News Corporation and NBC Universal will launch the beta version of their video website Hulu in October, although no date has been given for a formal release.Hulu, which was originally announced in March under the name Newsite, will feature programmes from the two companies’ back catalogues including Heroes, 24 and The Simpsons, as well as… Continue reading News Corp Reveals Video Website Name

SMG is selling Primesight, its outdoor advertising division, for up to £62 million to a private equity firm. In a statement released today, SMG said that the GMT Communications Partners deal represents a clear uplift on previous offers. Rob Woodward, chief executive of SMG, said: “This is a good price for the business and clearly… Continue reading SMG Confirms Primesight Sale

A new report estimates that 84% of the US population, including consumer, business and double users, will have mobile phones by the end of 2007, with this percentage surging past 100% by 2013. The study from SNL Kagan shows that US cell phone subscriptions will grow at a rate of about 3% per year over… Continue reading 84% Of US Population To Have Mobile Phones By End Of 2007

The number of UK households connected to the internet has jumped by almost one million in the last year alone, to reach over 15 million, according to the latest information from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The number of homes with access to broadband internet has jumped by 40% year on year to 51%,… Continue reading Household Internet Connectivity Rises To Over 15 Million

The UK is lagging behind the rest of Europe in its IPTV provision, with only one nationally available IPTV service compared to eight services in France, four major operations in Spain, two in Italy and two in Germany. New research from Screen Digest reveals that the UK began the year with only 54,000 IPTV customers,… Continue reading UK Failing To Exploit IPTV

Xfm’s 10th birthday celebrations will see the station produce a season of documentaries about ten of the most influential and significant albums released in each of Xfm’s ten years of broadcasting.The season will mark the first time Xfm has programmed and broadcast a collection of music documentaries on this scale. The shows are set to… Continue reading Xfm Unveils 10th Birthday Documentary Season

Last night saw the new BBC Two reality show The Restaurant – featuring nine couples finding out if they have what it takes to run their own restaurant – soundly beaten by Channel 4’s own serving of reality, Supernanny.Starring top chef Raymond Blanc, the BBC Two chef-fest seemed like a cross between The Apprentice and… Continue reading Supernanny Triumphs Over The Restaurant

The BBC has shortlisted six digital agencies to take forward to the next stage of a review of its digital creative services which began in July 2007.The six shortlisted agencies are Agency Republic, GT, 20:20 London, Play, Start Creative Ltd and one other unnamed agency.The review is statutory and is required to satisfy the BBC’s… Continue reading BBC Shortlists Digital Creative Agencies

New research from the Newspaper Society (NS) reveals that the number of regional press websites, radio stations and niche publications grew by between 21% and 25% in 2006.The NS Annual Regional Press Survey, published today, shows the number of websites grew from 828 to 1102. The number of core regional newspaper titles went up slightly… Continue reading Regional Press Websites Increase

UTV, the multimedia group which broadcasts radio and television, has announced that its operating profit, before exceptional items, was up 4% at £13 million for the six months to June 30. The group’s radio operating profit was up by 7% to £6.8 million (2006: £6.4 million) after deducting start-up losses of £1.3 million (2006: £1.4… Continue reading UTV Announces Increase In Operating Profit