ITV

Latest News

COMMENT: Is emulating the iPlayer the key to success?
Another broadcaster rebrands with the Player moniker for catch-up service 5 December 2008 14:22 GMT
Today saw the announcement that ITV is the latest broadcaster to change the name of its catch-up service to feature the Player moniker.

So now we have iPlayer from the BBC, Sky Player from Sky and ITV Player from ITV. Notice any connection?

That's...
ITV renames catch-up service ITV Player
Can't think why 5 December 2008 11:56 GMT
It's been revealed that ITV is to rename its online catch-up service the "ITV Player" apparently in an attempt "to create a more recognisable brand".

Launched in March 2007, and currently called "Catch Up TV", it shows popular ITV programmes on the ITV.com site,...
Project Kangaroo deemed anti-competitive
Competition Commission throws doubt on future of VOD platform 3 December 2008 14:43 GMT
A serious spanner has been thrown in the works for Project Kangaroo, the joint video on demand service from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, as it has failed to gain approval from the Competition Commission.

The regulator has ruled that the scheme, that would allow...
Amazon Kindle sold out way past Christmas
Santa got his sums wrong 28 November 2008 14:20 GMT
Those Stateside who've not yet started their Christmas shopping and were hoping to nab a Kindle for a loved one are right out of luck. It seems for the second year running Amazon has run out of stock of the device in the crucial "holiday" period.

Last Christmas...
ITV signs deal with BT Vision
Two year content partnership 17 November 2008 15:34 GMT
BT Vision customers will soon have access to ITV classics including The X Factor, Coronation Street and Hell's Kitchen

ITV has signed a new 2-year deal with BT, which will mean that some of its current and library programming will be available to the digital...
Project Kangeroo bounces back
Launch set for March 2009 despite chief exec leaving 17 November 2008 13:59 GMT
It may have just lost its chief exec to Microsoft, but Project Kangeroo is readying for launch.

Ashley Highfield announced he was leaving the BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4 joint initiative after only 6 months in the job, but, although no permanent replacement...
Widget.com launches BeBook e-book reader
With claim of being compatible with more file formats that any other eBook reader 4 November 2008 12:34 GMT
Widget.com has announced the UK release of the BeBook, described as "the latest" in portable eBook readers.

The BeBook measures 184 x 120 x 10mm, weighs 220 grams and has a 600 x 800 6-inch display that uses Vizplex E-Ink technology.

Offering...
John Lewis offers exclusive red Sony Reader
For £199 31 October 2008 11:10 GMT
We've seen the red version launch in the States, but it seems department store giant John Lewis will offer the rouge version in the UK.

Available exclusively to John Lewis, the red Reader offers the same functionality as the standard model, and is priced at...
ITV brings vids to Friends Reunited
Film of users finding friends and relatives using the site 29 October 2008 12:52 GMT
We knew that they were looking into it in August, but now ITV has confirmed that it is going to bring some of its video content to the networking website Friends Reunited.

Videos will be added to all four of the ITV owned websites - Friends Reunited, Genes...
Mills & Boon launches e-books
E-format offers "total anonymity" to avoid embarrassment 27 October 2008 16:01 GMT
Mills & Boon is making a "major commitment" to e-book publishing with the decision to make dozens of new titles available as digital downloads every month.

The romance fiction company admits that one of the main benefits to e-book publishing is that customers...
Kindle will not see UK launch this year
Due to "minefield" of operator agreements 20 October 2008 13:25 GMT
The UK will not see the launch of the Amazon Kindle e-book reader this year.

Brian McBride, the managing director of Amazon in the UK, has told trade publication "The Bookseller" that we won't see the device that was launched back in November 2007 in the US...
Ofcom okays HD Freeview
BBC, ITV and Channel 4 to start broadcasts in 2009 17 October 2008 15:08 GMT
Three high definition Freeview channels will launch in the UK before the end of next year, Ofcom has announced.

The BBC, ITV and Channel 4 will each offer an HD Freeview channel over an upgraded terrestrial TV platform.

To be broadcast on the new...
Vodafone launches "Books on Mobile!"
Audio and e-book downloads available 6 October 2008 10:17 GMT
Vodafone has announced the launch of "Books on Mobile!" a new entertainment channel in conjunction with GoSpoken.com.

Using GoSpoken.com, Vodafone customers can download audio - or in the next two weeks e-book versions - of the latest blockbusters or order...
Next-gen Amazon Kindle pics leaked
Whole set of spyshots turn up in the face of Amazon denials 6 October 2008 9:36 GMT
Despite denials from Amazon's chief spokesperson to the contrary, it seems the etailing giant is indeed prepping a new model of its e-book reader.

US blog Boy Genius Report has received a set of images from a tipster that shows the second-gen device in many-angled...
Sony launches new PRS-700 Reader
With touchscreen and built-in light 3 October 2008 9:47 GMT
Sony has announced a new version of its Reader Digital Book that gets a touchscreen and a built-in light.

The new model, the PRS-700, will be offered alongside the existing PRS-505 in the States in November.

Described as "svelte and stylish", the...
BSkyB ordered to sell ITV shares
Competition Commission ruling upheld 30 September 2008 12:34 GMT
Virgin Media will be celebrating.

The Competition Appeal Tribunal has upheld an earlier ruling by the Competition Commission that BSkyB must sell off some of its shares in ITV.

Virgin Media was amongst the companies that claimed that the 17.9% stake...
Sony offers James Bond-themed gadgets
As part of "Mission for a Million" promo 30 September 2008 8:56 GMT
Sony has announced a US promo called "Mission for a Million" for the new James Bond film "Quantum of Solace" in which people can compete to win a million dollars in a spy-like game.

In addition to the comp, Sony is to offer limited edition licensed 007 products...
iRex 1000 series digital reader launches
10.2-incher aimed at business market 22 September 2008 14:01 GMT
iRex Technologies has officially launched the iRex 1000 series Digital Reader.

iRex currently offers the iLiad and iLiad Book Edition for consumers, but says the new device is aimed at business professionals.

The iRex 1000 series is said to offer...
iRex to launch new e-book reader
"Seeing is believing" 19 September 2008 9:16 GMT
iRex is currently running a teaser on its site for a new product to launch on 22 September with the tagline "seeing is believing".

According to Forbes, the company is to launch an "evolved" e-book reader dubbed the iRex Reader 1000.

Aimed at business...
Michael Grade calls YouTube a "parasite"
"They just live off our content" 16 September 2008 13:25 GMT
ITV chairman Michael Grade has called YouTube a "parasite". Speaking at the IBC technology convention in Amsterdam, Grade said that tech companies such as Google, were not a threat to ITV.

"The day that Google or Joost or any of these people start investing...
Plastic Logic launches e-book reader
Flexible friend 8 September 2008 14:50 GMT
Plastic Logic has previewed its E-Ink-based e-book reader solution, that it expects to bring to market in the first half of next year.

Offering a "stunning" form factor, measuring 8.5 by 11-inches, the flexible Plastic Logic reader features a big readable display...
Amazon ends new Kindle speculation
No new models this year 29 August 2008 9:48 GMT
It seems an Amazon exec has spoken out to end the speculation rife in the blogosphere that the company are imminently to launch new models of their Kindle e-book reader.

Craig Berman, Amazon’s chief spokesman, has spoken to New York Times writer Brad Stone...
More next-gen Kindle rumours emerge
Is Amazon prepping two new e-book readers? 26 August 2008 16:15 GMT
More news is coming in that seems to corroborate the previous rumours we've heard about Amazon's next-gen Kindle e-book reader devices.

Further to the insider news via Crunchgear that saw two redesigned models, a source speaking to BusinessWeek also states...
Google backs Project Kangaroo
Despite Michael Grade's grumblings 19 August 2008 17:07 GMT
As the Office of Fair Trading launched its investigation into the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 joint video on demand service, Project Kangaroo, ITV chairman Michael Grade grumbled in a letter about how "non-UK companies like Google and Apple are free to build market dominating...
VoD services not affecting traditional TV watching
UK viewers watching 3.77 hours of broadcast TV a day 12 August 2008 17:11 GMT
They may have a growing number of fans, but online video on demand services are not eating into viewer figures for traditional TV.

According to Thinkbox, which compiled data from ratings body Barb, broadband video catch-up services such as the BBC iPlayer are...