The reduced costs of operating digital radio stations, along with their ability to cater for more niche interest groups, will see a surge in popularity for speech-based offerings, according to radio chiefs speaking at yesterday’s MediaTel INSIGHT Digital Radio and Beyond Seminar, held in association with MediaGuardian.Ralph Bernard, chief executive of GCap Media, began the… Continue reading Radio Bosses See Speech Renaissance In Digital

Ulster Television (UTV) issued a downbeat trading statement this morning, warning that revenues from its broadcast and multimedia businesses across Britain and Ireland will be down by around 3.5% in the six months to December.The company reported that revenues at UTV Radio are expected to have risen by around 5%, “comfortably” outperforming the radio advertising… Continue reading UTV Warns Of Reduced Revenues For Second Half

The reduced costs of operating digital radio stations, along with their ability to cater for more niche interest groups, will see a surge in popularity for speech-based offerings, according to radio chiefs Ralph Bernard, Phil Riley and Simon Cole, of GCap Media, Chrysalis Radio and UBC Media, speaking at yesterday’s MediaTel INSIGHT Digital Radio and… Continue reading Radio Bosses See Speech Renaissance In Digital

Yesterday’s MediaTel INSIGHT Digital Radio and Beyond Seminar, held in association with MediaGuardian, saw the latest digital radio technology demonstrated, allowing listeners to purchase music and speech content at the press of a button without incurring the high costs of traditional mobile data downloads.The new system, demonstrated by Simon Cole, chief executive of UBC Media,… Continue reading New Technology Offers Glimpse Of Radio’s Future

Ralph Bernard, chief executive of GCap Media, criticised media regulator Ofcom today, branding the watchdog’s decision to create a new national digital radio multiplex as unfair and illegal.Speaking on the panel at MediaTel INSIGHT’s Digital Radio and Beyond Seminar, held in association with MediaGuardian, Bernard spelt out his dismay at the regulator’s actions, following a… Continue reading New Multiplexes Are Illegal – Bernard

This morning’s MediaTel INSIGHT Digital Radio and Beyond Seminar, held in association with MediaGuardian, saw radio chiefs Ralph Bernard and Simon Cole, of GCap Media and UBC Media, urge a focus on the industry’s digital future rather than being distracted by the current “fight” over analogue audiences.“The problem is that analogue fighting could distract from… Continue reading Radio Heads Urge Focus On Digital Future

The prospect of an enforced analogue radio switch off was raised at this morning’s MediaTel INSIGHT Digital Radio and Beyond Seminar, held in association with MediaGuardian, with radio chiefs Ralph Bernard and Simon Cole, of GCap Media and UBC Media, offering different viewpoints on the effect of such a plan.“I’ve been calling for a switch… Continue reading Radio Seminar Sees Switchover Debated

Cable giant NTL has today confirmed its consideration of a £835 million bid for Virgin Mobile, enabling the firm to offer Britain’s first “quadruple play” services of fixed and mobile phone lines, broadband internet access and digital television.The move would also lay an infrastructure for NTL to offer more advanced mobile services, such as mobile… Continue reading NTL Eyes Quadruple Play With Virgin Mobile Bid

The Advertising Association (AA) has released its latest long-term forecast, compiled by the World Advertising Research Centre (WARC), predicting a substantial rise of up to 43% in advertising expenditure between now and 2017.The new forecast follows a strong performance in 2004, with advertising expenditure growth in Britain slowing this year as the economy has cooled.… Continue reading AA Forecasts Point To Ad Expenditure Growth

Reports this morning claim a new round of job cuts is being undertaken by newspaper giant Trinity Mirror, with around 750 workers facing redundancy from its regional and national titles.The claims, made by the Independent this morning, assert that Trinity is seeking personnel cuts of between 5% and 7% across its 11,000 strong workforce. Around… Continue reading Trinity Mirror Staff Face Nation-wide Job Cuts