The Competition Commission has recommended that Sky be forced to sell down its 17.9% stake in ITV to under 7.5%.The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform today published the 163 page Competition Commission report, which found that the acquisition could be “expected to operate against the public interest”.The Competition Commission said that there are… Continue reading Competition Commission Recommends Sky Sell Down ITV Stake

The share of the UK internet population made up of ‘Silver Surfers’ (55+ year olds) has increased from 16% to 19% over the past year (October 2006 -October 2007), according to the latest research from Nielsen Online.Nielsen Online said that during the same period, the share made up of under 25s has decreased from 29%… Continue reading Silver Surfers Claim Larger Share Of UK Online Population

Ofcom has fined Channel 4 a total of £1.5 million for misconduct in viewer competitions in Richard and Judy (the You Say We Pay competition) and Deal or no Deal programmes.Channel Four was found in breach of the following rules:Rule 2.11 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, which came into effect on 25 July 2005, “Competitions… Continue reading Ofcom Fines Channel 4 £1.5m Over Phone In Quizzes

Fru Hazlitt has been appointed chief executive of GCap Media with immediate effect. Hazlitt currently serves as an executive director of GCap as managing director, GCap London.As announced by GCap on November 23, 2007, current Chief Executive Ralph Bernard signalled his intention to step down on appointment of his replacement (see Ralph Bernard Steps Down… Continue reading Fru Hazlitt Appointed GCap Chief Executive

The BBC has unveiled the first phase of its multimedia campaign for the iPlayer, which launches on Christmas Day.The first phase of the campaign will feature a mix of on and off-air activity, with key BBC talent highlighting their own unmissable moments from BBC Television.Nationwide city screens, street-live screens and large format posters will feature… Continue reading BBC Unveils iPlayer Multimedia Campaign

Guardian Media Group is about to begin the marketing campaign for its new Smooth Radio station in the north east of England next week.The campaign for the new station, which will be aired from new studios in Gateshead on January 8, begins on December 26.It will include TV ads showing music artists such as Rod… Continue reading GMG To Begin Marketing Campaign For New Smooth Station

It was the last in the current series of Dragons’ Den last night, but the entrepreneurial reality show was beaten in the ratings battle by both BBC One and ITV1.The show had a peak audience of 3.9 million adults in its 9pm slot, a 14.2% share of the audience, and an average of three million… Continue reading Dragons’ Den Beaten By Royals and Murder

The broadcast premiere of Lee Hall’s The Pitman Painters and Douglas Coupland’s Girlfriend In A Coma are among the mix of new writing and stage transfers on BBC Radio 3’s winter drama season.The Pitman Painters is an inspirational and potent drama telling the story of a group of Thirties Northumbrian miners who, after starting an… Continue reading BBC Radio 3 Unveils Winter Drama Season

There will be no NewsLine service on Wednesday 19 December due to a company event.We will return first thing Thursday morning with all the latest industry news and coverage of Wednesday’s main media stories.MediaTel Group: 0207 439 7575 www.mediatelgroup.co.uk

BARB has entered into four new contracts – with RSMB, Ipsos MORI and TNS – for provision of research services that will support the BARB service from January 1, 2008.BARB (a joint company of BBC, ITV, Channel 4, five, BSkyB and the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) said that its aim has been to, “devise… Continue reading BARB Awards Four Six-Year Research Contracts