Microsoft has bought global digital marketing company aQuantive in a deal worth $6 billion (£3.04 billion). The deal, following on from Google’s acquisition of DoubleClick (see Google Acquires Doubleclick For £3.1 Billion) and WPP’s purchase of 24/7 Real Media (see WPP Acquires 24/7 Real Media), is part of Microsoft’s attempt to build its own global… Continue reading Microsoft Buys aQuantive For $6 Billion

A third of British teenagers have at least four social networking profiles on sites such as MySpace, Bebo and Facebook, according to research conducted by Q Research for MediaGuardian.co.uk.The survey of 11 to 20-year olds showed that more than 90% of UK teenagers have used a social networking website and more than half use them… Continue reading Social Networking Sites Appeal To 90% Of British Teens

IPC Inspire has announced the promotion of Nicola Ponting to the role of digital sales director with responsibility for driving IPC Inspire’s consumer digital revenues.Ponting will working with IPC Inspire’s core teams to develop online advertising and representing the division’s digital advertising both internally and externally. In addition, Ponting will retain her responsibility for the… Continue reading New Digital Sales Director For IPC Inspire

Last night saw Ghazal fired from The Apprentice with a peak of six million adults watching the contestants trying to schmooze their way into Sir Alan’s good books.The BBC One show had an average audience of 5.4 million adults (a 24.5% share) across its hour long running time.On at 9pm, The Apprentice went head-to-head with… Continue reading Ghazal Gets Booted Off The Apprentice

ITV is likely to announce today that Dawn Airey, ex-Five and Sky boss, is to join the broadcaster in a senior management role.Airey is understood to be in advanced negotiations with Michael Grade, ITV executive chairman, about a new job with responsibilities including overseeing the company’s UK and international production business.A report in the Guardian… Continue reading Dawn Airey Could Join ITV

Advertisers may soon have a new tool to boost click-throughs from search ads, after the announcement that Microsoft has started testing a new platform which turns standard search ads into full-blown display ads.The new technology means that when a user hovers the cursor over a paid search ad, the ad expands into a large display… Continue reading New Technology Could Boost Click-Throughs For Search Ads

Channel 4 could be about to launch six channels on the Sky EPG with a purchase of Life TV Media.According to reports in the trade press, Channel 4 could be interested in acquiring Life TV Media as it runs the three channels directly below Channel 4’s digital channels on the Sky EPG.Life TV Media’s Life… Continue reading Channel 4 Could Launch New Channels On Sky EPG

‘Silver Surfers’ are set to overtake the 35-44s as the age group with the largest representation online, according to online competitive service Hitwise. Those aged 55+ accounted for 22% of UK visits to all categories of websites in the four weeks to 12 May 2007, up 54% since 2005 and 40% since 2006. This compares… Continue reading Silver Surfers Boost Online Presence

Dawn Airey is believed to be in advanced negotiations with ITV about taking on a senior management role at the commercial broadcaster. ITV executive chairman, Michael Grade, has apparently been in discussions with Airey about a new job which would include overseeing the company’s UK and international production business. The Guardian quoted a source as… Continue reading Airey Could Join ITV

ITV has said that ITV1’s advertising revenue for the first half of 2007 will be down by 9.6%, whilst ITV Plc’s total advertising revenue is down by 7.5%. In an AGM statement released today, ITV said that its family of channels (including GMTV) achieved a viewing share in multichannel homes of 21.9% which was slightly… Continue reading First Half Decline For ITV1 Ad Revenue