The much-repeated phrase of Martin Sorrell – that Google is neither friend nor enemy to agencies, but rather a frienemy – seems to have run its course at WPP.Others still embraced it – Maria Louise Francoli, CEO, MPG, said that Google was a threat but a “good threat” from the conference platform at the C… Continue reading No Longer A Frienemy?

Procurement pushed itself well up the agenda at C Squared’s Venice Media Festival – even though many expressed a desire to accept it and just get on.A breakout session devoted to the subject saw ten brief conclusions provided by Douglas McArthur OBE, Planning for Results, to a report commissioned by DDS. Points included:“Sarbannes-Oxley is like… Continue reading Procurement Issues Still Driving A Wedge Between Agencies And Clients

A unique feature of the C Squared Venice Festival is its agency CEO session. Eight CEOs representing all the major agency groups were quizzed by moderators and audience and all delivered a combination of measured, passionate and confident responses as most embraced enthusiastically and optimistically the challenges ahead.Themes were clear:The media industry is uniquely positioned… Continue reading Eight CEOs – spot the difference!

Channel 4 and Global Radio are reportedly looking at how to combine their digital radio transmission services.With its takeover of GCap Media (see Global Radio To Acquire GCap For £375m) Global inherits the first DAB multiplex, while Channel 4 won the licence to run the second multiplex last July (see Multiplex Win Signals New Era… Continue reading Channel 4 And Global Radio Could Combine DAB Services

It was the start of a new series of Waking The Dead last night on BBC One, and it was easily the most watched programme in the 9pm slot, with a peak of 6.8 million adults.The crime drama, starring Trevor Eve, had a 28.5% viewing share between 9pm and 10pm.Over on ITV1 at the same… Continue reading Return Of Waking The Dead Finishes Off The Fixer

An opening session of the C Squared Venice Festival of Media featured Mike Murphy, vice president, global sales, Facebook, in conversation with media journalist, Jonah Bloom.Murphy was eloquent and confident as one would expect; ducked a few audience questions on sales revenue (and the proportion contributed via the MSN Sales deal) – as one might… Continue reading Venice Festival Of Media Looks At Facebook

Hitwise, the online competitive intelligence company, has announced the most popular websites from more than 50 industries in the UK during 2007.The Hitwise UK Annual Online Performance Awards acknowledge the most successful websites as categorised in Hitwise’s key industries, defined by the percentage of user visits a UK website received between January and December 2007.Also… Continue reading Hitwise Announces Online Performance Awards

Tony Moretta has been appointed to the role of chief executive of the Digital Radio Development Bureau, taking up the post in June.Moretta has spent the past five years as general manager of broadcast at National Grid Wireless, where he was responsible for the commercial side of the broadcast business.In his role at National Grid… Continue reading DRDB Appoints New Chief Executive

Shares in ITV fell briefly below 60p for the first time earlier today, following the stock’s fall to a closing low last night. This morning, the share price fell as low as 59.7p, down 1.6% on last night’s close of 60.7p, before increasing to 60.1p just after 11.30am. Over the past six months, the FTSE… Continue reading ITV Shares Drop Below 60p

Consumers are more loyal to programmes than TV channels, according to the results of Accenture’s inaugural Global Broadcast Consumer Survey. The survey found that although television remains the predominant mass communications device worldwide, with 97% of respondents watching TV in a typical week, consumption patterns vary based on a number of factors including geography, age… Continue reading Viewers More Loyal To TV Programmes Than Channels