Marketing budgets look set to rise in 2006, compared to the succession of cutbacks endured by the industry in 2005. The growth, however, appears to be at the weakest rate since 2001, indicating that gross domestic product (GDP) growth is set to be downcast in early 2006. According to the latest IPA Bellwether Report, marketing… Continue reading Q4 2005 Bellwether: Marketing Budgets Forecast To Rise In 2006

UK consumers have demonstrated a high level of interest in a commercial mobile TV service, with the interim results from the Oxford Mobile TV trial showing that 83% of triallists are satisfied with the end-to-end service provided. Findings from the trial, a partnership between Arqiva and O2, reveal that the 375 triallists chose to access… Continue reading UK Consumers Keen For Mobile TV

Online advertising expenditure in the US has increased by a greater than anticipated 15% in the final quarter of 2005, with a new study from Deutsche Bank and MediaPost attributing the boost to a marketing push through the holiday season. According to the survey, 72% of media executives reported their clients spent more on internet… Continue reading Online Adspend And Paid Search Surpasses Expectations

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

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