The Barclay brothers have poached Murdoch MacLennan, managing director of Associated Newspapers, to become chief executive of the Telegraph titles they acquired last month for £665 million.It is understood that the highly secretive twins have been talking to the 54 year-old newspaper veteran for some weeks and have now persuaded him to join the new… Continue reading Telegraph Raids Rival Associated For New Chief Executive

ITV has secured Richard Desmond’s OK! magazine as the exclusive broadcast sponsor of the Celebrity Awards 2004 – a new one off awards ceremony due to be screened on the channel later this year.According to ITV, the inaugural event will bring together the biggest UK stars from the worlds of television, music and sport to… Continue reading ITV Secures OK Magazine To Sponsor Celebrity Awards

WPP is considering the possibility of a £500 million rights issue to purchase American advertising group, Grey Global. Chief executive of WPP, Sir Martin Sorrell, said last week, he is looking at Grey’s book but did not confirm whether he would be making a bid for the last independent advertising network. According to a report… Continue reading WPP Considering £500 Million Rights To Buy Grey

International consumer magazine group, Future Network, has today announced that it has acquired two UK games magazines from Dennis Publishing for £2.5 million. The purchase of PC Zone and Computer & Video Games (CVG) from the US publishing house, includes sister website, computerandvideogames.com. Managing director, Robert Price said: “This acquisition is good news for Future… Continue reading Future Network Buys Games Mags For £2.5 Million

The proposed £1 billion sale of the BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, has generated a flurry of interest from commercial broadcasters, venture capital groups and investment banks. However, it is understood that some would-be buyers are being put off by confusion over the lucrative rights to successful BBC shows and products, such as The Office… Continue reading Sale Of BBC Worldwide Raises Issues Over Rights

Broadband data networks could reach nearly two million US households by the end of 2004 if the current take-up rate continues, says a new report. According to Parks Associates’ Consumers & Emerging Multimedia Platforms study, the success of home networking, which reached more than one million US households this year, is expected to be as… Continue reading Broadband ISPs Find Success With Home Networks

Merrill Lynch has said that it expects global advertising giant, WPP to grow by up to 4% this year, as strong underlying business momentum is spurred on by a general recovery and key boost from the Olympics. The update from Merrill Lynch, which was issued as a result of WPP announcing its half year results… Continue reading Latest WPP Forecasts From Merrill Lynch

Despite figures for US internet access hitting a plateau, broadband penetration continues to grow successfully, as a new study reveals that 51% of US surfers now access the web using a high-speed connection. According to a report from Nielsen//NetRatings, sixty-three million at-home internet users connected via broadband in July, citing a 47% year-on-year growth, compared… Continue reading Broadband Usage Closes In On Narrowband

Channel Five has launched a dedicated commercial development team to maximise secondary revenue streams outside of traditional spot advertising.The newly created team will form part of Five’s existing airtimes sales division and will be responsible for growing revenue from sponsorship and promotions, interactive, joint ventures, telephony, licensing and merchandising.Five’s former head of sponsorship, Jon Lewis,… Continue reading Five Launches Commercial Team to Maximise Revenues

High-street retailer Woolworths has extended its sponsorship of radio chart show Hit 40 UK until 2006, in a deal that covers the programme as it is syndicated across numerous commercial radio stations and on Channel 4’s latest music television show.The deal, which is believed to be the biggest radio sponsorship deal in history, was brokered… Continue reading Capital Spins Sponsorship Deal With Woolworths