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An episode of Channel 4's documentary series, "Undercover Britain", dealt with the funeral industry. The reporter worked, undercover, as a trainee undertaker in a firm of funeral directors. The episode, called "Last Rights", which was screened on 12 May, claimed that coffins were being used as rubbish bins and corpses were manhandled in "fun". American funeral group Service Corporation International and its British subsidiary, Associated Funeral Directors (AFD) sought an injunction banning parts of the programme which investigated the company's activities. However, Mr Justice Lightman refused,...

Under the Broadcasting Act 1996, a system of 'listed events' exists in the UK which protects certain key sporting events from being shown exclusively on a subscription basis and guarantees their availability to freeto-air channels. A committee was established by the Minister for Culture, Media and Sport to review the list and it has now reported. It recommends replacing the current single list with 'A' and 'B' lists. The 'A' list would give full protection for live coverage, whilst the 'B' list would ony require partial or delayed coverage and the showing of highlights. The 'A' list would broadly...

The Film Review Group, established by the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport on 16 May 1997, has now published its report and Action Plan. The body is to stay in being for one more year - with an enhanced membership. Amongst the proposals are: the establishment of a "voluntary all-industry Fund" (to provide support for development work, distribution and "generic promotion of film" with more targeted lottery support going to scriptwriting, development and distribution); the establishment of a private-sector "Film Marketing Agency"; setting up a new "Skills Investment Fund" (this fund...

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) has - after long-running pressure - ruled to allow the use of masthead programming on UK terrestrial television channels. Presently, masthead programmes (programmes that feature the brand and editorial style of an existing publication) are only permitted on cable and satellite. The ITC announced also that it is to strengthen its rules to ensure that the further expansion of masthead programmes does not blur the distinction between editorial content and advertising. The changes to the Code of Programme Sponsorship (see IRIS 1997-4: 11) specify that programmes...

The Department for Trade and Industry has announced that it will be lifting the restriction which has stopped British Telecom and other public telecoms operators (PTOs) from offering broadcast entertainment services. Margaret Beckett, president of the Board of Trade, issued at the end of April the Government's conclusions on the restrictions in "Broadband Britain: A Fresh Look at the Broadcast Entertainment Restrictions". The main points are that: (i) PTOs along with all other operators should immediately have the option to compete in the provision of broadcast entertainment to the 17% of UK homes...