Market penetration of mobile phone ownership has exceeded 100% in the UK, with the number of mobile handsets currently in circulation greater than the UK’s population, according to data published by the Mobile Data Association (MDA). The total is based on the number of contract and prepay subscriptions, purchased over the holiday season and is… Continue reading UK Mobile Phone Penetration Higher Than Population

Only one in six internet users in the US can distinguish between organic search results and paid search adverts, according to a new study published by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. The report finds that web searchers are “incredibly naive”, with only 38% of users being able to tell the difference between relevant… Continue reading US Internet Users Naive About Search Engines

The Celebrity Big Brother house closed its doors last night as series three drew to an end, with Manchunian music man Bez striding to a surprise victory, watched by a peak of six million viewers.The series enjoyed a strong performance in its last few days, with average audiences of around 4.5 million for the evictions… Continue reading Celeb Big Brother Bows Out With A Bang

Consumer magazine publisher, IPC Media has announced the installation of a new £1 million new Enterprise computer system, revolutionising its current Classified operation.The new technology integrates and streamlines all areas of IPC’s current Classified advertising sales, production and management processes, including order entry, scheduling, pricing, composition, pagination, and other management.Commenting on the new system, Cathy… Continue reading IPC Goes Live On Classified Ad Solution

Radio and magazine Group, Emap has announced a positive trading outlook for January and February 2005, despite an expected “weak” performance within its business-to-business (B2B) unit. The company is confident of achieving its full year expectations, and will issue its pre-close trading update on 30 March of this year. The trading statement, released ahead of… Continue reading Emap Strong Start To 2005, Despite Weak Recruitment Titles

Word of mouth is the most influential factor on consumer purchasing decisions in the US for electronics, apparel and home improvement equipment, according to a new report, published by BIGresearch. Out of a study questioning over 14,000 consumers on advertising influences, BIGresearch found that word of mouth tended to be the biggest factor in the… Continue reading Research Emphasises Power Of Word Of Mouth

Global economic growth is expected to slow in 2005, signalling lower advertising growth, with a predicted global increase of 4.5% in the coming year, according to analysts Merrill Lynch. Europe, however, is forecast to do well with Merrill estimating European ad growth for 2005, to increase by 4.2%, compared to 4% in 2004. GDP Growth… Continue reading Merrill predicts Slowing Of Global Economy

Media super-regulator Ofcom has announced its Annual Plan for 2005, setting out the watchdog’s key priorities for the next financial year and inviting industry opinion on its proposed areas of concern.The watchdog has opened its plans for consultation until 3 March, with the final version of the plan to be published in April. Setting out… Continue reading Ofcom Sets Out Plan Of Action For Coming Year

Emap Advertising and OMD UK have announced an exclusive deal between Kiss Radio and easyJet, offering 48 Kiss listeners the chance to win trip to a series of club nights in Chamonix in the French Alps.The three month campaign, brokered by OMD UK, will offer prizes during a dedicated competition week in each month of… Continue reading Emap Unveils Latest Marketing Push For Kiss

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has told broadcaster TV Eye to amend certain arrangements governing the sale of advertising airtime, after a complaint by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA). The OFT was concerned that arrangements put in place by TV Eye enabled broadcasters ITV, GMTV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 to agree… Continue reading TV Eye Told To Amend Advertising Airtime Sales