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

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

Following several recent turnarounds on the outlook of radio advertising revenue, Merrill Lynch has today announced that it has also revisited the US TV revenue forecast and now expects this to outperform all previous predictions to grow by 8.3% this year. The global analyst group said, several factors contributed to its boost in confidence, including… Continue reading US Political Spending Boosts The TV Outlook At Merrill

Although the number of video-on-demand (VOD) users continues to rise, a new report from In-stat/MDR says, consumer interest remains lukewarm due to pricing and content concerns. A recent survey from the research group revealed that although 80% of US households were familiar with VOD services, the take-up rate was only 8%. In-stat said that this… Continue reading VOD Interest Lukewarm But Uptake To Soar By 2008

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

Publishing giant, Reed Elsevier, unveiled yesterday that it had acquired US data services group, Seisint in a deal worth $775 million (£417 million). Reed said that the groups legal and government information arm, LexisNexis, will wholly own Seisint and will fit very strongly with the LexisNexis risk management business and allow it to expand further.… Continue reading Reed Acquires US Data Group Seisint

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