Google is to take on social networking giant Facebook with the launch of a new cross-platform project called OpenSocial.The new service will link with a range of other networks including business-focused sites, and will work across a number of social networking sites including LinkedIn, Plaxo, and Google’s own Orkut service.Other confirmed partners for the project… Continue reading Google Launches Cross-Platform Social Networking Project

Sky has seen record growth in its Sky+ customers, of 323,000 to 2.7 million in the three months to the end of September.The satellite broadcaster also announced that it now has a total of 8,665,000 pay-TV customers, with 83,000 net additions made during the third quarter.Sky’s HD service grew 23% for the period, to 358,000… Continue reading Record Growth For Sky+

Aside from broader digital issues, Greg Grimmer, outgoing MD of Zed Media, gave delegates some insight into the world of search, at this week’s MediaTel Group seminar on the ‘Future of the Media Agency’.He stated that search needed a budget of £250,000 on 15% commission to just break even, so labour intensive had this medium… Continue reading Delegates At Agency Seminar Gain Insight Into Search

Ofcom is to cut ITV’s obligation to show regional non-news public service programming by 25% from the beginning of 2009.This move will see the minimum quota for non-news regional programmes for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland slashed from an average of four hours a week to three.Ofcom’s second PSB review next year will examine longer-term… Continue reading Ofcom Cuts ITV’s Regional Programming Obligations

Google has generated more advertising revenue than ITV1 between July and September this year, according to analysis by The Times newspaper.Looking at both companies results, Google generated £327 million in advertising in the quarter, compared with an estimated £317 million for all of ITV1 across the UK during the same three-month period.It is the first… Continue reading Google’s Ad Revenue Overtakes ITV1’s For The First Time

When you are introduced as “sexy and brilliant” you have a lot to live up to, but Nathalie Schwarz, Channel 4’s director of radio and chairman of the 4Digital Group, did a fine job of enthusing the audience at the RAB’s Radio 3.0 conference this morning, as she updated them on the offerings, implications and… Continue reading Schwarz Bangs The “Sexy Radio” Drum…To Good Effect

On his first day as chairman of GCap Media, Richard Eyre told a large audience at the RAB’s Radio 3.0 conference in London why he has come back into radio.Eyre did a fine job of treading lightly between this new role and his chairmanship of the IAB, as he emphasised the complimentary natures of radio… Continue reading Eyre Eases Back Into Radio

Virgin Media is to begin carrying advertising on its VoD service and EPG next year.According to reports in the trade press, chief executive of the company’s content division, Malcolm Wall, has said that testing is underway for pre-, mid- and post-roll ads to be placed in the content on the VoD service.Other advertising models are… Continue reading Virgin Media To Carry Advertising On VoD And EPG Services

The start of October saw ZenithOptimedia forecast that UK television adspend will see modest growth of 0.5% this year, moving towards 2% growth in 2008. It added that it expects UK Radio adspend to grow year on year by 1.7% in 2007, with Newspaper spending expected to fall by 1.8% in 2007, compared with a… Continue reading INSIGHTanalysis: Media Healthcheck – October 2007

Interpublic has announced that its third quarter 2007 revenue has reached $1.56bn, compared to $1.45 billion the same period a year ago, whilst its revenue for the first nine months of 2007 was $4.57 billion, compared to $4.31 billion in 2006. Organic revenue increased 5.7% compared to the third quarter of 2006, due to higher… Continue reading Interpublic Announces Q3 Results