Tiscali is planning to launch a mobile phone service this year by rebranding ToucanMobile, which it bought last year.The group is in talks with UK mobile phone operators about renting space on their networks to carry the service, according to the Daily Telegraph.The service, which will be SIM only, is expected to launch in the… Continue reading Tiscali To Launch Mobile Phone Service

GCap Media, owner of Capital Radio and Classic FM, has rejected a takeover bid from Global Radio, thought to be worth about £310 million.In a statement released today, GCap said that Global Radio had made an offer of 190p per share.However, the group added that the board had rejected the offer as it “believed that… Continue reading GCap Turns Down Global Radio Takeover Bid

Japanese manufacturer Sharp has said that the average size of an LCD TV in a European home is set to rise in the next ten years, potentially reaching 60 inches by 2015.Tommaso Monetto, Sharp product manager Aquos LCD TV, said: “The growth in the popularity of larger screen TVs is underlined by the fact that… Continue reading European LCD TV Sizes To Increase

Microsoft and BT have teamed up to bring together the BT Vision service and the entertainment system Xbox 360, giving all BT customers the opportunity to experience high-definition gaming, television and movies through the console.BT Vision, powered by the Microsoft Mediaroom Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) platform, plans to make this service available to customers in… Continue reading BT Vision And Microsoft In Xbox 360 Partnership

Business broadsheet the Financial Times is to increase its cover price to £1.50 – a second rise since June last year.The FT now costs 20p more than it did in the second half of 2007, making it 70p more expensive than the Guardian, the Independent and the Daily Telegraph, and more than double the price… Continue reading Financial Times Cover Price Reaches £1.50

GCap Media, owner of Capital Radio and Classic FM, has rejected a £310 million takeover bid from Global Radio. According to a statement released by GCap, Global Radio’s proposed offer was at a price of 190p per share. However, GCap said that it rejected the offer as “the board believed that it significantly undervalued the… Continue reading GCap Turns Down Takeover Bid From Global Radio

Aegis has acquired the full-service digital marketing and design agency White Sheep, which is based in Finland. Founded in 2003 and with gross assets of €0.7 million, White Sheep’s specialist services include online marketing strategy , digital media, web development and creative production. White Sheep will be rebranded as Suddenly Helsinki, becoming part of Isobar’s… Continue reading Aegis Acquires Digital Marketing Agency

A new cross-media study carried out by Simmons has found that US consumers are 47% more engaged in ads that run with television programmes that they view online than those watched on a TV set. The study defines “engagement” according to six characteristics that respondents identify with media: “inspirational,” “trustworthy,” “life-enhancing,” “social interaction,” “personal time-out”… Continue reading US Online TV Watchers Show More Engagement With Ads

UK online ad spending will pass £3 billion in 2008, and show healthy growth despite financial and political uncertainties in Britain, according to a new forecast from eMarketer focusing on the year ahead. E-commerce will also thrive, passing £50 billion as more consumers avoid the stress of crowded transport systems and city centres to shop… Continue reading UK Online Adspend To Pass £3bn In 2008

2007 saw television’s dirty laundry hung out after numerous TV phone-in scandals, beginning with Channel 4’s behemoth reality franchise, Big Brother, being thrust into the spotlight following tens of thousands of complaints about racist abuse on Celebrity Big Brother (see Big Brother Racism Complaints Reach An Estimated 20,000).Carphone Warehouse pulled its sponsorship, and complaints soared… Continue reading End Of Year Round Up: Television