Pearson, owner of the Financial Times, is in discussions with General Electric, owner of NBC, about launching a counter bid for Dow Jones, currently subject to a takeover attempt by News Corporation. Reports in the trade press claim that Pearson is mulling over a partnership with General Electric owned channel CNBC to launch a rival… Continue reading Pearson Could Bid For Dow Jones

Last night saw the first semi-final of ITV1’s awesome variety contest Britain’s Got Talent, with the angelic voiced Dominic Smith departing our screens after the judges decided he didn’t quite cut the mustard.Dominic’s departure leaves hot favourite Paul Potts up against Damon Scott in the big final show on Sunday, and with a peak audience… Continue reading Viewers Flock To Britain’s Got Talent Semi-Final

Consumers may soon be able to download programmes from the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV for free via broadband, after reports that the three broadcast giants are in talks over a new joint venture.The talks could lead to a new video downloads service that could “do for broadband what Freeview did for digital TV”.Called “Project… Continue reading Big Broadcasters Join Together For Free Download Service

BARB has expanded its programme attribution (PAS) and genre coding service so that as well as its television underwriters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five and BSkyB), twelve additional broadcasters of other BARB-reported channels (75 to date) now participate fully, representing nearly 90% of total TV viewing in the UK.Programme attribution and genre coding work together… Continue reading BARB Expands Programme Atribution And Genre Coding Service

The Financial Times is to raise its cover price from £1 on weekdays to £1.30, with its weekend edition also seeing an increase, by 30p to £1.80.The weekend price rise comes into effect from tomorrow, whilst the weekday price rise starts from Monday.Across the pond, the Wall Street Journal will also undergo a rise, of… Continue reading Financial Times To Raise Price

Marketforce, the magazine distribution company, and WHSmith High Street have rolled-out a new initiative intended to transform the way WHSmith ranges and merchandises magazines.Throughout the summer, WHSmith’s 535 stores are switching from selling magazine ranges linked to store size, to individual ranges that Marketforce has designed to suit each store’s sales profile and shoppers.Marketforce has… Continue reading WHSmith Launches New Magazine Sales Initiative

Channel 4 has made a £50,000 payment to Great Ormond Street Hospital following the scandal which erupted over the Richard & Judy You Say We Pay premium-rate phone quiz.The You Say We Pay quiz was axed in February following claims that people who rang in attempting to win a prize had no chance of being… Continue reading Channel 4 Makes Richard & Judy Charity Payment

LBC 97.3FM has teamed up with Capital One to launch a multi-media, consumer-awareness campaign to highlight the dangers of fraud.The Chrysalis owned station is running an intensive awareness week on James O’Brien’s morning show between 10am and 1pm from June 18 – June 22.With media buying by Starcom MediaVest, Fighting Fraud with James O’Brien and… Continue reading LBC 97.3FM And Capital One Launch Fraud Prevention Campaign

Publicis, the French marketing and advertising group, has bought the digital agency Business Interactif for €137 (£92 million). The group is set to merge Business Interactif with its own digital advertising operation, Digitas, which it acquired last year (see Publicis Buys US Digital Marketing Firm). The deal sees Publicis Groupe acquire a 49% stake in… Continue reading Publicis Buys French Digital Agency For £92 Million

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation is to sell nine of its 35 Fox TV stations having appointed an adviser for the sale. The stations most likely to be sold are in Fox Television Stations’ – a subsidiary of Fox TV – smallest markets and include WDAF in Kansas City, WHBQ in Memphis, KDVR in Denver and… Continue reading News Corp To Sell Nine Fox TV Stations