In May, Google maintained its place as the most-visited web property in the UK with nearly 28 million visitors, reaching 89% of UK web users age 15 and older, according to a new report from comScore.Microsoft was the second placed property with 27.4 million visitors and a reach of 87%.comScore says that Facebook continued its… Continue reading Google Remains Most Visited UK Web Property

Universal McCann has lowered its 2007 US advertising forecast to 3.1% and for overseas growth it now forecasts a gain of 4.2%. It currently expects a growth of 4.2% in worldwide advertising spending, in contrast to its December forecast of 5.3%, assuming no change in interest rates. In December, Universal McCann projected a US advertising… Continue reading Universal McCann Lowers 2007 US Ad Forecast

The latest Carat adspend forecasts predict that global adspend growth will be 5.8% this year, fractionally down from last year’s 5.9%. The 2007 forecast for Western Europe is down slightly from 4.4% to 4.1%. Carat says that online accounts for almost all this growth. Digital television services will continue to grow well throughout the year,… Continue reading Global Adspend Forecast To Grow 5.8%

SMG has completed its 100-day business review, deciding to focus on the sale of non-core assets, restructuring the TV business and growing revenues. The review was initiated after Bob Woodward became chief executive at the end of February (see ITV Welcomes Ofcom’s Public Service Proposals). SMG will continue to look for buyers for Pearl &… Continue reading SMG Completes Business Review

News Corporation could make an announcement today that it has reached an agreement to protect the editorial independence of the Wall Street Journal. According to a report in the Washington Post, News Corp and Dow Jones were last night close to agreeing a deal following a series of meetings. This could then leave the way… Continue reading News Corp Could Announce WSJ Deal Today

UBC Media is to name its instant music buying service Cliq. The service will allow consumers to instantly buy the music they like as they hear it on the radio.It was first announced at a MediaTel Group seminar at the end of 2005, before having its official launch in November last year (see UBC Announces… Continue reading UBC Names Music Buying Service

Ofcom has dished out the largest financial penalty imposed on a public service broadcaster to Five, forcing it to pay £300,000 following breaches of the broadcasting code by its phone-in quiz Brainteaser.The broadcaster has expressed disappointment at the large penalty, with chief executive, Jane Lighting, saying: “We are disappointed with the very high level of… Continue reading Five Gets Record Fine For Brainteaser Blunders

Communications regulator Ofcom has today announced that it will conduct a public consultation on proposals from BSkyB and National Grid Wireless Ltd to replace Sky’s free channels with pay TV services on the digital terrestrial television (DTT) platform.Following Sky’s announcement of intention on this in February (see New Sky Service To Lure Consumers From Free… Continue reading Ofcom Consultation Delays Sky’s Pay DTT Plans

The relationship between audiences and television channels will change over the coming years, as video-on-demand becomes ever more mainstream. This was just one of the messages from last week’s Broadcast Live conference.Stacey Anklam, head of product management at Red Bee Media, outlined how this might happen by recounting one of her company’s experiences with VoD… Continue reading VoD Under Discussion At Broadcast Conference

Total television viewing among 16-34s is set to rise from 2010 onwards following an initial period of decline, according to a new report from Attentional. This is in spite of the fact that average daily television viewing among this group is set to drop from around three hours a day in 2006, to 2.86 in… Continue reading TV Viewing Among 16-34s To Grow From 2010 Onwards