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ITV4 was given more funding by parent company ITV, and is expected to further grow with the expanded 24-hour slot. ITV4 channel editor Dave Fewings is leading the growth of the channel and in establishing identity and faces for the channel. Other significant information and views on the expansion of ITV4, are also presented.

Left Bank Pictures founder Andy Harries, whose credits include 'The Royle Family' and 'Cold Feet', has always been centered in working with specific talent. He is looking for more small, talent-led companies to work with, and he feels comedy is an area worth exploring. His business philosophy and other views on the UK TV industry are given.

The making of Kudos Film's new television program 'Ashes to Ashes' on BBC1, from the development of the story to production, is discussed. The success of UK TV show 'Life on Mars' has led to the creation of this sister series, which follows the story of police psychologist Alex Drake who gets shot in the head and the next thing she knows it is 1981.

ITV director of television Simon Shaps has overhauled ITV1's programming, the most significant of which in 25 years. Part of the changes include the comeback of 'News at Ten', more original comedy and drama, and entertainment shows to replace Sunday soap operas. His schedule by day and by genre are also discussed.

RDF Television has unveiled a new gameshow format series called 'The Great Pretender', and has taken Christ Tarrant as its host. The show is being produced by his own company Chris Tarrant Television, and he believes that the radio and TV industries are too dependent on market research and focus groups . His v iews on other industry issues are given .

British sports may not be as highly successful as locals would want it to be, but the good news for the television broadcasting industry is that big sporting events always garner high ratings. ITV's ratings for the football game between England and South Africa took in 15.1 million viewers, or 58%. Sporting highlights of the 21st century are also given.

ITV's former director of drama Nick Elliott shares his views about his career growth and television broadcasting industry.

The British Broadcasting Corporation plans to launch video on demand, which provides 20,000 hours of its programming. The Independent television launched website with 20 million sterling pounds.

The British Broadcasting Corporation plans to launch video on demand, which provides 20,000 hours of its programming. The Independent television launched website with 20 million sterling pounds.

Actress Ashley Jensen shares her experience with the television industry in the United States and Scotland and about her own rise in the industry.

The trends of the adaptation of British television programs by American television channels are dcescribed.

Television broadcasting company Arqiva owned by Macaquarie Bank has finalized a deal to acquire National Grid Wireless for an estimated 2.5 billion pounds. Complete details in this context are presented.

ITV is broadcasting and developing big regional factual, entertainment, and drama projects, and this move is seen by the industry as the TV giant's way to make amends with the regions. ITV had planned to reduce regional budget, staff, and output in the past. ITV's 2008 regional output figures are also given.

Fireback joint managing director John Bullivant came up with the idea for 'Captain Mack' in 2002 while watching a friend's son play with a toy rocket. The idea for a live-action version was pitched to CITV, and the reaction was positive. How the idea for the live-action 'Captain Mack' evolved and production challenges are also discussed.

CBeebies controller Michael Carrington expressed that the network is out to look for one big landmark series a year, and it won't commission more episodes of hit show 'In the Night Garden' after 100 episodes. The next big show of CBeebies is the 10-million pound sterling 'Way to Blue.' Other commissioning issues surrounding CBeebies are discussed.

'How to Cheat at Cooking' author Delia came up with the idea for 'Delia,' a new television program on the BBC. Executive producer Julian Mercer pitched the idea to her, and he believes that Delia's return to television will make the idea stand out. How the idea evolved, and challenges in producing the show, are also discussed.

The idea for '10 Days to War' on BBC came from Harshad Mistry, who wanted to tell how the UK went to war to a wide range of viewers through a television drama. The idea was pitched to Jana Bennet, who decided to commission the program in 15 minutes. How the idea evolved, and major production challenges are also discussed.

Music programming for mainstream television has evolved, and the challenge for broadcasters and producers is to make a show stand out from the many music channels on TV. Live events and appointment-to-view shows are among the formats that are projected to continue to perform well. Other trends in music TV programming are analyzed.

The idea for 'The 92-Year-Old Danger Junkie' came from producer Daniel Vernon, whose father met escapologist Ron Cunningham or The Great Omani. The idea was pitched as a story about the world's oldest escapologist who is determined to perform one last death-defying feat at the age of 92. The BBC2's reaction to the idea, and how the idea evolved, are also discussed.

David Parker got the idea for 'Johnny's New Kingdom' after meeting Johnny Kingdom at a hunt meet while making a film for the BBC about hunting red deer. The idea stood out because of Johnny Kingdom himself, and the idea was pitched to Richard Klein, who loved it. How the idea evolved is also discussed.

Talk shows used to be the crowning glory in a channel's schedule, but the genre has lost its popularity. As an example, the debut of 'Lily Allen and Friends' listed 255,000 viewers, and many observers have already called it a flop. Other trends in talk shows, as well as the factors that can lead to the success of the genre, are discussed.

The content which the UK television broadcasting industry provides is usually geared towards a general audience, and male viewers do not have as many choices as women do. Broadcasters are now putting more male-friendly content, following the success of Dave and ITV4. Various efforts of broadcasters to target the male demographic are discussed.

Chorion executive chairman Waheed Alli bought the rights for 'Mr. Men and Little Miss' property in 2004, and felt that there was a need to bring back the show's famous characters to TV and introduce them online. The idea was pitched to Five and Cartoon Network, and both loved it. Major production challenges are also discussed.

Lynda La Plante created 'Trial and Retribution' ten years ago, and she realized that splitting the screen to playout the main scenes and the forensic elements of the plot can make the script shorter. How La Plante pitched the idea, as well as the audience's reactions, the evolution of the idea, and production challenges, is discussed.

ITV is injecting more commissioning cash and extending broadcasting hours in its digital channels ITV4 and CITV. ITV4 will broadcast for 24 hours a day, while CITV will move to a new Freeview slot previously held by Disney's ABC1. Other plans for the two channels, as well as ITV4 controller Dave Fewings' forecasts, are discussed.

BBC2 has received the channel of the year award from the publication Broadcast, and judges commended the channel for the high quality and variety of content it delivers to audiences. BBC2 controller Roly Keating has a big responsibility in maintaining the quality of the channel's program schedule. Notable shows on BBC2 are also discussed.

The idea for 'Make Your Child Brilliant' came from Electric Sky creative director Benita Matofska, who wanted to look into how parents can navigate through the various special classes offered for children. The idea was pitched to Five, and the show's treatment was rewritten over 12 times. The biggest challenges in production are also discussed.

The idea for the comedy show 'Freezing' on BBC2 came from director and co-producer Simon Curtis, after noticing the preponderance of ageism in the television broadcasting industry. The show is about two freelancers in their 40s who are suffering ageism in their professions. How the idea evolved and the major production challenges are also discussed.

ITV director of television Simon Shaps' move to revamp the network's program schedule reflects the important role of scheduling in increasing the ratings of TV shows. Amidst the popularity of digital video recorders, video-on-demand and the iPlayer, networks still exert a great deal in determining their schedule. Various scheduling practices are also discussed.

Record producer Magnus Fiennes introduced the idea for 'Freefonix' to producer Chris Rice, and the show was pitched to Michael Carrington at CBBC. The network ordered 40 half-hour episodes of the show, and Rice created a top-notch team together with co-producer Method Films to make the series. The features of the show and production challenges are also discussed.

Twofour Broadcast's Melanie Leach projects that multiplatform commissioning will be the top activity in 2008. Thinkbox's Tess Alps expects on-demand and subscription services to affect the rental DVD and cinema businesses. Forecasts of ITV2's Zai Bennett, breakingtrends.com's Alec Howe and Denton Wilde Sapte's Ingrid Silver are also given.

Tern TV creative director Harry Bell came up with the idea for 'The Spa of Embarrassing Illnesses' after reading a Diagnostic Clinic research which found that approximately 70% of the population suffer from some kind of embarrassing illness. The pitching and evolution of the idea, the reaction to it, and challenges for the show are also discussed.

Kenneth Branagh is starring in the 6-million-pound sterling detective series for BBC1 entitled 'Inspector Morse', to be produced by Andy Harries' independent production company Left Bank Pictures. The 4 x 90-minute dramas are based on the internationally popular Wallander crime novels by Jenning Mankell. Other details of the production are discussed.

The UK television broadcasting industry in 2007 was unable to provide innovative shows, but big bankers 'The X Factor' and 'Strictly Come Dancing' have performed well. 'The X Factor' attracted 9.2 million viewers, and BBC's 'Strictly Come Dancing' meanwhile took in 10.1 million viewers . The production of 'The X Factor' and its success are discussed.

Terrestrial channel Five had to freeze commissioning shows in 2007, but it has created strategic commissioning plans to make the channel fun again. The channel has lined up 'Britain's Bravest' by Fever Media and 'Rough Guides' for 2008, to add to its successful shows such as 'Paul Merton in China'. The commissioning history and plans of Five are discussed.

Ruth Jones was presented with the idea to create a one-off comedy about an ordinary wedding comprised of interesting yet real characters. The idea developed into 'Gavin and Stacey', which was pitched to BBC3 where it was turned into a series. How the idea evolved and the major challenges in production are also discussed.

John Lloyd, creator of the game show QI, believes the program stands out because it goes against the prevailing culture of television programs. The game show, which gives out points for being interesting rather than correct, was initially offered to BBC1 before ending up with BBC2.

BBC is known for its period dramas during autumn, the latest of which is 'Cranford' on BBC1. 'Lark Rise to Candleford', 'Oliver Twist', 'The Passion' and 'Sense and Sensibility' in are slated to be produced for 2008, and it is apparent that BBC lacks in producing more modern drama shows. The output of BBC's in-house drama department is analyzed.

The idea for 'Hitler's Favourite Royal' came from Fi Cotter Craig, who read about a British grandson of Queen Victoria who was sent to Germany to take up the dukedom of Coburg. The idea was pitched to Channel 4, and intensive research was made to create the program. The evolution of the idea and the major production challenges are discussed as well.

Producer Liz Warner came up with the idea for 'Arrange Me a Marriage' when she met an Asian marriage arranger on a train, and she brought real-life marriage fixer Aneela Ramen to BBC2 controller Roly Keating to pitch the show. How the idea evolved and the major production challenges are also discussed.

ITV1 has acquired access rights for the archive of televised Christmas speeches of Queen Elizabeth II for 'Lights, Camera, the Queen!'. The documentary will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first TV broadcast and will feature notable messages such as her speech on Princess Diana's death in 1997. The show's other features are discussed.

Film-maker Phil Grabsky has been interested in countries in change, and has turned his attention to Angola to come up with the idea for 'Escape from Luanda'. Grabsky filmed students from the only music school in Luanda to explore the various social issues in the country. How the idea evolved and the major production challenges are also discussed.

Writer Chris Niel used bitter experience as an inspiration for the new television program on Channel 4 'Free Agents', about two people in life crises. The idea for the show was pitched by Niel and Iain Morris to Channel 4's Caroline Leddy as a deranged romantic comedy. The reaction to and evolution of the idea, and production challenges are given.

John Whittingdale believes that Channel 4's strength lies in their willingness to take risks and commission programs that other broadcasters avoid. David Brook thinks that Channel 4 should rediscover their purpose and that the channel is too driven by commercial requirements.

ITV1 will air a two-part Christmas special which features a celebrity choir which sings viewer's Christmas music choices. The show will be hosted by Kate Thornton and the show will give viewers the chance to vote for their songs and profits from recording downloads from ITV.com will go to the Prince's Trust.

ITV1 will update their their programming output in 2008 with News at Ten at the center of the relaunch. The program will be moved back to the 10pm slot because of the channel's failure at that particular slot.

'Long Way R ound' producers David Alexanian, Charley Boorman, Ewan McGregor and Russ Malkin decided to create a follow-up documentary series entitled 'Long Way Down'. The idea revolves around passion and adventure and was pitched to Richard Klein of BBC. The evolution of the idea and major challenges in production are also discussd.

Television production company Zeppotron has won the bid to make BBC3's new entertainment show 'The Wall' (working title), which is based on the hit show 'Friday Night Live'. The show will feature live comedy, music and celebrity guests. Other features of the show, as well as BBC3's plans, are discussed.

The Deloitte report has uncovered rigging of ITV game shows 'Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway' and 'Soapstar Superstar', and executive c hairman Michael Grade announced that no staff will be fired. ITV insiders still believe that employees will leave in the near future. The reactions of the industr and politicians on the issue are also given.

Pascal and Laurent Rodon decided to revive children's television program 'The Magic Roundabout', and enlisted Theresa Plummer-Andrews as the executive producer of the show. Computer g enerated i magery (CGI) software was used to make the show. The development of the idea for the show, and the major challenges in production, were discussed.