Speaking at yesterday’s Right’s Lab conference, ITV executive chairman Michael Grade said that ITV1’s top priority is to regain its ground in 9pm drama.Grade said: “Laura Mackie [director of drama at ITV] and her team are raising our ambitions in this area so if you think that we’re only interested in detective dramas or psychological… Continue reading ITV1’s Top Priority Is 9pm Drama

Ofcom has said that Channel 4 must address the way in which it will approach its future role as a public service broadcaster and also the ways in which it will be held accountable to its remits.Today’s statement comes after the regulator commissioned a report into Channel 4’s finances which found that the broadcaster is… Continue reading Channel 4 Must Focus On PSB Future

People say they listen to the radio more often than they did two years ago, according to the early findings of the biggest ever poll on the future of the industry.The Big Listen survey is being carried out by YouGov on behalf of RadioCentre, the body which represents UK Commercial Radio.Special programming is encouraging listeners… Continue reading Poll Launches On The Future Of Commercial Radio

Aegis has signed an agreement to acquire mobile marketing company Marvellous Mobile. Marvellous Mobile’s services cover creative, design, build, hosting and measurement, and it has developed its own proprietary global technology platform, known as MHub. For the past year, Marvellous Mobile has collaborated with Isobar, the digital agency network, and part of Aegis, to create… Continue reading Aegis To Acquire Mobile Marketing Company

Richard Brent, currently the BBC’s head of planning and scheduling daytime and early peak, has been named as Five’s new head of scheduling.Brent will take up the role scheduling the broadcaster’s core channel later this year.Five’s managing director, content, Lisa Opie, said: “Richard has a great track record at both the BBC and in commercial… Continue reading New Head Of Scheduling For Five

Declining red-top the News of the World has a new deputy editor after the announcement that Jane Johnson is to join the Sunday title.Johnson, who was one of Emap’s top editors who successfully launched Closer in 2002, is returning to Fleet Street after five years. She was previously an executive editor on the Sunday Mirror.She… Continue reading News Of The World Gets New Deputy Editor

Ofcom’s Advisory Committee on Older and Disabled People and Digital UK have today jointly published research highlighting the potential impact of digital switchover on disabled, older, isolated and low income consumers.The research highlights the need for a targeted communications campaign to educate informal, formal, and voluntary support networks (such as family members, social service departments… Continue reading Ofcom Research Highlights Vulnerable In Countdown To Switchover

Pizza Hut has secured exclusive rights to the ‘Family Gold Spot’ advertising slot, to air before all family films in a seven-figure deal.In a one-year agreement brokered by Pearl & Dean and Carlton Screen Advertising on behalf of the Cinema Advertising Association, Pizza Hut’s 60-second creative will run before this year’s big family releases from… Continue reading Pizza Hut Secures Pearl & Dean Family Gold Slot

Emap has reportedly approached Future chief executive, Stevie Spring, about its vacant chief executive role.Reports in the trade press have said that Emap is building a shortlist of candidates, being put together by headhunters Zygos, to succeed Tom Moloney, who stepped down last month (see Emap Chief Executive Quits).Before joining Future in June last year… Continue reading Spring Could Be New Emap Chief Exec

Alison Reay, the Titan Outdoor joint managing director, is to leave the company after 14 months.Reay joined Titan last March along with ex-Viacom Outdoor sales director Andy Moug. Reay is the latest of several employees to leave the outdoor firm following the departures of sales director Steve Atkinson and development director Helen Bouchez, amongst others.Reay… Continue reading Reay Leaves Titan Outdoor