The BBC is looking at new cost-cutting tactics to meet a £140 million shortfall over the next five years.A number of the corporation’s services will be reviewed as part of the budget cuts, including plans to sell off key buildings such as the BBC Television Centre in West London, according to reports.Other services likely to… Continue reading BBC needs to make up £140 million shortfall

Yahoo! has signed a new deal to offer Virgin Mobile’s 4.4 million customers mobile search through its enhanced portal, in a move to increase its mobile presence in the UK.Virgin Mobile customers will now have access to Yahoo!’s oneSearch internet search service, news, music, video and games on the new Virgin Media portal.Yahoo! and Virgin… Continue reading Yahoo! and Virgin sign a mobile search deal

Phorm’s chairman Steven Heyer is to step down following a disagreement over the future direction of the company.Heyer is one of four board members to leave the online advertising company over the dispute, along with David Dorman, Christopher Lawrence and Phorm’s chief operating officer, Virasb Vahidi.The departures are said to be over “differences as to… Continue reading Phorm chairman steps down

BBC controller of entertainment commissioning Elaine Bedell is set to join ITV as director of entertainment and comedy, replacing Paul Jackson.The appointment is part of a wider shake-up of ITV’s commissioning team, which also includes Michael Jeremy’s promotion to the new role of director of news, regional news and current affairs.Both new appointments will report… Continue reading BBC controller Bedell to join ITV

The London Evening Standard is set to make its glossy print magazine, ES, available online in a bid to up its digital offering.The paper has set up a website for readers to view digital content from the previous week’s magazine and highlights of the forthcoming issue, according to reports.From Monday, consumers will be able to… Continue reading Evening Standard’s ES mag goes online

Robert Lerwill, the Aegis group chief executive, is set to leave the company today without a job to go to.Following a sudden announcement yesterday afternoon, Aegis confirmed Lerwill’s departure and said chairman John Napier will cover his role on an interim basis.Napier joined Aegis as chairman in July this year – he is also chairman… Continue reading Aegis chief executive will leave today

BSkyB has applied for permission to make its case to the Court of Appeal in a bid to keep its 17.9% share in ITV.In September, BSkyB failed in its attempt to overturn the Competition Commission’s original ruling that Sky must sell its controversial stake in ITV (see Sky Forced To Reduce Stake In ITV).At the… Continue reading Sky set to appeal ITV share decision again

ITV is understood to be looking for new ways to cut costs of up to £10 million due to the deteriorating economic climate.ITV’s chief operating officer John Cresswell sent a note to staff yesterday to inform them of the further cost cuts, which could see another round of redundancies, according to reports.Cresswell said that due… Continue reading ITV plans more cost cuts

ITV1’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! attracted over 9 million peak viewers last night.The reality programme, set in the Australian jungle, banked an average audience share of 35.8% with more than 8.6 million average viewers between 8.30pm and 10pm.However, ITV1’s special hour-long Coronation Street secured the highest ratings of the evening between… Continue reading I’m a Celebrity pulls in over 9m viewers

Royal Mail has launched its first commerical advertising and communications channel ‘Matter box’, with free brand representations from a number of international household names.As part of the company’s drive to “deliver innovation in marketing to engage consumers”, Royal Mail plans to deliver the product to over 30,000 UK customers this weekend.Matter box was trialled earlier… Continue reading Royal Mail unveils new commercial advertising channel