ITV is planning to create new versions of several classic drama series in an effort to increase ratings and win back viewers.The broadcaster has confirmed its intention to create the new programmes, with Inspector Morse, Sharpe and Rumpole of the Bailey understood to be in the planning stages.A spokeswoman for ITV said: “They are very… Continue reading ITV To Rescue Ratings By Resurrecting Classics

This morning, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) issued a statement to the London Stock Exchange stating that ITV’s proposed acquisition of Scottish Media Group’s 25% stake in GMTV may be referred to the Competition Commission for investigation. The statement invites feedback about any competition or public interest issues to be sent to the OFT… Continue reading GMTV Acquisition May Be Referred To Competition Commission

City stockbroker’s have added further fuel to the rumours surrounding the alleged consolidation between Capital Radio and GWR Group, after a meeting with the finance director of Capital, left the team convinced ‘the two companies are far into negotiations’. The media team at stockbroker Panmure Gordon caught up with Peter Harris on Wednesday and said… Continue reading Capital And GWR In Merger ‘Negotiations’

In a new report, Point Topic estimates that spending from businesses on broadband value added services (BVAS) helped push the worldwide broadband market through the $50 billion barrier early this year. The report, Broadband Money-Makers Service, says that value-added services, which include both broadband applications and the platforms which enable the applications to work, have… Continue reading Extra Broadband Services Help Push Market to $50bn

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) has predicted that faster broadband connection is set to fuel growth in the video games market, which is expected to generate a staggering $55.6 billion revenue by 2008. Gaming will see a 20.1% annual gain globally by 2008 thanks to fast broadband and wireless expansion over the next few years, which will act… Continue reading Broadband To Fuel Video Games Growth

Film giant UIP has announced the first online campaign to promote summer blockbuster, Thunderbirds, employing United Virtualities’ Ooqa-Ooqa technology to replace viewers’ web browsers with branded alternatives.The technology is used for the first time today as the campaign launches on www.citv.co.uk, with Ooqa-Ooqa replacing visitors’ normal browser toolbar with an advertiser branded browser.The technology is… Continue reading UIP Pushes Thunderbirds With Branded Internet Browser

Emap Advertising and Starcom Motive have secured a £1.5 million cross-media deal with Golden Wonder to promote its Nik Naks snack brand across Emap’s range of Kiss and Kerrang branded media.The four-month campaign will target 16 to 24 year-old consumers with a range of on-air sponsorship and promotions covering Kiss TV, Kerrang TV and The… Continue reading Emap Bags Golden Wonder For Cross-Media Deal

An investigation by the National Audit Office has revealed continued confusion surrounding the Freeview digital TV service, claiming that the BBC has failed to significantly improve public understanding of the service, despite numerous high-profile campaigns.The NAO report claims that the BBC’s campaigns have not yet succeeded in “significantly reducing consumer confusion about Freeview in non-digital… Continue reading NAO Claims Confusion Still Rife Over Freeview

Mirror Group Newspapers has bolstered its advertising team with another raft of senior appointments designed to improve its relationship with clients and agencies.Clare Dove, director of advertising for Trinity Mirror’s national newspaper division, has recruited Keith Yonish as head of innovation. He joins from the Independent where he held the position of controller of Independent… Continue reading Mirror Group Announces Raft Of Advertising Appointments

It was confirmed today that Guardian Media Group (GMG) has bought a 14% stake in Development Hell, publisher of the music and entertainment magazine Word. After much interest from other trade investors, the bosses at Development Hell decided that a tie with GMG would be ideal. Publisher, Jerry Perkins said: “It is a diverse media… Continue reading GMG Acquires 14% Stake In Development Hell