GMG Radio’s 102.2 Smooth FM is to launch its first major consumer advertising campaign, encompassing major TV, London Underground and outdoor activity to boost the profile of the fledgling station, which launched in June.The marketing activity will be highly visible across London throughout September as the heavyweight campaign, costing £1.5 million, kicks off to attract… Continue reading GMG Radio Launches First Marketing Drive For Smooth 102.2

Former editor of the Sun newspaper, Kelvin Mackenzie, has raised his stake in publisher Highbury House Communications to nearly 20%. According to industry reports, yesterday Mackenzie bought 15,500,500 ordinary shares in Highbury, bringing his stake in the company to 19.82%. The move will fuel speculation that Mackenzie is preparing to install himself on the board… Continue reading Mackenzie Raises Highbury Stake To 20%

ZenithOptimedia has announced that Rich Hamilton, chief executive officer of the agency’s America’s division has stepped down from the role, for personal reasons. The position will be filled by Tim Jones, chief strategy officer at ZenithOptimedia USA, who will assume most of Hamilton’s roles. Other key players in ZenithOptimedia’s US team will also be promoted,… Continue reading Hamilton Leaves ZenithOptimedia America

The continued adoption of consumer electronics and internet access is predicted to enjoy significant growth over the next five years, with new research from Forrester claiming that by 2010, 62% of US households will have broadband access to the internet. The State of Consumers and Technology: Benchmark 2005 also found that by the end of… Continue reading Strong Growth Continues In Electronics And Internet Uptake

Text messages leapt to a remarkable 2.7 billion in July, marking the highest ever total, according to the latest figures released by the Mobile Data Association (MDA). Person to person texts sent across the UK GSM network operators during July showed an increase of 23.5% on the total sent during the same period in 2004,… Continue reading Over 100 Billion Texts Sent Across The UK

95.8 Capital FM has announced that Elizabeth Arden’s latest fragrance, Fifth Avenue After Five, will be sponsoring its evening, Feelgood Friday Show with the deal marking one of the first long-term sponsorships on radio by a fragrance brand.The six month campaign will cover on-air, online and sampling activity. The radio show will target listeners in… Continue reading Elizabeth Arden Smells Success With Capital Sponsorship

American media giant Viacom is the latest broadcaster to show interest in Telewest’s Flextech television business, which is believed to be on the auction block ahead of the cable firm’s merger with rival ntl.The US-based group joins other possible bidders, including ITV, BSkyB, Discovery Communications and RTL Group according to this morning’s Financial Times.A successful… Continue reading Viacom Preparing Bid For Flextech

The number of households subscribing to satellite television has increased dramatically over the past year, with the platform continuing to erode cable’s market share, according to a new report from J.D Power and Associates. The 2005 Residential Cable/Satellite TV Satisfaction Study, shows that currently 27% of US households subscribe to satellite services, up from 19%… Continue reading Satellite Continues To Creep Up On Cable

US Newspapers enjoyed double-digit growth in their online advertising revenues in the second quarter of 2005, with online adspend rising to $500.7 million, up 28.6% compared to the same period last year. According to the Newspaper Association of America (NAA), overall advertising revenues for newspapers and their websites totalled $12.2 billion for the second quarter… Continue reading US Newspapers Enjoy Strong Growth In Online Advertising Revenues

More than 50% of television industry executives feel that the government is not doing enough to educate and communicate with consumers about the impending digital switchover, according to a new study conducted by the London Business School on behalf of Video Networks. The Digital Consensus report highlights an industry lacking any consensus on digital switchover,… Continue reading TV Executives Call For Clear Switchover Strategy