US broadcaster CBS has bought the London-based social networking website Last.fm for $280 million (£142 million). Last.fm, which claims to have around 20 million active users per month, is a music recommendation site which allows users to listen to music based on their listening habits. The purchase follows a spate of similar acquisitions, such as… Continue reading CBS Buys Last.fm

A new forecast from JupiterResearch claims that 70% of US homes – some 86 million households – will have broadband internet access by 2012. The report, US Broadband Forecast, 2007 to 2012: LECs Maintain Advantage over Cable Operators in Quest for New Subscribers, JupiterResearch finds that wider availability of high-speed service will prompt nearly 36… Continue reading 70% Of US Homes To Have Broadband By 2012

Advertising expenditures for newspaper web sites increased by 22.3% to $750 million in the first quarter versus the same period a year ago, according to preliminary estimates from the Newspaper Association of America (NAA). The increase reflects the twelfth consecutive quarter of double digit growth for online newspaper advertising since NAA started reporting online ad… Continue reading Adspend On US Newspaper Websites Increases

Jay Hunt, the BBC’s controller of daytime and early peak, has been announced as Five’s new director of programmes.Hunt will take up her new post overseeing programming for the broadcaster’s core channel later this year.Lisa Opie, Five’s managing director, content, said: “I am thrilled we have been able to appoint an executive as creative, dynamic… Continue reading Five Announces New Director Of Programmes

Sony Ericsson has announced a major new deal with Emap2 to focus on activity to promote its Walkman range of handsets.The year-long exclusive project, beginning in June, follows on from last year’s Soundtrack To Your Life campaign.It sees the creation of three tailored campaigns working across all of Emap’s print, radio, TV and online platforms.The… Continue reading Sony Ericsson Extends Deal With Emap2

London’s Magic 105.4 has signed an exclusive partnership with George Michael to celebrate his landmark Wembley concerts.The singer with the voice like melted chocolate will be the first artist to play at the rebuilt iconic stadium, and Magic 105.4 is the official radio partner.Magic will be running exclusive ticket giveaways from June 4, with pairs… Continue reading Magic 105.4 Signs George Michael Partnership

Ofcom is to delay two of its spectrum auctions, for television and mobile phone spectrum, due to prolonged discussions over terms of sale and a backlog of responses.The auction of the mobile phone spectrum was due to go ahead by the end of the year, but it has now been put back to early 2008.It… Continue reading Ofcom Delays Spectrum Auctions

Duncan George, commercial director at GCap Media, is to leave the company on 8 June 2007.Following the merger of Capital Radio plc and GWR plc in 2005 (see Capital And GWR Name Merged Group), George became commercial director for GCap Media plc (see Duncan George Appointed Commercial Boss At GCap) and played a pivotal role… Continue reading Duncan George To Leave GCap

Channel 4 has said that it will not profit from phone votes for Big Brother 8, after cutting the price of eviction voting from 50p to just 25p.The reduced charge will cover all the costs to Channel 4 of administering the eviction votes, including a 10p donation to charity for each vote cast.The move comes… Continue reading Channel 4 Will Not Profit From Big Brother Phone Votes

IPC Southbank has launched its new, much-hyped standalone homes portal, in a bid to revive its home interest portfolio and bolster the publisher’s digital output.www.housetohome.co.uk is “designed to be a one-stop shop for every home design and decorating need”, according to the publisher, enabling visitors to “develop their homes ideas and dreams with its wide… Continue reading IPC Unveils New Homes Portal