order to watch the channels.

    The service is only available to UK audiences and requires viewers to hold a current television licence.

  • Panasonic To Release Freesat PVR HDD Blu-Ray Recorder


    Panasonic has unveiled what it claims are the world’s first Blu-ray recorders with two integrated Freesat receivers and an internal hard drive.

    Freesat is a UK free-to-air digital satellite television service that is a joint venture between the BBC and ITV.

    Making the announcement at its European press launch in Amsterdam this week, Panasonic said the DMR-BS850 will feature a 500GB hard drive along with a Blu-ray player and recorder.

    The company will also be releasing a smaller version, the 250GB BS750.

    Both will offer support for Panasonic’s new Internet content delivery service, Viera Cast.

    Since the players are equipped with twin HD tuners, users will be able to record content from one channel while watching another one.

    Both machines are Freesat+ compatible, so pausing and rewinding on-demand will also be possible.

    The two models have integrated SD memory card slots and, although Panasonic didn’t confirm it, it will also be possible to record Freesat-recorded content onto a Blu-ray Disc.

    The new recorders will launch in May but no price details have been released.

  • HD Content Helps Freesat Double Sales


    Freesat doubled sales of its satellite packages in the last quarter of 2008.

    Emma Scott, MD of the UK’s free-to-air digital satellite television service, said high definition content from the BBC and ITV have helped drive sales.

    Since the service launched in May 2008, over 200,000 sales have been recorded, with 100,000 of those coming in the months since September.

    "Freesat is able to offer incredible HD with no subscription," said Scott.

    "We’re thrilled that both the BBC and ITV are investing more in HD programming in 2009.

    Scott said key goals in 2009 include increasing Freesat’s product range and distribution by the quality and choice of channels and services available, and the anticipated launch of IPTV services, like BBC iPlayer onto Freesat later this year.

  • New Mobile TV Channel for Nokia Smartphone


    Nokia is to start a mobile TV channel in the UK specifically for its new N96 smartphone.

    Users of the new handset, which was launched earlier this month, will be able to access a service called Capsule N96 from the beginning of October.

    This will allow users to download ‘mobisodes’ of exclusive entertainment and lifestyle programming for free.

    Lasting 96 seconds, the mobisodes will cover a variety of subject areas, including motoring, fashion, comedy and technology.
    Capsule N96 will initially run until the end of November, at which point Nokia will review the service.

    While the channel will be optimised for the N96, the service is to accessible via any Nokia phone capable of supporting the content.

    Although mobile TV has never really taken off outside of Asia, this could change with the increasing use of high-quality screens on smartphones.

    Earlier this month, Nokia announced that the BBC’s iPlayer application was to be available on the N96 – the first time it has been available via mobile.

    Also scheduled for an October, it allows N96 users to download BBC television programmes for up to seven days after being broadcast.

  • BBC to launch regular HD DTT broadcasts


    Catherine Smadja, head of strategy at the BBC, said the Corporation is to start regular DVB-T2 HD broadcasts in November 2009.

    Speaking at the the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2008 in Amsterdam, she said: “One of the multiplexes will be upgraded to DVB-T2 and MPEG-4, on which there will be the BBC HD service and two others. And very soon thereafter, three other HD services.”

    The new multiplex will launch in November 2009 in the first regions, but should eventually be available to 98.5 per cent of the UK population.

    Five other DTT muxes will remain DVB-T.

    “DVB-T2 is for us an absolute necessity, because DTT is the number one platform in the UK,” Smadja said.
    “We have to offer HD as a public service broadcaster on DTT, not only on cable and DTH.

    Smadja said there was no business model for how to accomplish this and HD would only add to the cost.

    “There might develop a market for HD pay-TV, but not for free-to-air,” she said. “Luckily, the DVB Group solved the spectrum scarcity problem.”

  • Set-top Box Capable of HD Content Over DVB-T2


    Pace plc, a developer of digital TV technologies, has made the first set-top box capable of receiving and displaying DVB-T2 HD content.

    The prototype consists of the world’s first DVB-T2 front-end (the silicon tuner TDA18211 and a prototype of the forthcoming demodulator TDA10055) from NXP Semiconductors and a Pace high definition terrestrial set-top box.

    It will receive a live MPEG-4 HD stream from an Enensys DVB-T2 Modulator based at the DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) stand at the IBC 2008 show in Amsterdam, which begins on Friday.

    DVB-T2 brings efficiencies of between 30-50 per cent in its use of spectrum compared to DVB-T and is expected to be a key enabler to the roll out of high definition TV in the UK over Freeview.

    Earlier this month, the BBC succesfully received high def pictures compliant to the DVB-T2 standard using a real-time demodulator during test transmissions.

    As a set-top box developer, Pace has been involved in the creation of the DVB-T2 draft standard, focusing on key technical aspects that add to the improvement and robustness of the standard, which was only confirmed in June this year.

    Darren Fawcett, chief technologist for Wireless Systems at Pace plc said the take up of high definition services within mature TV markets was picking up speed.

    He said it was expected to grow substantially over the next five years. “But this HD content is currently in the cable and satellite domains,” he said.

    “To enable terrestrial services to compete effectively with the other platforms, DVB-T2 is an essential move.

    “As we saw with the shift to the DVB-S2 standard for satellite services, the extra efficiencies in the use of the spectrum will make the option of delivering HD via DTT viable.”

    With DVB-T2 the DVB Project offers broadcasters a means of using that spectrum in the most efficient ways possible using state of the art technology.

    The first country to deploy DVB-T2 is likely to be the UK, where ASO is already under way.

    The regulator there, Ofcom, has stated its intention to convert one nationwide multiplex to DVB-T2 with the first transmissions of multichannel HDTV set to begin at the end of 2009.

    Test transmissions began immediately after the approval of the standard in June 2008.

  • Carolyn Fairbairn appointed Freesat chairman


    ITV director of group development and strategy Carolyn Fairbairn will succeed Tim Davie as chairman of the UK’s free-to-air digital satellite television service Freesat in September.

    Davie, currently the BBC’s director of marketing, communications and audiences, will relinquish the Freesat chair – which alternates between the BBC and ITV annually – when he becomes the corporation’s new director of audio and music.

    Freesat was developed by the BBC and ITV plc. The service began broadcasting on 6 May 2008 and offers a satellite alternative to the Freeview service on digital terrestrial television.

    The service expects to have 200 channels available by the end of 2008 – including subscription-free high definition channels from the BBC and ITV- and 230 by early 2009, with around 30 channels added each month.

    Emma Scott, Freesat managing director, said: “Carolyn is a highly regarded industry figure and I’m certain that the strong strategic skills and expertise she continues to demonstrate at ITV will be of huge benefit to Freesat.

    “I’m delighted that she has agreed to become Chairman of Freesat. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Tim for the great support and wise counsel he has provided during Freesat’s development and launch.”

    Before joining ITV in 2007, Fairbairn worked at the BBC where she developed the corporation’s plans for Freeview as its director of strategy and distribution.

    Fairbairn said: “Freesat plays a crucial role in ensuring that UK viewers have access to free-to-air digital and high definition television.

    “After a successful launch earlier this year, the service has already proved itself to be popular with consumers and I’m delighted to be taking on the chairmanship.”

  • New head to take BBC HD mainstream

    The UK’s BBC has named a new controller of its HD channel briefed with attracting more viewers and increasing content

    Danielle Nagler has been named as the new head of BBC HD replacing Seetha Kumar who is moving to a new senior role within the corporation.

    Kumar, who has led the channel since its trial stages, will move to another, as yet to be announced, “senior role” in the corporation.

    A BBC statement said Nagler’s priorities are to “focus on growing the channel by driving consumer take-up, working with in-house and independent producers to increase HD programming, and leading preparations for BBC HD’s launch on Freeview”.

    Speaking after her appointment was announced, Nagler said it was a “critical time” for the channel and the technology – and for people making programmes.
    She said it was up to the BBC to help both audiences and the wider industry make the transition to HD.

    “At the moment there are 10m HD-ready sets in the UK but only a minority are actually used for HD viewing.
    “It’s clear there’s lots of work to do to open up the enormous viewing potential HD can offer for audiences.
    “BBC HD tries to offer viewers the best of the BBC’s HD programmes, so I’ve got the fantastic job of cherry-picking from all the BBC channels to create the best possible showcase for HD content.”

    Although far from the finished product, the BBC HD channel, the UK’s first free-to-air HD channel, continues to build both audience and approval ratings.
    It will also take a place on the digital terrestrial network from the autumn of 2009; DVB-T2 tests have already commenced by the BBC in Guildford.

    Nagler, who most recently worked as head of the director general’s office, joined the BBC in 1996 as a journalism trainee.

    She will report to Simon Nelson, controller of multiplatform and portfolio, who said: “HD is a central part of our broadcasting future with huge potential to grow on cable, satellite and in the future on Freeview.
    “I’m confident that in Danielle’s hands, the channel will make the transition to become a mainstream choice for our audiences.”

    Nagler will take up her position on July 21.

  • Soaps at the fore of switch to HD

    British soaps lead the changeover to high definition – Emmerdale makes the transition

    Emmerdale has become the British network ITV’s first soap production to be recorded in high def.
    It joins Channel 4’s Hollyoaks and the BBC’s Doctors, while the long-running Coronation Street is expected to make the change from SD shortly.

    ITV Productions spent half a million pounds on new studio cameras and lenses for Emmerdale’s leap to HD, investing in eight Ikegami HDK-79EXIII HD cameras with Canon HD lenses.

    It was reported that stars of the soap were concerned about the show’s transition, worried that the new HD video would draw attention to facial wrinkles.
    Lucy Pargeter – Chastity Dingle on the soap – said: “We all held our breath because we’d heard all the horror stories. However, it was fine – if you don’t look too closely.”

    A number of different HD cameras and lenses were tested over a six-month period from June 2007. Different technologies from manufacturers were mixed and matched and trials were done using on-screen talent and the Emmerdale sets.

  • Olympics and Tour de France to be aired as Europe's public channels add to their high definition options


    The UK’s BBC has begun testing the transmission of high def services over Freeview in a move that could see the introduction of full HD terrestrial by the end of 2009.
    The broadcaster has started transmissions from a Guildford-based transmitter using the second-generation DVB-T specification DVB-T2.
    Justin Mitchell, leader of the DVB-T2 modem development team at the BBC, said the trial could enable the introduction of HD onto Freeview by December next year.
    DVB-T2 is said to offer 30 per cent more data carrying capacity as DVB-T under the same conditions.
    Across the Channel, the HD version of public channel France 2 has been launched on several platforms, including CanalSat DTH and Numéricable.
    As has been the case with other broadcasters across Europe, including VRT in Belgium and Nederland 1 in The Netherlands, France 2 will show sport events such as the Tour de France and the Beijing Olympics in HD.
    Freeview currently uses the ten-year old DVB-T standard. DVB-T2 was developed for use in a “post-Analogue Switch-Off environment”.
    UK communications regulator Ofcom has said it wants to convert at least one of the nation’s DVB-T multiplexes to DVB-T2 by the end of 2009.
    The test comes as HDTV services begin to flourish in the UK, which has almost 10m HDTV sets currently in use.
    While Sky – the main provider of HD broadcasts in the UK – has barely half a million subscribers signed up to its Sky HD service, much is being made of the May launch of Freesat.
    The venture – a joint initiative between the BBC and ITV – has the potential to give millions of UK viewers access to free HD programmes for the first time.
    Its launch has prompted Sky to cut the price of its Sky+ HD set-top box by 50 per cent.
    Virgin and Apple have also improved their HD offerings recently.