December launch date for Freeview HD
Posted by Dave in Technology on June 26th, 2009
The BBC has announced that high definition broadcasts on digital terrestrial television will commence in December. Meanwhile here in Ireland we still havent even got standard definition digital terrestrial tv – what a joke!
The plan to launch HD services on a reconfigured version of what is presently known as multiplex B will see Freeview HD – initially comprised of high definition services from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 – will roll out across the UK in tandem with digital switchover starting with the Winter Hill transmitter, which serves Manchester and Liverpool. Regions that have already switched to digital will be reconfigured retroactively.
via Digital Spy
F1 deal ends breakaway threat
An agreement has been reached between Formula 1’s governing body and the teams to prevent a breakaway series, says FIA president Max Mosley. The two parties had been engulfed in a bitter row over planned budgetary and technical changes for the 2010 season.
But it appears a resolution has now been found and, as part of the deal, Mosley has agreed not to stand for re-election as president. For their part, the F1 teams have agreed to bring costs back to the level of the early 1990’s and also to help the 3 new entrants Campos, US F1 and Manor with engines and chassis.
The news follows a breakthrough meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris, and a cost-cutting deal being struck between the FIA and the eight members of FOTA – Ferrari, McLaren, BMW Sauber, Renault, Toyota, Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Brawn GP.
FOTA’s rumoured Calendar for 2010
3 March – Buenos Aires, Argentina (last F1 race: 1998)
21 March – Mexico City, Mexico (last F1 race: 1992)
11 April – Jerez, Spain (last F1 race: 1997)
25 April – Portimao, Portugal
2 May – Imola, Italy (last F1 race: 2006)
23 May – Monte Carlo, Monaco
6 June – Montreal, Canada (last F1 race: 2008)
13 June – Indianapolis, United States (last F1 race: 2007)
1 July – Silverstone, United Kingdom
25 July – Magny-Cours, France (last F1 race: 2008)
15 August – Laustizring, Germany
29 August – Helsinki, Finland
12 September – Monza, Italy
26 September – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
10 October – Marina Bay, Singapore
24 October – Suzuka, Japan
8 November – Adelaide (last F1 race: 1995) or Surfers’ Paradise, Australia
Sky favourite for rebel F1 TV rights
Sky has been made 11/8 favourites to secure the TV rights to FOTA’s proposed breakaway Formula 1 championship.
Ladbrokes have ITV at 9/4, the BBC at 11/4 and Five on the outside at 6/1.
The Formula One Teams Association, comprised of Williams, Sauber, Brawn, Force India, Renault, Red Bull, Ferrari, Toro Rosso, Toyota and McLaren, said last night that they intend to set up a rival championship for 2010 because of a row over the FIA’s proposed budget cap and governance of the sport.
“Sky have demonstrated in the past their willingness to snap up breakaway competitions,” said Ladbrokes spokesperson Nick Weinberg.
A week of updates
Its been a week of updates! It started off with the notification from Wordpress that Wordpress 2.8 was available and that I should upgrade. OK then, I will. Especially now that you have the simple “upgrade automatically” option. Just click here and off she goes, and comes back as a nice new shiney Wordpress 2.8 blog.
All those times earlier in the life of the blog that I had to download the .zip file, unzip it, open my ftp client and upload the new files. Its SO much easier to just click on a link!
So then I thought my upgrades were over, but I got another notification. A new version of my Fusion theme was available and that I should upgrade.
So I did. Themes have had automatic upgrade available for while, but the only thing is that it overwrites any modifications you may have done to your existing version. But in fairness, you are warned that it will do this. I am getting to grips with it the changes it brought and I will eventually re-add the Members menu from the list, at some stage.
I still have to put back in the ads it overwrote!
FOTA teams to split from F1
Late Thursday night FOTA issued a statement on behalf of its members (BMW-Sauber, Brawn, Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, Renault and Toro Rosso and Toyota) that it is starting preparations to form a new series.
The statement follows:
“Since the formation of FOTA last September the teams have worked together and sought to engage the FIA and commercial rights holder, to develop and improve the sport.”
“Unprecedented worldwide financial turmoil has inevitably placed great challenges before the F1 community. FOTA is proud that it has achieved the most substantial measures to reduce costs in the history of our sport.”
“In particular the manufacturer teams have provided assistance to the independent teams, a number of which would probably not be in the sport today without the FOTA initiatives. The FOTA teams have further agreed upon a substantial voluntary cost reduction that provides a sustainable model for the future.”
“Following these efforts all the teams have confirmed to the FIA and the commercial rights holder that they are willing to commit until the end of 2012.”
Premier League fixtures are published
The eagerly-awaited fixtures for the 2009/10 Barclays Premier League season have now been released.
Champions Manchester United begin their quest for a fourth successive title at home to newly-promoted Birmingham City. It is a tough start for the Blues who won promotion by finishing runners-up in the Championship behind Wolverhampton Wanderers who are at home to West Ham United on the opening day. The other new-boys Burnley, making their bow in the Premier League, begin away to the club they will aim to emulate – Stoke City.
Last season’s runners-up Liverpool, will begin this campaign as they finished the last against Tottenham Hotspur but this time away. Third-placed Chelsea host Hull City while Arsenal travel to FA Cup finalists Everton. Big-spending Manchester City start away to Blackburn Rovers while Fulham are away to Portsmouth.
New Sunderland manager Steve Bruce will kick off at Bolton Wanderers while Roberto Martinez takes charge of Wigan Athletic for the first time at Aston Villa.
Read the rest of this entry »
Sky Sports leak Arsenals opening fixtures
Sky Sports have inadvertently leaked Arsenal’s opening Premier League fixtures for the 2009/2010 season:
The fixtures are as follows:
Aug 15 – West Ham (A)
Aug 22 – Burnley (H)
Aug 29 – Chelsea (H)
Sep 12 – Bolton (A)
Sep 19 – Liverpool (A)
Sep 26 – Man City (H)
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