The catch up service from Scottish broadcaster STV, STV Player, is now available nationally across the UK.
1500 hours of free content are currently available on the service. With the service now available UK wide, Freeview Play has eight on demand players available for free.
STV is the ITV franchise holder for central and north Scotland, and is the only franchise not directly controlled by ITV itself.
Disney+, the online streaming service from Disney, has now reached 60.5 million worldwide subscribers.
It had planned to reach the 60 million – 90 million range by 2024, and has hit the lower end of that range ahead of schedule.
The growth of the platform has been boosted by the Covid-19 pandemic, with Netflix also seeing increased numbers of subscribers.
Toshiba has launched a new flagship 4K TV, available in 43 inch, 50 inch and 58 inch screen sizes, and designated the UK4B.
Among the features are:
The range has built in Freeview Play, allowing access to a variety of apps and streaming services when connected to the internet, alongside the regular selection of terrestrial Freeview channels
UK intellectual property protection organisation FACT has taken down 17 pirate streaming services, in action taken by their investigators.
The UK wide operation targeted various platforms, including loaded Illicit Streaming Devices (ISDs), which are devices which allow illegal streams to be accessed via TVs. Online streams on websites and social media platforms were also taken down.
Individuals providing the streams stopped operations after cease and desist notifications were sent to them by letter, email, and via social media accounts.
Steve Carson has been appointed the new director of BBC Scotland, and will replace Donalda MacKinnon when she steps down later this year.
Steve Carson is currently the Head of Multi-Platform Commissioning for BBC Scotland, and is known for both content making and commissioning.
In his new position which he will take up in the Autumn, he will be responsible for leading 1100 staff who produce content across TV, radio, and digital platforms, in both Gaelic and English.
The final of the FA Cup football tournament on August 1st (2020) between Arsenal and Chelsea was the most watched match of the season.
BARB data shows a peak of 8.2 million viewers watch the BBC’s coverage across all platforms, surpassing the 7.3 million for the semi-final match between Chelsea and Manchester United.
The top five most viewed football matches across the 2019-2020 season were all FA Cup games, and all were shown on the BBC.
Additionally, BT Sport also showed the FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea, and as the viewing figures are only for the BBC’s coverage, the actual number of viewers of the match will be even higher.
On 31st July (2020) Channel 4 showed an exclusive ad break, during Cats Does Countdown on Channel 4, which saw airtime donated to six independent businesses:
American Express, Bought by Many, Coca-Cola, Lloyds Bank, and Rightmove each donated 30 seconds of airtime, with the remainder donated by Channel 4. The ad break was also shown on E4, Film4, More4, 4Music and catch-up service All4.
The aim of the ‘The Great High Street Comeback’ campaign was to help support independent businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and show that the high street is open for business again
An investigation into illegal streaming of premium content in the north west of England has led to an arrest.
Greater Manchester Police arrested a person in the Leigh area of Wigan, seizing electronic devices including satellite boxes and viewing cards.
The person has since been released under investigation, and enquiries are ongoing.
Yesterday (29th July 2020) saw the launch of a new subscription online streaming service, networkonair, available in the UK and Ireland.
Priced from £3.99 a month, the service allows viewers to rent curated archive content from ABC Television, which was broadcast to the Midlands and Northern England from 1956 to 1968. Called ‘Nights In’, each curation lasts for 4 to 6 hours, and includes newly recorded links from David Hamilton, an original ABC continuity announcer. A selection of other series accompany to curated ‘Nights In’.
Users have 28 days to watch the content from purchase, with the content itself available for a limited time only.
Sky’s owner Comcast has revealed that it has retained 99% of its customers, and 95% of Sky Sports customers, despite the impact of Covid-19.
The Q2 results also reveal that Comcast’s European revenue through its Sky division has dropped by 15.5%. This is partly as a result of allowing customers to pause sports subscriptions whilst live sport was suspended.
Comast’s Sky business comprises its broadcasting business, TV packages, and broadband and mobile services.
