The BBC’s slick new drama Hotel Babylon continued to draw large audiences last night, with 5.6 million adults tuning in on average.The programme went head to head with ITV1’s high tech thriller, Eleventh Hour, which scored 3.7 million adult viewers on average.Channel 4’s dramatised documentary, Challenger: Countdown to Disaster, performed less well meanwhile, drawing 1.8… Continue reading Hotel Babylon Remains Popular Destination For Viewers

Satellite giant Sky is gearing up for the launch of its long-awaited high definition (HD) service, listing the first wave of HD channels in its electronic programme guide (EPG), and enabling the first interactive systems ahead of launch later this year.The broadcaster will begin to carry listings for its first nine HD channels over the… Continue reading Sky Gears Up For High Definition Launch

Ulster TV has withdrawn from bidding for the nine GCap Media Stations currently under auction, leaving the path open for the remaining contenders. According to a report in this morning’s Guardian, the Local Radio Company, UKRD and Absolute Radio are all considering making an offer for the GCap radio stations. GCap announced plans to dispose… Continue reading UTV Backs Down From GCap Radio Sale

Outdoor advertising group JCDecaux, has announced an increase of 7.2% year on year in revenues, reaching €1.74 million, on the backend of stronger than expected growth in the fourth quarter of 2005. Sound organic revenue growth in the group’s Street Furniture and Transport divisions led to overall organic revenue growth of 4% for 2005. Revenues… Continue reading JCDecaux Enjoys 7.2% Rise In Revenues In 2005

January saw a number of key forecasts made about the state of the advertising market, both UK and worldwide. The consensus of opinion from industry sources was that the internet would continue to make its presence felt in the media world, with the medium expected to enjoy a surge in popularity throughout 2006. eMarketer predicts… Continue reading INSIGHTanalysis: Media Healthcheck – January 2006

The BBC’s family history show, Who Do You Think You Are, proved its consistency as a ratings winner last night, topping primetime viewing with an average of 5.6 million adults tuning in to trace Julian Clary’s heritage.The programme, which has scored ratings wins in the past, despite tough competition from Channel 4 and ITV (see… Continue reading Family History Proves Its Pedigree For BBC Two

ITV’s Justin Sampson, director of customer relationship marketing, is to leave the company as Patrick Ugeux becomes director of marketing strategy and the broadcaster creates the new role of advertising development director.Sampson took up the role with ITV in 2004, ending more than a decade at the Radio Advertising Bureau (see ITV Poaches RAB’s Sampson… Continue reading ITV Reshuffles Commercial Team As Sampson Departs

Emap’s iconic teen music title, Smash Hits, is to close following a slide in circulations and poor advertising revenues, reports today suggest.The magazine’s closure will not end the Smash Hits brand, however, with Emap retaining its TV and radio stations of the same name.The magazine has seen its circulation slip by almost 52% over the… Continue reading Smash Hits To Close As Music Fans Move Online

Channel 4 will increase its core programme budget from £490 million to over £500 million in 2006, maintaining and improving the quality of its output throughout the year.In the broadcaster’s Statement of Programme Policy for 2006, Kevin Lygo, director of TV claimed that Channel 4 would strengthen its news and current affairs output, as well… Continue reading Channel 4 Programme Budget Over £500 Million In 2006

Five recorded an impressive ratings victory against ITV last night, with the first episode in a new series of crime drama CSI notching up 3.9 million adult viewers on average.The winning performance was enough to beat ITV into third place, with an average of 3.3 million tuning in to Holiday Showdown, although both programmes were… Continue reading Five Puts ITV To Shame With New CSI