Five’s Controller of features and entertainment, Ben Frow, is to leave the broadcaster.During his three years at Five, Frow created and launched some of the channel’s most popular series with shows such as The Hotel Inspector; Diet Doctors; How To Be A Property Developer and Build A New Life In The Country.Five’s managing director, content,… Continue reading Frow Leaves Five

Julian Bellamy, controller of BBC3, has returned to Channel 4 as head of programmes, whilst Kevin Lygo has been promoted to the new role of director of television and content at the channel.Bellamy, who joined BBC3 in 2005 following two years with Channel 4, will report directly to Lygo and have commissioning responsibility for programming… Continue reading Bellamy Returns To Channel 4

The BBC and IBM have made a strategic alliance which follows the signing of an agreement for a framework outlining several joint projects between the two companies.The BBC says that one of the first projects will focus on applying state-of-the-art image/video search technologies to CBeebies and CBBC programmes.This IBM research system, code-named “Marvel”, has the… Continue reading BBC Strikes Deal With IBM

The latest episode in the ongoing saga between Virgin Media and Sky has taken place today, with Virgin Media saying that it will take the satellite broadcaster to court if the carriage dispute is not resolved.Virgin Media customers are unable to receive Sky’s basic channels after talks between the two companies broke down over the… Continue reading Virgin Media Threatens Legal Action Over Sky Channel Dispute

Each week, NewsLine brings you a round-up of the latest news from the City affecting the media industry.There were several big financial releases, with Virgin Media announcing that its revenue increased to £1,081.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, up from £1,024.9 million in Q3.Of course, Virgin Media has been in the news for… Continue reading Media In The City

Virgin Media has said that it will give its customers until the end of the month to cancel their agreements after the transmission of Sky’s basic channels was stopped for Virgin cable customers last week.However, Sir Richard Branson’s company insists that not offering the channels, which includes flagship Sky One, does not constitute a breach… Continue reading Virgin Promises To Cancel Subs For Unhappy Customers

TNS has announced that it achieved underlying revenue growth of 2.5% for the full year 2006, with the majority of its businesses performing well. Underlying revenue growth for Europe as a whole was 3.2%, with TNS saying that this represents an acceptable performance given slower market growth in developed markets in Western Europe. The UK… Continue reading TNS Records 2006 Revenue Growth

United Business Media’s (UBM) revenues from continuing operations grew by 17% to £739.1 million in 2006, up from £633.7 million in 2005, whilst operating profit rose by 18% to £149 million, up from £126.7 million in 2005. By the end of 2006, the proportion of revenues and profits generated from events was 29% and 43.3%… Continue reading UBM 2006 Revenues Grow

Archant’s operating profits for 2006 fell 6.8% to £29.5 million, although the group said that it had performed robustly in challenging conditions for the media industry. Continued progress in magazines and contract publishing saw profits in those businesses, including acquisitions, up 23.7% at £6.1 million, up from £5 million in 2005. In a statement to… Continue reading Archant’s Operating Profits Decline

SMG has announced that Jamie Mathieson and Lord Waheed Alli are to join the company’s board of directors as non-executive directors. Jamie Mathieson (52) is the executive chairman of Brewin Dolphin Holdings PLC. He was previously a non-executive director of Scottish Radio Holdings until its sale to Emap, and is currently a non-executive director of… Continue reading SMG Appoints Non-Executive Directors