Five and Paramount Comedy have co-commissioned their first series in a joint comedy initiative announcing plans to produce a UK version of hit US series Desperate Housewives with the new comedy Suburban Shootout.The eight-part, 30 minutes series from production company Feelgood Fiction, will follow the surreal world of two power-crazed housewives embroiled in a turf… Continue reading Five And Paramount Commission First Joint Comedy

Mark Cranmer, chief executive of the Europe, Middle East and African division of media agency Starcom MediaVest, has resigned after five years in the role.Cranmer is due to leave the company in March, but a replacement has not yet been named. According to Jim Marshall, Starcom UK chairman, the agency has informed its clients and… Continue reading Starcom Chief Executive Resigns

Richard Webb, general manager of News Group Newspapers, has resigned after ten years in the company, as part of a reshuffle in the senior management team at Times Newspapers.Webb will be replaced by Mike Gordon, commercial director for the group, while Clive Milner, managing director at TNL, will be broadening his role in the shake… Continue reading Webb Resigns From News International

Almost a fifth of mobile phone users worldwide have downloaded content to their phones, with a new study by LogicaCMG predicting a 60% increase in the technology in one year’s time. The research was conducted globally during May and June 2005, with the findings leading LogicaCMG to forecast the mobile content industry to bring in… Continue reading Mobile Downloading To Rise By 60%

Widespread broadband adoption combined with the digitisation of music and the emergence of portable digital music players is fundamentally changing the music sector, with industry experts projecting the sector to enjoy a period of strong growth over the coming years. eMarketer’s latest report, Online Music: Downloads, Streaming, Radio, Mobile, shows that listeners are changing the… Continue reading Digital World Transforming Music Industry

General community websites enjoyed the largest rise in online advertising revenue during June 2005, with Nielsen//NetRatings reporting a massive 214% year on year growth to reach $33 million. Adspend on health and fitness websites grew by 80% in estimated revenue to more than $4.5 million, compared to the same period last year, while business websites… Continue reading Strong June For US Online Adspend

Roly Keating, controller of BBC Two, has launched Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s much anticipated sitcom, Extras, lauding the new show as having “all the hallmarks of a great BBC Two comedy series” and underlining the station’s commitment to “pedigree comedy.”The much-anticipated new series will feature in the broadcaster’s spring schedule, along with several other… Continue reading BBC Pins Hopes On Extras For Audience Growth

The National Magazine Company has bought coastal lifestyle magazine Coast from Boat International, adding to its portfolio of living style guides and complementing the publishers successful Country Living.The magazine will start being published quarterly, giving NatMags the chance to gauge consumer and advertiser reaction to the publication.Commenting on the acquisition, Duncan Edwards, chief executive officer… Continue reading NatMags Adds Coast To Lifestyle Sector

Media group Emap, has predicted it’s full-year performance to be in line with forecasts, despite the relatively early point in the new financial year and a “degree of uncertainty” regarding the economic outlook.In a trading statement released by the group, it said that it expects to meet its expectations for the full year, buoyed by… Continue reading Emap Expects To Reach Targets

The Kingdom Radio Group has announced that it will be closing its North Lancashire radio station, 107 The Edge, this Friday.Formerly known as Clan FM, the talk and music station failed to live up to the high standards of its owner and, after four years on air, will stop broadcasting on 15 July.Kingdom Radio has… Continue reading Edge Radio Station To Shut On Friday