Judi Dench, who is an Oscar contender for her role in Notes on a Scandal, is set to star in an upcoming BBC Series announced a BBC press release.

Dench will play the part of Miss Matty Jenkyns in “Cranford Chronicles” which will begin filming in the Cotswolds and London this April.

The Series will be shown in five parts and was created by Sue Birtwistle and Susie Conklin based on the three novels by Elizabeth Gaskell.

The drama is set in 1845 in Cranford, a small rural Cheshire town which is undergoing various changes as the town becomes modernized.

“I am so excited to be doing ‘Cranford Chronicles.’ A summer of fun to look forward to!,” said Dench in the announcement.

Reference for posting: http://www.playbill.com

And: http://www.bbc.co.uk

The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (the DCMNR) and the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (the BCI) have today announced the completion of the process seeking applicants to operate as Multiplex Programme Content Managers on the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Trial.

The DCMNR and the BCI will offer places to the following applicants to provide programme content for the second phase of the DTT trial next year: Channel 6 Television Limited, Chellomedia Services Limited, Communicorp Group Limited, Magnet Networks, eircom & RTÉ, Sky Ireland, and USP Ireland Limited.

It is expected that the programme content offering from the successful applicants will include UK mainstream channels, in addition to local or niche programming and Irish radio channels. The launch of the new services on the DTT trial is likely to take place from 1 March 2007.

The trial, which was launched in August 2006, will provide insight into the issues associated with the roll-out of a national DTT system and the potential impact on the current analogue television network.

Source DCMNR website

The British commercial broadcaster ITV, is not going to buy out TV3, which means that the Irish station, (which also broadcasts on SKY Digital in Ireland) will now be sold to European private equity group Doughty Hanson.

ITV already owns 45% of TV 3 and CanWest owns 45% also, the move comes after a decision by CanWest to see its shares.
Tags: TV3

It seems that Channel One TV has lost it’s licence. The channel has become part of an investiagtion against it byP Ofcom, as has some of it’s customers have reported that they did not get the items they ordered, or that orders were not flled correctly.

The Chanel lost it’s licence after it failed to pay 2,000 GBP for its frees. Ofcom revolked the licence last week. Tags: Channel One TV