The BBC has quashed rumours that it is planning to sell off its magazine publishing unit following attempts by former director general Greg Dyke to secure venture partners to purchase the division.With the prospect of charter review looming large on the horizon and with increasing criticism of its commercial activities, the BBC could be forgiven… Continue reading BBC Magazines Denies Sell Off Ahead Of Charter Review

ITV could face a deficit of around £100 million in revenue as big-brand advertisers seek to negotiate more competitive deals following the broadcaster’s recent decline in audience share.The loss could hit ITV as a result of the contract rights renewal scheme introduced to prevent the newly merged broadcaster from monopolising the market for airtime sales.… Continue reading Dip In Share Leaves ITV Facing Revenue Shortfall

Capital Radio’s London based indie music station Xfm has signed as the exclusive radio sponsor of MxKenzie Group’s Academy music venues in Brixton, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool and Islington.The deal will see the venues carry permanent Xfm branding and promotional merchandise as well as being used for the station’s many live music sessions. Xfm will… Continue reading XFM Signs As Academy Sponsor For Three Years

Direct mail gaffes are far less likely to cause serious brand damage than mistakes through other forms of advertising, according to the latest research from market data firm Marketscan.The research asked marketing professionals from the country’s top 1000 companies to quantify the risk of brand damage by badly executed or poor taste advertising. Common blunders… Continue reading Direct Mail A Low Risk Option For Advertisers

The Daily Mail & General Trust revealed a positive set of interim results today with rises in both profits and advertising revenue, but it was careful to warn of complacency in a still volatile market.The group’s national newspaper division, Associated Newspapers, saw advertising revenue increase by 6% year on year, with rises recorded in each… Continue reading DMGT Sees Revenues Rise In Positive First Half

Telewest has fired the latest salvo in the battle for cut-price broadband customers by dropping the price of its entry-level package to £12.99 per month, making it the cheapest option for those wanting high-speed internet access.The package will be made available to customers signing up to the company’s Talk Unlimited telephone package throughout June, with… Continue reading Telewest Drops Broadband Price To Lowest In Market

Channel 4 fell foul of religious groups and psychics this week as it aired controversial illusionist Derren Brown’s Seance, attracting 600 complaints from those concerned about the programme’s content and treatment of the supernatural.The programme saw Brown turn his mind-reading and illusory skills on 12 volunteers attempting to contact members of an alleged teenage suicide… Continue reading Channel 4 Seance Spooks 600 Viewers Into Complaining

MTV has secured a deal with Kellogg’s that will see its Pop Tarts brand become the exclusive broadcast sponsor of the forthcoming MTV Dumb Ass programming strand.The deal, brokered by Viacom Brand Solutions, will see Kellogg’s Pop Tarts appear in a range of on-air and online promotions for the new series. The brand will also… Continue reading MTV Toasts Kellogg’s Pop Tarts Sponsorship Deal

A new television network targeting the lucrative 18-24 year old student market has been installed in several UK universities, screening music videos, lifestyle programming, sports highlights and advertising on plasma screens in student bars.The network, dubbed SUBtv, is being backed by venture capital firm Beringea and has so far signed deals with 55 campuses, with… Continue reading Student Television Network Courts Big Name Advertisers

BT Group has launched a new satellite broadband service designed to increase up-take of high-speed internet amongst those in rural or remote areas without access to the company’s existing ADSL network.The new service, offered by BT’s broadcast and media division, comprises a two-way wholesale offering, giving small businesses easy access to high-speed connections without the… Continue reading BT Launches Satellite Broadband To Boost Rural Up-Take