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The UK Government's Digital Britain plans have hit another road block with the news, reported in the Guardian, that Siôn Simon, the Creative Industries Minister who was in charge of getting the legislation through parliament, is quitting to run for Mayor of Birmingham.

It's a strange example of 'brain-drain', with a successful minister aiming to take on a higher profile role, but in doing so potentially torpedoing the legislation that was set to lay out his legacy. But perhaps that is exactly what is going on - with the Tories claiming this shows the Labour plans to be in total disarray, and with Labour's response being... well, nothing really - perhaps Simon is getting out before a plan which has elicited controversy and attacks from all sides gets passed and pinned on him?

We'll see what announcements the DCMS makes on this, but with only a few months before an election, and the bill already having something of a hard time in the Lords, this might make its death knell.

(cc) by-nc-nd jordanmerrick/flickr

I'm sorry to have to inform you: we're not about to see a change in Digital Content as we know it tonight.

On what do I base this hypothesis? Well, the problem with those claiming that the iTablet (or whatever Apple will announce tonight) will redefine how people use digital content is the example of iTunes Music Store. They claim that Apple will do for newspapers and other content what they already did for music. The problem with this theory - or where the theory is absolutely correct - is that Apple HASN'T revolutionised music.

The music industry found itself with a problem. Suddenly the internet had allowed savvy users to get music without going through the traditional - paid - channels. Perhaps they'd never be persuaded again to pay for music rather than just nicking it? The industry was worried, but try as they might, they couldn't launch a music service that would entice their listeners to buy music online. Then along came iTunes and (the story goes) suddenly they'd all buy music again.

So, I'm back! Just finished a massively busy bit of time freelancing, as well as developing an interesting media tool myself, which I hope to be able to tell you more about soon. It's been much more hands on that I often have been in the past, so it's been fun to get really stuck in, and as is always important, learn lots of new stuff.

I'm going to try to be regular at updating the site, so do prod me if I fair to do so!

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Spike Jonze's / Vice video site VBS.tv has tweaked its look, and added full-length programming to its offering. The constantly refreshing, though sometimes variably entertaining site has always offered its youth audience an amazing range of programming, across the genres they love. With the addition of longer shows, they'll be aiming to keep viewers on the site for longer, though perhaps recognising that the age of engaged viewers heading straight to one site and watching short-video after short-video is over. This can only be to VBS.tv's advantage (since that one site used almost invariably to be YouTube), but means they need to be savvier about search, and address the fact that if viewers are heading to Hulu they won't be going anywhere else for half-an-hour.

Check the site out at VBS.tv and you're sure to find something to your liking - so persevere with digging it out.

(cc) by-nd Tim Loudon/flickr

The BBC is to launch a site that encourages users to take part in their new science show Bang Goes the Theory, NMA reports. By getting viewers to ask scientific questions, they hope to offer content that talks to their audiences concerns - tackling the usual complaint that science shows are either inaccessible or patronising. It's a wise move, given that these will be early-adopters, and also under-served in an online environment which promises information at their fingertips, but has struggled to match 'laymen' with experts.

This continues a trend towards 'soft-learning', where edutainment programming shies away from school-lesson style one-directional speeches, and enters a far more two-way, communicative realm.

Check it out next month!

(cc) by-nd Tim Loudon/flickr

The BBC's Simon Nelson (controller of multiplatform) has announced the corporation's intention to step up its web-only provision, rather than ploughing money primarily into programme support micro-sites, as has been the case in the past. With the aim of creating more content that 'doesn't need a tv', that means we should be seeing more stand-alone and essentially-interactive propositions.

There's been some great work towards this from the BBC in the past - Endemol's Signs of Life springs immediately to mind - but much of the BBC's content and views come from the obvious contenders: news and programme-support. Building a reputation as somewhere to go for new content that isn't associated with their tv or radio output won't be easy, but in these times the BBC, with its guaranteed revenue, certainly stands to make a big impact both within the UK and around the world.

(cc) by-sa shaz wildcat/flickr

ITV announced today that before the end of 2009 Michael Grade will step down as Chief Executive, becoming instead non-executive chairman of the group. Whilst not directly on-topic for Digital Content, the move does open the door for a significant indication of ITV's future intentions. Grade perhaps looks a little 'old media' for a company that has its eye firmly set on the expanding video markets in the digital and online spaces. If the next Chief Exec is a new media face (and there's talk of a few Google senior execs being in the picture) it will confirm the important of this sector to the company.

On the other hand, a more traditional media face might represent the notion that ITV will retrench as a solid, traditional media broadcaster and creator, seeking to establish itself firmly as a go-to brand for great content. Albeit one that will push strongly for product placement to feature in its commercial mix. In a sense, it's a little stuck-in-the-middle right now, so some clarity would be a good thing.

Some suggest that he was pushed out simply because his predictions - and his planning - hasn't worked out great for the company. I rather doubt this - and I don't think the City would be happy if this had happened with no names in the hat to replace him. I expect will hear sooner rather than later, if only through 'leaks', so that it isn't up in the air.

(cc) by-nd Tim Loudon/flickr

Big news (geddit?) as BBC releases new version of iPlayer, including programming in HD resolutions for the first time. The new service, available both as a streaming version and with the out-of-beta Adobe Air-based download version, allows (some) programming to be watched online in HD for the first time. For many viewers this will be the first opportunity to see BBC programming in the larger format. Though beware, your mileage may vary as HD video can be very processor and graphics-card intensive, so you might not have a computer - let alone a fast enough connection - to take full advantage.

It just shows how far internet video has come, that it has caught up with the latest broadcast technology - and hints to a future where you'll go online for the highest quality, and over-the-air broadcast will be the fallback for the last generation of viewing. Internet-enabled televisions to the ready!

(cc) by-nd henrybloomfield/flickr

ISBA, which represents the interests of the British advertising industry, has thrown its weight behind Project Canvas, the 'son-of-Kangaroo' next-gen Freeview boxes that will allow full video-on-demand and some interactivity. Essentially, they appear to believe that a commercial alternative is necessary to prevent the BBC's iPlayer becoming the only game in town for VOD (read: no advertising!). Whilst the BBC will be involved in the project, being a significant driver, (likely especially from the technology and development side), the project is a joint venture between them, ITV and BT (through its Vision department).

The concept still has to go through a review by the BBC Trust, and there's still the very real possibility of a Competition Commission review which will ask many of the same questions as they did about Project Kangaroo, so it's early days - but if it gets the go ahead the timeline is pretty quick, with an early 2010 launch posited.