Real People, NatMags’ women’s weekly, is refunding advertisers after it failed to meet its guaranteed circulation target of 350,000, according to a report in Marketing Week.The magazine, which launched in January, was 9% short of its target in the six months to June, according to the ABC magazine figures which were released last week (see… Continue reading Real People Could Refund Advertisers

July was another record breaking month for text messaging in the UK, as the number sent soared to over 3.5 billion, according to new figures released today by the Mobile Data Association (MDA). An average of 113 million messages were sent per day throughout July, and the total is an increase of almost 30% on… Continue reading Record Text Messaging Figures For July

Subscriber numbers to retail VoIP services rose by 83% during 2005, from 10.3 million at the beginning of the year to over 18.7 million subscribers by the end, according to new research from Point Topic. Point Topic’s research also estimates that the number of people who paid for PC-to-phone calls during 2005 is over 4.7… Continue reading VoIP Subscriber Numbers Rose By 83% In 2005

Five has named Nick Thorogood as the Controller of its two forthcoming digital channels, Five US and Five Life. The two channels are being launched in the Autumn and Thorogood will begin his new role in September. Until earlier this year Thorogood was editor of ITV daytime, a position he’d held since 2004. Prior to… Continue reading Five Announces Controller For New Digital Channels

ITV has agreed to sell its stake in the Irish commercial broadcaster TV3 for £70 million as part of its disposal programme of non-core assets. The sale, which has been anticipated for some time, sees the broadcasters 45% stake go to private equity firm Doughty Hanson, which made a previous bid for TV3 in May… Continue reading ITV Agrees Sale of Stake In TV3

Online publisher Magicalia has acquired Encanta Media to create a specialist cross-media publishing group. Encanta publishes nine specialist magazines, which range from woodworking and modelling to patchwork and gardening, and operates a series of leading hobbyist exhibitions. Magicalia says that the acquisition marks the first step in its strategy of building the UK’s first truly… Continue reading Magicalia Acquires Encanta Media

Associated Newspapers is to launch its freesheet, London Lite, earlier than planned in order to be on the streets ahead of its rival, News International’s thelondonpaper.With its launch brought forward to August 30, Associated’s London Lite will be available a full five days before News International’s offering, which has itself had its launch date brought… Continue reading London Lite To Launch Next Week

H Bauer is to launch new Women’s weekly title In The Know later this month, and will do so without selling ads in it.Bauer has invested £10 million in the new magazine, which will offer topical news and lifestyle content. The launch campaign will include TV ads and outdoor and retail activity.The publisher says that… Continue reading In The Know To Launch Next Week

Littlewoods has agreed a cross-platform deal with ITV to sponsor the new Trinny and Susannah series due to air this Autumn on ITV1.The sponsorship package includes online, interactive, mobile interactive bumpers and licensing opportunities for Littlewoods as well as branding on all programme-related on-air trailers and off-air marketing.This is the first time Littlewoods has advertised… Continue reading Littlewoods To Sponsor Trinny And Susannah

The UK remains the only country in Europe with over 50% of households having digital television services, according to a report just published by independent market analyst Datamonitor. Datamonitor estimates that by 2010, 95% of UK households will have made the transition to digital TV and the UK will remain the most penetrated digital market… Continue reading UK Only Country In Europe With Over 50% DTV Services