UTV has announced that operating profits for 2006 were broadly flat at £24.8 million. The group said that increased profits from its continuing radio operations were offset by reduced revenue in its television division and start-up losses at its new radio stations in Edinburgh and Belfast. In the first six months of the current year,… Continue reading UTV Reports £24.8 Million Operating Profit

The merger between satellite radio companies Sirius and XM might not occur, after Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin said to shareholders that regulators are unlikely to approve it. On Wednesday, senate subcommittee on antitrust, competition policy and consumer rights chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI), concluded that satellite radio was its own market and a merger to consolidate… Continue reading XM And Sirius Merger “Unlikely”

A new report from Verdict Research reveals the fastest rate of growth in the online retail sector since the busting of the dotcom bubble in 2001. Verdict says that in 2006 online retail spending in the UK grew by 33.4%, to a record £10.9 billion, almost 13 times faster than the retail sector overall. It… Continue reading Online Sales In The UK To Almost Triple Over The Next Five Years

The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) has welcomed the decision of European governments to adopt a new ‘Audiovisual Media Services’ directive, which will introduce new advertising rules for all TV and TV-like services, including interactive TV, video-on-demand, IPTV, and mobile TV.The directive will replace the 1997 ‘Television Without Frontiers’ directive, and is expected to enter… Continue reading WFA Welcomes New Ad Rules

A new plug-in device is set to come on to the market in late autumn which will enable consumers to listen to DAB digital radio and FM radio through their iPods.Roberts Radio and Frontier Silicon are working together to bring the device on to the market, at a retail price of around £50. All leading… Continue reading FM And DAB Radio To Be Available Via iPods

The Post Office is to launch its own broadband service through a partnership with BT Wholesale.Under the four-year deal, BT Wholesale will provide an integrated range of telephony and broadband services.The first benefits from the agreement will be unveiled next month when Post Office HomePhone launches a new price and service package intended to strengthen… Continue reading Post Office To Launch Broadband Service

Blue Peter is to be cut from three episodes a week to two, the BBC has confirmed.The BBC said that the move would allow the show to “concentrate on more compelling and ambitious content”.A spokesperson for the BBC said: “Over the past year Blue Peter‘s daily presence has been reduced from five days a week… Continue reading BBC Cuts Back Blue Peter Episodes

A peak of 9.2 million adults watched Milan exact revenge for the miracle of Istanbul last night, as they ran out 2-1 winners over a Liverpool team that played its heart out.The Champions League final, shown live on ITV1, had an average of 6.8 million viewers glued to their screens throughout its running time, as… Continue reading 9.2 Million Adults Watch Football Final

Emap Advertising has announced the winners of its competition to find the UK Young Creative Team to represent the UK in the print competition at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival Young Creatives Competition.Art director Jay Phillips and copywriter Neil Clarke from McCann Erickson in London have been chosen as the UK representatives at the… Continue reading Emap Advertising Announces UK Cannes Lions Print Team

Social networking site and MySpace rival, Facebook, now reports more than 3.5 million users in the UK, after a massive surge in popularity in the past six months.Londoners make up the website’s second largest regional user group worldwide, with around 450,000 in the capital.Figures compiled by comScore for MediaGuardian.co.uk showed a steady increase in unique… Continue reading Facebook Records Surge In UK Users