The UK has landed second place in the Economist’s e-readiness rankings for 2004. Last year, it only managed to hit the third spot, tying with the US. The overall 2004 e-readiness winner is Denmark; with four of the five top spots being scooped by Scandinavian countries. The report compiled in conjunction with IBM’s institute for… Continue reading UK E-Readiness Reaches 2nd Place

BT has this week launched extensive trials of new technology designed to significantly reduce the cost of bringing high-speed broadband internet access to remote rural areas and small villages. The telecoms giant claims that its latest trial could result in one million more UK homes being able to access broadband internet services. This would be… Continue reading BT To Boost Broadband Up-Take With Long Distance Trial

OMD has clinched a lucrative deal worth over £2 million to provide publishing house HarperCollins a range of with media planning and buying services following a tense three-way competitive pitch.OMD faced stiff competition from Total Media and Rocket, working on briefs for the new Tony Parsons novel, The Family Way, and John Guy’s biography of… Continue reading HarperCollins Books OMD To Handle Media Account

Mark Thompson, Channel 4 chief executive, today announced that 2003 pre-tax profit was up 175% to £45 million – the highest margin achieved since 1999. At the press conference he also revealed that 4 Ventures, a subsidiary owned by Channel Four, made its first ever annual operating profit of £4.1 million, compared to a loss… Continue reading ‘Outstandingly Successful’ Year For Channel 4

The long-awaited UK advertising recovery continued to gather pace in the first quarter of this year as economic climate stabilised and business confidence gradually returned to marketing executives. The IPA’s latest quarterly Bellwether report reveals that current budgets were revised up in the first three months of 2003 following higher than expected sales revenues and… Continue reading Recovery Slowly Gathers Pace For UK Advertisers

MTV has announced its intention to bring real music to customers’ mobiles with a one year partnership with mobile phone giant Motorola and music specialist Gulp Music.The deal will enable the broadcaster to sell the pieces of music performed by real pop stars, dubbed ‘mastertones’, through its websites. The ringtones will be licensed by Gulp… Continue reading MTV Mobile Deal Is Music To The Ears Of Consumers

ITV shareholders look set to express their outrage later today at three Carlton directors who authorised the controversial £15 million in payments to the broadcaster’s ousted chairman designate, Michael Green.Reports suggest that up to 40% of shareholders in the newly merged company could vote against the re-election of the directors who approved the package that… Continue reading Investor Backlash Could Force ITV Directors Out

Dynamic Logic has launched a new tool enabling advertisers to more accurately measure the effectiveness of their sponsorship activity, in a move that will bring increased accountability to media owners.The research application aims to help advertisers evaluate the impact of their sponsorship on brand perception. It also investigates the intent to purchase the products at… Continue reading Dynamic Logic Launches New Research Tool For Sponsors

Kent Messenger Group has become the latest company to subscribe to J-ET, the radio industry’s online trading system.With six stations in Kent and an aim to grow its national business, Kent Messenger Group saw J-ET as key to accelerating that growth.Sales director, Mike Daly, said: “Busy media buyers needed a uniform, streamlined process which is… Continue reading Kent Messenger Joins Radio Industry’s Trading System

ITV has launched nation-wide auditions for a new Pop Idol-style search for Parliamentary candidates as part of a new television contest entitled Vote For Me.The show is open to every one of Britain’s eligible voters provided they have no affiliation with any political group currently qualifying for party election broadcasts. An independent panel will judge… Continue reading ITV Launches Parliament Idol Reality Contest