Google is being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over its purchase of online advertising company DoubleClick for $3.1 billion. According to a report in the New York Times, the FTC has opened a preliminary antitrust investigation into the purchase after concerns were raised about the merger of the two companies. Google bought the… Continue reading Google DoubleClick Acquisition Under Investigation

Treasury officials could sell Channel 4 for £1 billion in a fund raising scheme to take place once Gordon Brown Becomes Prime Minister. According to a report in The Times, advisers close to Brown are considering the political and economic arguments in favour of privatisation, even though the Labour party has a manifesto commitment to… Continue reading Treasury Could Sell Off Channel 4

Aegis has recorded a total revenue increase of 10.8% at constant currencies for the first quarter, 4.6% at reported rates. The group’s organic revenue growth (excluding currency movements and the impact of acquisitions) has increased since 2006, to 8.5% in the first quarter, and Aegis says that it continues to achieve the fastest organic revenue… Continue reading Aegis Announces Q1 Revenue Increase

SMG has announced that it its television airtime revenues are expected to decline by 7% for the first half of 2007, owing to a weakness in interactive TV revenues. Virgin Radio revenues have grown by 8% also outperforming the market, and displaying particularly strong online revenue growth, said SMG. Pearl & Dean has also seen… Continue reading SMG Announces TV Revenue Decline

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