Five has announced a new licensing agreement with NBC Universal International Television Distribution, continuing its strategy of US acquisitions with the terrestrial television rights for hit series House and the Law & Order brand.Medical drama House was an hit with viewers when Five aired the first season last year, securing a position in the top… Continue reading Five Extends Broadcast Rights To High Rating Imports

ITV continued its winning streak against Channel 4’s Celebrity Big Brother last night, with Soapstar Superstar again defeating its rival with an average adult audience of 5 million.Big Brother‘s average audience of 3.9 million was enough to top the BBC’s Surviving Disaster, however, which drew 3.3 million in the same timeslot.Elsewhere, Five’s CSI performed well… Continue reading ITV Continues Winning Celebrity Streak

IPC’s psychic spin-off title, Chat – It’s Fate, has switched to monthly publication, doubling the number of issues each year to capitalise on sales growth.The magazine, which ocupies a unique position in the womens magazine market, offers “personal psychic advice” and most “paranormal real life stories,” claiming to be “accessible, practical and life enhancing.”Commenting on… Continue reading Psychic Magazine Moves To Monthly Publication

Virgin Radio is set to launch a massive outdoor advertising campaign to promote its high-profile breakfast signing, Christian O’Connell.The new marketing activity will launch on 16 January, proclaiming Virgin as the home of “Britain’s Best Breakfast Show” through a range of outdoor advertisements, before O’Connell takes to the air a week later.The new campaign is… Continue reading Outdoor Campaign To Boost Virgin Breakfast

Research from Internet research specialist Nielsen//NetRatings shows European web users flocking to the Internet through a variety of channels, with the spread of access methods across different nations reflecting the growing diversity of online audiences.According to the new figures, Internet access from the home remains the most popular method of access overall, with 93% of… Continue reading Online Round-Up: European Web Habits Revealed By Research

ITV’s director of programmes, Nigel Pickard, has announced his intention to leave the broadcaster after three years, dealing a further blow to the company, which yesterday lost one of its biggest stars, Paul O’Grady.Pickard re-joined ITV in February 2003 (see ITV Appoints New Director Of Programmes), following a two year career as the BBC’s controller… Continue reading ITV’s Pickard Steps Down After Three Years

Out of home advertising agency, Viacom Outdoor, has renewed its prestigious contract with the New York City Transportation Authority to handle all display advertising on the New York subway. The ten year deal will give Viacom Outdoor access to 1,600 urban panels, significantly increasing the division’s street furniture inventory in New York City and giving… Continue reading Viacom Outdoor Renews New York Subway Contract

United Business Media (UBM) has announced the purchase of US events business Shorecliff Communications for $12.3 million, and the events assets of MediaLive International for $65 million. The acquisition of Shorecliffe will see the company’s four principal events focussing on the high growth technology markets of radio frequency identification, broadband services, wireless infrastructure and telecoms… Continue reading UBM Extends Reach In Events Arena

Global advertising body, WPP, has announced that its relationship marketing network, Wunderman, will merge its Danish operations with one of Denmark’s leading independent agencies, Emerge. The merged company will be renamed Emerge/Wunderman, with WPP retaining a minority share in the business, with options to acquire a majority interest. The consolidation of the two companies will… Continue reading WPP’s Wunderman To Merge With Emerge

Last night saw a clash of the celebrities, as ITV’s Soapstar Superstar went head to head with Channel 4’s Big Brother, but both were floored by BBC One’s time-travelling detective drama, Life On Mars.The BBC drama scored an average adult audience of 6.8 million, while ITV drew 5.7 million and Channel 4 attracted 3.5 million.Channel… Continue reading Life On Mars Eclipses Celebrity Showdown