Search results matching tag 'Channel 4'

Channel 4 / YouTube deal confirms Andy Duncan is still in the game

1641923 — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:16:00 GMT

Channel 4’s departing chief executive Andy Duncan has no plans to go quietly at the end of this year, as proved by last week’s announcement of a ground-breaking content tie-up between the broadcaster and YouTube.

By the time Duncan is carrying the last of his belongings from the shiny building in Victoria, internet users should be able to view a selection of ad-funded C4 content, including Skins and Hollyoaks, via Google’s video site for free.

The move could be a significant development towards generating digital revenues for both C4 and YouTube.

The non-exclusive, three year deal allows C4 to keep control of its own advertising sales, and some non-C4 content to boot, while reportedly giving the broadcaster the larger share of revenue.

Martin McNulty from internet marketing agency TrafficBroker agrees the partnership has the potential to be very interesting for C4, noting it "opens the broadcaster up to a much bigger advertising market, that is liquid". He suggests that if traditional content providers can tap into the auction-type ad sales model that has already made adwords a success for Google, it could be a major break through.

Just as significantly, the deal is also the first real sign that exiting Duncan has a list of ‘unfinished business’ concerning commercial partnership which he has every intention of completing.

Last month, he told me he hoped to be able to announce "two or three commercial partnerships" before he steps down as CEO, and refused to rule out a tie-up with BBC Worldwide.

The deal, already dismissed by most as being dead in the water, gained renewed credibility yesterday when Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw called talks between Channel 4 and BBC Worldwide "encouraging."

Whether the BBC is now more minded to play ball or not remains to be seen, but Duncan clearly has a point to prove and his legacy in mind, which could make for an interesting final quarter. Watch this space.

Booze Britain isn't all bad according to C4

673734 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:30:00 GMT

The establishment assault, from both left and right, on "Booze Britain" culture is pissing me off. Labour hiking taxes on alcohol while the Tories are threatening to double duty on drinks such as super strength lager and cider while leaving their favourite tipples like malt whisky and fine wines untouched.

Sometimes more balance is needed in the argument. It's not all about pissed up idiots knocking seven shades of *** out of each other after downing 20 shots on a Saturday night. And Channel 4's documentary The Red Lion, which aired last Thursday, captured this beautifully.

Part of the Cutting Edge series, The Red Lion film, directed by award-winning documentary maker Sue Bourne, was an entertaining and, at times, moving snapshot of some of the characters that populate the thousands of Red Lion pubs around the UK.

We saw old ladies who needed their pub as a refuge against loneliness, a tee-total women's darts team in Scotland, a rugby team and a ladies hockey team who used their Red Lion pubs as places to drink heavily and a character called "Reg the Hedge" so called because "There's a very large hedge down my way and a couple of times, I actually fell in it. I fell in one time and couldn't find my way out."

A real mix of people who showed that the life of the British pub is vibrant and (Reg and the rugby boys aside) not all about getting as smashed as possible. And the close of the film, which showed the impact on people when their pub has shut down, illustrated that everything should be done to save the local. So check out The Red Lion on 4oD if you get chance.

September's here, it's time to quit

1641923 — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:07:00 GMT

‘The summer’s over, I’ve had time to think about it, I want to quit,’ appears to be the mantra being followed by many high-profile media execs this month.

Recession or not, September has lived up to its billing as the month which gets headhunters hearts racing.

Today’s news that Andy Brent, group brand marketing director at BSkyB, has parted company with the pay-TV broadcaster just one year into the job, has taken many by surprise.

His departure, confirmed in an email by Jeremy Darroch, BSkyB's chief executive, leaves a gapping hole in the management of the media and broadcasting group’s £100m plus marketing operations.

You can bet on Brent resurfacing somewhere soon.

But as unexpected as his exit is, it's far from unusual this month. Also on the move is News International’s chief marketing officer Jeremy Schwartz, who walked out less than nine months into the top marketing role.

Let's remember it took News Int almost six months to find Schwartz for its first overarching CMO role for The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun, and News of The World, so it seems safe to assume News Int's newly promoted chief executive Rebekah Brooks nee Wade was less than convinced.

The newspaper publisher is now expected to move back to its tried and tested model of having individual marketing directors responsible for each title.

Elsewhere, advertising veteran’s Daryl Fielding’s brief foray into newspapers ended abruptly on Monday, and Simon Davies is already primed to take over the role of commercial director of The Independent and The Independent on Sunday.

Despite best intentions, sometimes, things just don't work out - ask outgoing PPA chief executive Jonathan Shephard, who has attracted widespread criticism for his 18 month spell at the association for consumer and B2B magazines.

His decision to cull the association's events and marketing activities during what is arguably the most challenging time the magazine industry has ever faced, didn't go down too well with many publishing members.

And Shephard's own unique style of management and communication didn't appear to help his cause, with many vocally against him from the outset.

And we haven't even mentioned C4's Andy Duncan, News Int's Mike Anderson, Mindshare's Nick Waters or SMG's Jim Marshall.

All of which make for a heated return from the summer, and you get the sense it's just the beginning.

Derren Brown can't make me stick to the sofa, so why should Tony Ball

1704826 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:30:00 GMT

Ashamed to say that I tried to participate in Derren (sic) Brown's mind trick on Channel 4 on Friday night - an insight into my exciting weekend - and that like everyone else I've encountered, it failed.

Even more ashamed to say that I was disappointed so rewinded and tried again before deciding that there were more important things in life to aspire to, like watching the new series of the always excellent Peep Show, where JLB Credit has fallen victim to the economy.

ITV has similarly suffered and investors - as well as many ITV insiders - think that former Sky CEO Tony Ball is its great white hope. But then they also said the same of outgoing executive chairman Michael Grade who, while helping maintain audience share, put too much faith on his 'content-led' recovery thereby putting the broadcaster completely at the mercy of the advertising market when perhaps exploring some pay options might have been a wiser move.

Ball knows that the City wants him to run ITV and he's holding out for a distinctly 'greed is good' salary that is out of sync with the mood of the nation - reports suggest that he wants a package potentially worth £30m over five years.

Is this a realistic remuneration package? As a former Thames TV electrician in the highly unionised TV industry of the early 80s, Ball knows how to negotiate a crazy salary and get away with it. But if he delivers on turning around ITV and getting vewiers and advertisers to stick with the channel and make it a profitable and acquisitive business that it so richly deserves to be then I'd argue that he's worth it.

Ouch. Luke Johnson fires parting shots at Andy Duncan?

1704826 — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:10:00 GMT

Now that Andy Duncan and Channel 4 have finally agreed terms for his departure - a mere £585,000 severance package from the apparently cash-strapped broadcaster - all eyes must turn to who will replace him.

In a particularly revealing comment, Channel 4's chairman, Luke Johnson, said that Duncan's successor 'must have considerable experience of TV. They must have a vision and an understanding of the digital world.... They need to bring different ideas and energy. They need to have stature.'

Whatever can he mean?

ITV's director of programming Peter Fincham is the name being bandied around as the obvious candidate to fill Duncan's trainers. But given that insiders claim that part of the reason that Channel 4's board became dysfunctional was that Duncan clashed with his mercurial head of television, Kevin Lygo, to the extent that their relationship had irretrievably broken down, getting a fellow programmer in as Lygo's boss looks an unlikely move.

Given the changes that are going on at Channel 4 and ITV, it's unlikely that a new chief executive will be appointed any time soon - and possibly not until after Johnson's departure.

With a new chairman - or possibly chairwoman - who may be closer allied to the likely incoming Tory government, Johnson's comments could perhaps be seen as more of a bitchy parting shot at what he considers Duncan's deficiencies rather than the prerequisites for his replacement.

Peter Fincham clear favourite to replace Andy Duncan

673734 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:21:00 GMT

So Channel 4 finally confirmed that its chief executive Andy Duncan is to step down at the end of the year. After grappling for months with C4's funding hole, Duncan looks set to leave along with chairman, Luke Johnson, at Christmas.

The search is on for a replacement. But many in television reckon that all bets should be off as Peter Fincham, ITV's director of television, is such a red hot favourite. The sort of respected programmer C4, whatever it looks like in the future, should have at its helm.

Fincham's supporters suggest that this becomes even more likely should Tony Ball arrive at ITV as chief executive. The former Sky man's no-nonsense approach may be what ITV needs but might not sit well with Fincham's creative ethos.

So Fincham for C4 by the end of the year then. But whatever happens it is time for change at two of Britain's top TV companies. Duncan's resignation to the C4 board coincided with an inauspicious week for ITV which has lost both the real and the PR battle over CRR. Michael Grade staked a great deal on its removal and must be disappointed at the Competition Commission's decision to keep it in place. You have to sympathise with Grade at having to manage ITV through such as vicious downturn and, to a degree, he has made strides in restoring its reputation for strong content but he knew it was time to move on.

Meanwhile Duncan and his C4 team have seemed lost in a maze, running first this way and that in a bid to find a way out but becoming increasingly lost.

Both ITV and C4 sorely need new leadership and soon.

Nobody puts Fred Quilly in the corner

1704826 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:30:00 GMT

Terrible week for the loss of 80s TV cultural icons - first Felix Bowness who played the embittered riding instructor, Fred Quilly, in Hi-de-Hi and then of course the irreplacable Keith Floyd who poignantly died just hours before Channel 4 showed a documentary of him being visited by his pale imitation Keith Allen.

There's nothing I can add in tribute to Floyd that hasn't already been said but I'm glad that in Keith on Keith, Floyd managed to express his disdain for the cult of celebrity chefs - a title he eschewed himself. Perhaps all those lazy TV commissioners who insist on trawling the kitchens to find someone - anyone - who can cook to bung on the telly and then merchandise from, will reflect on his words.

As for Bowness, he along with Leslie Dwyer who played his chalet room-mate, the cantankerous child-averse (and usually drunk) Punch and Judy man Mr Partridge, were responsible for what on reflection is quite a good comedy couple. Their back stories - along with the rest of the characters including Barry and Yvonne - are particularly entertaining and worth reading on wikipedia.

ITV decision to launch ITV1+1 channel begs questions

1704826 — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:10:00 GMT

Does ITV know something about the Competition Commission's final decision on CRR that we don't?

Already the broadcaster has an ITV1+1 service lined up and ready to start transmitting from the beginning of next month - coincidentally the CC is expected to make its ruling on what 'son of CRR' should look like this month.

No-one really expects CRR to be abolished but the decision to launch a +1 of its main channel indicates that ITV is confident enough that any changes will not make this unfavourable, which has prevented it from doing so in the past.

So what will a new CRR, that manages to both convince the regulators that it is not anti-competitive but allows ITV to potentially cannibalise audience share from ITV1 without damaging its share in negotiations, look like? Answers please.

Also, achieving this Holy Grail will end up being a nicer epitaph for outgoing chairman Michael Grade than either of his opposite numbers at Channel 4 - Luke Johnson and Andy Duncan who are also leaving at the end of this year - look like getting.

Farewell Big Brother - for now at least

255762 — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:25:00 GMT

So Big Brother is to be axed from Channel 4 according to an The Sun. Let's hope the news is true. The show has really run its course. That has been said several times in the past but with ratings falling every year it was a surprise that Channel 4 signed another three-year deal with Endemol, meaning that an 11th series is locked in.

Last year Channel 4 showed its desire to chase ratings when it kept housemate Alexandra in (remember her? No me neither) despite proving one of the worst bullies the show had ever had the displeasure to host.

All the signs were there last year that it had run its course, but Channel 4 has ploughed on and has been rewarded with some of the lowest ratings in years for the 10th series. I think this is good news for Channel 4. Yes it leaves a hole in its schedule, but surely that is a creative opportunity as well and a challenge to be met?

Not only having ratings been low, but it was virtually ignored by the media. Even the stalwart Sun provided no haven. Not even a NIB, a tiny paragraph, each day has been warranted.

Channel 4 executives looking for coverage of their once cash cow must have been dismayed, or more likely depressed, by its absence from Britain's media diet.

There is no denying that Big Brother has provided us with much entertainment. There was a time when casual viewers would more regularly tune in on a Friday to see an eviction (Channel 4 says 38m viewers watched Big Brother at least once - that's 69% of population), but that time has past.

I suspect many of us could pass the housemates in the street this year and not recognised one of them. They are going to be more shocked by its axing than anyone. More shocked that they have been in there for more than 80 days and few will know who they are.

No D-List media careers are going to be kick started this year. What's a former Big Brother contestant to do? Opening up a new branch of Lidl might be a stretch even for the winner which ever loser that might be.

According to reports though Celebrity Big Brother might still return and there's nothing wrong with that. I can see that still have a good set of legs and exciting interest.

I can also see the format being adapted and tweaked. If it goes anywhere that's what it needs most. New ideas. As it is the lack of innovation that has as much as anything done it for this show. It has turned into something relentless. Kind of like The Long March - but probably less fun (and not in China). Maybe it won't be the same show exactly and maybe it won't be on the same network. There is nothing to say that it has to be on Channel 4. You could easily see ITV or Sky having a crack at taking the format on. I'm pretty sure there is life in it yet - just not 13 weeks of life.

As that was the one thing above all others that struck me this year. It was more or less the only thing that struck me this year as the updates from the Big Brother press office popped into my in box was how the day count inexorably built.

Big Brother used to be much shorter and have fewer contestants, but when you get an email and the headers says day 67, 75, 80 and 84 you have to ask will this show never end? Well yes it will and it the very near future - but I'm pretty convinced that in some form or another it will be back.

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Mobile music: Brand-as-you-go

1794479 — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:46:00 GMT

Orange UK has launched a new free music streaming service aimed squarely at 16-24 year-olds today in a bid to capture a youth market hungry for free music. The new service - entitled 'Monkey' - is a JV between Universal Music Group, Orange UK, and Channel 4 and is the first free music package positioned entirely towards pay-as-you-go customers. The new deal will serve up thousands of songs from Universal artists, plus free competitions, news, gossip, exclusive access to artist content as well as providing the ability to share playlists via social networks. All of this will be free if users simply top up their phones with £10 credit.

"The free music element of the package fulfils an untapped market that is looking for a low-cost, easy access music service," states Orange. "Unlike some music services, which are either restricted to high-end more expensive handsets or have download costs, Monkey is for everyone," echoes Tom Alexander, CEO of Orange. Mark Mulligan of Forrester Research however takes slight issue with this highlighting how the 600 minutes a month restriction on Orange's new pay-as-you-go music service positions it as slightly less than free in reality. He argues that customers regularly paying £30 a month in phone credit are actually paying the equivalent of £2.14 per album.

So where do other brands fit in this new musical picture? Well, the service is also expected to tie-in with Oranges recently announced partnership with Blyk, the mobile marketing company, with Orange suggesting that Monkey will include "great offers from relevant brands". It’s plain to see the youth market wants free music, but do they want this to come with brands on board? The answer seems to be yes for a large percentage of the market. A recent KPMG Consumers and Convergence survey suggested that 40% of UK consumers are happy to watch mobile ads in exchange for free music. A figure backed up by an annual research survey from 3ple-Media, which stated that 41% of mobile subscribers are 'quite likely' to forward mobile ads in exchange for free access to music tracks. (Notably in these cash-strapped times this is up from 30% in last year’s survey)

What particularly interesting about the Blyk tie up is that Orange will serve advertising based on users preferences. How this works in practice in terms of what brands a Lady Gaga fan gets over a Razorlight fan is at present not entirely clear. However, the fact that music consumers want personalised advertising is. Around 48% of 18-45 year olds say they pay more attention if an online ad is relevant to them according to Lightspeed Research. One can assume this translates equally favourably across to mobile as well.

So can brands reach music consumers via mobile? Undoubtedly. Can they get the relevant cut through? Arguably yes if the ad content is personalised to user preferences. The main factor here is that advertisers need to see mobile as another touch point in a wider music related strategy. Around 51% of consumers say ads are highly effective if they “give me new information” according to a new Harris Poll. A non-related ad is going to get passed over, but one that drives the user into a deeper musical experience elsewhere is going to have the highest engagement factor. Mobile ads in this respect act as bookmarks to a deeper rooted music association in the minds of music consumers. Not so much music-on-the-go, more a music experience you can go to.