BSkyB’s controversial acquisition of the live coverage rights to England’s test cricket matches has been given the green light by Ofcom following a consultation with the nation’s broadcasters and viewing public.Ofcom’s decision will allow BSkyB to broadcast exclusive coverage of test matches played in England in 2006-2009, while highlights of matches will be broadcast by… Continue reading Sky’s Cricket Deal Gets Thumbs Up As Five Scoops Highlights

Britain’s magazine industry faces a radical shake up following the Office of Fair Trading’s decision yesterday that its distribution arrangements were anti-competitive.The OFT ruled that existing distribution agreements are not compatible with existing competition law, a decision that could lead to a legal challenge from 1 May, when the Department of Trade and Industry’s vertical… Continue reading Magazine Distribution Faces Shakeup Over New Laws

Trinity Mirror has launched its second local newspaper in as many weeks, this time targeting the affluent South West Midlands region with a new paid-for weekly newspaper covering the Solihull and the Warwickshire areas.The Solihull & Warwickshire Guardian will provide local residents with an intelligent round-up of the week’s news every Thursday, available to buy… Continue reading Trinity Targets Affluent Midlanders With Paid-For Weekly

Terrestrial heavyweights ITV and Channel 4 look set to slug out the battle for Crown Castle’s remaining airspace on Freeview alone, after the broadcast firm left rivals out of the last round of applications for the licence.Reports this morning suggest that Crown Castle has invited the two broadcasters to expand upon their proposals for the… Continue reading ITV To Face Channel 4 Over Empty Freeview Slot

Consumer group Which? has launched the latest salvo in the battle against food advertising to children, calling to the Food Standards Agency to draw up guidelines on the use of cartoon characters to promote products to young audiences.The consumer watchdog points to the results of its recent study into the area, dubbed Shark Tales and… Continue reading Advertisers Slammed Over Cartoon Food Campaigns

The Wireless Group has ceased discussions with chairman and chief executive, Kelvin MacKenzie, over the possibility of a shareholder buy-out of the firm by a consortium of senior management figures.The talks between MacKenzie and TWG are understood to have ended after the outspoken radio chief lost the backing of a private equity group. However, the… Continue reading Wireless Group Halts Takeover Talks With MacKenzie

A direct mail campaign by Five, designed to promote the latest series of crime drama CSI with a fake Government dossier on a serial killer, has been rapped by the Advertising Standards Agency after 200 recipients complained that the mailout was offensive and distressing.The promotional “dossier”, containing photographs of fictional murder victims, a coroner’s report,… Continue reading Five Brought To Book Over Serial Killer Mailshot

The BBC has confirmed that Lorraine Heggessey, controller of BBC One, is to leave the corporation to become chief executive of independent production company, Talkback Thames.The move ends Heggessey’s five-year reign at BBC One, where she was responsible for commissioning numerous high-profile hits. Amongst her most successful signings were Blue Planet, Spooks, State of Play… Continue reading BBC One Boss Resigns To Head Talkback Thames

Guardian Media Group-owned JazzFM will disappear from London’s airwaves later this year as the company rebrands its station as Smooth FM order to appeal to a wider audience of listeners and boost its weekly reach.The move follows the success of Smooth FM in the north west, which was rebranded from JazzFM last March. The London-based… Continue reading GMG Drops JazzFM Brand To Smooth Over Audience Woes

Billboard advertising across the Tyne & Wear Metro system will be handled by Viacom Outdoor from next month, as the company scoops the previously in-house contract to operate poster sites across the network’s 57 stations.The deal, worth £10 million over the next five years, was awarded to Viacom by Metro network operator, Nexus, which is… Continue reading Viacom Scoops Tyne & Wear Metro Contract