The start of the new series of The Apprentice attracted around six million adults to BBC One last night, giving the channel a 26% viewing share between 9pm and 10pm.The programme, which divided the final 16 hopefuls into teams of girls versus boys to sell a van load of fresh fish, was the most watched… Continue reading The Apprentice Bags Six Million

The BBC has signed a new five-year contract giving it the rights to broadcast the Wimbledon tennis championship for a further five years from 2010 to 2014.The new contract will let viewers catch all the key matches via BBC iPlayer, for up to seven days after broadcast, and have the opportunity to watch Wimbledon on… Continue reading BBC Renews Wimbledon Rights

Ofcom’s latest digital television update, for the fourth quarter of 2007, reveals that there were 524,500 net UK household conversions to digital television (DTT), following 361,700 additions in the previous quarter.Freeview experienced its strongest quarter so far, with four million units sold, while the digital cable and satellite platforms together added over 280,000 digital households,… Continue reading 524,000 UK Households Went Digital In Q4 2007

A quarter of Freeview households in Wales and Northern Ireland – and a fifth in the Meridian and Anglia regions of England – will not have full access to the digital terrestrial TV channels after analogue switchoff, according to media regulator Ofcom.The coverage of Freeview’s three commercial multiplexes – home to Five’s network of channels… Continue reading Ofcom Reveals Switchover Problems

The Takeover Panel has given Global Radio another five days to indicate if it will go ahead with a £371 million bid for rival company GCap Media.The regulator has now given Global until 5pm on Monday, March 31, to decide whether it will proceed with a takeover or walk away from a deal for the… Continue reading Deadline Extended For Global Radio GCap Bid

Outdoor giant JCDecaux has signed up major advertisers for its digital roadside network of screens, which aims to revolutionise the medium in a bid to attract new advertisers.Advertisers including Toyota, Lucozade, Ford, Yell.com and the BBC have agreed to come on board for the launch of the PrimeTime network of 20 digital roadside screens across… Continue reading JCDecaux Signs Major Advertisers For Digital Roadside Network

Independent News & Media has reported an 8.4% rise in UK operating profits for 2007. The group, which owns the Independent, Independent on Sunday and Belfast Telegraph, saw its operating profit increase to €15.5 million (£12.1 million). Revenue in the UK increased 18.3% to €268.1 million (£210 million), with advertising growth of 5.5%. The Independent… Continue reading Profits Up At Independent News & Media

Kangaroo, the forthcoming video-on-demand service from BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4, is said to be in the final stages of development and looking for an ad sales house.The search is reported in the trade press as being the last hurdle for the venture, which is due to launch in the summer.Ad space on the… Continue reading Kangaroo “In Final Stages” Of Development

UK internet traffic to video websites increased by 178% between February 2007 and 2008, according to online intelligence service Hitwise.A Hitwise custom category of the top 25 video websites in the UK accounted for 2.22% of all UK Internet visits in February 2008, equivalent for one in every 45 internet visits that month.“Online video is… Continue reading Internet Traffic To Video Websites Increases 178%

Sam Branson, son of Sir Richard, is to present a series of shows for Kiss Radio in his new role as official green ambassador for the station.Branson will host a special Kiss the Planet series on the Kiss Radio network throughout 2008. He will debut on the station in the breakfast show on March 27… Continue reading Kiss Radio Signs Sam Branson As Green Ambassador