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

Online was a big theme in June, and the month began with the news that the UK has the most active online population in Europe, with the highest average number of daily visitors (21.8 million). The research, from comScore, showed that the UK also has the highest usage days per month (21 per user), and… Continue reading INSIGHTanalysis: Media Healthcheck – June 2007

Television adspend in the UK should experience modest growth in the third quarter, according to a forecast from ZenithOptimedia. A report in MediaWeek says that the TV market has been boosted by substantial growth in categories such as internet search, gambling and leisure, alcohol, food and retail, against a weaker performance in traditional areas such… Continue reading TV Adspend Faces Modest Q3 Growth

This year’s MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival will see increasing focus on digital developments in the media, and will stick with its long-winded title despite suggestions last year the festival would re-brand to reflect the converging landscape.Festival chair Tim Hincks said today at the event’s programme launch in central London that organisers were keeping their… Continue reading Television Festival To Focus On Digital Future

Sky is reportedly in discussions with Microsoft about making its proposed digital terrestrial pay-TV service available via PC.Sky is planning to take its three free-to-air channels from Freeview and replace them with a pay-TV service available through a new specification set-top box (see New Sky Service To Lure Consumers From Free TV).According to a report… Continue reading Sky Could Make Pay-TV Service Available Via PC

Michael Grade, ITV’s new executive chairman, has said that broadcasters must work to eradicate lapses in editorial programming standards, at a speech today at the Royal Television Society in London.Grade said there was a “casual contempt” for audiences, which has crept into UK broadcasting, and this must be stamped out.He added that recent events, such… Continue reading Broadcasters Must Work To Restore Viewers Trust

ITV is to launch a film download service next month following a deal between ITV’s DVD division and video download specialists BiBC.The deal will see 500 hours of content owned by ITV DVD and its Rank Film subsidiary added to BiBC’s download service.It will begin with 300 hours of library films, such as Carry on… Continue reading ITV To Launch Film Download Service

Broadcasters could be forced to apply for licences for call TV quizzes under the new gambling act, following the publication of new guidance by the Gambling Commission.Producers and broadcasters have argued that these services should be exempt from licensing regulation under the 2005 Gambling Act, because they offer a free route to play via websites… Continue reading Broadcasters May Need To Apply For Call-TV Licences

Ed Richards, Ofcom chief executive, has said that the regulator has not yet been persuaded to allocate spectrum for HD channels on Freeview.However, in a keynote speech at the Institute of Economic Affairs conference on the Future of Broadcasting, Richards said that Ofcom would do everything it can to help public service broadcasters create an… Continue reading Ofcom Still Considering HD On Freeview

The US private equity firm Carlyle is understood to have tabled an £11.5 billion bid for Virgin Media.According to reports in today’s New York Times and Washington Post, Carlyle has made a preliminary offer of around £16.50 a share for the company.This means that Virgin’s equity would be valued at £6.5 billion, which coupled with… Continue reading Private Equity Firm Bids For Virgin Media