Television advertising revenue in the UK is forecast to grow at its fastest rate since 2000, aided by the prospects of a general election and the UK’s economic upturn. New data released by media group ZenithOptimedia, predicts TV adspend to increase by 12% in Q1 2005, revising its previous estimates up, from 5% for the… Continue reading TV Adspend Fuelled By Elections

Commercial news providers should receive a share of the BBC licence fee once the digital switchover is complete, according to a new report from the Social Markets Foundation. The ‘What’s the news? News Broadcasting in the Digital Age’ report suggests that 5% of the BBC licence fee should be used to fund commercial television news… Continue reading Commerical News Providers Call For Funds

Egmont Magazines has announced the launch of Disney Special Collection, targeting boys and girls aged 3-7 years with what it claims is a “highly collectable, quality monthly magazine” featuring some of Disney’s best-loved characters and branded covermounted gifts.The magazine will have an initial print run of 65,000, with the first issue due to go on… Continue reading Egmont Expands Magazine Portfolio With Disney Title

Media super-regulator Ofcom has handed down a £25,000 fine to adult broadcaster, Playboy TV, following the broadcast of hardcore pornographic material which breached the watchdog’s Programme Code.Playboy’s broadcast of an R18 rated adult film on 1 May 2004, and a previous broadcast of 18 certificate material landed it in hot water with the regulator, which… Continue reading Playboy TV Fined Over Hardcore Broadcast

Future Publishing’s flagship computing magazine, PC Plus, has proclaimed a recent trial, which enabled readers to view content via their mobile phones, as a success following 35,000 downloads in just four months.The year long trial delivers a special java-based edition of PC Plus to mobile phones, a move which Future claims continues its commitment to… Continue reading Mobile Magazine Spells Success For Future

ITV has completed the sale of Superhire Limited, its prop hire business in the continued sell-off of its non-core business elements.The sale of the business, together with the freehold property it occupies, was made for for a cash consideration of £8.2 million. ITV states that the funds generated by the sale will be used to… Continue reading ITV Continues Non-Core Business Sell-Off

Glasgow-based Scottish Media Group (SMG) has turned down a £100 million offer for Virgin Radio from private equity group, 3i, according to industry reports. The take-over bid started in December, but to no avail after SMG rejected the offer of Lord Alli, the media heavyweight spearheading 3i’s bid. Reports indicate that 3i has threatened to… Continue reading SMG Rejects 3i Offer For Virgin

Commercial broadcaster, ITV, has announced the disposal of its prop hire business, Superhire Limited to Space Holdings Limited for a cash consideration of £8.2 million. The funds raised from the sale will be used to reduce ITV’s borrowings and represents a further stage in it’s disposal programme of non-core assets. ITV has now raised more… Continue reading ITV Sells Prop Hire Business

Multi-channel marketing is predicted to increase in importance over the coming years, with 83.4 million US consumers researching products online, then buying offline, according to US analysts eMarketer’s new ‘Consumer Selling Online’ report. The increasing empowerment of consumers via the internet has resulted in them having the ability to compare old products, find new ones,… Continue reading Advertisers Must Look To Multi-Channel Marketing

Worldwide mobile handset shipments are set to rise over the next four years, growing from 740 million by the end of 2005 to 810 million by 2009, according to market intelligence firm iSuppli. The company found that handset shipment growth peaked in Q4 2003, hitting 175.5 million. The first half of 2004 saw quarterly shipments… Continue reading Global Mobile Handsets To Reach 810 Million By 2009