In The Frame – October ’15

In what the Financial Times described as a “first-of-its-kind streaming service”, Disney is to launch its own direct streaming business in the UK next month, at a cost of £9.99 per month, with subscribers able to download content for offline viewing. “DisneyLife will go beyond other streaming services such as Netflix by bundling books and music with its hit animated and live-action movies, making Disney the biggest media company yet to stream its content directly to consumers online,” they report.

Apple and Netflix (and others), meanwhile, are heading towards the app-based TV. “Why does a [television] channel even exist?” Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, asked at the Wall Street Journal’s technology conference this week. “Apps are the future.”

Another interesting move sees UKTV launch a VOD service, UKTV Play, on Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. UKTV Play is now available via YouView, Virgin, BT, iOS, Android and PC.

Netflix has launched in Italy after its debut earlier this month in Spain (with the hope of reaching a third of Spanish households over the next seven years) and Portugal, while YouTube has launched YouTube Red in the US, a monthly, ad-free membership-based offering for $9.99. YouTube will pay video creators for clips watched during a free trial of the new service (apparently after changing its mind following an open letter written by Taylor Swift).

BBC News

Heard of BBC Store? Marcus Arthur, the man in charge of it – the BBC’s download-to-own (DTO) service – has confirmed that it’ll launch in November. Content available in the Store will range from the 1950s to the modern-day, promoted with the slogan ‘Making the Unmissable Yours’.

The BBC is to crack down on staff expenses, with bans being introduced on first-class train travel and certain alcohol claims as the corporation looks to save £50 million. Bad news, then for Alan Yentob, the BBC’s creative director, who reportedly ran up a taxi bill of nearly £1,500, according to expenses claimed in the first three months of the year.

ITV News

ITV has confirmed the £100m purchase of TalkSport owner UTV Media’s television channels in Northern Ireland and the Republic. The acquisition could open the door for the broadcaster to try and win a major slice of the audience in the Irish TV market.

The X Factor has tapped into live video-streaming app Periscope to offer fans a peek backstage. The live streaming service will be used to capture rehearsal footage, studio tours and interviews with the contestants as the show enters its live stages. “We believe building a strong social presence is not just about how many followers you have, it’s about engaging audiences and making them feel part of the show,” said ITV’s online executive producer of entertainment, Athena Witter.

And finally…

• This year’s British Comedy Awards have been cancelled after Channel 4 dropped the event without a new broadcaster being found.
• Robert Peston is to leave the BBC for ITV, after making what he described as “the hardest career decision of my life”.
• Arqiva has helped to launch Fox UK’s first free-to-air entertainment channel, YourTV, which will go out across the UK between 7 am and 3 am on Freeview, YouView, Freesat and Sky.
• David Beckham will play in seven football matches in seven continents for his latest BBC1 documentary, For The Love Of The Game, which will see him travel through some of the most remote parts of the world.
• Frank Skinner is to front a BBC iPlayer talk show, in which celebrity guests will share what they’ve been watching on the catch-up service. The first Frank Skinner On Demand With… will be available from 13 November.
• Jeremy Clarkson has extended his Amazon relationship to a TV ad for the company’s Fire Stick – which has provided a BBC-poking platform for the former Top Gear presenter

From the latest news to the latest positions –click here to see Frame 25’s most recent additions to its list of available TV jobs.