The latest IPA Bellwether survey has signalled a downward revision to current marketing budgets in Q2 – the first budget cut recorded for nearly two years. Published by NTC Research on behalf of the IPA, the Q2 Bellwether Report shows a trimming of marketing budgets, reflecting weaker than expected sales and profits as well as… Continue reading Q2 2005 Bellwether: Growing Concern Over Economy Leads To Budget Cuts

Mobile video is proving a tough commodity to shift, according to American media analyst, In-Stat, which has published a new report, showing two thirds of mobile phone subscribers in the US are not ready for video services on their handsets, a number that is nearly unchanged from the previous year’s survey. The findings, published in… Continue reading Mobile Video Set For Slow Growth In US

Global advertising expenditure is estimated to increase by 4.7% this year, bringing 2005 adspend growth in line with expected GDP growth, according to forecasts published today by media group ZenithOptimedia. The agency’s outlook for 2006 is also positive, with advertising spend estimated to be up 6.1% compared to just 4% for the economy. These latest… Continue reading Global Adspend Growth Forecast In Line With GDP

On-demand TV and broadband provider, HomeChoice, has appointed Tullo Marshall Warren (TMW) as its below the line marketing agency following a review of its business ahead of a new campaign due later this year.The new agency will work alongside brand specialists, Mother, in developing the personality of the HomeChoice brand, while TMW will be responsible… Continue reading HomeChoice Signs TMW Ahead Of Marketing Push

ITV saw its share price plummet this morning, following reports that a takeover bid for the company by Apax and Time Warner had been abandoned following concerns over the company’s pension deficit.A bid for control of ITV from private equity firm, Apax, and American media giant, Time Warner, has long been expected, following rumours earlier… Continue reading Pension Fears Call Halt To ITV Takeover Bid

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