The parent group of WPP’s Insight division, Kantar Group, has acquired China’s largest independent market research network, Oracle. Following the acquisition, Oracle will join Kantar’s Added Value network and will be branded as Oracle Added Value. Founded in 1994, Oracle employs 130 people and generated revenues of HK$65 million last year. The purchase, which follows… Continue reading WPP Acquires Oracle Market Research

The Advertising Standards Authority has unveiled a new brand identity as it prepares to assume responsibility for handling complaints about television and radio commercials.From 1 November media regulator Ofcom will contract out the rules governing broadcast advertising to the ASA, in a move that will see the watchdog widen its existing remit from press and… Continue reading ASA Revamps Brand Identity Ahead Of New Powers

Viacom Brand Solutions has appointed sales director Nick Bampton as acting managing director until a replacement is found for Paul Curtis, who left to join Sky Media earlier this week.Bampton will temporarily head up the brand focused sales house, which handles airtime for the MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon and Paramount channels. He will report directly to… Continue reading Bampton Takes Temporary Charge Of Viacom

BSkyB has launched its free-to-air digital satellite package, Freesat, offering viewers more than 200 television and radio channels for a one-off payment of £150.The service, unveiled by BSkyB chief executive James Murdoch, is being seen by many as an attempt to rival the success of the BBC-backed Freeview platform, which has gone from strength to… Continue reading BSkyB Launches Freesat To Rival Freeview

Speculation that Scottish Radio Holdings is on the brink of being take-over by Emap has intensified following news that the company is looking for advisors in anticipation of a potential deal.Speculation has been rife that Emap would launch a take-over bid for Scottish Radio Holdings since the cross-media giant expressed an interest in increasing its… Continue reading Emap May Move On Scottish Radio Holdings Next Year

Media super-regulator Ofcom has today revealed six bidders will compete to take control of the new local FM radio licence for the Ashford area in Kent.The six broadcasters battling for the coveted M licence include Ashford FM, Ashford Local Radio, Lark FM: KMfm, Time FM, A10 FM and East Kent Radio. All of the proposed… Continue reading Six Bidders To Compete For Ashford FM Licence

MediaTel Group has launched its third annual charity sports quiz. In the last 2 years the quiz has raised over £8,000 for charity. For the chance to win some great prizes, you need to predict the outcome of 25 sporting events taking place between December and May. Prizes include Ashes tickets, tickets to a Chelsea… Continue reading MediaTel Group Sports Quiz Returns

BBC Radio Stations Weekly Reach (000s) Year On Year Comparisons Station Survey Period Ending Sep 03 Ending Sep 04 % Ch 1Xtra from the BBC Q 331 312 -5.7 BBC 6 Music Q 154 228 48.1 BBC Asian Network Q 214 171 -20.1 BBC Asian Network UK H 495 473 -4.4 BBC Essex Q 252… Continue reading RAJAR Results Q3 2004: Performance By Ownership

Sky Media has appointed Paul Curtis to the newly created position of deputy managing director, following the departure of Mark Chippendale as head of advertising sales last month.Curtis, currently managing director of Viacom Brand Solutions, will report to Nick Milligan, managing director of Sky Media, with a brief to deliver more integrated solutions to advertisers… Continue reading Sky Picks Curtis As New Advertising Sales Boss

IPC’s veteran music weekly NME has secured Wella ShockWaves as the headline sponsor of its annual awards, which are to be broadcast on Channel 4 early next year.The event will be held on Thursday 17 February in London and will be promoted by a week of programming on Channel 4 featuring highlights from the awards… Continue reading NME Secures ShockWaves To Sponsor Annual Awards