Viewers of ITV’s latest televised talent contest, X Factor, are to be offered interactive betting services following a deal between TV production giant Fremantle and bookmaker Blue Square.The deal marks the first time that Fremantle has provided betting services for any of its shows in Britain, although the venture could prove popular as X Factor,… Continue reading ITV To Offer Interactive Betting On X Factor

United Business Media has announced that Clive Hollick, chief executive of the media giant, is to leave the company in May 2005.The move will see Hollick step down from his position to pursue other interests as he enters his ninth year as chief executive. In a brief statement issued this morning the CEO said: “I… Continue reading UBM Chief Executive To Step Down Next Year

Digital radio multiplex operator, Digital One, has produced an easy to use guide to DAB broadcasts and the equipment needed to receive them in an effort to boost take-up as the market prepares for the all important Christmas period.The Buyer’s Guide to DAB Digital Radio is designed to make purchasing a DAB digital radio easier… Continue reading Digital One To Boost DAB Up-Take With Buyer’s Guide

Advertising giant, WPP and two private equity firms, are each reported to be considering a £600 million bid for American advertising group, Grey Global. According to The Guardian, WPP chief executive, Sir Martin Sorrell, is expected to disregard shareholders concerns when he makes a bid for the last independent advertising network, with an offer just… Continue reading WPP Considering A £600m Bid For Grey Global

The Broadcasters Audience Research Board has announced a new tier to its data, with the creation of a new Lifestyle Insights survey to provide more information about viewers to advertisers and broadcasters. The new survey will add hundreds of additional characteristics about the behaviour, spending and lifestyle of its viewing panel to BARB’s existing data,… Continue reading BARB Launches Lifestyle Survey To Enrich Ratings Data

Carat, the world’s largest independent media agency network, has said that ‘solid recovery’ in Europe and the US has led to an increase in its advertising spend forecasts for 2004 and 2005, despite the Olympic Games failing to provide the significant uplift expected. According to the new report, global spending on advertising in 2004 is… Continue reading Carat Revises 2004 & 2005 Adspend Forecasts Upwards

The popularity of instant messaging in the United States has continued to grow over the past year, with 42% of adults saying they use this on a typical day. According to a new report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 24% of the 53 million adults who use instant messaging, admitted to using… Continue reading Instant Messaging Now Used By 42% Of US Adults

Voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) is expected to account for over 12% of all telephony related revenues by 2009, according to a new report from Juniper Research. Over the next five years, VoIP will contribute $32 billion to a global telephone market worth $260 billion, offsetting the decline in revenues from traditional fixed line. Broadband specialist, Ian Cox… Continue reading VoIP To Account For 12% Of Telephony Revenue By 2009

Lord Rothermere’s Daily Mail and General Trust has announced the purchase of classified advertising specialist Bargain Pages Media for a total of £8.5 million.The move will see the Birmingham based operation form part of DMGT’s regional newspaper division, Northcliffe Newspapers Group. The company currently publishes the Bargain Pages newspaper in three editions to most of… Continue reading Daily Mail Snaps Up Midlands Bargain Papers

Interactive television specialist, Press Red, is attempting to make the switch to interactive advertising easier than ever with the launch of a new version of its BlackBox advert creation tool designed to woo more brands to the fledgling medium.The software has been accredited by Sky Interactive for use by agencies in creating campaigns using the… Continue reading Press Red Launches New Interactive Tool For Agencies