International special-interest consumer magazine group, Future Publishing, has announced the acquisition of 38 magazine titles from rival publisher Highbury House Communications, for a cash consideration of £30.5 million. The titles purchased include, Fast Cars, Fast Bikes, DJ, DVD Review, the What Video group of magazines and Highbury’s puzzle offerings. The deal also includes Highbury’s US… Continue reading Future Acquires 38 Magazines From Highbury House

Broadcast mobile television users are expected to reach 124.8 million by 2010, with an inflection point predicted in 2009, as network rollout and device availability for the market reach a level of critical mass. A new strategic report by Informa Telecoms and Media estimates that by 2010, there will be globally 18.11 million terrestrial DMB… Continue reading Broadcast Mobile TV Users Forecast To Hit 124.8 Million By 2010

London’s Heart 106.2 is embarking on its biggest-ever TV and press marketing campaign marking the launch of the new “Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston”.The £2 million campaign, starting on 16 May, will run for ten weeks across Carlton, LWT. Channel 4, Five and key satellite networks including ITV2, E4, Living and UKStyle.The campaign will be… Continue reading Heart Starts £2 Million Plug For Breakfast Show

ITV’s latest reality TV offering, Celebrity Wrestling has a red button application from interactive TV developer, Pushbutton, linking viewers to a games service, where they can play a video game based on the show.Pushbutton has developed several ‘red button’ applications for ITV shows, including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” and The X… Continue reading Pushbutton Provides Interactive For Celebrity Wrestling

Virgin Radio has unveiled its new branding as “Virgin Radio The Music We All Love”, using what it describes as an emotional statement to broaden its appeal and expand its listenership beyond its core rock and alternative music audience.The new branding will be driven by a high profile advertising campaign, which will include new artwork… Continue reading Virgin Takes To The Road With New Branding

The Competition Commission (CC) has today formally cancelled the reference concerning the proposed acquisition by Future Plc of Highbury House Communications, after the CC received assurances from Future that the deal had been abandoned. The case was sent to the CC earlier in the month, after concerns were raised that the merger of the two… Continue reading Competition Commission Cancels Proposed Future Bid For Highbury

Awareness of Voice-over-IP service (VoIP) has yet to penetrate the marketplace, despite predictions that the technology will rise to 19.2 million lines by the end of 2007, up from 6.5 million at the end of 2004, according to TIA and Wilofsy Gruen and Associates. A new survey from TNS Telecoms shows that just 26% of… Continue reading Consumers Lack Knowledge Of VoIP

Guardian Media Group (GMG) will not consider selling its radio stations for less than £150 million, making it unlikely that a deal will be made anytime soon.Last month, GMG was reported to have rejected a £115 million offer for its radio division from Chrysalis. GMG is thought to value its stations at between £150-£175 million,… Continue reading GMG Quashes Imminent Deal Rumours

Emap’s Maxpower, Zoo, Kerrang and Kiss have announced a month-long cross media promotion to launch the movie release of XXX2: The Next Level, with the “racy power of page 3” used to promote the movie in a new concept promotion.The move will combine the power of Emap’s lifestyle and youth brands, as well as tabloid… Continue reading Emap Extends Cross Media Promotion With XXX

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has set a target for the internet to be a billion pound medium and overtake outdoors market share by mid 2006, announcing a five point plan to help advertisers get more out of online media.Following his 100 day review of the IAB, Guy Phillipson, the trade body’s new chief executive,… Continue reading IAB Sets Target For Online Industry