Guardian Newspapers has confirmed a launch date for the Berliner-format Observer next year, with the redesigned title hitting newsstands on 8 January.The switch will bring the paper into line with weekday stablemate The Guardian, which adopted the compact format in mid-September.The redesign will reduce the size of each supplement within the newspaper, and deliver a… Continue reading Berliner Sized Observer To Launch Early January

Last night proved popular for the soaps, with ITV attracting an average of over ten million adult viewers for the first episode of Coronation Street, dipping slightly for the second showing, watched by an average of 9.6 million adult viewers.Elsewhere, Eastenders attracted a healthy average audience of 9.6 million, while the first episode of the… Continue reading Soaps Prove Popular On Monday Night

ITV will close its 24-hour news channel a month earlier than expected, with its final broadcasts airing this Friday following a consultation between the broadcaster, staff and suppliers.The decision to close before the end of the year was made following requests from ITN staff working on the channel, according to the broadcaster.Commenting on the closure,… Continue reading ITV To Close News Channel Early

ITV has secured the UK broadcast rights to Jim Jam & Sunny, a new childrens show from Entertainment Rights, for broadcast on its forthcoming kids channel, CiTV.The broadcaster has commissioned 260 episodes of the programme, each running for around 11 minutes, to be aired on both ITV1 and the new channel.“This agreement represents a significant… Continue reading ITV Signs Kids Shows For New Digital Channel

Rival talent contests Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor went head to head on Saturday, and although both saw respectably high audiences, the BBC’s ballroom-based finale secured a resounding victory over ITV’s singing showdown.Securing average adult viewers of 9.6 million, BBC One’s Strictly… was head and shoulders above X Factor, which drew 7.7 million viewers… Continue reading BBC’s Strictly Wipes The Dance Floor With X Factor

Daily Newspaper MarketBritain’s quality sector was the only area of the national daily newspaper market to see an increase in readership during the six months to September, with rises for the newly compact Guardian, as well as small-form rivals the Independent and Times.Readership declines prevailed elsewhere, however, with the Financial Times suffering particularly heavy downturn,… Continue reading NRS National Newspaper Round-Up: September 2005

Digital TV provider Homechoice has announced a new one year content deal with Entertainment Rights to secure additional titles for it’s pre-school video on-demand kids channel, Scamp.The deal will see Entertainment Rights supply Homechoice with new titles such as Budgie the Little Helicopter and The Cubeez for use on its on-demand platform.The new deal also… Continue reading Homechoice Signs Kids Programmes For Christmas

Satellite giant BSkyB this morning announced subscribers of more than eight million, surpassing its targets to reach record levels of direct-to-home (DTH) customers.“Sky is achieving strong growth,” explained James Murdoch, Sky’s chief executive. “Nearly one in three homes and counting have chosen Sky and we are especially well placed to broaden Sky’s appeal as entertainment… Continue reading Sky Subscribers Pass Eight Million

British media regulator Ofcom has launched a consultation on product placement within UK television, gathering feedback from the industry on its possible introduction as an alternative revenue source for broadcasters.Product placement is currently prohibited under European regulations, although a draft revision published earlier this year proposed a liberalisation of the law.The new regulations could enable… Continue reading Ofcom Launches Product Placement Consultation

Daily Newspaper MarketThe majority of Britain’s daily national newspapers saw declines in readership during the six months to October, with only the compact quality titles managing to increase their audiences.The Independent notched up the largest increase, adding 21.2% to its total year on year, which now stands at 708,000. Elsewhere, the Times added 11%, while… Continue reading NRS National Newspaper Round-Up: October 2005