UKTV has appointed Keith Porritt to the role of executive director of commercial, replacing Laurence Dawkin-Jones.Porritt, who will report directly to UKTV’s chief executive David Abraham, will have overall responsibility for UKTV’s pay TV relationships, as well as programme supply relationships with the BBC and independent producers.Commercial activities, business development, as well as legal and… Continue reading UKTV appoints Porritt as commercial head

The former AOL chief executive Jonathan Miller is thought to be in talks with investors about buying part or all of Yahoo!.Miller has been in contact with private equity firms and Middle Eastern wealth funds to raise as much as $30 billion for the search giant, according to reports in the Wall Street Journal.The report… Continue reading Former AOL chief set to bid $30bn for Yahoo!

BT has signed a new deal with Twentieth Century Fox to give BT Vision customers access to a range of new and classic film titles.BT’s digital TV service will feature new films from Twentieth Century Fox, such as The Happening, Shine a Light and Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who, from December 15.In addition, a… Continue reading BT signs on-demand film deal with Fox

Clear Channel is set to roll-out a number of new digital screens in UK shopping centres by Christmas – adding six new centres to its shopping portfolio.The new screens are part of the first phase of a wider shopping centre digital roll-out, which includes the Westfield shopping centres at Merry Hill and Dudley – worth… Continue reading Clear Channel is set to roll out new digital screens

Kangaroo ads will be sold together with ads around the ITV and Channel 4 websites, according to recent presentations about the joint online venture.Several ad formats for the planned on-demand online service from BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4 are thought to be under discussion at the moment.An agency contact said: “The commercial broadcasters’ websites… Continue reading Kangaroo ads to be sold with web inventory

IPC Ignite has appointed Gareth Williams to the role of ad manager of its men’s lifestyles titles, Nuts and Loaded.Williams, who joined the publishing group in October 2007 from Associated Newspapers, will step up from his former senior sales role and report directly to Ignite’s trading director, Andrew Goldsmith.He will be responsible for the display… Continue reading IPC appoints new Nuts & Loaded ad manager

The Radio Advertising Bureau is set to launch a new consultation service for advertisers, media and creative agencies in a bid to encourage more radio advertising.Ad Doctor, which aims to help individual advertisers to “overcome creative barriers” to use radio as part of their campaign mix, will be rolled out by the RAB this week.The… Continue reading RAB launches Ad Doctor

IPC Southbank has secured Elizabeth Arden as a sponsor of its new online advent calendar on womanandhome.com, in a bid to attract users to the site in the lead up to Christmas.Visitors to the women’s magazine site will be able to win daily prizes from Elizabeth Arden’s beauty products and experiences, such as skincare gift… Continue reading Elizabeth Arden sponsors IPC’s online advent calendar

GMG Radio has signed a new deal that will see First Radio Sales take over Rock Radio’s national and regional airtime and sponsorship and promotions activity.First Radio Sales will represent Rock Radio, which broadcasts in Glasgow and Greater Manchester as well as on DAB digital radio in the North East of England and Edinburgh, from… Continue reading GMG agrees a Rock deal with First Radio Sales

ITV1’s X Factor raced ahead of its BBC One rival Saturday night show Strictly Come Dancing this weekend with over 12.6 million peak viewers.The Britney Spears special, which saw Ruth receive the least votes despite a tear-jerking performance, pulled in more than 11.8 million average viewers and a 46% audience share between 7.35pm and 9.15pm.Britney’s… Continue reading Britney’s X Factor triumphs with more than 12.6m viewers