ITV increased its operating profit by 42% in 2005, reaching £460 million and seeing profits double over the past two years. Revenue for the broadcaster was up by 6% year on year at £2.2 million, while cash generated from operations hit £456 million. Turning towards ITV’s digital future, channels continued to grow strongly, with revenue… Continue reading ITV Increases Operating Profit By 42% In 2005

Regional newspaper group, Johnston Press, saw overall revenues for the year reaching £520.2 million, a slight year on year increase of 0.2%, reflecting the recent depression in the market. Operating profit for 2005 was £177.7 million, while underlying earnings per share were up by 2% year on year, reaching 38.62p. Elsewhere, the group’s digital publishing… Continue reading Johnston Trading Affected By Weak UK Advertising Market

Media and communications group, Aegis, has reported an increase in revenue of 16.5%, reaching £870.4 million, with underlying profit before tax seeing a jump of 17.1%, hitting £109.8 million. Boosted by superior growth from its unique business mix, Aegis enjoyed organic revenue growth of 7.2% in 2005. The company’s digital network, Isobar, saw revenue double… Continue reading Aegis Sees Revenue Jump Of 16.5% In 2005

Mobile TV services in China look set to enjoy a surge in popularity, with In-Stat forecasting subscriptions to grow to 94 million by 2009, with 2007 expected to be the year that the services gather significant momentum. According to In-Stat’s recent Mobile TV in China: Heading for the Promised Land report, the Chinese government is… Continue reading Mobile TV In China To Reach 94 Million By 2009

Search growth rates are slowing, with paid search in the US expected to increase by 26.2% in 2006, somewhat less than last years 33.2%, according to eMarketer. This trend looks set to continue over the coming years, with the analyst asserting that starting next year and through to the end of the decade, more modest… Continue reading Online Search Growth To Slow

Last night saw ITV1’s detective drama Rebus trumped by BBC One’s rival sleuthing series Dalziel and Pascoe, with the Corporation scoring just under 6 million, compared to ITV’s 5.4.The commercial giant outperformed the BBC in other areas, however, scoring over 10 million adult viewers on average for both episodes in a Coronation Street double bill… Continue reading ITV Pipped By BBC Detectives But Stays Strong With Soaps

Strategic communications agency Tonic is to rebrand as Progress, with plans to develop a digital media offering to tackle the next wave of development in electronic media.Progress’ new digital arm will broaden the agency’s abilities, but requires a third partner to join founders Geoff Seeley and Tim Elton.Explaining the rebranding and expansion, Seeley said: “We… Continue reading Tonic Rebrands As Progress Ahead Of Digital Expansion

Emap Advertising’s full marketing communications service, Emap2, has secured its first deal, a six figure promotion for car manufacturer Audi.The campaign, which will run across Emap’s men’s titles Arena, Empire and Q, is designed to target “up-market, intelligent men who are passionate about style, film and music.”Supporting the launch of Audi’s new RS4, the magazines… Continue reading Emap2 Secures First Promo Deal For Audi

The Hallmark Channel has undertaken its first rebranding in five years, replacing its familiar crown logo with a series of dramatic landscape scenes.The new channel idents coincide with the first anniversary of ownership by Sparrowhawk Media, chaired by David Elstein, following the company’s purchase of non-UK Hallmark channels last February (see Elstein Successful In Bid… Continue reading Hallmark Swaps Iconic Crown For Emotive Branding

ITV delivered a ratings masterstroke on Saturday night, flooring the competition with its Dancing On Ice finale, followed by Tony Blair’s appearance on chat show Parkinson.The ice skating showdown saw former soap star Gaynor Faye scoop victory, watched by an average adult audience of 10.1 million.Delivering a share of 44.4%, the programme destroyed competition from… Continue reading Dancing On Ice Final Freezes Out Competition