The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned a Virgin Media ad campaign which compared its services with that of Sky.The ASA upheld the complaints from Sky over Virgin Media’s “The real deal” campaign, saying that the ads were misleading.One of the complaints said that showing the supposed “real price” was misleading because it implied that… Continue reading Virgin Media Ad Campaign Banned

US outdoor advertising industry revenue sustained last year’s strong growth trend with an 8% increase in the first three months of 2007, accounting for $1.6 billion in total spending, according to figures from the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA). Stephen Freitas, chief marketing officer for the OAAA, said: “The industry’s growth has remained consistent… Continue reading US Outdoor Ad Revenue Sustains Strong Growth

By 2011, eMarketer estimates there will be more than 200 million broadband internet users in the US, 92% of whom will regularly watch video online. At that time the broadband audience will be two-thirds the size of the total US TV audience, up from less than half the TV audience in 2006, says the online… Continue reading Traditional TV Model To Change Significantly

Text messages will be obsolete within the next five years, according to new research from Gartner. Although there are currently 114 million text messages sent daily in the UK, Gartner says that due to wireless internet technology coming down in price, more mobile phone handsets will include online technology and therefore more users will move… Continue reading Text Messaging To Be Obsolete Within Five Years

BSkyB has bought Amstrad in a deal worth £125 million – 150 pence in cash per share – which should see Sir Alan Sugar collect £34.5 million. Sky said that the acquisition of Amstrad will provide the satellite broadcaster with an in-house design and development capability, which Sky believes will deliver significant operational and financial… Continue reading Sky Buys Amstrad For £125m

GCap Media could be considering purchasing Emap’s radio assets, following Emap’s announcement last week that it is reviewing its portfolio of assets. When Emap announced the review last week it said that “all options to maximise shareholder value will be examined, including a possible sale or demerger of some or all of its constituent businesses”… Continue reading GCap Could Buy Emap’s Radio Assets

Emap is to relaunch Heat Radio with a celebrity news format and sponsorship, promotions and ad-funded programming in place of spot advertising.The national digital station, which is currently an automated jukebox, will be relaunched at the end of September with an “exclusive club” of five clients whose advertising will be worked into the station’s content.Traditional… Continue reading Heat Radio To Relaunch With Integrated Advertising

Thinkbox has just published its Quarter 2 review for 2007, which shows that commercial TV is continuing to grow.The research shows that as digital penetration has expanded, so too have commercial impacts.Thinkbox says that individuals’ impacts rose over 3.3% against the same quarter last year and, as in the first three months of the year,… Continue reading Commercial TV Continues To Grow

Phil Riley, Chrysalis Radio’s chief executive, has resigned following the group’s acquisition by Global Radio.The £170 million disposal of music group Chrysalis’ radio division to Global Radio, a new company backed by Irish investors and chaired by former ITV chief executive, Charles Allen, was completed yesterday (see Chrysalis Radio To Sell For £170 Million).Riley was… Continue reading Riley Quits Chrysalis Following Global Sale

SDN, the ITV owned multiplex operator, has awarded a £500 million contract to design, build and run a new digital terrestrial TV (DTT) network to Arqiva.The contract has been awarded in preparation for the forthcoming digital switchover (see Whitehaven Gets Ready For Digital Switchover), with the replacement network having increased transmission power levels which means… Continue reading Arqiva Wins Contract To Run New DTT Network