Google’s purchase of ad-serving company DoubleClick for £1.5 billion has come under fire from BEUC, the European consumers’ organisation. BEUC has asked the EU competition commissioner, Neelie Kroes, to investigate the deal, which could lead to Google being forced to divest large parts of its operations if it is found to be in breach of… Continue reading Google DoubleClick Deal Under Pressure From Consumer Group

Digital Marketing Group has acquired Graphico New Media, a full service creative digital agency with skills in mobile marketing, and Hyperlaunch New Media, an award-winning digital creative marketing agency. DMG is paying £8.6 million for Graphico and £3.5 million for Hyperlaunch. Graphico’s core business area lies in the design, development and maintenance of web-sites, from… Continue reading Digital Marketing Group Acquires Two Agencies

The NRS is to take an increasingly web based approach to readership measurement according to NRS chairman Simon Marquis, speaking at yesterday’s MediaTel Group ‘Future of National Newspapers’ seminar. Marquis said that not only is the NRS currently measuring publishers websites, with the data to become available by early next year, but it is also… Continue reading Web Based Approach Is Future Of NRS

The structure of agencies and the creativity of advertising for newspapers were brought into question at the ‘Future of National Newspapers’ seminar held by MediaTel Group in London yesterday, with panellists urging agencies to become more integrated. Stuart Taylor, commercial director at Guardian News and Media, said that agencies are “too structured separately”. He conceded… Continue reading Agencies Must Consider Restructure For Digital Age

This year, Britain is set to account for over half of all online ad spending in Western Europe, rising to a 52.6% market share in 2010, according to new research from eMarketer. Steady economic growth, further advances in broadband, mobile internet access and associated ad-serving technology will help fuel this growth, according to the UK… Continue reading UK To Spend £2.6 Billion On Online Advertising In 2007

The jury is still out on afternoon freesheets, according to Stuart Taylor, commercial director at Guardian News and Media, panellist at today’s MediaTel Group seminar on the future of newspapers. Taylor said that whilst morning free paper Metro has now formed strong relationships with readers, the same cannot yet be said of the afternoon titles.… Continue reading Jury Still Out On Afternoon Freesheets

The newspaper industry must work harder to promote itself, increasing marketing and research to change the primarily negative perception of the sector that has developed since the influx of digital technology. This was the view of panellists at this morning’s ‘Future of National Newspapers’ seminar, held in London by MediaTel Group. The selection of top… Continue reading Newspaper Industry Must Focus On Marketing Itself To Succeed

Mark Thompson, director general of the BBC, has accused commercial rival ITV of plagiarising successful television programme formats such as Any Dream Will Do and The Apprentice.Speaking at the launch of the BBC 2007 annual report, Thompson attacked the “copycatting” policy of rivals, which he said was flattering but showed that the BBC was leading… Continue reading BBC Director General Accuses ITV Of Plagiarism

Current director of strategic insights at ZenithOptimedia, Andrew Green, will leave the agency to join Ipsos Global Media as chief marketing officer next week.At Ipsos, Green will focus on developing the Ipsos Media approach to ROI, engagement and mobile.Before his role at ZenithOptimedia, Green previously held senior positions at OMD and Zenith in the US… Continue reading Green To Join Ipsos From Zenith Next Week

Channel 4’s managing director of digital content, Andy Grumbridge, has been appointed director of digital media at Virgin Radio.Grumbridge replaces James Cridland to lead Virgin Radio’s in-house 13-strong digital team.Virgin Radio has been at the forefront of digital, becoming one of the first stations in the world to broadcast online in 1996.Grumbridge will be expected… Continue reading Grumbridge Leaves Channel 4 For Virgin Radio