eMarketer has cut its forecast for UK online ad spend, predicting that it will grow 7.2% in 2009, down from its May forecast of 17.2%. The online research firm expects UK online ad spend to reach £3.34 billion in 2008 and £3.58 billion in 2009. Karin von Abrams, eMarketer senior analyst and author of the… Continue reading UK online ad spend forecast to grow 7.2% in 2009

Wireless devices will be the primary means of connecting to the internet for most people by 2020, according to a new report by Pew Internet and American Life. The ‘Future of the Internet III’ survey found that the combination of portability and affordability will be the reason behind the mobile internet’s success in 12 years… Continue reading Most people will access the internet via mobile by 2020

Phorm is expected to launch its targeted ad service in the UK in the first half of 2009.Phorm’s system tracks web habits in order to provide targeted ads and the technology has been on trial at BT for the last few months (see Phorm Rolls Out Next BT Trial).The trial has been deemed a success… Continue reading Phorm set to launch in 2009

Newsquest have announced that its Citizen series of free weekly papers are to close.The free papers in Blackpool, Preston and Lancaster will close, while its Chorley edition will move to Blackburn. The total restructure is likely to result in the loss of eleven editorial staff as well as risks to ad sales positions.Gannett, the American… Continue reading Newsquest to close its Citizen series

Evelyn Webster, currently managing director of IPC’s women’s weekly arm, has been appointed the company’s chief executive. Webster, who has been in her current post at IPC Connect since March 2004, will report directly to IPC Media’s on-going chairman Sylvia Auton when she takes up her new role on January 1. Auton, who was appointed… Continue reading IPC Media appoints new CEO

The last three months has seen the BBC and ITV battle it out with their rating winning shows, X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing.The X Factor final was on Saturday night, where it finished with a flourish of nearly 14 million viewers seeing Alexandra Burke crowned queen for 2008, pretty much guaranteeing her Christmas number… Continue reading X Factor v Strictly

RTL are rumoured to be considering a takeover of Channel 4 according to a report in the Sunday papers.A report in the Sunday Times states that RTL, who own rival broadcaster Five, has asked JPMorgan to weigh up a takeover for Channel 4, valued at £50 million.Four years ago, similar merger talks emerged but they… Continue reading Rumours of RTL takeover of Channel 4

Chrome, the new web browser from Google, has been taken out of its beta version just 100 days after it first launched.Google said that feedback from Chrome’s 10 million users enabled it to go ahead with a full launch so quickly.Other Google products have been in beta mode for years, with its Gmail service still… Continue reading Chrome gets full launch

RTL are rumoured to be considering a takeover of Channel 4 according to a report in the Sunday papers. A report in the Sunday Times states that RTL, who own rival broadcaster Five, has asked JPMorgan to weigh up a takeover for Channel 4, valued at £50 million. Four years ago, similar merger talks emerged… Continue reading Rumours of RTL takeover of Channel 4

BBC World Service has signed a deal with Nokia which will see three of the BBC’s radio news channels available on Nokia handsets.From today, BBC World Service, BBC World Service’s 24-hour rolling news channel and BBC Arabic will be on the newest Nokia mobile phone models as part of their preloaded internet radio application.Karl Kathuria,… Continue reading BBC World Service radio channels available on Nokia mobiles