Channel 4 has confirmed that it is looking to forge closer links with the BBC in an attempt to strengthen its position in the face of rapidly increasing competition from the growing number of digital channels entering the market. The broadcaster’s recently appointed chief executive, Andy Duncan, told delegates at the Edinburgh International Television Festival… Continue reading MGETIF 2004: Channel 4 Confirms Intention To Link With BBC

Commercial broadcaster, ITV, has said that its advertising revenue for the first half of this year is up 5%, as its top ten categories all experienced growth during this period. Despite tough advertising conditions caused by advertisers negotiating more competitive deals due to a fall in audience share, ITV said that it also expects September’s… Continue reading Growth Across Top 10 Ad Categories Pushes ITV Revenues Up 5%

Five’s director of programmes Dan Chambers has poured cold water on the prospect of the broadcaster launching a digital channel in the near future, claiming it would be “phenomenally” expensive to get off the ground. The UK’s smallest commercial channel is currently looking at ways to strengthen its position in the burgeoning digital market and… Continue reading Digital Offerings Too Expensive For Five

As the UK teeters on the brink of a satellite receiver revolution, the BBC’s director-general said, he is keen to link up with the UK’s other public service broadcasters (PSBs) to drive forward digital switch-over as quickly as possible. Speaking at the Media Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival, Mark Thompson said, the Corporation is already… Continue reading BBC Keen To Drive Digital Switch-Over

As the number of digital TV channels continues to grow, the media landscape it becoming further fragmented and broadcasters are having to be more creative to ensure big brands don’t turn their backs and advertising budgets on television. There are now over 300 channels that fracture television and advertisers are increasingly looking to broadcasters to… Continue reading TV Broadcasters Battle To Attract Advertisers

OpenTV, owner of the PlayJam interactive TV channel, has signed a deal to provide a new games service for use on ITV’s channels accessed through Sky Digital.The new service, dubbed GTV, will be run by PlayJam on behalf of ITV. The interactive specialists will develop games for ITV based around the broadcaster’s best known brands,… Continue reading ITV Signs Playjam For Interactive Games Service

The BBC has confirmed the cancellation of one of its most iconic shows, with the next series of Changing Rooms marking the end of the genre-defining home makeover show after a steady decline in viewing figures over the past five years.A BBC spokeswoman confirmed the cancellation, stating: “”It is coming to an end after a… Continue reading BBC Axes Changing Rooms After Viewing Figures Slump

The Mobile Data Association has been forced to revise its usage forecasts for the UK’s text messaging services after figures for the first seven months of the year revealed a staggering 15 billion messages had changed hands.The MDA’s forecast now predicts a total of 25 billion messages for 2004, up from its previous forecast of… Continue reading Text Message Forecasts Revised Following Massive Usage

The Sunday Times has announced a special edition of its entertainment CD-Rom, The Month, to celebrate its first anniversary with exclusive footage from the DVD release of Oasis’ Definitely Maybe.The Sunday Times claims its CD-Rom based entertainment section made publishing history this time last year, as the UK’s first digital newspaper section, designed to accompany… Continue reading Sunday Times Celebrates Month Birthday With Oasis Special

ITV’s sale of special effects house, Moving Picture Company, has attracted the attention of several major players, including Sir Martin Sorrell’s international advertising giant, WPP.The sale of MPC, undertaken as part of ITV’s £550 million disposal of non-core assets, is also understood to be of interest to former Carlton chairman, Michael Green, French electronics group… Continue reading WPP Amongst Bidders For ITV’s Special Effects Group