Report calls for BBC overhaul

The Policy Exchange think tank is calling for a radical transformation in the BBC and the privatisation of Channel 4 in order for public-service broadcasting in the UK to survive, reports World Screen.

The recommendation suggests the BBC "place quality before ratings". The think tank also wants the BBC to cut back spending on high-priced sports rights, and programmes for the 16 to 35 age group, as well as 'popular entertainment' which can all be found on other networks.

Mark Oliver, the author of the report, comments: “The current UK broadcasting system was set up in the 1950s and now struggles to keep up with the extraordinary changes of the digital age. It is clear that the 20th century analogue institutions that were created are now worryingly out of date. We need a dramatic rethink if we are to continue to deliver public-service broadcasting in an entirely new age.”

The International Communication Union (ITU) released a statement outlining a roadmap for future 3D TV implementation, focusing on highly advanced new broadcasting system that mimics real-life visual experiences, states IT News Africa.

“This new ITU report establishes a clear framework for the development of new types of systems that will totally change the way we experience broadcast and multimedia content,” says Valery Timofeev, director of ITU's radio communication bureau.

“This is an important step forward on the road to globally-agreed ITU recommendations on 3D TV. I'm optimistic that we'll make further advances at our next meeting in April 2010,″ concludes Christoph Dosch, chairman of ITU-R Study Group 6.

Clear Channel Radio has reported its ability to automatically and reliably insert any length of audio spot immediately after specific programming or commercial spots based entirely on content, says Earth Times.

Called 'contextual advertising' or 'semantic advertising', the functionality has been available only to Internet advertisers based on text content and is credited as a major driver of the Internet growth and success. In preliminary operation for the past year, the proprietary Clear Channel Radio service is now available to all national advertisers.

“This goes to show that not all advertising innovation is happening online,” says Andrew Frank, vice-president at Gartner. “Well-established channels such as radio are also fully capable of using technology creatively to improve the value and relevance of their content to advertisers and consumers.”