Newspaper publisher Pearson has announced a strong start to 2006, with trading in line with expectations and a significant increase in profits expected from the firm’s Financial Times Group. The company, which also owns Penguin Books, expects strong underlying earnings growth, good cash generation and an improvement on return from invested capital. The Financial Times… Continue reading FT Looks Toward Profits As Pearson Performs Well

Search engine giant, Google, has reported revenues of $2.25 billion for the first quarter of 2006, an increase of 79% compared to the same period in 2005. Operating profit for Q1 2006 reached $743 million, accounting for 33% of revenues, up from $570 million in Q1 2005. Net income for the first quarter hit $592… Continue reading Google Enjoys 79% Rise In Revenues For Q1 2006

ITV is to lose another of its best-known presenters this year, as Denis Norden announces his retirement from the broadcaster after 30 years with the channel.Norden will record one final entertainment special next month, which will mark the end of his time with ITV. Entitled All the Best From Denis Norden, the programme will be… Continue reading Norden Calls It A Night On ITV

The Independent is to bolster its weekday offering with the launch of a feature-led supplement next week, dubbed Extra and weighing in at 24 pages.The supplement, which will reportedly aim to “surprise and excite every day,” features comment pieces from the paper’s regular writers and columnists, hitting newsstands on Tuesday to support an expanded Independent,… Continue reading Independent Plans Extra Content For Weekday Paper

Channel 4’s surprise success with quiz show Deal or No Deal has netted a massive £5 million sponsorship deal for the broadcaster, with BT signing up to promote its Phone Book through the programme.The sponsorship, which starts on 1 May, is intended to promote and raise public awareness of The Phone Book from BT’s Classified… Continue reading BT Looks Up Channel 4 For Deal or No Deal Sponsorship

BBC Worldwide is to increase the frequency of its Top Gear magazine to four-weekly, pushing the total number of issues per year to 13.The change is an attempt by the publisher to capitalise on the Top Gear brand, and its recent increase in popularity.In addition to the magazine’s twelve dated issues, a special Awards issue… Continue reading BBC Shifts Top Gear To Monthly Publication

ITV put in a strong performance last night, with police dramas The Bill and Murder City outperforming the BBC to notch up average adult audiences of 5.5 million and 4.8 million.The two shows successfully saw off competition from BBC One’s Seaside Rescue, Super Vets and The McCartneys v The Fur Trade.While Seaside Rescue and Super… Continue reading ITV’s Double Detective Dramas Floor BBC

GCap Media is to lose two key executives in a management reshuffle that sees Capital Radio managing director Keith Pringle, and programme director Nik Goodman step down from their positions with immediate effect.The changes form part of on-going management upheaval at the newly re-launched station, with the decision for Pringle and Goodman to resign described… Continue reading Capital Radio Loses Execs In Reshuffle

Chrysalis-owned Heart has taken its Jamie Theakston breakfast show national, broadcasting the programme digitally to capitalise on the success since its launch in London a year ago.The show will now broadcast through the five digital Heart regions in Central Scotland, North East, North West & Yorkshire, and South Wales & the West.The regional stations previously… Continue reading Heart Takes Theakston Breakfast Show National

Behavioural targeting advertising in the US is expected to pass the $2 billion mark by 2008, with marketers expected to spend $1.2 million on the medium in 2006. According to eMarketer, the medium’s strong growth is being driven by three main factors, with behavioural targeting appealing to marketers by getting better results from fewer impressions.… Continue reading Behavioural Targeting Advertising To Pass $2 Billion By 2008