Media regulator, Ofcom, has laid out phase two of its new telecommunications guidelines as the market moves from analogue to digital and has warned telecoms giant British Telecom (BT) that it must let rivals have ‘real equality of access’ to BT phone lines. As BT currently owns the majority of the telephone and broadband lines… Continue reading Ofcom Urges BT To Open Up Its Monopoly To Rivals

Using the internet as a source of entertainment has overtaken business and investment as the second largest paid content category on the web during the first half of 2004, according to the US Online Publishers Association (OPA). The entertainment category, which was fueled primarily by growth in the music sector, grew by 78.3% to £182.8… Continue reading Entertainment Spurs Online Paid Content To $853 Million In H1 2004

David Chance, chairman of Top Up TV and former BSkyB executive has claimed that Freeview homes will outnumber their Sky Digital counterparts by December 2005, stating that increased interest in pay-TV from terrestrial viewers was fuelling growth in his company’s low-cost premium channel offering. Speaking at a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch, Chance stated: “Freeview box… Continue reading Freeview Penetration Set To Equal Sky Next Year

The market for cable set-top boxes is bouncing back in 2004, according to market research firm In-Stat/MDR, as worldwide shipments for this year are expected to grow by 11% to reach 10.87 million. The latest report from In-Stat shows that North American cable television operators are fuelling growth with orders for personal video recorder and… Continue reading HD and PVRs Boost The Cable Set Top Box Market

SUBtv, the national student union TV channel, has secured a wide-ranging sponsorship deal with mobile phone network 3 to see the company sponsor its new Video Jukebox service in 65 student union venues nation-wide.The sponsorship deal will reach an audience of 1.2 million across SUBtv’s network, with the campaign featuring 3’s Japanese style “critter” characters… Continue reading SUBtv Signs 3 For Video Jukebox Sponsorship

A new lifestyle magazine aimed at 15-24 year olds will make its debut this month, as Red Hot Publishing begins distribution of FFWD magazine, a free offering combining sport, fashion and health for the notoriously fickle youth market.The new title takes the form of a glossy A5 magazine, distributed free to readers through sports and… Continue reading New Sports Title To Tackle Fickle Teen Sector

ITV has announced a raft of interactive services to accompany the latest outing of its celebrity endurance show, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!The fourth series of the reality marathon promises several new twists and gruelling trials for its contestants, while ITVi gives its viewers the power to make decisions more ways then… Continue reading ITV Gives Viewers Interactive Contol Over Celebrities

Yesterday saw Channel 4 walk out on merger talks with Five, after concluding that obstacles to a tie-up between a state-owned and a commercial broadcaster were too difficult to overcome, according to a report in The Times. Andy Duncan, chief executive of Channel 4 said: “With concerns being raised about our future funding it was… Continue reading Channel 4 Walks Out On Five

As WPP continues to grow its international operations, wholly-owned operating company Landor Associates has this morning announced that is has purchased Australian branding and design consultancy, Lewis Kahn Staniford (LKS). LKS which achieved revenue of A$8.1 million for the year and net assets of A$1.3 million last year, employs around 45 people and clients include… Continue reading WPP Acquires Australian Branding Group LKS

The Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) group has today announced that Queensland Media Investments will acquire an 85.1% stake in its Australian commercial FM radio station, Hot 91. DMG Radio Australia (DMGRA) was required to dispose of at least 85.1% of its interest in Hot 91 as a result of purchasing a second Brisbane… Continue reading DMGT Disposes Of Stake In Australian Radio Station