According to a report in the Times this morning, ITV chief executive Charles Allen has called for an end to the complex Contract Right Renewal rules, which he says threaten to cost the company £150m next year.The cap was demanded by the Competition Commission as part of the merger conditions for Carlton and Granada, and… Continue reading Allen Calls To End Contract Renewal Rules

Culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, is expected to confirm media watchdog Ofcom’s proposed date for the switchover from analogue to digital, marking the 2008-2012 period as the start of the process.Speaking tonight at the Royal Television Society Cambridge convention, Jowell looks set to affirm Ofcom’s plan for the UK, switching the country to digital region by… Continue reading Jowell To Endorse Switchover Date

US online advertising expenditure is predicted to surpass the $10 billion mark for the first time this year, reaching $12.9 billion by the end of 2005, according to new predictions from eMarketer. The analyst forecasts that in four years time, companies will spend nearly $10 billion more on internet advertising, hitting a total of $22.3… Continue reading US Online Adspend To Hit $12.9 Billion In 2005

Digital penetration in the UK has reached 63% of all UK households, up from 61.9% at the end of the first quarter of 2005, according to Ofcom’s latest Digital Television Update. The report shows that by June 30 2005, the total number of digital TV households in Britain rose by almost 298,000, reaching 15.7 million.… Continue reading UK Digital TV Penetration Hits 63%

Champions League football is set to continue on both Sky and ITV until May 2009, after both broadcasters renegotiated their existing broadcast rights to retain the sport for another four years.The new contracts, which run from next September until May 2009, will see ITV air two games on a Tuesday, using ITV1 and ITV4, with… Continue reading Champions League Rights Extended For ITV And Sky

Broadcast infrastructure operator Arqiva will tomorrow give the first European demonstration of mobile video broadcasting using the DVB-H standard, ushering in a new age of portable TV using devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and laptop PCs.The demonstration, which will form part of the Royal Television Society’s Cambridge Convention, will demonstrate reception… Continue reading Arqiva To Demonstrate Mobile Video Standard

MediaTel Group have confirmed that Richard Eyre, chairman of the IAB and David Hanger, former publisher of the Economist will be on the panel at this year’s Media Question Time evening.The fifth Media Question Time, in association with MediaGuardian, will be held on Tuesday 22nd November 2005 at the English Heritage Lecture Theatre, London, W1… Continue reading Richard Eyre Joins Panel For Media Question Time

The Daily Telegraph is set for an editorial overhaul in the coming months, as Martin Newland, editor of the paper, signs Neil Darbyshire and William Lewis as joint deputy editors.The appointments offer “the qualities most suited to driving forward change and development at the title,” according to Newland, who also stated that any change would… Continue reading Telegraph Reshuffles Editorial Ahead Of Revamp

Independent News & Media (INM) has announced record interim results for the six months to 30 June 2005, with particularly strong growth by the Independent, enjoying an increase of 18.5% in advertising revenues, despite a “volatile market.” According to INM, the increase resulted from a “substantial” uplift in core circulation copy sales throughout 2004, with… Continue reading Independent Sees Strong Growth In First Half Of 2005

Outdoor advertising group, JCDecaux, has announced a 5.7% increase in revenues for the first six months of 2005, reaching €833.7 million, reflecting a sound performance for the group, despite softening advertising conditions in some European markets. Operating margin for the company enjoyed a healthy rise of 4.7% to hit €229.1 million, representing 27.5% of consolidated… Continue reading JCDecaux Announces 5.7% Increase In Revenues For First Half 2005