Independent advertising and marketing services firm, BLM, has announced the multi-million pound purchase of Red Media, the UK’s largest media independent in the premium and luxury brand sector.Red Media’s clients include Diesel, Gant, Paul Smith, Aquascutum and Smythson of Bond Street, with annual media billings of £10 million.The deal will see senior Red staff remain… Continue reading BLM Snaps Up Premium Media Firm Red

ITV has announced a succession of new directors across its range of operations this morning, including the appointment of Ben McOwen Wilson to the newly-created position of strategy director.McOwen Wilson will join the broadcaster in March from Spectrum Strategy Consultants, where he is a partner, reporting to ITV chief executive Charles Allen.The new strategy boss… Continue reading ITV Signs New Strategy, Finance & Entertainment Chiefs

UK publishing group, Pearson, expects to report “significant” underlying growth in sales and earnings per share for 2005, with the owner of the Financial Times and Penguin Books saying trading was good last year, with 2006 looking to be “another good year.” Pearson revealed that it enjoyed strong trading at the end of 2005, helped… Continue reading Pearson Enjoys Strong 2005

ITV has announced a succession of new directors across its range of operations this morning, including the appointment of Ben McOwen Wilson to the newly-created position of strategy director. McOwen Wilson will join the broadcaster in March from Spectrum Strategy Consultants, where he is a partner, reporting to ITV chief executive Charles Allen. The new… Continue reading ITV Signs New Strategy, Finance & Entertainment Chiefs

Today sees the launch of networked Bluetooth-enabled poster sites on London Underground by Viacom Outdoor, enabling more campaigns than ever to offer interactive content to commuters within the zone 1 area.The permanent network enables tube users to download content on to their mobiles using any of 15 Bluetooth ‘jacks’ developed by technology company Wideray and… Continue reading Channel 4 Onboard For Bluetooth Billboards

Five has invited agencies to pitch for its advertising account ahead of a rebrand later this year, an activity the broadcaster’s incumbent agency, TBWA/London, will play no part in following its decision not to re-pitch for the business.Five’s director of marketing, Jane Scott, said that TBWA/London had created “exciting and creative” work for the broadcaster… Continue reading Five Scouts For Agency Ahead Of Rebrand

The finale of ITV’s Soapstar Superstar on Saturday delivered a harsh blow to Channel 4’s Celebrity Big Brother, despite its surprise introduction of TV veteran Jimmy Saville to the famous house.The all-singing celebrity showdown drew a mammoth 7.5 million adults on average, compared with Big Brother‘s 2.8 million.ITV also saw success with the launch of… Continue reading ITV’s Saturday Shows Put Channel 4 In The Shade

United Business Media (UBM) has announced the appointment of Gary Hughes as the new chief executive of CMP Information (CMPi), the company’s specialist consumer publishing division.Hughes will take up the new role later this month, bringing extensive media experience, most recently from his five year role as group finance director at Emap, a position which… Continue reading UBM Appoints Ex-Emap Director As New CMPi Chief Exec

Reports this morning suggest that a merger deal between cable giant NTL and Virgin Mobile may soon be completed, with the mobile firm’s board believed to have provisionally accepted a revised acquisition bid from the cable operator.According to a Press Association report, a revised offer of 372p per share has been tabled by NTL, increasing… Continue reading Virgin Mobile Close To Accepting NTL Merger

United Business Media (UBM) has announced the appointment of Gary Hughes as the new chief executive of CMP Information (CMPi), the company’s specialist consumer publishing division. Hughes will take up the new role later this month, bringing extensive media experience, most recently from his five year role as group finance director at Emap, a position… Continue reading UBM Appoints Ex-Emap Director As New CMPi Chief Executive