Feedback welcome

Exciting development as I find people are visiting my Blog and some even making feedback comments – it’s really good to start a dialogue and find that my words on these niche topics do cause some sort of reaction -many, many thanks (hope I don't sound too needy).

Sky getting their retaliation in quickly

Branson gives Sky the jitters?

In a sure sign that Bskyb are taking the rebranded Virgin Media (was NTL/Telewest) seriously they have today announced a pay service on Digital terrestrial (DTT).

Press releases are talking about MPEG4 encoding which might be double dutch to some of you out there but in laymans terms it means get a new STB if you want to see the service - very likely it'll run NDS CA software too.

I can’t see this playing well with the regulators concerned about Skys 'smash and grab' raid on ITV shares that scuppered Branson’s hope of a content deal with the then beleaguered pre-Michael Grade ITV.

The move is likely to put the willies up BT Vision bosses too as the TV competitors slug it out for the low cost digital refusenicks.

I will be an interested observer (although not currently holding any signifcant holdings!) in the share price of the concerned parties tomorrow (ITV, BT and Sky are the ones I'm thinking about).

I will also take a punt on ITV news resurfacing as ITV play gets too hot to handle and a lack of competiton on Freeview means it's needed more than ever

Not Selling?

BBC is there a cure?

'Scrap the BBC' is an interesting book which I’ve started reading, the thing about the BBC is that it is an anomaly and it annoys me in any respects but when I read something like this I’m forced to spring to it’s defence. 'm not sure that Richard D North is someone who I can agree with too much.

* The BBC historically has been thought to super serve the middle classes (imagine the cost per listener hour of Radio 3 as opposed to Radio 2) but it recognises that this is a shortcoming and it does try to address it.

*The BBC is a state broadcaster but it (to me) tries to pretend it isn’t – there a real danger that the BBC Trust will in fact endanger what independence it has, the recent licence settlement which for the first time includes clear hypothecation with respect to the closing down of analogue transmission is extremely worrying.

* Does the BBC act as a unifying element, should we be concerned that such a thing might be required?

These are important questions but putting them to one side for considerably less than £3.00 per week you get fantastic Radio,TV and web coverage things like ‘the men from the ministry’ or Melvyn Bragg rambling along with his guests – University Challenge and Mastermind - at the end of the day (and through the night) it is very good value for money.

Radio for sale

I was surprised that no one wants my radio – I’ve got at least 10 radios and wanted to get rid of one – thought someone would like it but no takers on e-bay, latest sale is an old Canon AE1 camera it’s not being used and I would rather it went to someone than to landfill.

Venus

Great British film shock – we went to see Venus last night, it was very amusing and thought provoking, subconsciously I probably knew it was written by Hanif Kureshi but I didn’t register this until the end- this was perhaps why it referenced The Royal Court theatre. I hope Leslie Phillips and Peter O’Toole get some serious recognition for their fine performances.

Humour matters

Clive James -Web Pioneer

Having previously commented on web TV developments like 18 Doughty street, I was rather enthralled to hear about Clive James former TV pundit and amusing Australian who has done something innovative in terms of Web exploitation- check it out.

Comedy Gig -in good cause

Good to see that Russell Brand is doing a charity gig in March for Teenage Cancer Trust, I’ve booked my tickets and am greatly looking forward to seeing him bounce off Noel Fielding (in a comedic way).