AOL is set to launch a new online music portal with upcoming releases, exclusive videos and performances.AOL Music’s new site, named Spinner, will also feature stories and scoops on music artists, a guide to top music venues in the UK, weekly highlights on festivals, pre-release clips and live performances.The online inventory will be sold by… Continue reading AOL launches new online music offering

Guardian Media Group has reported a pre-tax loss of £89.8 million for the year to the end of March, with turnover down by £96.7 million to £405.4 million.However, once the contribution from Tender Media Group, a joint venture with Emap that was spun off last year, is discounted GMG’s revenue was down just 7.6%,Group turnover… Continue reading Guardian Media Group reports pre-tax loss of £89.8 million

BBC One’s ever-popular New Tricks secured the highest ratings during the Thursday evening peak-hour once again with more than 7.1 million viewers.The third episode in the eight-part series, starring Amanda Redman and Dennis Waterman, attracted over 6.9 million average viewers and a 29.6% share between 9pm and 10pm.At the same time, ITV1’s long-running police drama… Continue reading Overnights: New Tricks secures the top spot

Ofcom has launched a consultation on its plans to relax cross-media ownership and local radio rules.The media regulator wants to change the rules to allow local commercial radio stations in one area to be owned by the same company and media companies to be able to own a combination of TV, radio and newspaper assets… Continue reading Ofcom unveils plans to change local ownership rules

Microsoft is set to integrate Twitter and Facebook applications into the Xbox 360 games console in time for Christmas.The social network apps, which will allow users to access certain features on the sites during game play, can be downloaded from Xbox Live.Facebook members will have the option to look at friends profile updates, browse photos… Continue reading Xbox 360 to add Twitter and Facebook apps

Microsoft and Yahoo!’s new 10 year partnership could put an end to high online ad costs and spur trouble for rival company Google, according to WPP’s head Sir Martin Sorrell.Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, the WPP chief executive said the merger between the two internet companies was likely to make search advertising cheaper as advertisers… Continue reading Sorrell: Microsoft/Yahoo! deal will cut online ad costs

BT’s share price went up by more than 10% today after the company released better than expected results for Q1 2009.However, the company’s results also show the affect the ongoing recession has had on its pension fund, which is the largest private sector scheme in the UK.By the end of June, the £30.4 billion pension… Continue reading BT’s results boost shares

Orange has teamed up with Universal Music and Channel 4 to launch a new pay as you go package that offers customers free music when they top up their mobile phones.The new initiative, Orange ‘Monkey’, will give customers free and easy access to a catalogue of songs and free texts streamed through any mobile handset… Continue reading Orange launches free music package

Channel Five has signed up to Project Canvas, the joint venture between the BBC, ITV and BT to bring on-demand viewing to digital TV services Freeview and Freesat.Five, the project’s first new partner, said it sees Canvas as “critical to the long-term future of subscription-free TV,” according to reports.“Project Canvas is an important step forward… Continue reading Five signs up to Project Canvas

BSkyB plans to launch Europe’s first ever 3D TV channel with films, entertainment shows and sports content in the UK next year.The satellite broadcaster has decided to bring its 3D roll-out programme forward following the increased numbers of Sky+ HD subscribers, according to reports.Over the last year, BSkyB has doubled the number of customers with… Continue reading Sky to launch a 3D TV channel