US advertising expenditure is predicted to increase by 5.1% in 2005, to $150.5 billion, following the estimated growth of 10.6% in 2004, according to forecasts released by TNS Media Intelligence. TNS Media Intelligence estimates quarter-by-quarter growth of 6.9% for the first half of 2005, slowing to 3.5% in the second half. This decline is attributed… Continue reading Online Advertising Spend Leads Growth Projections For 2005

Scottish Radio Holdings looks set to fend off takeover bids from rival groups by acquiring radio and newspaper companies, according to chief executive David Goode, with the company belived to be actively seeking acquisition targets in a bid to become the hunter rather than the hunted.The move follows increasing speculation that radio giant Emap will… Continue reading SRH To Avoid Takeover Through Acquisitions

Channel 4 has announced its best January performance for five years, with an audience share of 10.3%, topping the performance of BBC 2 and defying the downward trend of its terrestrial rivals.The impressive performance follows a strong 2004 for the broadcaster, in which its audience grew by 2% year on year. A spokesman for Channel… Continue reading Channel 4 Sees Best January In Years After Audience Boost

Former Five chief executive, David Elstein, has succeeded in his purchase of the Hallmark Channel’s international TV operations, completing the long-rumoured deal worth an estimated £167 million.The purchase was backed by private equity group 3i and Providence Equity Partners, who reportedly put in half the money to buy the Hallmark property from Crown Media Holdings.Elstein… Continue reading Elstein Successful In Bid For Hallmark Channel

Radio operator GWR has announced the launch of the UK’s first dedicated ‘chill’ digital radio format, designed to broaden listener choice, offering a relaxing and ambient 100% music service.Chill will include artists such as Moby, Zero 7, Royksopp, Air, Groove Armada and Norah Jones and will be broadcast across nine NOWdigital multiplexes serving Bristol &… Continue reading GWR To Chill With New Digital Station

The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint against ITV after it screened a commercial for American Express featuring a surfer riding a large wave following an ITV News report on the Asian tsunami.The complaint was made to the ASA against ITV, Channel Four, Channel Five and Sky One, with six viewers complaining that it… Continue reading ITV’s Wrist Slapped Over Tsunami Ad Placement

GMTV will lose one of its best known faces in April as presenter Eamonn Holmes sits on the breakfast show’s famous red sofa for the final time, ending a career of more than 12 years with the broadcaster.Holmes has been the face of GMTV since it began in 1993, steering it to success and into… Continue reading Holmes Quits GMTV After More Than A Decade

The former chief executive of Five, David Elstein, has bought the Hallmark Channel’s international TV operations for an estimated £167 million. The purchase was backed by private equity group, 3i, and Providence Equity Partners, who reportedly put in half the money to buy the unit from Crown Media Holdings. Commenting on the deal, Crevan O’Grady,… Continue reading Elstein Buys Hallmark Channel’s International TV Operations

Kelvin MacKenzie’s Wireless Group is reported to be the latest interested party in the battle for Scottish Media Group (SMG) owned Virgin Radio. It is thought that Lord Wahees Alli, the media mogul fronting private equity group 3i’s bid for the station, has held talks with the Wireless Group to discuss combining Virgin’s sales unit… Continue reading Alli And MacKenzie Eye Up Possible Radio Ad Sales Merger

Commercial broadcaster, Channel 4, has announced its strongest January performance for five years, revealing a 10.3% audience share for the first month of 2005, beating rival BBC2. Channel 4 performed strongly in 2004, seeing audience share increase by 2%, year on year and January 2005 marks an 11% increase on January 2004. The last time… Continue reading Channel 4 Reports Record Performance In Five Years