Shareholders of the planned digital radio venture, 4Digital Group, have agreed to dissolve the business and hand the licence back to Ofcom.The decision to end the proposed digital radio service has reportedly been made during a number of board meetings, which have taken place over the past two weeks, by the remaining 4DG shareholders.However, minority… Continue reading Board pull plug on 4DG

Aegis Media is set to launch a new full-service digital agency early next year in a bid to boost its digital offering.Former Naked managing partner Niku Banaie will head up the client-facing network, which is set to feature more of a creative element, according to reports.Aegis, which is currently home to Carat, Vizeum, Isobar and… Continue reading Aegis set to launch a full-service digital agency

The BBC is considering plans to offer ITV and Channel 4 the free and open use of its online video catch-up service iPlayer.The move is thought to be part of the BBC’s response to Ofcom’s public service broadcasting review – the BBC Trust is expected to make a presentation to Ofcom later this week, according… Continue reading BBC set to offer iPlayer to Channel 4 and ITV

BBC One’s crime drama Spooks pulled in more than 6.2 million viewers last night.The last in the series, which raced ahead of the competition for the peak-time audience, attracted 6 million average viewers and a 25% audience share between 9pm and 10pm.Elsewhere, ITV1’s new series of Taggart managed to pick up 5.3 million viewers in… Continue reading Final Spooks pulls in over 6.2m

Online TV and film site Blinkbox has signed new deals with Twentieth Century Fox and Sony Pictures Television in a bid to increase its online content offering.The Twentieth Century Fox deal will allow users to access premium films, including new releases Juno and Jumper, according to reports.Users will also be able to purchase films such… Continue reading Blinkbox signs online deal with Fox and Sony

The former Joint Industry Committee for Internet Measurement Systems (JICIMS) has formed a new body called the UK Online Measurement company (UKOM).The joint committee collapsed last week following the departure of the IPA and ISBA as JICIMS stakeholders, leaving the remaining partners – AOP and IAB – to form a new body (see JICIMS to… Continue reading JICIMS forms new body for online measurement

ITV1’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! final attracted over 9.7 million peak viewers and a 39.3% audience share on Friday evening.More than 9.1 million average viewers tuned into see the final three contestants battle it out before Joe Swash was crowned king of the jungle.Meanwhile, ITV1’s all important X Factor semi-final pulled… Continue reading I’m a Celebrity finale pulls in over 9.7m viewers

Global ad spend is expected to decline 0.2% overall in 2009, while developing markets will still grow but at a slower rate than previously forecast, according to ZenithOptimedia’s new report.The report predicts that developing markets, such as Asia Pacific and Central & Eastern Europe, will largely counterbalance the decline in North America and Western Europe’s… Continue reading ZenithOptimedia: No growth in global adspend next year

Johnston Press is looking at merging the production operations of its three Scotsman group titles in a bid to cut costs.John McLellan, editor at the Evening News, is currently reviewing the production processes of the three Edinburgh papers, which also includes the Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday, according to reports.McLellan said: “Clearly saving money is… Continue reading Johnston Press plans to merge Scotsman production

Ofcom today imposed a £20,000 fine on talkSPORT radio after its presenter James Whale “seriously breached” broadcasting rules by encouraging listeners to vote for Boris Johnson in the London mayoral elections.Whale made the comments during a live phone-in show on March 20 and was subsequently fired by the UTV-owned station in May following an internal… Continue reading Ofcom fines talkSPORT £20,000