BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing proved its appeal on Saturday, with average adult viewers totaling 6.9 million, trouncing ITV’s average of 6.2 million for the X Factor talent contest.The BBC’s ratings win was cemented later in the night, with 7.1 million adult viewers tuning in to hospital drama Casualty, going head to head with ITV’s… Continue reading Strictly Come Dancing Floors X Factor In Saturday Showdown

Chrysalis Group has confirmed the sale of its loss-making books division to its management team for £12.5 million.The sale will see Chrysalis Books become part of the Anova Books Company, formed by the company’s chief executive and other senior managers of the division. The new company will also take on the outstanding debt owed by… Continue reading Chrysalis Offloads Books Business For £12.5 Million

Yesterday’s bizarre real life incidents involving Eastenders actors Ross Kemp and Steve McFadden failed to provide increased viewers for BBC1’s top soap.Last night’s edition attracted an average audience of 9.3 million adults, down from 10 million the previous Thursday, despite a flurry of media attention throughout the day after both actors were caught up in… Continue reading Real Life Drama Fails To Lift BBC Soap

Merrill lynch has revealed US advertising expenditure is expected to trail nominal growth in the US gross domestic product (GDP), projecting adspend to rise by 4.2% this year, excluding direct mail. According to Merrill analyst, Lauren Rich Fine, the soft advertising economy is attributed to a “variety of factors”, including a low rate of economy… Continue reading Merrill Forecasts US Adspend To Rise By 4.2% In 2005

Word of mouth advertising is expected to enjoy a surge in popularity as advertisers cotton on to the potential of the “friends and family” media and how it can be used in conjunction with the internet. According to estimates from eMarketer, about half of all online marketers are engaging in some form of word of… Continue reading Word Of Mouth Advertising Set To Increase

Media and communications group, Aegis has purchased French digital agencies Planete Interactive and Webcontents, planning to integrate then into its Isobar network. The deal sees the two companies purchased for a total cash consideration of €9 million payable over three years and subject to strict performance conditions. Planete Interactive and Webcontents merged early this year… Continue reading Aegis Furthers Digital Network

Satellite giant BSkyB has announced a slow down in growth of its subscriber base during its fiscal first quarter, showing reduced subscriber growth of 57,000, down from the 83,000 new subscribers it added in the previous quarter. Despite this downturn, revenues for the period increased by 8% year on year to £1.02 billion with operating… Continue reading BSkyB Sees Slowdown In Subscriber Base Growth

Global advertising network Publicis has reported strong growth in its third quarter results, with revenues rising by 7.4% following a string of new business wins and an upbeat advertising market. Announcing the results, Maurice Lévy, chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe, said: “We are understandably pleased with the performance of Publicis Groupe in the third… Continue reading Publicis Sees Revenues Rise On Upbeat Ad Market

Vincent Bollore is continuing his relentless acquisition of shares in media buying firm Aegis, announcing that his overall stake in the company now totals 21.31%, following the purchase of 3 million shares in the firm yesterday. The purchase, which cost Bollore £3.7 million, was made through the Frenchman’s company Financiere Du Loch and is the… Continue reading Bollore Continues Aegis Share Purchases

Maurice Levy, CEO of media giant Publicis, has said that a further bid by his company for control of Aegis Group is unlikely, following the company’s decision to leave takeover talks last month.The media boss did not completely rule out a return to the negotiating table, however, simply stating that “There is very little possibility… Continue reading ‘Little Possibility” Of Renewed Aegis Bid Says Levy