The BBC and Norway’s public broadcaster TV2 are in a row after the BBC would not allow material to be shown in a documentary that will be shown on Norwegian television.

In an email seen by MediaGuardian, a sales executive from BBC Worldwide refused to give a Swedish broadcaster permission to reuse its footage in subsequent showings of the documentary produced by TV2.

The documentary, titled "The Famine Scam", has alleged that the BBC and the United Nations were saying that African state of Niger was suffering from a famine. Interviewees like the Prime Minister of Niger, residents, doctors in the region and an aid organisation spokesperson in the US have said that no famine existed.

Though the BBC allowed producers a license to show the reports, but withdrew after the footage was shown in Norway - forcing the producers to shorten the documentary. In the original format, the documentary was awarded third prize in the Monte Carlo TV festival in June.

Source: MediaGuardian

BBC1’s soap EastEnders will be tackling the subject of child sex abuse for the first time. The storyline will also involve the Bianca Jackson and her family and a-yet-to-be-introduced character named Whitney Dean, the stepdaughter of Bianca Jackson.

EastEnders is used to controversial storylines, tackling a long list of sensitive subjects, including one where a character buried his estranged wife. That got 116 complaints to Ofcom, and the BBC released a partial apology after it received more than 600 complaints.

Source: MediaGuardian

The battle of the DVRs has begun, with Seven bringing out the TiVo to compete with the Foxtel’s iQ - claiming it would help bypass pay-TV subscriptions - whatever that means.

But the new machine, which has a RRP of $699, will have limited content due to the fact that we don’t have enough content on the free-to-air channels. TiVo’s main success is where that channels from FTA, Cable and Satellite TV users can use TiVo and not the selection of the provider.

As well, users will now have to have a broadband connection to access certain features.

The device will come with two high-definition tuners - allowing users to record two programs while watching a pre-recorded show. The device will also store the last 30 minutes of TV programs, and would allow viewers to catch up to shows that they missed if they arrived home late.

Sadly, you won’t be able to skip advertising - which was one of the reasons that the TiVo became so popular.

Currently on FTA, you can get ABC1, ABC2, ABC3 (which is basically the same as ABC1), SBS, SBS World News, Seven, Seven HD, Ten, Ten HD, Nine and Nine HD. But expect more SD services coming soon after it was deregulated just this year.