WebProNews

Tag: BBC

  • Mozilla, BBC Team Up To Improve The Web

    Mozilla, BBC Team Up To Improve The Web

    The Web is arguably the most important invention of the modern era. It’s a shame then that more organizations are not out there helping people learn how to get the most out of it. The organizations that are supporting humanity’s relationship with the Web got a shot in the arm over the weekend, however, thanks to an agreement with one of the world’s largest media companies.

    The BBC announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with four organizations dedicated to the open Web. These agreements will help the BBC better promote the open Web, teach Web skills and deliver new services to consumers. The four organizations involved – The Open Knowledge Foundation, Mozilla Foundation, Europeana Foundation and the Open Data Institute – will help further the BBC’s goals.

    “The BBC has been at the forefront of technological innovation around broadcasting and online for many years delivering the benefits of new technologies to licence fee payers, offering new services and products to audiences around the world, and creating public value in the digital economy,” said James Purnell, BBC Director of Strategy and Digital. “We have worked closely with many other organisations to promote open data, open standards and the open internet, and we plan to build on these MOUs to find new ways to engage audiences and deliver the BBC’s aspirations online.”

    Mozilla chimed in with its own statement on the signing of an MOU with the BBC by saying that it will continue to work with the broadcaster “on open technical standards, Web literacy, education projects and a number of other shared initiatives.” The non-profit also says that the its agreement “precede[s] a year of programming and events that support Web and Digital Creativity across the UK that the BBC will kick off in 2015.”

    [Image: Wikimedia Commons]

  • Doctor Who Celebrates 50th Anniversary In Big Way

    Mm? What’s that, my boy?- Did I hear you say that Doctor Who celebrates its 50th anniversary via one of the largest simulcasts in TV history today?

    It’s true: BBC America will air the special new episode entitled The Day of the Doctor at 2:50 pm ET/ 1:50pm CT/12:50 MT/11:50am PT today. A pre-show airs at 2:30 ET on BBC and on Youtube, as well as a post-show immediately after the special episode.

    According to BBC, this special episode packs an “emotional wallop.” It has been hinted that exciting events from the past, present and future come to a climax, and dangerous elements from the Doctor’s own personal past come into play. Old favorites such as the Zygons and the Daleks make appearances in this episode, and we will also become more acquainted with the new Doctor played by John Hurt.

    If you so happen to miss the simulcast today for some horrid and unfathomable reason, fear not– the episode will also be shown in over 1,500 cinemas in the world, in 3D even, on Monday 7:30 pm. BBC provides a link to help you find your nearest showing.

    So hop into your own personal TARDIS if necessary (because you do know where to find one) to make it in time to join your fellow Whovians today. Just don’t forget your essential scarf and a few jelly babies!

    Image: BBC Doctor Who

  • [WATCH] Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special: The Day of the Doctor Trailer

    With the famed British science-fiction drama “Doctor Who” quickly approaching it’s 50th anniversary, it makes sense that the long-running series will be doing something a bit special to celebrate the occasion. A feature-length special, entitled “The Day of the Doctor,” will see both Matt Smith and David Tennant combine forces in the inter-dimensional special.

    Fans of the show are really looking forward to the special, as Billie Piper will reprise her role of Rose Tyler. On another interesting note, we will see John Hurt play the “forgotten” doctor. If you’d like a little more information on the special, you can check out the special’s official synopsis below:

    “The Doctors embark on their greatest adventure in this 50th Anniversary Special: in 2013, something terrible is awakening in London’s National Gallery; in 1562, a murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient battle reaches its devastating conclusion. All of reality is at stake as the Doctor’s own dangerous past comes back to haunt him.”

    “The Day of the Doctor” will air globally on Saturday, November 23rd, but on a rather interesting note it will also make its way to the American cinema, in 3D format, in approximately 300 locations on November 23rd and 25th. You can get more details about the limited theatrical release here.

    (Image: YouTube)

  • Madeleine McCann: Phone Records Yield New “People Of Interest”

    Madeleine McCann, who was just 3-years old when she disappeared from her parents’ apartment in Portugal in 2007, is now the subject of a new investigation that might involve a ring of pedophiles.

    McCann’s case was reopened earlier this year after detectives put together a new case based around all-new leads, and now police say they want to look into a massive database of phone records that might show who was new to the Praia da Luz area that weekend. Scotland Yard–working with Portuguese police–say they have about 41 leads from those records and for anyone who was vacationing in Praia da Luz in 2007 to expect a call from them.

    “This is not just a general trawl,” said Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood. “It’s a targeted attack on that data to see if it assists us to find out what happened to Madeleine McCann at that time.”

    More information about the new leads in the case are expected on October 14th, when Madeleine’s family and the lead investigators during a BBC Crimewatch appeal. Although Portuguese police ended their investigation into the case in 2008 after finding nothing but dead ends, Scotland Yard remained committed to the case and spent two years building up a new file before reopening the investigation formally in June of this year.

    “The Home Office remains committed to supporting the search for Madeleine McCann. We have agreed to provide the Metropolitan Police with the resources they need to investigate her disappearance,” a Scotland Yard spokesman said in a statement.

    Image via Thinkstock

  • Hulu Steps Up Its Game With BBC Programs

    Hulu Steps Up Its Game With BBC Programs

    If one has been on the internet for any amount of time, particularly in such fandom-dominated spaces as Tumblr, one has certainly encountered the wide-spread fascination with much of the British Broadcasting Corporation (or, as it is much more commonly and affectionately referred to, the BBC) and its content. Fans of such favorites as Sherlock, Doctor Who, and Torchwood will be gleeful to hear that they will now be able to get their fix of delightful British television from yet another source– Hulu.

    The video-streaming website, which offers the option of paying per-month for ad-free content or limited streaming for free with advertisements, is stepping up its game after striking a deal with BBC that will allow it to add about 144 titles (which translates into about 2000 episodes of content) to its library selection. The deal includes such fan-favorites as Torchwood, Merlin, Downton Abbey, Misfits, Sherlock, and, of course, the revived cult classic that is Doctor Who, as seen in Hulu’s announcement of their new goods, displayed above.

    The BBC is not exclusively making deals with Hulu, however. The station has made deals and plans with both Amazon and Netflix, not at all shy about throwing its weight and potential around. Hulu, however, does not seem displeased with these circumstances. After months of stagnation and “limbo on the auction block,” Hulu’s chief executive Andy Forssell has said that Hulu is ready to “…kick back into action! …This is us doing a bunch of stuff that we’ve really wanted to do and had been put on hold for a while.”

    Just as Hulu isn’t complaining about BBC’s lack of commitment, so to are BBC fanatics not complaining about yet another source for their British television tendencies. With yet more ways to gain access to their beloved telelvision shows, it will be interesting to see how Hulu’s stake in the BBC game will effect Amazon and Netflix as they vie for the attentions of the Doctor Who and Sherlock fandoms. Or, as it’s known in many circles, Tumblr.

    Image courtesy of the official Hulu website.

  • Irish Bog Body Older than King Tut Discovered

    Recently, a worker that was milling peat for the Bord na Móna utility company discovered an ancient mummy in an Irish bog. It is not uncommon to find preserved mummies in bogs, but this one is unique; scientists believe that the mummified body now called “Cashel man” was a member of an ancient royalty who fell victim to ritual sacrifice, and that his remains are over 4000 years old.

    Located in County Laois, the bog body is believed to predate King Tutankhamun of Egypt by almost 700 years. The body was initially estimated to be from the Iron Age which would make it between 1500 years old and over 2000 years old. Radiocarbon testing revealed that estimate to be incorrect, and dates the body to the Bronze Age.

    The Irish Times reported Eamonn Kelley, keeper of Irish antiquities for the National Museum of Ireland, as saying that before this find, the earliest Irish bog body dated to about 1300 BC. The new find is considered extremely significant for those archaeologists who specialize in the records of Bronze Age Irish burials.

    According to Kelley, the mummy’s arm was broken and his back suffered deep cuts. A lack of calluses and well-groomed fingernails archaeologically suggest a member of the upper-echelons of society. The mummy’s head, neck, and chest were unrecoverable due to damage caused by the peat milling machine at the moment of discovery, so official cause of death may remain a mystery. Laboratory testing is being done to see if Cashel man’s last meal can be identified.

    Kelley believes that the victim died in “[the] same type of ritual that we’ve observed in later Iron Age finds. What’s surprising here is that it’s so much earlier.”

    Main image courtesy RTE News.

  • Comic-Con: Cumberbatch Explains How Sherlock Survived

    Though Sherlock stars Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch did not make it to the U.S. for San Diego Comic-Con this year, their presence was still highly felt during the Sherlock panel this week. While Sherlock (and Doctor Who) writer Steven Moffat and producers fielded questions from the audience in person, Freeman and Cumberbatch addressed the crowd through video.

    Freeman’s short greeting was made from the set of The Hobbit, and revealed that the third episode of Sherlock is about to be filmed. Cumberbatch’s address, however, was much longer and contained heavy spoilers. After teasing the crowd by talking about his roles in Star Trek, The Hobbit, and various other projects, he goes on to reveal exactly how Sherlock survived the second season using stuffed monkeys as props:

    Ok, cabbage, tea, and a helicopter. Got it.

    In all seriousness, fans of the series can expect more of this sort of teasing, even in the series itself. Moffat is well-known for keeping secrets and misleading audiences with his writing.

  • Paul McCartney’s Son’s “Awkward” Interview

    Paul McCartney’s Son’s “Awkward” Interview

    James McCartney, son of Sir Paul McCartney, is launching a new album and a U.S. tour. Following in his father’s footsteps, one might say. At age 35, he has Paul’s younger looks, and certainly could pick up the telephone and get an interview anywhere he wanted.

    Trouble is, Junior doesn’t interview very well.

    The younger McCartney appeared on BBC Breakfast Tuesday to promote his new album, titled “Me”. Hosts Bill Turnbull and Susanna Reid gave him plenty of opportunity to promote himself, his music and to wrap himself in the mantle of his famous dad. But, although James answered questions, he never grabbed the baton and ran with it. Even when asked about a track that his father played on with him, he stuck to “just the facts” answers.

    The hosts seemed to scramble to come up with questions to ask, since McCartney was not offering any information or stories voluntarily. There were a lot of “ums” and “yeahs”, especially from the interviewers.

    After the interview, there was quite a reaction from pundits via Twitter, taking the man to task for being a bit of a stick in the mud. They chided him for “monosyllabic” answers. But a review of the interview shows that James McCartney answered everything asked of him, including making expanded statements. He just didn’t take off unbidden. Whereas his father would have taken two questions and turned them into a charismatic story-telling experience, the son seems to want to let his music speak for itself. He even talks about playing smaller gigs in the U.S. – listening rooms, as he calls them.

    Perhaps James McCartney isn’t boring. Maybe he’s just introverted – which is not the same as “shy”. If that is the case, he joins many other performers who have no difficulty being on stage in front of others, but prefer and gain energy from being alone or in small groups when it comes time to interact personally. Michael Jackson, Johnny Depp, and many other celebrities have fit this description.

    In any case, James McCartney is quite content to let his music do the talking.

  • Matt Smith to Leave Doctor Who This Year

    Matt Smith to Leave Doctor Who This Year

    The BBC announced this weekend that Matt Smith, the 11th actor to portray the Doctor in the long-running Doctor Who series, will be leaving the show at the end of the year. Smith’s Doctor will appear in the show’s 50th anniversary special in November, and will regenerate in this year’s Christmas day special.

    “Doctor Who has been the most brilliant experience for me as an actor and a bloke, and that largely is down to the cast, crew and fans of the show,” said Smith. “I’m incredibly grateful to all the cast and crew who work tirelessly every day, to realise all the elements of the show and deliver Doctor Who to the audience. Many of them have become good friends and I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the last four years.

    “The fans of Doctor Who around the world are unlike any other; they dress up, shout louder, know more about the history of the show (and speculate more about the future of the show) in a way that I’ve never seen before, your dedication is truly remarkable. Thank you so very much for supporting my incarnation of the Time Lord, number Eleven, who I might add is not done yet, I’m back for the 50th anniversary and the Christmas special!

    “It’s been an honour to play this part, to follow the legacy of brilliant actors, and helm the TARDIS for a spell with ‘the ginger, the nose and the impossible one’. But when ya gotta go, ya gotta go and Trenzalore calls. Thank you guys.”

    Smith’s Bow tie-wearing Doctor debuted in 2010, taking over for popular actor David Tennant. Smith’s time on the show has been marked by the continued growth of the show’s popularity. He received a BAFTA Award nomination for his work as the Doctor in 2011.

    “Every day, on every episode, in every set of rushes, Matt Smith surprised me: the way he’d turn a line, or spin on his heels, or make something funny, or out of nowhere make me cry, I just never knew what was coming next,” said Steven Moffat, lead writer on Doctor Who. “The Doctor can be clown and hero, often at the same time, and Matt rose to both challenges magnificently.

    “And even better than that, given the pressures of this extraordinary show, he is one of the nicest and hardest-working people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Whatever we threw at him – sometimes literally – his behaviour was always worthy of the Doctor.”

  • Paul Shane Dies: British Actor Was 72

    Paul Shane, the British actor who became famous for his role on the show “Hi-De-Hi!” has died after a brief illness. He was 72 years old.

    Shane actually got started in showbiz in an unlikely way; after a mining accident at the age of just 27, he sang in small pubs in the ’70s and was eventually offered television roles. His biggest role was that of entertainer Ted Bovis on the popular BBC series “Hi-De-Hi!”

    Linda Kremer, Shane’s agent, had this to say about her client and friend:

    “Paul Shane was a consummate professional, a true gentleman, a good friend, and a joy to work with over the past 15 years. He didn’t suffer fools, always maintained his sense of humour, never stinted on the time he gave to his fans. He lightened my life and I’ll miss him enormously.”

    Shane is also being remembered on Twitter today by those who knew him and those who grew up watching him.

  • Even The BBC Can Get Unnatural Link Warnings From Google

    This seems to be proof that Google does not favor big brands of major media outlets when it comes to obeying the quality guidelines. Even the BBC has been getting unnatural link warnings from Google.

    A representative from the organization posted in a Google Webmaster Help forum (as noticed by Search Engine Roundtable):

    My URL is: www.bbc.co.uk

    I am a representative of the BBC site and on Saturday we got a ‘notice of detected unnatural links’.

    Given the BBC site is so huge, with so many independently run sub sections, with literally thousands or agents and authors, can you give us a little clue as to where we might look for these ‘unnatural links’.

    Later in the thread, he adds:

    Yeah the problem is that the site is so big, and has so many agents, that something stupid might have been done, but without being given a clue to what or where, it is kind of hard to track the culprits down and ‘advise them to be a better web citizen’. I have certainly been involved previously is stopping people before they do something ‘unwise’ in relation to the site.

    Of course, I’m not saying someone connected with the site has done something naughty, just that it is a possibility.

    He says he sent a reconsideration request, and explained the situation to Google.

    At SMX West, earlier this week, Google’s Matt Cutts made a point of saying that big brands are penalized often. Of course, we recently saw UK flower site Interflora get penalized, though that didn’t last long.

  • 3D Printing Featured On BBC, Mainstream Media Still Doesn’t Get It

    Despite being around for over 20 years, 3D printers have still not received the mainstream press the technology deserves. That’s why it was pretty amazing to see the BBC do a special on 3D printing. Unfortunately, the report focused on all the wrong things.

    Jeremy Paxman, presenter for BBC’s Newsnight program, recently investigated the rise of 3D printing and the challenges it faces. The special does a pretty good job of explaining the basics, but it gets a little cringeworthy when the focus turns to a one-on-one between Paxman and Paul Webber at Objet. Even then, Webber keeps his cool like a champ while Paxman throws a barrage of inane questions at him.

    Much of the ground covered in BBC’s program has been covered before, but it’s worth watching to see how the mainstream media views 3D printing. Much of the conversation is still centered on piracy and how 3D printing threatens traditional manufacturing. It may be true, but we should be focusing on how 3D printing is improving lives. Webber did a fantastic job of showing the medical innovations that 3D printing has brought to the table.

    [h/t: Objet]

  • Copper Debuts to Moderately Good Reviews

    Copper, the new, “gritty,” drama from the BBC premiered on BBC America last night. Reviews for the show are mostly good, though not spectacular. While reviewers generally enjoyed the themes, setting, and backstory in the premiere episodes, the characters and tropes used in the show were considered old hat.

    Copper is the story of Detective Kevin Corcoran, an officer for the 1864 New York City Metropolitan Police. While investigating the murder of a child prostitute that reminds him of his own daughter, he and his partners move from the brothels and slums of Five Points to classy Uptown residences.

    Robert Lloyd of LA Times had a fairly positive review for Copper, calling it “rather good.” He declared the straightforward morality of Copper to be “refreshing,” though he thought its depiction of Five Points looked a little too “clean.” IGN’s Matt Fowler couldn’t get into the show’s characters, but thought the show’s premiere “has some good seeds planted down.”

    Most reviewers seems to be taking a wait-and-see approach, which is understandable for a slow-building drama. Though many TV series, such as Mad Men or Deadwood, can be judged by their first episode, some take time to settle in and propel characters on interesting trajectories.

    One word of advice: if you are planning on watching Copper but haven’t seen Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York, go ahead and avoid the movie. Set in the same time period as Copper, Gangs of New York is a masterpiece starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio. Certainly see it eventually, but I suspect more enjoyment will come from Copper if you avoid seeing the movie, which can’t help but overshadow the series.

  • Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock Now Available on PlayStation Network

    Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock is now available on PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Network. The video game features the Doctor and River Song zipping across space and time to save the universe. A retail version of the game will be available on May 25 in the UK, and a PS Vita version will be released on June 13. A PC version will be released “shortly after,” according to the BBC.

    The Eternity Clock was written in collaboration with the BBC Wales team and looks to feature villains from the modern show’s sixth season. Players will shoot and sonic their way across time while solving puzzles. The puzzles themselves will actually involve time travel, as changes in the past will impact the future. Both Matt Smith and Alex Kingston have recorded full voice-work for the game. Take a look at the launch trailer below, and see what the BBC and Supermassive Games have brought to Doctor Who cannon:

    Meanwhile, a tweet has came out from the official Doctor Who Twitter account that reveals Jenna-Louise Coleman, who will play the Doctor’s new companion, has begun working on the show:

    Doctor Who Official
    @bbcdoctorwho     History has been made! A new era begins! Jenna-Louise Coleman has just completed her first #DoctorWho read-through. One word. Brilliant!
    1 day ago via web · powered by @socialditto
     Reply  · Retweet  · Favorite

    Two months ago, a tweet from the Doctor Who Twitter account quoted head writer Steven Moffat as saying the Doctor’s current companions will leave the show in an episode featuring Weeping Angels – and that not everyone would survive. Big changes are coming to the show this fall. Hopefully The Eternity Clock will be able to tide Doctor Who fans over until the show returns.

  • Playstation 3 To Get BBC Sports App In England


    photo courtesy of European Playstation Blog

    Is it just me, or do Playstation 3 owners in the United States, which is the biggest market for them, get hosed when it comes to TV options? In Japan they can actually use their Playstation 3’s as a DVR for certain TV providers. We do get some fairly good apps like the NHL and MLB apps, but nothing like what they are about to get in Europe.

    Over on the European Playstation Blog they have announced that there is going to be a BBC Sports app coming this summer before Wimbledon. It will be in the Video section of your Cross-Media Bar (XMB) and will feature over 2500 hrs of live streaming of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England. It has the ability and will stream over 24 events simultaneously and they will all be in HD and FREE.

    They will also be bringing Formula One and Wimbledon coverage live, with alternate viewing angles and coverage. Once again, the BBC Sports app launches this summer before Wimbledon. There will be more information in the near future.

  • Kids Narrate ‘Planet Earth’: Cuteness Overload

    This Weekend the BBC original series Planet Earth will be shown in its original uncut version on BBC America in celebration of Earth Day. The UK version includes narration by David Attenborough (not Sigourney Weaver) and an original score by George Fenton

    A new special The Making of Planet Earth will also be aired Sunday April 22nd (Earth Day) at 8e.

    In honor of the BBC version coming to America, director Joe Sabia created this promo, featuring 4-7 year olds trying out for the narrator spot. It is so cute, it might make you sick.

    Planet Earth was released in the United States in 2007 with the voice talents of actress and conservationist Sigourney Weaver. It took 5 years to complete, making it the first expensive nature series ever released by the BBC. It was co-produced by Discovery Channel, who own the rights in the US.

    Over the course of the shoot, 71 camera operators filmed in 204 locations in 62 countries, spend over 2000 days in the field.

    The series includes species, locations, and natural events that have never been seen on television before, including:

    -Wild Bactrian camels filmed eating snow in the Gobi desert
    -An Amur leopard mother and cub in the forests of eastern Russia
    -A sequence showing a snow leopard attempting to hunt a markhor in north-west Pakistan
    -Arctic wolf and African wild dog hunts filmed from the air
    -The highest-ever aerial footage of Mount Everest and the Karakoram
    -Desperate lions hunting and killing an elephant at night
    -A piranha feeding frenzy filmed in the water with the fish
    -Unprecedented access to the dramatic Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico
    -The oceanic whitetip shark, a rare ocean wanderer

  • Peter Wragg, BBC Visual Effects Designer, Dead at 65

    As a fan of the well-known British sci-fi comedy shows Red Dwarf and Doctor Who, I am saddened to learn about the death of one of the most creative minds behind these shows, Peter Wragg, who died this past weekend at the age of 65.

    Peter Wragg, a Visual Effects Designer at the BBC, was most known for his creative works with the models in Red Dwarf that we have grown fond of, such as: Starbug, Kryten, Camille, the Polymorph, the Psirens, the Mutton-Vindaloo Beast, the Holoship, Ace Rimmer’s dimension-jumper, Justice World, as well as many other creations that can be found throughout the Red Dwarf shows.

    Prior to Wragg’s work with the BBC, he originally started to work with AP films (which was later renamed 21st Century), where Wragg demonstrated a unique craftsmanship for model work and created works for the Thunderbirds series.

    As mentioned above, Wragg also was involved with some works with the classic Doctor Who series. His work with Doctor Who can be seen in the episodes of The Visitation, Resurrection of the Daleks, and Mindwarp.

    The Twitter community has been active in saying their goodbyes to Wragg:

    (image)@DrDJLemon
    David Lemon    Peter Wragg, Dwarf’s Viz Effects Designer, S1 – 8, has passed away. Smoke him a kipper, he’ll be back for breakfast.(image) 3 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@Hutch1148
    Kevin Baker    Sad news about Peter Wragg. A legend in his field.(image) 10 minutes ago via Tweetbot for iOS ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@DougRDNaylor
    Doug Naylor    Sad news, the lovely Peter Wragg, Dwarf’s Viz Effects Designer, S1 – 8, has passed away. He built Red Dwarf, Starbug + many more. RIP, Pete.(image) 4 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@eclecticschlock
    Greig Johnson    RIP SFX hero Peter Wragg; one of the main inspirations who first made me think ‘I’m going to do what you do’. #RedDwarf(image) 3 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@TORDFC
    Red Dwarf Fan Club    Read some lovely comments and tributes today. I do hope that Peter Wragg realised just how much he is loved by the #RedDwarf community. RIP.(image) 7 hours ago via TweetDeck ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@Drivaaar
    Kris Carter    RIP Peter Wragg. You made Red Dwarf fly, you crashed Starbug, and you made my fave TV show look fantastic. Lay them squibs in heaven sir.(image) 8 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Peter Wragg leaves a legacy from his work in British television and will always be remember by the fans of his work.

  • Rupert Murdoch Lashes Out at ‘Enemies’ on Twitter

    Rupert Murdoch, that mogul who most epitomizes the conflict between the old guard of industry and the internet, lashed out at unnamed competitors who are “piling on with lies and libels.” Murdoch, the CEO and founder of News Corporation, used his Twitter account to berate his critics.

    @rupertmurdoch
    Rupert Murdoch     Seems every competitor and enemy piling on with lies and libels. So bad, easy to hit back hard, which preparing. 15 hours ago via Twitter for iPad ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @rupertmurdoch
    Rupert Murdoch     Enemies many different agendas, but worst old toffs and right wingers who still want last century’s status quo with their monoplies. 15 hours ago via Twitter for iPad ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @rupertmurdoch
    Rupert Murdoch     Let’s have it on! Choice, freedom of thought and markets, individual personal responsibility 15 hours ago via Twitter for iPad ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    I find the juxtaposition of Murdoch’s overbearing personality and his mix of inane, yet grandiose tweets fascinating. The low-grade paranoia displayed in these latest tweets, along with Murdoch’s refusal to stick to just one tweet for his thoughts, tell a story. Are Murdoch’s employees too afraid of him to tell the man he needs a PR person running his Twitter account? He has been putting himself on display on Twitter for a while now. Isn’t it time to take the keys away?

    On a more serious note, these tweets came alongside a press release from News Corp that criticized the BBC for a new documentary it released investigating a News Corp subsidiary’s involvement in the hacking of competitor pay-TV companies devices. From the release:

    “The BBC’s Panorama program was a gross misrepresentation of NDS’s role as a high quality and leading provider of technology and services to the pay-TV industry, as are many of the other press accounts that have piled on — if not exaggerated — the BBC’s inaccurate claims. Panorama presented manipulated and mischaracterized emails to produce unfair and baseless accusations. News Corporation is proud to have worked with NDS and to have supported them in their aggressive fight against piracy and copyright infringement. News Corporation fully endorses Executive Chairman of NDS Abe Peled’s attached letter to Panorama and supports NDS in clearing its name, just as the U.S. Department of Justice, a federal court jury and a federal appellate court have all done in past rulings.”

    With this being just the latest twist in the News Corp scandal, Murdoch’s replies on Twitter are not laughing at him the way I am:

    @Vernam
    Cipher    .@rupertmurdoch “Personal responsibility,” the way you blamed all your underlings for the cesspool that is News Corp.? 15 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @grammalilx12
    Lillian    @rupertmurdoch I can’t believe you uttered the words right wingers…LOL! 15 hours ago via TweetCaster for Android ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @adamajacoby
    Adam A Jacoby    @rupertmurdoch worry not about the lies that hurt you, worry about the truth that will 15 hours ago via Twitter for iPad ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    @CaWebGuy
    Guy    @rupertmurdoch You are a truly evil man, and you know it. 15 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

  • Doctor Who Season 7 Teaser Trailer Released

    The long-running sci-fi show Doctor Who is receiving a lot of attention lately, mainly because of the Doctor’s new and upcoming companion Jenna-Louise Coleman; however, we still need to finish the “Amy Pond” (Karen Gillan) episodes to get there. It’s been a while since Doctor Who has aired, so now we are ready to continue the saga with Season 7. As a DW fan myself, I am pretty excited about this new season.

    This past weekend, at the latest Doctor Who Convention in Cardiff, Wales, the BBC television station released a full HD trailer for the upcoming seventh series, even though only three episodes have been confirmed firmed so far. From the trailer that I have provided below, it looks like the Doctor will be back in the Stetson again (because it seems that Stetsons are cool as fezzes) for a Cowboys vs Aliens-type episode…

    Also from this trailer, we see the following:

    • New cyborgs and alien creatures.
    • More explosions.
    • More traveling through historic time periods.
    • A familiar eyestalk (a Doctor Who series wouldn’t be complete without a Dalek appearance).

    Various Whovians (along with myself) within the Twitter community are also hyped about Doctor Who Season 7 as well.

    (image)@JonnysJuice
    Jonny Chandra    Just saw the trailer for doctor who season 7 and I can’t wait!! DW return to me pleeeasse!!(image) 1 day ago via Twitter for iPhone ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@astoldbydiana
    Diana     Last episode of Doctor Who season 6. The Wedding Of River Song. Cannot wait till this autumn for season 7! Should buy season 1-4 in London..(image) 1 hour ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@HungryBenson
    Benson Ang    Omg! The trailer for Doctor who season 7 seems fantastic!!! 🙂(image) 10 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@JimmyWard1
    James Ward    The Doctor Who season 7 teaser just makes me very happy. I do love that show.(image) 14 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@SpizikeSpiegel
    A Dream Without Wake    Season 7 of Doctor Who… I need this…NOW(image) 17 hours ago via txt ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@VioletIndiaCha
    Violet ? ? ø ??? ·o.    OMG just saw the season 7 trailer for Doctor Who and woaaaah loving the wild west theme. Can’t wait.(image) 1 day ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@__TheWoman__
    Janey Mwaura ?    I need season 7 of Doctor Who more than i need the air that I breathe.(image) 1 day ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Are you excited about this upcoming season of Doctor Who? Please leave your feedback below in this post’s comments section.

  • New Doctor Who Companion Announced: Jenna-Louise Coleman

    New Doctor Who Companion Announced: Jenna-Louise Coleman

    Questions and speculation about who will be romping around time and space with The Doctor in the new season of Doctor Who have finally been answered. Head writer for the show Steven Moffat announced today that twenty-five year old Jenna-Louise Coleman would be the companion for the current Doctor, Matt Smith.

    “It always seems impossible when you start casting these parts, but when we saw Matt and Jenna together, we knew we had our girl. She’s funny and clever and exactly mad enough to step on board the TARDIS,” said Moffat.

    Series seven of Doctor Who is currently filming. According to the BBC, the 14 episodes will feature new monsters and some familiar foes as you’ve never seen them before.

    “I’m beyond excited, I can’t wait to get cracking; working alongside Matt I know is going to be enormous fun and a huge adventure,” said Coleman.

    Before Coleman can take to the TARDIS, theres the not-so-small matter of The Doctor’s current companions, Amy and Rory. Karen Gillan and Arthus Darvill will bow out of the show in a series scheduled to air later this year in what Moffat describes as a “heartbreaking” departure.

    Moffat also gave a slight tease for the new season:

    “It’s not often the Doctor meets someone who can talk even faster than he does, but it’s about to happen. Jenna is going to lead him his merriest dance yet. And that’s all you’re getting for now. Who she’s playing, how the Doctor meets her, and even where he finds her, are all part of one of the biggest mysteries the Time Lord ever encounters. Even by the Doctor’s standards, this isn’t your usual boy meets girl.”

    Doctor Who is trending on Twitter in the face of this exciting and bittersweet news:

    (image)@alexthehack
    Alex Slotkin    And suddenly, there was a replacement for Amy Pond. So much for Scottish ginger kissograms… http://t.co/Bo2w0wtA #doctorwho #newcompanion(image) 2 minutes ago via Twitter for Mac ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@WizardVictor
    Victor Kong    New Doctor Who companion….hmm…..I was kinda hoping for a 40 year old dude :/(image) 47 seconds ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@inatelebuh
    Ina Telebuh    @feliciaday I fear Rory’s gonna die…again; and Amy will leave heartbroken, but it’ll be exciting getting to know the new girl(image) 39 minutes ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@Paul_Cornell
    Paul_Cornell    Just saw *the* most Doctor Who fannish reaction ever: ‘I hope Amy dies, because that’s dramatic, but I hope it’s not too sentimental’.(image) 3 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    So many questions are still left to answer. Why not have River follow The Doctor (or The Doctor follow her) for a while? Will Rory die for good? I hope not. Leave your thoughts and speculations below.

  • BBC iPlayer Comes To Xbox 360 In The UK

    BBC iPlayer Comes To Xbox 360 In The UK

    The BBC has made their popular iPlayer service available on the Xbox 360 starting today. iPlayer will allow Xbox LIVE users to access a variety of BBC content on their consoles. iPlayer also supports Kinect, meaning that viewers will be able to control iPlayer with their voice and with hand gestures.

    iPlayer is available for free today for Xbox LIVE users. It is only available in the UK, however, so if you’re an American looking for your Top Gear fix, you’ll have to look elsewhere. Today’s launch makes the BBC the first British content provider to be available on all three consoles.

    iPlayer is the BBC’s video-on-demand service. It allows British viewers to watch live episodes of a most of the BBC’s shows, as well as catch up on recent episodes. It also includes archives of some of the BBC’s most popular shows. It is available on a number of platforms, including streaming set-top boxes like the Roku, a variety of smart TVs, some Blu-ray players, and mobile platforms including iOS and Android.

    iPlayer is also available in several countries around the world. For British viewers the service is covered by the annual television license fee. Viewers outside the UK are required to pay a subscription fee. American viewers will have to continue making do with BBC America for the foreseeable future, as iPlayer is not presently available on any US platform.