BBC's Blog, page 32
November 2, 2012
Developer refreshed
A high level view of the development process
Hi, I'm Chris Harrod, and I work within the Online Technology Group of BBC Online.
I have been involved in making some improvements to the look, feel and navigation of Developer the website that provides information about how to develop for the BBC. Developer gives you the first steps towards access to the BBC's back end systems, the platform on which much of our online technology is built, and the tools we use to build our web applications and delivery systems.
While a lot of people know the BBC web offerings as a place to consume content - sites such as BBC iPlayer, Sport and News - we also encourage some coders to interact directly with our systems. Therefore we have had a number of initiatives such as Backstage, and the Connected Studio, where developers can use our Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to mash up our content into new and pleasing formats.
As Ralph Riviera said in his presentation at the BBC Online Briefing last year we are also contributing to the whole ecosystem of technical and media companies in this field. We open source much of our code, expose our data via APIs, and encourage independant software development houses to work with us on projects.
On the commercial side of things the BBC has an established model of engagement for commissioning from external suppliers, and the BBC has an established model of engagement for employing freelancers. We have designed our back end services to facilitate this model; after signing a company non-disclosure agreement, developers are granted access to our documentation, code repositories, templating, testing and deployment systems via digital certificates. Thus it is now possible work for the BBC while sitting in a sunlounger in the Bahamas, armed with only a laptop, a wireless connection and a head full of ideas.
The refreshed and redesigned www.bbc.co.uk/developer site covers off some of our supporting technologies, aspects of the platform technology (dynamic content delivery system based on a modified LAMPs stack - Linux (RHEL), Apache, MySQL and PHP, with no direct connection between the PHP and database layers, to be specific) and our delivery standards.
So if you have developed for the BBC in the past, or are thinking about the possibilities of writing applications to dynamically deliver content to the web have a look at /developer.
I'd welcome your comments on the refreshed site.
Chris Harrod is Technical Writer, Online Technology Group, BBC Future Media
October 26, 2012
What's On BBC Red Button 27th October - 3rd November
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Michaela Strachan, Chris Packham and Martin Hughes-Games
Autumnwatch
A new series of Autumnwatch returns shortly to BBC Two but launches first on Red Button on Sunday 28th October.
Join the team as they stake out live in the Scottish Highlands, hoping to spot beavers, pine martens, red squirrels and lots of other local wildlife. Between 7am and midnight, we'll have live commentary on our live cameras from broadcasters and wildlife experts Chris Sperring and Euan McIlwraith, with text commentary running through the night.
When Red Button makes way for other programmes, you can continue to watch all the action 24 hours a day at bbc.co.uk/autumnwatch until the close on Friday 2nd November.
For more information visit Autumnwatch Freesat/Sky/Virgin Media/Freeview:
Sun 28th October, 7:00pm-7:55pm, 9:00pm-9:55pm
Mon 29th October, 6:00am-1:25am
Tue 30th October, 4:30am-6:00am, 6:00am-10:00pm
Wed 31st October, 4:00am-6:00am, 6:00am-7:30pm, 10:00pm-6:00am
Thu 1st November, 6:00am-6:00am
Fri 2nd November, 6:00am-7:55am, 10:35am-11:55am, 9:00pm-10:30pm
Invaded Extra
CBBC's been invaded! Press red on the CBBC channel this week and join Chris and Dodge T. Dog as they introduce an Invaded Extra special - all about the brand new CBBC show Wizards Vs. Aliens, and the new series of Young Dracula! Watch a behind-the-scenes tour of the Wizards Vs. Aliens set, and get the lowdown on the new show's characters. Plus we have some CBBC Extra-style sneak peek clips from the new episodes of CBBC favourite, Young Dracula.
As always you can also read Chris and Dodge's blog, check out the answers to some of your questions, read your horoscopes and see if the jokes that made Chris and Dodge LOL will have the same effect on you.
Go on, press red... You know you want to!
Available on all platforms
Freesat/Sky/Virgin Media/Freeview:
Sat 3rd November, 11:05am-12:10pm
Antiques Roadshow Play Along
Fancy yourself as an armchair antiques expert? Demonstrate your knowledge by playing along with Antiques Roadshow. Our new valuation game launched with the start of this new series. It's simple, fun and free to play. All you have to do is consider each of the objects featured in the programme, select an option before our experts give their valuation and see how many you get right.
Play along with the BBC One programme by pressing red and using the colour buttons on your remote control to select a value. Will you be a novice, enthusiast, connoisseur or expert? Play along to find out and tweet your scores to #antiquesroadshow.
Available on Sky/Freeview
Sun 28th October, 8:00pm-9:00pm
Strictly Come Dancing
[image error]
Press your red button to join former
Strictly champion and professional dancer Karen Hardy with celebrity friend Larry Lamb as they commentate live on the couples' performances. Expect a mixture of insight and irreverence as they give you the heads up on who's hot and who's not on the dancefloor before the judges have their say.
Available on all platforms:
Sat 27th October, 6:30pm-8:20pm
Sat 3rd November, 6:30pm-8:15pm
Dragons' Den
[image error]
Duncan Bannatyne
It's a new series and a new raft of keen entrepreneurs are about to enter the Den and make a pitch for an investment that could make their business - and change their lives.
Here on the Red Button we get to peek behind the scenes and get the inside story on the investments made in the Den each week. What attracted the Dragons to the business? What did the other Dragons make of the deals? And why did the entrepreneurs take the deal they did in the Den?
Available on all platforms
Freesat/Sky/Virgin Media/Freeview:
Sun 28th October, 9:55pm-11:00pm
Wed 31st October, 12:00am-4:00am
Fri 2nd November, 10:30pm-4:00am
CBeebies Red Button
BBC Red Button welcomes younger viewers and grown-ups with a sense of adventure to the big, bright and fun world of CBeebies interactive!
Your children's favourite characters are at the heart of the interactive TV experience. Satellite and digital terrestrial viewers will have slightly different offerings
from one another. This has enabled the Red Button team to offer the best games tailored to each system.
CBeebies Red Button is available on the CBeebies channel, and via page 5900 on other channels.
Available on Freeview and Sky only
BBC Sport
Catch up on all the latest Sport via the BBC Red Button.
Please note that Red Button sport timings are subject to change at short notice.
For the latest information refer to the BBC Sport website.
Highlights
Australian MotoGP. Live coverage of Moto2 and Moto3 races from Philip Island.
American Football: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers.
Rugby Union: Scrum V - live coverage of Cardiff Blues v Munster from Arms Park with audio options.
**Note all Red Button times are subject to change at short notice
What's On BBC Red Button 27th October - 2nd November
[image error]
Michaela Strachan, Chris Packham and Martin Hughes-Games
Autumnwatch
A new series of Autumnwatch returns shortly to BBC Two but launches first on Red Button on Sunday 28th October.
Join the team as they stake out live in the Scottish Highlands, hoping to spot beavers, pine martens, red squirrels and lots of other local wildlife. Between 7am and midnight, we'll have live commentary on our live cameras from broadcasters and wildlife experts Chris Sperring and Euan McIlwraith, with text commentary running through the night.
When Red Button makes way for other programmes, you can continue to watch all the action 24 hours a day at bbc.co.uk/autumnwatch until the close on Friday 2nd November.
For more information visit Autumnwatch Freesat/Sky/Virgin Media/Freeview:
Sun 28th October, 7:00pm-7:55pm, 9:00pm-9:55pm
Mon 29th October, 6:00am-1:25am
Tue 30th October, 4:30am-6:00am, 6:00am-10:00pm
Wed 31st October, 4:00am-6:00am, 6:00am-7:30pm, 10:00pm-6:00am
Thu 1st November, 6:00am-6:00am
Fri 2nd November, 6:00am-7:55am, 10:35am-11:55am, 9:00pm-10:30pm
Antiques Roadshow Play Along
Fancy yourself as an armchair antiques expert? Demonstrate your knowledge by playing along with Antiques Roadshow. Our new valuation game launched with the start of this new series. It's simple, fun and free to play. All you have to do is consider each of the objects featured in the programme, select an option before our experts give their valuation and see how many you get right.
Play along with the BBC One programme by pressing red and using the colour buttons on your remote control to select a value. Will you be a novice, enthusiast, connoisseur or expert? Play along to find out and tweet your scores to #antiquesroadshow.
Available on Sky/Freeview
Sun 28th October, 8:00pm-9:00pm
Strictly Come Dancing
[image error]
Press your red button to join former
Strictly champion and professional dancer Karen Hardy with celebrity friend Larry Lamb as they commentate live on the couples' performances. Expect a mixture of insight and irreverence as they give you the heads up on who's hot and who's not on the dancefloor before the judges have their say.
Available on all platforms:
Sat 27th October, 6:30pm-8:20pm
Dragons' Den
[image error]
Duncan Bannatyne
It's a new series and a new raft of keen entrepreneurs are about to enter the Den and make a pitch for an investment that could make their business - and change their lives.
Here on the Red Button we get to peek behind the scenes and get the inside story on the investments made in the Den each week. What attracted the Dragons to the business? What did the other Dragons make of the deals? And why did the entrepreneurs take the deal they did in the Den?
Available on all platforms
Freesat/Sky/Virgin Media/Freeview:
Sun 28th October, 9:55pm-11:00pm
Wed 31st October, 12:00am-4:00am
Fri 2nd November, 10:30pm-4:00am
CBeebies Red Button
BBC Red Button welcomes younger viewers and grown-ups with a sense of adventure to the big, bright and fun world of CBeebies interactive!
Your children's favourite characters are at the heart of the interactive TV experience. Satellite and digital terrestrial viewers will have slightly different offerings
from one another. This has enabled the Red Button team to offer the best games tailored to each system.
CBeebies Red Button is available on the CBeebies channel, and via page 5900 on other channels.
Available on Freeview and Sky only
BBC Sport
Catch up on all the latest Sport via the BBC Red Button.
Please note that Red Button sport timings are subject to change at short notice.
For the latest information refer to the BBC Sport website.
Highlights
Australian MotoGP. Live coverage of Moto2 and Moto3 races from Philip Island.
American Football: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers.
Rugby Union: Scrum V - live coverage of Cardiff Blues v Munster from Arms Park with audio options.
**Note all Red Button times are subject to change at short notice
Presentations from Audio & Music event for independent suppliers
A slide from the presentation. The full version is available on the BBC Commissioning website
At our recent A&M Online Event for independent suppliers on October 12th, I shared our strategy for the BBC's radio and music online service and how we go about delivering this working with external suppliers.
It was a great opportunity for us to look at the launch and future of iPlayer Radio and share insights with each other. We had the following speakers:
• Barbara Greenway on the process for winning commissions
• Ben Chapman on popular music sites and events
• Andrew Caspari on classical music and speech radio sites
• Andrew Scott on how to work with BBC technology teams
• Harry Cummings from Softwire on their experience of working with the BBC, warts 'n' all.
The presentations can be found on the BBC commissioning website.
It was fantastic that so many independent companies gave their time to come and share experiences. It helps us to improve our approach to commissioning and managing independent companies and to share our plans for the future.
I hope if you were there you found the event useful, and if you weren't you'll find the presentations stimulating.
Mark Friend is Controller, BBC Audio & Music Interactive
Five interesting stories: BBC Trust review of BBC Online and BBC Red Button
Have your say on the service review of BBC Online and BBC Red Button at the BBC Trust's website
It's been a while since the last round up on the blog, but some things are too important not to bring to your attention:
1. BBC Trust service review: BBC Online and BBC Red Button
The BBC Trust has launched a public consultation as part of its' review of BBC Online and BBC Red Button.
There's a "commentary" written by Suzanna Taverne the trustee who is steering the review. Quote:
"How, for instance, can BBC Online News best serve audiences in the age of Twitter? How can BBC Online help connect audiences around its best drama or factual programmes? What creative or editorial opportunities does the BBC's presence on a range of screens offer journalists or programme makers?"
BBC News also has the story. The consultation runs until 23rd January next year and you can send your response through the BBC Trust's website.
For those who like to wander down memory lane, here's two round ups of reaction to the last review way back in 2008, one curated by Jem Stone, the other by me.
2. BBC News: responsive design on mobiles
Steve Herrmann explains some updates to BBC News mobile site on the Editors blog. The sites were built using "responsive design". Steve also responds to some comments:
"Jesse Moore - HTC: We know there are some devices that are incorrectly classified by our systems, often due to the fact that some devices have different identifiers dependent on the mobile network they are on. In any case we will certainly be doing everything we can to correct errors and ensure the redirection behaves as it should. In the meantime, please use the "Mobile Site" link at the foot of the page should you wish to use the mobile site - the selection will be remembered as long as cookies are not cleared. At this time the redirect only applies to the BBC Homepage and the News site."
EConsultancy has an in depth look at the new site:
"The video content looks great, but it does take a while to load using 3G. Also, you have to click the play button twice - once to load the content and once to start the video - which is a bit of a pain as it isn't made obvious."
3. Media Player Updates for Android
Both Techwatch and Geeky Gadgets report some updates to the BBC Media Player for Android phones.
Chris Yanda's blog post about the Media Player is still open for your comments.
4. Research and Development: Invisibility Cloak!
Over on the BBC R&D blog Rosie Campell tells of her visit to Teen Tech Coventry:
"As always, our 'invisibility cloak' was an instant hit. With gradual prompting, most students were able to piece together how it worked - combining their knowledge of blue/green screens with the fact that the camera was surrounded by blue LEDs and the fact that there was something special about the cloak material - it is retroreflective cloth."
Rosie incidentally is one of the BBC Future Media ambassadors.
5. Goodbye Ceefax
Gizmag is among those saying goodbye:
"The passing of Ceefax is also the passing of an age when being able to see headlines of breaking stories and getting the weather forecast on demand was like something out of the future. We now live in a world where the latest information on anything from world events to showbiz trivia is no further away than a smartphone..."
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Goodbye Ceefax
Nick Reynolds is Public Accountability Executive, BBC Online
October 22, 2012
Connected Studio: Sport innovation brief now live
Two participants in a Connected Studio event in MediaCityUK in Salford earlier this year
So after my last post where I shared a few lines on each of the current pilots, it's back to business as usual for the Connected Studio team.
A number of teams have just been selected to come back for the UX&D Build studio next week. The CBBC judging will take place this week to decide which concepts go forward to piloting. Both were / will be really difficult decisions given range and quality of concepts. We will blog updates about both of these in next few weeks.
This post is to share our big news is that with a month to go before the BBC Sport Creative Studio on November 21 in Salford, the BBC Sport Innovation Brief is now live and ready for you to get your teeth into - the key headlines being:
• With the use of data - how do we make armchair fans even more interested/ informed/ excited/ engaged in major sporting events like the Winter Olympics, Commonwealth Games, World Cup and Wimbledon in 2014?
• Atmosphere is a big motive for audiences attending live sports events but what is the digital equivalent?
• If fans were in control of BBC Sport Online, what would they do with the product?
What the brief also highlights is the broad split in our Audience with 'Sports fans' having a prime interest in one sport, with the 'main eventers' focusing more on our coverage of Wimbledon and the World Cup etc. What they do have in common though is their enjoyment of live content, something that the Sports product team are very keen on us exploring in this Connected Studio.
As ever, the BBC Connected Studio is open to applications from anyone in the field, and is not closed to those who work in the delivery of the BBC Sport digital product. However, we are expecting a lot of interest in this Creative Studio, so when you apply please take extra time to think about the example of your previous work you send us and make it as relevant to the brief and subject as possible.
With all this in mind, have a good read of the brief and if you have not done so before head to our website for further information, dates and FAQs. Then if you want to attend look at the details on how to get involved and send an email.
Adrian Woolard is Programme Lead, BBC Connected Studio
October 19, 2012
What's On BBC Red Button 20th - 27th October
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Red Button Changes
The video component of BBC Red Button on Sky, FreeSat and Virgin Media has been reduced from five to one stream, bringing it in line with the BBC's Freeview offer. We are doing this because these services rely entirely on linear broadcast technologies, which are not cost-effective for an interactive service like the red button.
This change in no way signals the demise of BBC Red Button. The BBC is committed to maintaining a vibrant and popular red button service. 20 million people a month press red on the BBC and our ambition is to develop the service and increase the size of our audience.
To find out more about the changes and the BBC's plans for the future of Red Button, which includes Connected Red Button, visit the BBC Internet Blog and the BBC's Red Button help pages
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Nish Kumar
Fresh from the Fringe
Jason Cook (writer and star of BBC Two's new sitcom Hebburn) hosts a showcase of the best new acts from the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe. Featuring stand-up from Nish Kumar, Celia Pacquola and Dan Schreiber, character comedy from Kieran Hodgson and music from Jonny & The Baptists and Mae Martin.
This new programme brings the funniest, brightest and most exciting new comedy acts from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe directly to BBC Radio 4 and red button audiences. Acts have been chosen from this year's performers, including those taking part via the Free Fringe schemes.
The programme was recorded at the BBC Radio Theatre, Broadcasting House. The red button show includes irreverent interviews from each act, to introduce them to the viewing public - some for the very first time.
To find out more go to BBC Radio 4 Fresh from the Fringe Available on all platforms Freesat/Sky/Virgin Media/Freeview:
Mon 22nd October, 7:00pm-12:15am
Tue 23rd October, 4:30am-6:00am, 6:00am-10:00pm
Wed 24th October, 3:00pm-7:30pm, 10:00pm-6:00am
Thu 25th October, 6:00am-6:00am
Fri 26th October, 6:00am-12:00pm, 5:00pm-7:00pm, 9:00pm-3:55am
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Maddy (Aimee Kelly) and Rhydian (Bobby Lockwood)
CBBC: Wolfblood Extra
Press red from 20th October to join Chris and Dodge T. Dog as they guide you through a totally top-drawer CBBC Wolfblood Extra special!
Hacker goes behind-the-scenes on the Wolfblood set, we find out all about Maddy's "fang-tastic" makeup routine, the Three Ks drop-by Dodge's kennel, and Chris and Dodge warm up their tonsils as they sing their very own Wolfblood song!
Plus you can read Chris and Dodge's blog, check out the answers to some of your questions, read your horoscopes and see if the jokes that made Chris and Dodge LOL will have the same effect on you.
Go on, press red... You know you want to!
Available on all platforms
Freesat/Sky/Virgin Media/Freeview:
Sat 20th October, 9:05am-2:30pm
Sun 21st October, 10:30am-6:00pm
Mon 22nd October, 7:00am-7:00pm
Antiques Roadshow Play Along
[image error]
Fiona Bruce
Fancy yourself as an armchair antiques expert? Demonstrate your knowledge by playing along with Antiques Roadshow. Our new valuation game launched with the start of this new series. It's simple, fun and free to play. All you have to do is consider each of the objects featured in the programme, select an option before our experts give their valuation and see how many you get right.
Play along with the BBC One programme by pressing red and using the colour buttons on your remote control to select a value. Will you be a novice, enthusiast, connoisseur or expert? Play along to find out and tweet your scores to #antiquesroadshow
Available on Sky/Freeview
Sun 21st October, 8:00pm-9:00pm
Strictly Come Dancing
[image error]
Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly
Press your red button to join former Strictly champion and professional dancer Karen Hardy with celebrity friend Katy Brand as they commentate live on the couples' performances. Expect a mixture of insight and irreverence as they give you the heads up on who's hot and who's not on the dancefloor before the judges have their say.
Available on all platforms:
Sat 20th October, 6:30pm-8:25pm
Dragons' Den
(L-R) Duncan Bannatyne, Hilary Devey, Theo Paphitis, Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones
It's a new series and a new raft of keen entrepreneurs are about to enter the Den and make a pitch for an investment that could make their business - and change their lives.
Here on the Red Button we get to peek behind the scenes and get the inside story on the investments made in the Den each week. What attracted the Dragons to the business? What did the other Dragons make of the deals? And why did the entrepreneurs take the deal they did in the Den?
Available on all platforms Freesat/Sky/Virgin Media/Freeview:
Sun 21st October, 9:55pm-4:00am
Tue 23rd October, 12:15am-1:25am
CBeebies Red Button
BBC Red Button welcomes younger viewers and grown-ups with a sense of adventure to the big, bright and fun world of CBeebies interactive!
Your children's favourite characters are at the heart of the interactive TV experience. Satellite and digital terrestrial viewers will have slightly different offerings from one another. This has enabled the Red Button team to offer the best games tailored to each system.
CBeebies Red Button is available on the CBeebies channel, and via page 5900 on other channels.
Available on Freeview and Sky only
BBC Sport
Catch up on all the latest Sport via the BBC Red Button.
Please note that Red Button sport timings are subject to change at short notice.
For the latest information refer to the BBC Sport website.
Highlights
World Triathlon: Highlights of the men's and women's races from Auckland.
American Football: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions.
Rugby Union: Scrum V - Newport-Gwent Dragons v Ulster.
**Note all Red Button times are subject to change at short notice
October 12, 2012
What's On BBC Red Button 13th - 20th October
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Red Button Changes
On 15th October the video component of BBC Red Button on Sky, FreeSat and Virgin Media will be reduced from five to one stream, bringing it in line with the BBC's Freeview offer. We are
doing this because these services rely entirely on linear broadcast technologies, which are not cost-effective for an interactive service like the red button.
This change in no way signals the demise of BBC Red Button. The BBC is committed to maintaining a vibrant and popular red button service. 20 million people a month press red on the BBC and our ambition is to develop the service and increase the size of our audience.
To find out more about the changes and the BBC's plans for the future of Red Button, which includes Connected Red Button, visit the
BBC Internet Blog and the
BBC's Red Button help pages
CBBC: Big Fab Extra
If you press red on your telly remote from Saturday 13th October onwards you can join superstars Chris Yonko Johnson and Dodge T. Dog for Big Fab Extra. Watch clips from your favourite Big Fab Friday shows including The Revolting World Of Stanley Brown and 12 Again. You can even check out what happened when
Chris went behind the scenes of Dick and Dom's Hoopla!
And that's not all, you'll still be able to read Chris and Dodge's blog, see their answers to your questions, and check out the jokes that made Chris and Dodge LOL on CBBC Extra!
Well what are you waiting for? Press red now!
Available on all platforms
Freesat/Sky/Virgin Media:
Sat 13th October, 7:00am-6:00pm
Sun 14th October, 9:30am-7:50pm
Mon 15th October, 7:00am-10:00am
Tue 16th October, 7:00am-7:30pm
Wed 17th October, 7:00am-7:30pm
Thu 18th October, 11:00am-7:30pm
Fri 19th October, 7:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-8:00pm
Freeview:
Sat 13th October, 8:15am-2:20pm
Sun 14th October, 10:25am-3:50pm
Mon 15th October, 7:00am-10:00am
Tue 16th October, 7:00am-7:30pm
Wed 17th October, 7:00am-7:30pm
Thu 18th October, 11:00am-7:30pm
Fri 19th October, 7:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-8:00pm
[image error]
Maddy (Aimee Kelly) and Rhydian (Bobby Lockwood)
CBBC: Wolfblood Extra
Press red from 20th October to join Chris and Dodge T. Dog as they guide you through a totally top-drawer CBBC Wolfblood Extra special!
Hacker goes behind-the-scenes on the Wolfblood set, we find out all about Maddy's "fang-tastic" makeup routine, the Three Ks drop-by Dodge's kennel, and Chris and Dodge warm up their tonsils as they sing their very own Wolfblood song!
Plus you can read Chris and Dodge's blog, check out the answers to some of your questions, read your horoscopes and see if the jokes that made Chris and Dodge LOL will have the same effect on you.
Go on, press red... You know you want to!
Available on all platforms
Freesat/Sky/Virgin Media:
Sat 20th October, 9:05am-2:30pm
Freeview:
Sat 20th October, 9:05am-2:30pm
Antiques Roadshow Play Along
[image error]
Fiona Bruce
Fancy yourself as an armchair antiques expert? Demonstrate your knowledge by playing along with Antiques Roadshow. Our new valuation game launched with the start of this new series. It's simple, fun and free to play. All you have to do is consider each of the objects featured in the programme, select an option before our experts give their valuation and see how many you get right.
Play along with the BBC One programme by pressing red and using the colour buttons on your remote control to select a value. Will you be a novice, enthusiast, connoisseur or expert? Play along to find out!
Available on Sky/Freeview
Sun 14th October, 8:30pm-9:30pm
Strictly Come Dancing
[image error]
Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly
Press your red button to join former
Strictly champion and professional dancer Karen Hardy with celebrity friend Rufus Hound as they commentate live on the couples' performances. Expect a mixture of insight and irreverence as they give you the heads up on who's hot and who's not on the dancefloor before the judges have their say.
Available on all platforms:
Sat 13th October, 6:30pm-8:25pm
Sat 20th October, 6:30pm-8:25pm
Dragons' Den
(L-R) Duncan Bannatyne, Hilary Devey, Theo Paphitis, Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones
It's a new series and a new raft of keen entrepreneurs are about to enter the Den and make a pitch for an investment that could make their business - and change their lives.
Here on the Red Button we get to peek behind the scenes and get the inside story on the investments made in the Den each week. What attracted the Dragons to the business? What did the other Dragons make of the deals? And why did the entrepreneurs take the deal they did in the Den?
Available on all platforms
Freesat/Sky/Virgin Media:
Sat 13th October, 7:00pm-4:00am
Sun 14th October, 10:25pm-4:00am
Tue 16th October, 12:15am-1:25am
Thu 18th October, 7:30pm-4:00am
Freeview:
Sun 14th October, 10:25pm-11:50pm
Tue 16th October, 12:15am-1:25am
Thu 18th October, 7:30pm-4:00am
CBeebies Red Button
BBC Red Button welcomes younger viewers and grown-ups with a sense of adventure to the big, bright and fun world of CBeebies interactive!
Your children's favourite characters are at the heart of the interactive TV experience. Satellite and digital terrestrial viewers will have slightly different offerings
from one another. This has enabled the Red Button team to offer the best games tailored to each system.
CBeebies Red Button is available on the CBeebies channel, and via page 5900 on other channels.
Available on Freeview and Sky only
BBC Sport
Catch up on all the latest Sport via the BBC Red Button.
Please note that Red Button sport timings are subject to change at short notice.
For the latest information refer to the BBC Sport website.
Highlights
Formula 1 Forum - Jake Humphrey and guests present extended coverage of the Korean Grand Prix.
American Football - San Diego Chargers at the Denver Broncos.
**Note all Red Button times are subject to change at short notice
October 11, 2012
BBC Future Media Ambassadors
I'm Karl Burnett, HR Director for BBC Future Media, the division responsible for delivering the BBC's digital products.
The Olympics was a huge success for our division. BBC iPlayer smashed records with 200m viewing requests in August and a record number of browsers visited BBC Sport Online during the Games - 55 million (global) and 37 million (UK).
However what we achieved this summer is now the baseline of what we expect from our teams. We want to drive forward and build on the technological legacy we've created. To do this we need to keep on attracting and recruiting top talent.
Despite all the recognition the BBC got for delivering the first truly digital Olympics, our research shows that the name Future Media isn't well known; it's nowhere near as prolific as Google or Microsoft.
Furthermore, we know that 80% of job seekers are passive, they're not actively looking for a new job but like to know what's out there. We need to tap into this pool of candidates who are happy in their present job because often they are the most talented people.
One of the ways we're going to tackle this challenge is through the power of social networking. We've created a Facebook page called Inside BBC Future Media.
While the central Resourcing team will post updates around our corporate press releases, the majority of the content will be created and posted by our Ambassadors, members of staff who really know what it's like to work here. If you're interested in joining Future Media (whether that's now or in the future) you'll probably want to know about the people, the working environment and the benefits. This is far more genuine coming from our staff than the Recruitment team. We've also installed an app which allows you to apply for jobs from the page so that our content and jobs are integrated into one space.
We'll be asking our Ambassadors to tweet about work from their own Twitter accounts too. We envisage that among their followers will be people with similar interests and skill sets so we want to tap into this network. We've set up a Twitter account called @InsideBBCFM which tweets jobs automatically and will be used for retweeting great content from our staff and live tweeting at events.
Our LinkedIn Group has been set up with a view to stimulating discussion around projects that are going on inside Future Media but also conversations about the wider industry. Again, we have a jobs tab set up so that the content complements the job openings.
As well as being Ambassadors online, we want to encourage our staff to talk at external events. Meet-ups and conferences are a perfect place to showcase what we do to future talent and let them know that we're hiring. You may also find them writing here on the BBC Internet blog.
Thursday 11th October is the official launch of our Ambassador programme. We've invited staff who registered an interest when they completed our social media survey but hope to get more and more people involved over the coming months. We'll be demoing our channels, talking them through social media guidelines and giving them a flavour of the kind of content we'd like them to make.
Karl Burnett is HR Director, BBC Future Media
October 9, 2012
Connected Studio: the first pilots
The ideas wall at a recent Connected Studio event
As we enter the autumn and Connected Studio starts its next wave of Studio events, I'd like to bring you up to date with the first 10 concepts that have been selected to be developed into functional pilots. The following were all pitched at the first three Creative Studio events held earlier this year - HPSN, Weather & Travel and CBeebies.
Before we get into the detail I just want to state a little disclaimer that these all are working titles, and in various early stages of development. The concepts are not necessarily going to become future products and their pilots will be testing certain key unknowns - some of which will be going through user testing.
So without further ado I am pleased to announce the following:
Connected Studio One: Homepage, Search & Navigation
BBC Genius - Kent Lyons
A one click personalised view of the BBC based on your browsing history. BBC Genius provides users a service that allows personalisation the BBC Home page based upon their browsing history across multiple devices. By scanning the user's history of BBC services, BBC Genius provides a personally defined home page with content dependant on the amount of time a user has visited different sections of bbc.co.uk offering a tailored page pertinent to every user.
BBC Now! - Red Badger
'BBC Now!' offers a dynamic updating element to the homepage to encourage the audience to discover new and latest content in real time.
A vision of a Homepage that is more dynamic, updating in real time so that users don't have to leave the Homepage to see new content. The longer users spend on the Homepage, the more they will 'discover' what it has to offer. The future of this would provide automated personalisation and surface content more relevant to the user without the user having to manually personalise.
BBC Pocket Page - BBC internal team led by Fiona Iglesias
The Pocket Page pilot will create a compact version of the BBC homepage - a Pocket Page.
Presented in a "block" that can be embedded on any third party webpage, the Pocket Page will be populated with BBC content chosen specifically to support the topic or theme of the host page.
Website owners will be able to configure Pocket Page to 'fit' their own site. They will be able to choose how the 'block' looks ie the number of results per slide and the number of slides as well as the type of content to be shown
BBC Wander Wall - Goss Interactive
The Wander Wall focuses on the user experience of a 4 way scroller, infinite scroll and hover to be used on the homepages of an extended programme such as Strictly Come Dancing or events like Sports Personality of the Year and Glastonbury.
Connected Studio Two: Weather & Travel
Weatherbot - Nixon McInnes partnering with BBC internal team
A personal forecast, on demand, by sending a tweet or direct message to @bbcweatherbot
Users can request a personal forecast for a particular time and place by sending a tweet to @bbcweatherbot. The user receives the forecast via a tweet
Weather application giving real time geo-located reports based upon UK location or venue
A crowd sourced weather application showing a simple weather forecast, and real time geo-located weather reports from real users, so that you can find weather right now at any UK location or venue.
Connected Studio Three: CBeebies
"Are we there yet?" Journey App - Aardman Animations & Profero
Are we there yet?" A mobile application that delivers a contextually relevant and compelling CBeebies experience to be consumed during a car or train journey.
A collaborative mobile app for parents/carers that transforms car journeys into adventures made up of contextually relevant CBeebies songs, stories, games and radio content.
The Playguide - Mudlark, Dean Vipond, Tom Morgan
The Playguide is a way for grown-ups to understand how children use CBeebies, and help them tailor a child's development.
It enables them to learn about the child's use of CBeebies and what that means in terms of skills. By feeding back a child's activity to a grown-up in real time it provides a simple, clear and understandable summary. From this the parent is given a way of guiding the child's activity, shaping the experience without dictating it. It provides the opportunity to create playlists based upon likes, loves and development aims.
CMeebies - Animated Yorkshire, Thought Den, We Are Thought Fox & BBC Internal
A CMeebie is a digital CBeebies friend app that goes with you across all 4 screens and beyond....
Think of your CMeebie as a much-loved toy or invisible friend in the guise of a favourite CBeebies character. It's a companion guiding you to the website, finding the stuff you like and showing you new stuff that you might like and it's a friend that plays with you and sets you challenges via a mobile app.
Playroom - Codegent, Everyday is like Sundae & BBC internal team
Playroom is a place where children and their parents, can discover curate and create content around CBeebies brands that they love. Playroom offers the opportunity for children to add elements to an online 'Toy Box' from in and around the CBeebies sites in the form of bookmarking. The Playroom 'Toy Box' provided children a space they can save their favourite features of their CBeebies brands within their highly personalised space - a space that is shared by child and grown up, where voice recognition can be utilised by the parent to make them a greater part of the experience.
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Scribbling on the Connected Studio ideas wall
As the first slate of pilots, I am very proud that these ten are now progressing towards piloting & testing. Not all will prove viable but we are confident a number of these will make it into BBC Online within the next 6 months.
We have been blown away by the creative and technical skills that all of the attendees have shown to date and what can be achieved in such a short amount of time. I am particularly excited by the openness of a range of companies and individuals who have agreed to collaborate together to develop a joint concept- in many cases without ever meeting before the Studio. This desire and flexibility to combine skills and passions is a bonus - particularly when we have matched BBC staff with externals.
Finally, I am sure that a number of you reading this will think "I can do better than that", "that isn't innovative", "that won't work" or "I had that idea five years ago" which are all fair comments and are part of the challenge of innovation but I'd encourage you to sign up to future events to come and do better!
The studio is OPEN TO ALL creative technologists, freelancers, editorial producers, technology start-ups, digital agencies, designers, coders, inventors; all from inside and outside the BBC. See you there.
Adrian Woolard is Programme Lead, BBC Connected Studio
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