bectuforum.org.uk

Background artistes news :: A Farce of Gigantic Proportions!

Author: CliveHurst
Subject: A Farce of Gigantic Proportions!
Posted: Wed 02 Jul 2008, 19:52:28 (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 0

I refer to articles in �The Stage�, �West 1 Casting breaks advertising codes again� 26 June; and �ASA raps Hidden Faces again for misleading adverts� 23 April; this makes a total of ten ASA formal adjudications - where my complaints have been upheld. But what effect has this had on those behind these two agencies? What has BERR Employment Agency Standards (EAS) actually done to penalise such sharp practice?

The answer of course is the EAS have taken no punitive action whatsoever. Both agencies have now ceased trading; but four new agencies have sprung up in their place; so nothing has really changed, except the directors names; they still have the same staff.

From 6 April 2004 the government made it unlawful, to charge up-front fees. But in the real world, nothing had actually been banned. The government�s claim was completely bogus. The charging of �test shots� etc have continued.

From 6 April 2008, agencies had to give a 7-day cooling off period. This made it unlawful to take money, until after 7 days of signing up. But this new regulation is also widely ignored. I have brought numerous such cases to the EAS, but so far they have refused to stop such unlawful practices. The EAS do not, sadly, enforce their regulations. Why!

I am now told by head of BERR EAS, John Thorpe, that his department does not actually know what an up-front fee is; does not know what a work-seeking service/agency is; will not investigate fraudulent activity. He also claims that the department has never defined such things in their regulations; therefore they would have to be determined in a court of law. But EAS refuse - to take such cases to court. Very clever!

In real terms this means that anyone can break almost any regulation; and they will not be penalised for doing so. How stupid is this! And they call it compliance?

Last week Equity & Bectu met with BERR minister Pat McFadden; under the strict instructions that if I was present; the meeting was off! So what exactly is the government minister afraid of; is it the truth; from someone who knows what they are talking about? Clearly eleven years of lobbying the government on this issue has had such an effect on the minister; that he is afraid of a meeting - where I would be present. Is this what they call damage limitation?

I might add that I am now in the middle of an employment tribunal case, where an Equity member only received �10.24 for doing two days filming; got no holiday pay; and had two years worth of casting book fees deducted; quite shameful. The National Minimum Wage Regulations are quite clear; or are they?

This whole issue of �up-front fees�, is turning into a farce of gigantic proportions!

Best,

Clive

Click on these links:

http://hidden-talent-west-1.blogspot.com/

http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/21115/west-1-casting-breaks-advertising-codes-again

http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/20499/asa-raps-hidden-faces-again-for-misleading

Background artistes news :: 1st Class Images = 1st Class Trading = West 1 Casting...

Author: CliveHurst
Subject: 1st Class Images = 1st Class Trading = West 1 Casting...
Posted: Wed 11 Jun 2008, 15:53:15 (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 0

A CASTING company accused of exploiting fame-hungry punters is heading for Tyneside.

But watchdogs today warned families to steer clear of 1st Class Images after a Chronicle probe unearthed its links to rogue model agencies which have breached advertising regulations.

The London-based firm is set to hold a talent-spotting event at a top Newcastle hotel next weekend. It claims in adverts to be on the hunt for people of all ages to work as TV and film extras, as well as catwalk and catalogue models.

But actors� unions say customers will be asked to pay large fees, with little or no prospect of getting any work.

And we can reveal the company is being investigated by trading standards in another part of the UK, a Government agency and an advertising watchdog.

Our investigation into 1stClass Images has also uncovered strong links to a string of agencies that have been repeatedly rapped for misleading people about their chances of bagging modelling contracts.

The Vermont hotel in Newcastle has cancelled 1stClass�s booking for Saturday and Sunday after we contacted it.

Trading standards officers in Newcastle have also received warnings about the company ahead of its arrival on Tyneside. Dave O�Brien, head of the department, said: �We would urge anyone not to pay money upfront to agencies like this and only to use established companies.�

An advert for 1stClass which appeared in Thursday�s Chronicle asks: �Do you think you have the necessary qualities to be a model or extra? If so come along to the Vermont Hotel, Newcastle, for a free phototest shot and photograph.�

One line reads: �We are looking for children 1-12 years for catalogue, photographic and film/TV extra work.�

Despite this, the company claims in the small print of literature it gives to punters that it is not a model agency, merely a photographic firm set up to provide budding stars with a picture portfolio.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is now investigating complaints that the advert used by 1stClass gives a misleading impression about the prospect of getting modelling or TV work.

Our reporter has also been in contact with customers who went to a 1stClass casting in Birmingham on May 11, paid �250 and were then contacted by a second company which asked for a further �90 fee for registration with its agency.

That firm was Barnet-based Model Factor, run by Erik Chandler, 37, who has also been the boss of similar agencies, including Hidden Talent, Hidden Faces and Model Factors.

The ASA has launched four separate probes into misleading ads placed by Hidden Faces, now shut down. The company address of many of Mr Chandler�s firms, Lytton Road, is the same as that of another model agency, which has also since stopped operating. West 1 Casting, also known as West 1 Promotions, Models 1 Promotions and Model Management UK, also has six ASA rulings against it for breaching advertising rules.

The director of West 1 was Rebecca Moore, 28, who resigned in December. She is listed as living at the same address as Mr Chandler and has been photographed with him.

When approached by the Chronicle, Darren Harvey said: �We are only a photographic agency which supplies customers with details of model agencies. We use Model Factor but we use a lot of agencies. Any customer from a previous event who has a problem with us should ring me.�

Papers obtained by the Chronicle from a similar 1stClass event staged in Plymouth last month tell how people were asked to pay �325 for snaps to be taken. Plymouth Council trading standards officers confirmed to the Chronicle they are also looking at the company�s conduct.

Established modelling agencies we spoke to say they would charge no more than �50. New laws also mean model agencies are not allowed to ask for advance payments and must allow prospective customers a seven-day cooling-off period.

The Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform is probing allegations 1stClass Images operates in the same way as a casting agency, despite its claims it is merely a photographic company.

A spokeswoman said: �We encourage anyone who has concerns about any agency requesting a fee for work-finding services to contact the Employment Agencies Inspectorate helpline on 0845 955 5105.�

Fo the full story click:

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2008/06/11/casting-firm-has-links-to-rogue-model-agency-72703-21056647/

And:

http://hidden-talent-west-1.blogspot.com/

**;~))

Background artistes news :: RE: BBC - To the Rescue!

Author: CliveHurst
Posted: Thu 29 May 2008, 00:34:13 (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 28

On the 5th May BBC Watchdog highlighted the continuing up-front fee scams and the fact that rogue agencies were ignoring the 7-day cooling off period and taking money on the day of signing up...

Click video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDwtPEljl8c

Minister Pat McFadden was interviewed, he claimed that his department (BERR EAS) was in the process of increasing fines to an unlimited amount; but his department has never fined agencies taking up-front fees under false pretences!

So claiming to increase the fine amount - will have no effect. This is just one more bit of window dressing; just like the ban that came into force in April 2004 and the limit on fees payable - must be reasonable. Sounds good but has no effect.

The head of Employment Agency Standards previously claimed; his department does not know what an up-front fee is???

**;~))

Site feedback :: RE: Message board security?? CAPTCHA broken?

Author: tonys
Posted: Thu 22 May 2008, 16:36:01 (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 1

I'm aware of the situation which has occured for reasons connected with the service provider upgrading php which has had unfortunate implications on the phpBB system.

I'll be taking the board offline within the next few days to hopefully sort all this out.

Apologies in advance for any inconvenience this will cause.

Site feedback :: Message board security?? CAPTCHA broken?

Author: jaredt
Subject: Message board security?? CAPTCHA broken?
Posted: Thu 15 May 2008, 23:02:14 (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 1

Hi,

If you look at the membership stats, you will see that since the 27th of November, the daily rate of new joiners has gone through the roof.

If you look at these new joiners, they seem to share the same features:

1) Bizarre names (sometimes featuring Pharmaceuticals)

2) Exotic locations (unlikely to be interested in BECTU business)

3) They all seem to have 'personal' websites - which I do not recommend anyone visiting.

I believe that Spammers have recently started using "automatic account generation engines" on hotmail, yahoo etc, these engines are even capable of breaking the CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) - the speckled bitmap with the letters and numerals.
I think that explains the phenomena.
For further reading, see this article:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/10/web_mail_throttled/

However the spammers may just be using sweatshop labour, see:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/14/captcha_serfs/

Why bother? Probably just to see if they can snare anyone to their nasty URLs�. (since there is no method that I can see to send spam from the accounts on this board.)

Please can we add extra security criteria to sign on ASAP? (and clean off the rubbish)

Yours,
�
JaredT
_________________
Health & Safety Rep.
BBC Radio & Music Production Branch
BECTU

Background artistes news :: RE: Daily Mirror Expose West 1 & Hidden Talent... Again!

Author: CliveHurst
Posted: Thu 01 May 2008, 13:47:35 (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 4

Be the next face for Coca-Cola?

Fraudsters have found a fresh hunting ground - online networking sites.

It was only a matter of time, considering that the two largest - Facebook and MySpace - have around 200 million users between them.

Ripe pickings for canny conmen, like the crooks who say they've seen your picture and profile and you're perfect for a career in modelling or acting.

Naturally, there's a price, as Peter Sidnell from Tiverton in Devon discovered after posting his details on dating site Faceparty.

He was contacted by Rachel, who claimed to be from a promotions company called Trident that represents Coca-Cola. Rachel insisted Peter was wanted as one of their faces for a new billboard campaign at Heathrow.

After Peter expressed an interest he received a NatWest banker's draft for �4,700. Very nice. But it came with a twist. He was told to pay it into his bank account, keep 20 per cent as his modelling fee, and send �3,760 to a so-called agent. Rachel didn't explain why Coca-Cola couldn't pay its own agents. Nor did she explain why a global company would insist on payment not by credit card but Western Union.

Money transfer companies such as Western Union are loved by fraudsters because they can collect their loot in cash without leaving a paper trail. Yet another mystery - Rachel claimed to work for a firm that represented a global brand, yet she gave a Yahoo email address.

She claimed to work in central London, but when we sent her an anonymous email it was opened in Nigeria. Which may explain why whoever filled in the cheque spelt "thousand" as "thounsand".

Then Rachel got pushy. "You will deposit the cheque tomorrow, it should take 2-3 days to clear so you should be sending the money on Monday/Tuesday next week," she ordered Peter by email. We showed the banker's draft to NatWest - it was counterfeit.

And a spokesperson for Coca-Cola said: "We have no knowledge of, or affiliation, with this organisation, Trident Incorporated."

At least Peter isn't surprised to learn that he'll not be the next face of Coca-Cola. "I was sure it was a scam," he told us. Others aren't so lucky.

Clive Hurst of acting union Equity knows of hopeful models and actors who have lost hundreds of pounds to cybercriminals who demand up-front fees to join casting agencies.

"They mainly target girls on MySpace and Facebook and tell them they'll be the next big thing," he said. "Then they ask for money to join a so-called agency but never get any work.

"The entertainments industry is a magnet for every third-rate crook because it so easy, it costs so little to set up these scams and they know they won't be penalised."

My thanks to journalist Andrew Penman of The Mirror - who has supported us performers; for such a long time!

Click:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/investigates/2008/05/01/facebook-scam-casting-its-net-89520-20401131/

**;~))

Background artistes news :: RE: E-Media-C = Envenio = The Casting Suite....

Author: CliveHurst
Posted: Mon 28 Apr 2008, 14:55:31 (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 8

BBC Radio Three Counties, Thursday 1st March 2007. BBC investigative journalist Stephen Rhodes, interviewed Envenio Ltd; who had changed their trading name to The Casting Suite in December 2006. Chief Executive Paul Booth stated to the BBC that his 'agency' would take anyone and every one; provided they pay an up-front fee of at least �77. He also stated that he believed his agency found work for more than fifty percent of those on their books; which was an astonishing figure.

The Casting Suite have now got together with Virgin Media's Living TV channel. There will be an 8 episode of 60 minutes each, about the 'real extras' and what they get up to... starting on 6 March 2007. Click on: http://www.envenio.co.uk/newfaces/NewFaces.asp#

Living TV boast that this agency is the biggest extra's agency in the UK and that they have 10,000 extras on their books. I did a search of their website over a three week period and on three occasions I was only able to find in between 5,500 and 5,800. They also claim that over 5,000 industry professionals search for performers, on their wbsite.

I had a meeting with Living TV at their offices, together with executives of Envenio Ltd - on Tuesday 27 February 2007; and Judy Franks from Equity accompanied me. I was told by the agency that they did indeed have 10,000, but did not show all of them - in case they were nicked off the website. My question was that just under half - were therefore never seen! No satisfactory answer was made. As to the claim to be the biggest, they agreed to amend it to one of the biggest...

To my mind, an agency that provided more work than most agencies - could make such a claim. But, just because you have a lot of would-be performers, on your books; should not really count - as claiming to have a major share of the market.

To listen to part of the 40 minute BBC Radio interview, click on:

http://www.anactor.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/bbcthreecountiesradio1mar07.mp3

How can Virgin Media, trading as Living TV - do eight hours of 'The Real Extras' with absolutely no mention whatsoever - about the widespread up-front fee scams???

Well... According to the executives of Virgin Media 'Reality TV', such issues are best left to the BBC. Virgin Media don't think they have ANY responsibility to the public on this issue...

but surely with POWER... comes RESPONSIBILITY??? Or have I missed something... Is this just an exercise to promote The Casting Suite? Whatever the cost?

**;~))

Background artistes news :: RE: E-Media-C = Envenio = The Casting Suite....

Author: CliveHurst
Posted: Mon 28 Apr 2008, 14:47:45 (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 8

Envenio Ltd/E-Media-c Ltd - �Your Questions Answered�?

Envenio Ltd, a casting directory employment agency (work-seeking service) - posed the following question to their prospective clients/performers; �How do I know I can trust you?� Envenio then answered their own question, by claiming that � Envenio was �recognised by government�. It sent applicants a copy of a letter - by a government minister; purportedly sent to Envenio Ltd; it also showed the letter on its website too. However, the (DCMS) letter had been falsified - because the original letter made no mention of Envenio; it had been written to E-media-c. Is this what we call creative accounting? Is this right or proper? And, why did this agency claim �We�ve been in business many years�; when clearly Envenio Ltd had only started up � in September 2004?

Why should we �trust� such agencies? Why did Envenio Ltd � deliberately mislead applicants/performers; by claiming it had merely changed its name? E-media-c went into receivership - owing almost �4m; Envenio Ltd cherry picked certain E-media-c assets from the liquidators; it certainly did not take on (all) the debts - of E-media-c.

E-media-c Ltd/Plc � had proclaimed in 2003, "groundbreaking partnerships with the BBC"; when clearly no such partnerships ever existed. Why did the agency deliberately mislead applicants/performers? E-media-c also wrongly claimed, "thanks to ... new contacts in LA, even Hollywood producers will be sourcing people like you through e-media-c". See my previous ASA adjudication against E-Media-c plc - in May 2003. What was the BBC response, to being linked to such a partnership�?

Surely all the above bogus claims - give the impression - that such agencies - are highly reputable and extremely successful? Such claims still remain legal, under BERR (DTI) Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Regulations; because previous DTI Minister Gerry Sutcliffe broke his promise to ban all up-front fees. Agencies are under no obligation - to refund any bogus up-front fees; why? There are no fines imposed by the EAS - for such wrongdoing.

What exactly has a bogus agency to loose by making bogus up-front fee statements in their advertisements - when the EAS just turn a blind eye to such practices?

There are no real safeguards in place - to protect the public/performers; from any bogus agency �up-front fee� advertisements. Sadly, had I not reported both the above agencies to the ASA, then such bogus advertising - would have continued - unabated?

There are even more - damning ASA complaints/adjudications in the pipeline. This �up-front fee� campaign is certainly not - a storm in a tea cup�

**;~))

Background artistes news :: RE: E-Media-C = Envenio = The Casting Suite....

Author: CliveHurst
Posted: Mon 28 Apr 2008, 14:40:10 (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 8

Envenio Ltd
8-10 Lower James Street
London
W1F 9EL

Date: 7th December 2005
Media: Direct mail

Sector: Employment

Public Complaint From: Surrey

Complaint:

Obection to a mailing for a talent agency. It stated "Thanks to us two people have won a contract with Storm Model Management ... envenio is a password protected website, recognised by the government ... We've been in business many years". The mailing included 12 testimonials, one of which stated "Last week I was a van driver, now I'm presenting a new live TV show on Challenge TV" and a letter which stated "DRAFT FOREWORD FOR ENVENIO (formerly e-media-c) ... It is a pleasure to provide a foreword for envenio ... Incentives such as envenio provide an excellent showcasing resource ... I wish all those at envenio every success. DR KIM HOWELLS Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting". The complainants challenged:

1. the claim "Thanks to us two people have won a contract with Storm Model Management";

2. the veracity of the testimonials;

3. the claims "envenio ... recognised by government" and the veracity of the letter from Kim Howells because Dr Howells had ceased to be the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting before envenio was founded in 2004 and

4. the claim "We've been in business many years".

Codes Section: 3.1, 7.1, 14.2, 14.4 (Ed 11)

Adjudication:

1. Complaint not upheld
Envenio sent a copy of an e-mail from a director of Storm Model management that confirmed that the two winners of a competition organised by envenio had been offered contracts by his firm. Envenio sent a copy of their contract with Storm Model management that confirmed that.

We considered that envenio had substantiated the claim and did not object.

2. Complaint upheld
Envenio said e-media-c Ltd had adopted the trading name envenio on 18 August 2004. They said e-media-c ltd trading as envenio ltd went into administrative receivership on 9 September 2004. Envenio said they purchased certain assets from e-media-c including the fixed assets, book debts, the business and goodwill, which included the customers and clients of the business and related obligations as well as certain obligations such as the employment commitments under TUPE to all staff and lease obligations on their business premises. They said the purchase included the trading names "e-media-c" and "envenio". Envenio said e-media-c's customers had paid their subscriptions in advance to be listed on the company's website. They said all of e-media-c's customers were transferred to envenio and that the services which they had paid e-media-c for had been provided by envenio. Envenio said 8 of the testimonials used in the mailing were for e-media-c but that all of the testimonial writers were now customers of envenio and that envenio had provided all services that the testimonial writers had paid e-media-c for. They said that, because all of the testimonial writers were now clients of envenio and because they would receive all the services they had paid e-media-c for from envenio, the use of the testimonials was not misleading.

We noted envenio's comments and the history of the company. We noted that eight of the testimontials had been given to e-media-c and that all the testimonials had been given to either e-media-c or envenio. We noted that envenio had not paid off all of the debts of the previous company, e-media-c ltd. We considered that the use of the testimonials given to e-media-c rather than envenio was therefore misleading and told envenio to remove them from their marketing material.

3. Complaint upheld
Envenio said the letter from DR KIM HOWELLS had been sent to e-media-c and that, because they had bought e-media-c when it was in recievership, they were entitled to use the letter and the claim "envenio ... recognised by the government".

We noted that, although e-media-c had been praised by Dr Howells when he was Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting, they had not been officially endorsed by the government. We considered that, because readers would understand the claim "recognised by the government" to mean that the firm was officially endorsed by the government when that was not the case, the claim was misleading. We noted that the letter stated "DRAFT FOREWORD FOR ENVENIO (formerly e-media-c)", and considered that readers would therefore assume that Dr Howells' letter was written to envenio rather than e-media-c. We noted that Dr Howells was no longer the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting when e-media-c began using the name envenio in 2004. We considered that, because the letter implied that Dr Howells had written to envenio rather than e-media-c, it was misleading. We told the advertisers to remove the letter from their advertising material.

4. Complaint upheld
Envenio said the claim "We have been in business for many years" referred to employees of envenio who had been in the industry for many years.

We noted that the claim did not make clear whether it referred to envenio or employees of envenio. We considered that, because the claim appeared in a paragraph that referred to envenio rather than the employees of the company, readers would understand the claim to mean that envenio had been trading for many years. We noted that e-media-c started trading in 2000, that envenio was incorporated on 12 September 2004 and that envenio had bought e-media-c from the liquidator on 29 October 2004. We noted that envenio had not paid off all of the debts of the previous company, e-media-c ltd. We considered that the claim "we have been in business many years" was therefore misleading and told envenio to remove the claim from their marketing material.

We considered that the advertisers had breached Clause 3.1 (Substantiation), 7.1 (Truthfullness) and 14.2 Testimonials and endorsements).

**;~))

Background artistes news :: RE: E-Media-C = Envenio = The Casting Suite....

Author: CliveHurst
Posted: Mon 28 Apr 2008, 13:08:19 (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 8

Non-broadcast Adjudication By - Advertising Standards Authority

e-media-c plc

95-98 New Bond Street
London
W1S 1DB
Date: 21st May 2003
Media: Direct mail
Sector: Employment
Complaint(s) from: Surrey
Complaint type: Public

Complaint
Objection to a direct mailing for an online casting agency. The mailing was headed "e-media-c and 2020 can get you in front of the BBC and Hollywood!" and continued "As you may be aware we work closely with your agent 2020 ... If you also want to be seen by the most influential people in the business, e-media-c is where you should be. We put you in front of the industry''s leading film-makers, broadcasters, producers and casting directors ... and now, thanks to groundbreaking partnerships with the BBC ... and new contacts in LA even Hollywood producers will be sourcing people like you through e-media-c. e-media-c''s clients span the entire business ... not just broadcast companies (the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, E4 etc), but also film production companies, photographic production companies, catalogue companies, retailers (like Marks and Spencer) and magazines (like Cosmopolitan) ... e-media-c is the only website for serious, professional artists ... Our standards are high. To subscribe, at a rate of just �35 for 1 year, please complete the enclosed registration form and send it to us". The complainant challenged the claims:

1. "groundbreaking partnerships with the BBC";

2. "thanks to ... new contacts in LA, even Hollywood producers will be sourcing people like you through e-media-c" and

3. "e-media-c is the only website for serious, professional artists".

Codes section: 3.1, 7.1, 8.1, 19.1, 19.2, 54.3

Adjudication
1. Complaint upheld
The advertisers stated that, in February 2003, the BBC signed a contract with e-media-c to have access to their website to source talent for their productions. They sent a copy of a letter from the Resource manager at BBC Creative Services; it was an acceptance of the advertisers'' offer of free access to the e-media-c service for one year, with an option to subscribe to the service after the trial period if it had proved successful. The Authority understood from the BBC that Creative Services was a small department within the BBC and that the advertisers'' offer of a year''s free access to their service was being used as a search tool in addition to its traditional methods of sourcing talent to see whether it had benefits. It noted the BBC had made no formal partnership agreement with the advertisers and did not have a contractual relationship with them. The Authority considered that the advertisement misleadingly implied that more than one BBC department would be using e-media-c; that the agreement was permanent, not on a free-trial basis; and that their relationship with the BBC was a partnership. The Authority concluded that the claim exaggerated the extent and nature of the advertisers'' relationship with the BBC and was likely to mislead. It asked the advertisers to remove the claim from future mailings.

2. Complaint upheld
The advertisers stated that, after an agreement between the British Film Commission in London and the British Film Office in Los Angeles, their artists would have the opportunity to be considered for US productions taking place in the UK. They sent a copy of an e-mail from a UK executive at the British Film Commission; it was an acceptance of the advertisers'' request to have a link placed on the Commission''s website. The Authority noted the e-mail was dated more than a week after the mailing had been sent. It considered that the advertisers'' submission did not demonstrate that the advertisers had a link with Hollywood producers but merely a connection with the British Film Commission and was concerned that the advertisement referred to an agreement that was not yet finalised. The Authority concluded that the claim was misleading and asked the advertisers to remove it from future mailings.

3. Complaint not upheld
The advertisers asserted that they were dedicated to providing a site that gave their clients a database of supporting artists who were serious and professional. They stated that they considered only people represented by a recognised agent were serious and professional. The advertisers pointed out that their indirect competitors did not impose such strict regulation and included on their websites supporting artists who did not have agent representation. The Authority noted that directly after the challenged claim the mailing stated "Every single person on our website is represented by a recognised agent ...". It considered that when read in context, the claim was likely to be understood by most readers to be the advertisers'' opinion and did not object to the claim.

Broadcasting discussion :: RE: BBC Worldwide close down 'trusted brand'...

Author: CliveHurst
Posted: Fri 18 Apr 2008, 19:15:47 (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 3

Thanks Tony!

I passed this story over to the Guardian last friday, 14th April...

But I have had a deafening silence from BBC Radio 4 'You & Yours'...

**;~))

Broadcasting discussion :: RE: BBC Worldwide close down 'trusted brand'...

Author: tonys
Posted: Fri 18 Apr 2008, 18:32:49 (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 3

More here
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/apr/18/digitalmedia.bbc

Broadcasting discussion :: RE: BBC Worldwide close down 'trusted brand'...

Author: tonys
Posted: Thu 17 Apr 2008, 11:19:18 (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 3

Here's the announcement of the closure
http://www.beeb.net/faq.html

Broadcasting discussion :: BBC Worldwide close down 'trusted brand'...

Author: CliveHurst
Subject: BBC Worldwide close down 'trusted brand'...
Posted: Tue 15 Apr 2008, 20:53:51 (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 3

The BBC have just announced they are closing their web/e-mail hosting down - from June this year. I too have had to change my beeb e-mail adress...

Thousands of others are also forced into the same situation. I've just done a Google search on beeb.net to see how many people are affected by the closure of their Internet service; it is quite staggering!!!

Here are just a few such websites affected, click:

http://townsleyb.members.beeb.net/llcs/
http://beebu3a.members.beeb.net/
http://coastguard.members.beeb.net/

According to my Google search results it could effect over 22,000 websites and even more e-mail addresses!!!

Beeb.net is for the public and clubs & societies, as per the sample links above. Remember some/many Beeb 'members' have printed their website/email addresses on stationary & publications etc, etc. It will cost them money; and it may take them a year - before they can change these details.

Well you can trust the BBC; or can you?

**;~))

Broadcasting discussion :: ITV regional news still underfunded

Author: tonys
Subject: ITV regional news still underfunded
Posted: Thu 10 Apr 2008, 21:35:07 (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 0

BECTU is strongly critical of ITV�s revised proposal for Regional News which is published today [3 April 2008].