Social networking website Bebo has hired Angel Gambino, a former senior executive at MTV, to the position of vice president of music in a move to expand the site’s appeal.The company’s international president Joanna Shields has reportedly already admitted to having rival website MySpace in her sights, which according to Nielsen/NetRatings reports a far higher… Continue reading Bebo Gets Gambino For Music Push

The latest economic forecast from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) says that the UK economy will grow by 2.7%, boosted by buoyant business investment which will rise by 8.2%. The NIESR says that consumer price inflation rose to 3.1% in the year to March, prompting the first explanatory letter from the… Continue reading UK Economy Forecast To Grow 2.7%

By the end of 2011, 80% of active internet users (and Fortune 500 enterprises) will have a ‘second life’ online, according to Gartner, Inc. Steve Prentice, vice president and analyst at Gartner, said: “The collaborative and community-related aspects of these environments will dominate in the future, and significant transaction-based commercial opportunities will be limited to… Continue reading 80% Of Active Internet Users To Have Virtual Lives

The future of Iostar could be in doubt after Dawn Airey, former MD of Sky networks, quit last week. Airey left after just one week owing to concerns about the company’s financial arrangements and is understood to have shown doubts that Iostar will be able to live up to its original vision. The company, which… Continue reading Iostar Future Could Be In Doubt

Two months after secretary of state Alastair Darling issued a special intervention notice regarding BSkyB’s purchase of a 17.9% stake in ITV, Ofcom and the Office of Fair Trading will today hand reports on the purchase to the Department of Trade and Industry. Darling initiated the review to ascertain whether the Sky purchase raises “public… Continue reading Sky ITV Shares Investigation Goes To DTI

Pearson has announced that it expects double digit profits at the Financial Times this year owing to new cost measures, integration actions and revenue diversification. In a trading update released today, Pearson said that it is trading in line with expectations for 2007 and expects to achieve good underlying earnings growth, cash conversion ahead of… Continue reading Pearson Predicts Double Digit Profits For FT

XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. released their Q1 results today, announcing a 27% year on year revenue increase to 264 million. The company reached more than 7.9 million subscribers during the first quarter 2007 compared to 6.5 million subscribers in the prior year period, and recently announced that it had now passed the eight million… Continue reading XM Satellite Radio Subscribers Hit 8 Million

1Xtra has announced that Nesha is to leave the station on May 4, to be replaced by Max as host of its weekday lunchtime show.Max will begin presenting on May 7 having deputised in several slots this year. She was signed by the station in December 2006.Max said “I’m thrilled at the opportunity to be… Continue reading New Weekday DJ For 1Xtra

The BBC Trust has given the BBC approval to go ahead with the launch of a nationally available free-to-view satellite platform.Freesat, a joint venture with ITV, has an anticipated launch date of Spring 2008 and will offer up to 200 channels plus digital satellite interactivity and high definition capability.Mark Thompson, BBC director-general, said: “The BBC’s… Continue reading Freesat Gets BBC Trust Approval

Ofcom and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) will today hand reports to the Department of Trade and Industry giving their views on BSkyB’s purchase of a 17.9% stake in ITV.This comes two months after secretary of state Alastair Darling issued a special intervention notice. It is expected that Darling will take a month to… Continue reading Regulators To Hand Sky Share Reports To DTI Today