Shrew Media

The anti-stoat to global and UK media musings from the scuzzy sidelines of the bright lights and loud noises that make up our great British freedom of speech. And the like...

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Location: United Kingdom

London-based media analyst juggling part-time MA studies, housework, authoring my first novel, looking after the cat

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28 November 2006

Grade musings, whilst Sweden thinks DAB is a bad idea...

The UK media has been self-obsessing all day over the move by Grade from the BBC to ITV. Much speculation about what next for the BBC before the renewal of the Charter, and the next two years for ITV. I think what's crucial is in the short term: the ITV relationship with BSkyB and the call from Virgin / NTL to OFCOM to look into the recent buy-in by BSkyB. Grade left the BBC, amongst other reasons, to go back to programme-making... with Sky on board, that's highly possible, and a definate way of rubbing NTL's nose in it.

Once again, however, the media have missed another very interesting (for their future) story. Over in Sweden, the new Culture Minister has said that DAB radio is not the radio of the future. She reckoned people buying completely new radio receivers was neither economically nor politically possible.

Point: politically impossible? Crikey DM, they're making digital radio a political issue! This is Sweden, not some small third world country that can't afford the infrastructure upgrade. As the British government get their head around what it actually means to switch off analogue telly, it's rather significant that such a move could get political. Watch this space, as they say.

3 Comments:

Blogger The Great Gildersleeve said...

Thanks for the link ;-)

I try to have some media content where possible amongst the personal stuff. Sadly my connection to the media is less than it used to be so I am happy I found you...

I used to listen to Radio Sweden's English output and Radio Netherland's for years...you've reminded me of their services again...thank you...I think I can listen on Sky's platform and get good sound quality.

Interesting but not surprising perhaps that stories about our media are more likely to be found by looking abroad rather than in our own country. This DAB story being one example.

Hope you are feeling much better after your cold...

G

1:39 am  
Blogger The Stoat said...

Much better, thanks. I agree, the international media really is the place to look good for stories that go on to influence the UK.

6:31 pm  
Blogger The Great Gildersleeve said...

We've got further problems with the BBC as many messageboards are being closed down even when people are being "nice" to each other and some are so over modded now, practically verey message left there is being removed.

People are trying to leave links or start their own sites and forums so they can talk freely and keep in touch and leave the messageboards to fold altogether.

So blogs are going to become even more important as the broadcasters become less accountable to their users.

7:23 pm  

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