Two of the media industry’s most respected commentators gave their views on the coming year at a one-off MediaTel Group event earlier this week.Torin Douglas and Ray Snoddy discussed topics such as Ofcom’s PSB review, the purchase of the Evening Standard by Russian oligarch Alexander Lebedev and leadership in the media.Held under the Chatham House… Continue reading MediaTel Group looks at the year ahead

Former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev has acquired London’s Evening Standard for £1 from Daily Mail & General Trust.The deal will see a new company, Evening Standard Ltd, established that will own the paper, with Lebedev taking a stake of 75.1% and DMGT subsidiary Associated Newspapers becoming a minority shareholder with 24.9%.Associated will continue to provide… Continue reading Lebedev buys Evening Standard

Ed Balls, the secretary of state for children, schools and families, has criticised a proposal to remove local councils’ obligation to place public notices in local newspapers.Balls described such a move as a “retrograde thing to do”, adding “I don’t think it would be sensible to have any strategy on these things which actively damages… Continue reading Balls opposes removal of mandatory council ads in local press

Declan Boyle has been appointed ad director at IPC Innovator – IPC Advertising’s centralised insert and cross platform direct division.Boyle will spearhead a repositioning of Innovator as it offers direct response clients solutions to their database marketing and direct multiplatform needs.Ali Deas, IPC Advertising central sales group ad director, said: “Declan’s wealth of experience in… Continue reading New IPC Innovator ad director

Russian oligarch Alexander Lebedev has acquired London’s Evening Standard for £1 from Daily Mail & General Trust. The deal will see a new company, Evening Standard Ltd, established that will own the paper, with Lebedev taking a stake of 75.1% and DMGT subsidiary Associated Newspapers becoming a minority shareholder with 24.9%. Associated will continue to… Continue reading Ex-KGB spy buys Evening Standard

US newspaper ad revenues are forecast to fall to $28.4 billion by 2012, down from an estimated $37.9 billion in 2008, according to new research from eMarketer. eMarketer forecasts a 15.9% drop in 2009, pulling ad revenues down to $31.9 billion. From 2010 through 2012, the rate of decline will slow but remain in negative… Continue reading US newspaper ad revenues on downward slide

Americans’ frequent use of the internet has almost doubled over the last five years, according to a new survey from Gallup. The survey found that 48% of Americans now report using the internet for more than one hour per day, compared to 26% in 2002. Post-graduates, those making more than $75,000 per year, and those… Continue reading Americans’ internet use rises

National commercial digital radio operator Digital One is formally inviting applications for new DAB radio stations and is cutting carriage costs to boost interest.Following the closure of several digital stations last year – such as theJazz and The Arrow – and the end of Channel 4’s foray into DAB (see Channel 4 Abandons Digital Radio… Continue reading Digital One advertises for new DAB stations

Dennis Publishing is launching the world’s first poker magazine to have an exclusively business-to-business focus.Inside Poker Business will be distributed quarterly to a subscriber-base of industry decision makers and will deliver the latest business information to major players involved in the business.Alun Bowden, former editor of InsidePoker , has been appointed editor-in-chief of the magazine.Bowden… Continue reading Dennis launches new poker magazine

Financial Times owner Pearson has announced an upbeat trading update for the newspaper group, ahead of the release of its preliminary results for 2008 in March. Pearson said that Financial Times Publishing “has produced good sales and profit growth despite the slowdown in the advertising market in the fourth quarter”. Marjorie Scardino, chief executive, said:… Continue reading Positive trading update for Financial Times Group