UK publishing firm Pearson has issued a trading statement to the City this morning, reporting strong third-quarter sales, helped by an upbeat American education market. The company expects 2005 as a whole to be a “strong year,” stating that trading in the first nine months had seen sales rise by 10%, while operating profit increased… Continue reading Pearson Optimistic As FT Looks Set To Break Even

New estimates from American analysis Goldman Sachs predict 2005 to be the US newspaper industry’s worst since the last advertising recession, with further gloom forecast for 2006. “2005 is shaping up as the industry’s worst year from a revenue growth perspective since the recession impacted 2001-2002 period,” the analyst claims, adding that growth next year… Continue reading US Newspaper Market Facing ‘Worst Year Since Recession’

Channel 4 has signed financial services firm MasterCard to fund a new branded content music offering based around its “priceless” brand positioning.The new programming, created by Freedom Media, will centre on MasterCard’s Priceless Evening, taking place on 16 November before being aired on 19 November. The event will take place at the Café De Paris… Continue reading Channel 4 Signs MasterCard For Priceless Content

BSkyB is to launch a fully-fledged mobile TV service in partnership with telecoms operator Vodafone, offering users live feeds of Sky News, MTV and cricket coverage from Sky Sports from tomorrow.The 19-channel service will be available free of charge to all Vodafone customers using the company’s 3G service until 31 January 2006, after which a… Continue reading Sky Signs Vodafone For Mobile TV Service

Tomorrow will see ITV launch its third digital entertainment channel, ITV4, with launch programming including premium sporting events, detective and crime based shows and big budget American imports to tempt male viewers away from rival offerings across all digital platforms.The new channel will kick off with a week of high-profile sporting events, including live UEFA… Continue reading ITV Gears Up For Digital Launch

IPC Media has announced the appointment of Jackie Newcombe, publishing director of Marie Claire, as the new managing director of IPC SouthBank and Wallpaper*.The position will be taken up by Newcombe on 3 January 2006, with the media mogul overseeing IPC’s portfolio of fashion, women’s general interest and home interest monthlies.Amongst those falling under her… Continue reading IPC Appoints New MD For SouthBank

BSkyB is to launch a fully-fledged mobile TV service in partnership with telecoms operator Vodafone, offering users live feeds of Sky News, MTV and cricket coverage from Sky Sports from tomorrow. The 19-channel service will be available free of charge to all Vodafone customers using the company’s 3G service until 31 January 2006, after which… Continue reading Sky Signs Vodafone For Mobile TV Service

Media giant WPP has been given a four week deadline to table a bid for rival Aegis by the UK’s Takeover Panel.The group is understood to be considering a joint bid with US private equity house Hellman & Freidman, with particular interest shown in Aegis’ research arm Synovate.The deadline was imposed following talks between Aegis… Continue reading WPP Given Deadline For Aegis Bid

BBC1’s drama adaption of the classic Dickens novel Bleak House scored a healthy ratings win over ITV1 last night, as the star-studded period drama featuring Gillian Anderson and Johnny Vegas attacted adult viewership of 6.18 million, with a viewing share of 30.15%.The programme peaked at 6.69 million for the 8-8.15pm timeslot, which represented a 33.55%… Continue reading BBC’s Dickens Drama Makes A Bleak Night For ITV

Access to media will be revolutionised over the next few years, according to Microsoft boss Bill Gates, who told yesterday’s Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) Engage conference that consumers will soon tailor every aspect of media consumption thanks to massively advanced technology.In the near future, the debate between online and offline advertising will be obsolete according… Continue reading Gates Predicts A Converged Future For Online Advertising