Greg Dyke, former director general of the BBC, has said that ITV cannot survive as an independent company, according to reports.Dyke, who led a failed private equity take-over of the broadcaster last year (see ITV Rejects Second Bid By Defeated Dyke Consortium), said ITV would have to be taken over, or hit the acquisition trail… Continue reading Former BBC Director General Hits Out At ITV

Emap has agreed to sell its Republic of Ireland radio stations to the Irish and European radio group Communicorp Group for around £135 million. The sale is conditional upon obtaining certain necessary regulatory clearances which Emap expects to be obtained in the second half of its financial year.The stations, comprising Today FM, FM104 and Highland… Continue reading Emap Agrees Sale Of Irish Stations

A survey has revealed multinational computer technology corporation Microsoft as the number one brand in the UK.Brand monitoring group Superbrands surveyed 3,000 consumers for its annual rankings, which put Microsoft top, followed by Coca-Cola, Google, the BBC, BP, British Airways, Lego, Guinness, Mercedes-Benz and Cadbury. Brands falling out of the top 10 this year included… Continue reading Microsoft Tops Brand Poll

The ABC has defended its decision to allow newspaper circulation figures that may be boosted by promotions and give-aways.The audit body has come under attack from the Entertainment Retail Association, the trade body that represents the UK’s music, film and games retailers, following a Mail On Sunday deal offering Prince’s new album for free with… Continue reading ABC Says Newspaper Promotions To Boost Circulation Are Not Against The Rules

Emap has acquired Torcello Publishing Limited, owner of Infrastructure Journal, a subscription-based online information service aimed at the infrastructure project finance market, £20 million. Infrastructure Journal is an online news and information service providing subscription services and networking events for participants in the project finance market. Infrastructure Journal is a global business with 70% of… Continue reading Emap Acquires Torcello For £20 Million

Tiscali is to acquire Pipex Communications’ broadband and voice division for £210 million. The Division, which has more than one million customers, was expecting 2007 sales of over £300 million. Mary Turner, CEO of Tiscali UK, said: “The acquisition of Pipex’s broadband and voice division further cements Tiscali’s position as a fully integrated telecom and… Continue reading Pipex To Sell Broadband Division To Tiscali For £210 Million

Spending on online marketing in Europe will double in the next five years, from around €7.5 billion in 2006 to more than €16 billion in 2012, according to a new report by Forrester Research. In five years, online marketing – including email, search, and display advertising – will represent 18% of total media budgets. According… Continue reading Online Adspend Set To Double

A new report from iSuppli suggests that the market for IPTV video services will rise to $26.3 billion in 2011, up from $779.2 million in 2006. It adds that telcos view IPTV as an opportunity to recapture the revenue generated by many of the internet-based services that have bypassed them by travelling through their broadband… Continue reading IPTV Video Revenue To Reach $26 Billion By 2011

GCap Media has appointed Robin Pembrooke, director of product operations at Yahoo! Europe, to the new position of group director of online and interactive operations.Pembrooke will be responsible for leading and managing the creation of a portfolio of online brands and interactive services across analogue, DAB radio, online and via mobile or TV.He will report… Continue reading GCap Appoints Director Of Online And Interactive

ITV’s commissioning executive Liam Keelan will return to the BBC as its new daytime controller.Keelan will rejoin the BBC after just 18 months at ITV as controller of daytime.He left his role as BBC One scheduler early last year, when he was hired by then newly arrived ITV director of television, Simon Shaps, as part… Continue reading ITV Exec Will Return To The BBC