Premium-rate phone regulator Icstis has imposed its highest ever fine, of £150,000, on Eckoh, the service provider on Richard & Judy‘s ‘You Say, We Pay’ phone-in quiz.Icstis ruled that Eckoh misled viewers by actively encouraging them to enter the competition after the potential winners had already been selected.In addition to the fine, the regulator has… Continue reading Record Fine For Richard & Judy Phone Quiz Operator

New research from Ofcom has found that the UK’s digital terrestrial TV platform could carry at least four high definition channels.Speaking at the Westminster Media Forum on HD, Paula Guest, strategy manager of Ofcom’s Digital Dividend Review, revealed that the regulator has now entered into discussions with public service broadcasters over the findings.The Ofcom research,… Continue reading Four HD Channels Possible On DTT Says Ofcom

Nearly half (47%) of all adult Americans now have a high-speed internet connection at home, according to new research from the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Among individuals who use the internet at home, 70% have a high-speed connection while 23% use dialup. The number of Americans with broadband grew 12% from 2006 to… Continue reading Nearly Half Of US Adults Have Broadband At Home

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

ITV’s net advertising revenues were down 5% for the first half of the year, with ITV1’s ad revenues down 9% year on year to £595 million. The figures, revealed in a trading update for the six months to June 30, show that ITV’s revenues from interactive gaming dropped 67% to £9 million following the furore… Continue reading ITV Ad Revenues Down 5%

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

New research from Thinkbox has revealed that UK adults spent more time watching broadcast TV in May than the equivalent month 10 years ago.Thinkbox said that viewers are spending an increasing amount of time watching commercial TV, with figures released by BARB showing that UK adults have consistently increased their TV viewing time over the… Continue reading TV Viewing On Increase Says Thinkbox