Talks between UBM and Informa over a £3 billion merger have broken down, while Informa is believed to have received a a rival approach from private equity firm, Providence Equity Partners. Reports in the trade press suggest that Providence Equity is the company behind the approach for the Lloyd’s List publisher, although the Times claims… Continue reading Merger Talks Break Down between UBM And Informa

Marketers are remaining upbeat about their own organisations’ prospects – even if they are increasingly gloomy about the UK’s economic outlook, according to a new survey by the Chartered Institute of Marketing. The Marketing Trends Survey, completed for the Institute by Ipsos MORI, reveals that more than a third of marketers believe the UK will… Continue reading Marketers Upbeat Despite Economic Slowdown

A new report from Magna Global predicts that by the end of 2012, US DVR subscriber households will reach 43.5 million (37% of TV households), up from its estimate of 26 million (23.4% of TV households) as of the end of the first quarter of 2008. By 2012, it expects true Video-on-Demand will reach 63.1… Continue reading US DVR Subscriber Households To Reach 43.5m

A peak of five million adult viewers tuned in to last night’s football match between Austria and Poland in the European Football Championship.It was a close match, with Austria snatching a late goal in a 1-1 draw thanks to a controversial decision by the English referee, Howard Webb.Over on Channel 4 at 9pm was the… Continue reading Strong Viewing Figures Continue For European Football Championship

Times Online has unveiled a digital newspaper archive going back more than 200 years.The archive contains more than 20 million articles from every edition of the Times, leaving out just a small number of damaged issues, from 1785 to 1985.The archive is currently free, with editor-in-chief of Times Online Anne Spackman saying that no decision… Continue reading Times Archive Goes Online

Yahoo! has ended all merger talks with Microsoft as it announces a search advertising deal with Google.Yahoo! said that it ended the talks after Microsoft said in a meeting on Sunday that it was no longer interested in buying the company outright.It added that a deal with Microsoft would have left the company without an… Continue reading Yahoo! Signs Search Ad Deal With Google

Culture secretary Andy Burnham has voiced opposition to product placement in television in his first major speech on broadcasting.Speaking to an audience of media industry figures, he said: “Here and now I do want to signal that I think there are some lines that we should not cross – one of which is that you… Continue reading Culture Secretary Not In Favour Of Product Placement

The potential for targeted mobile ads is huge, according to one of the panellists speaking at Tuesday’s MediaTel Group Media Playground event.Mark Slade, managing director of 4th Screen Advertising, was speaking in a debate looking at the future of mobile, and he said: “The [mobile] operators know a hell of a lot information about the… Continue reading Huge Potential For Targeted Mobile Ads

A whopping 9.1 million adults tuned in to the final of The Apprentice last night on BBC One, as Lee McQueen was crowned winner of the reality show.It went right down to the wire, with Sir Alan eventually discarding loud-mouth Clare in favour of the rough and ready McQueen.An average of 8.3 million adults (a… Continue reading 9m See Lee Win The Apprentice

GCap Media’s Gold Radio Network has signed an exclusive two year content deal with Sportsmedia Broadcasting, provider of bespoke radio sports bulletins and sister financial news company Businessmedia, to provide bespoke sports news and finance bulletins.Sportsmedia and Businessmedia’s programming will slot live and direct into Gold Radio Network’s entire network of AM and DAB stations… Continue reading GCap’s Gold Radio Network Signs Content Deal With Sportsmedia