The Advertising Standards Authority today takes over responsibility for handling complaints about television and radio commercials in one of the biggest shake-ups of advertising regulation in recent years.Media super-regulator Ofcom has contracted out the rules governing broadcast advertising to the ASA, in a move that will see the watchdog widen its existing remit from press… Continue reading ASA Extends Powers Under New Regulatory Regime

The BBC has launched its vision for a broadband Britain by calling on the Government and the new media industry to work together to avoid the creation of a ‘digital underclass’.The BBC’s director of new media and technology, Ashley Highfield, appealed for the ‘collaboration and co-operation’ of the industry’s key players to launch a digital… Continue reading BBC Sets Out Vision For Broadband Britain

Continued rumours of a sell off for the BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, indicate that the Corporation will embark on a profit-doubling programme before auctioning off the division in two years’ time.According to reports, the move could “fatten up” the BBC’s revenue-producing commercial arm, potentially adding an extra £1 billion to the value of the… Continue reading BBC To Double Worldwide Profits Before Sell Off

Ofcom has today tightened the rules governing alcohol advertising on television following a prolonged consultation period with advertisers and industry trade bodies.The revised code significantly strengthens the regulator’s existing rules on the promotion of alcohol, banning several widely used advertising strategies and seeking to protect the under-18s from adverse advertising-based influences.The code now requires advertisements… Continue reading Ofcom Finalises Revamped Alcohol Advertising Code

Capital Radio’s proposed £711 million merger with GWR could be delayed by up to six months if advertisers and rival radio groups call for a Competition Commission enquiry into the deal.Influential advertising groups ISBA and the IPA are concerned that the merged entity, which would control more than 40% of national radio advertising revenue, would… Continue reading Capital/GWR Merger Could Face Competition Enquiry

ITV Sales will next week launch its long-awaited ‘Values of Fame’ marketing programme in an attempt to convince brands of the benefits of television advertising.The campaign, which has been developed as part of ITV’s effort to become more client focused, will centre around the proposition that television is the medium that best guarantees advertisers the… Continue reading ITV Launches Campaign To Boost Television Advertising

The BBC has launched its vision for a broadband Britain by calling on the Government and the new media industry to work together to avoid the creation of a ‘digital underclass’. Delivering the keynote speech at last week’s Broadband Britain Summit, Ashley Highfield,the BBC’s director of new media and technology, appealed for the collaboration and… Continue reading BBC Pushes For Broadband Britain

By 2010, a third of the UK population will have access to a PVR, providing viewers with the ability to skip commercials. New research from Starcom states that there are 420,000 PVRs currently in use in the UK. This figure is predicted to increase to 5 million in the next four years, as penetration is… Continue reading PVRs Penetration To Reach 30% By 2010

Channel 4 has secured Pizza hut as the sponsor of The Simpsons, which makes its long-awaited debut on the channel next Friday.The Simpsons will form a key part of Channel 4’s autumn schedule and the sponsorship is thought to be one of the broadcaster’s biggest as it seeks to recoup the £700,000 per episode that… Continue reading Channel 4 Calls In Pizza Hut To Sponsor The Simpsons

Radio listeners in Caradon Hill, Cornwall will be able to enjoy local services in crystal clarity from today, as NTL’s Broadcast division switches on its 250th digital transmitter.The new transmitter marks the culmination of an intensive roll-out of multiplexing and transmission systems for both national and local stations by NTL lasting four years. The Caradon… Continue reading NTL Boosts Digital Radio With 250th Transmitter