Tony Ball, ex-chief executive of BSkyB and frontrunner for the ITV chief exec job, has indicated that he would bring in new board members if appointed.Ball would bring in new non-executive directors to replace people such as Sir James Crosby and Sir Adrian Russell, according to a report in the Observer.Mike Clasper, appointed to the… Continue reading Frontrunner for ITV chief exec job to shakeup board

Virgin Media is launching a digital music service allowing users to download unlimited Universal Music tracks for a monthly subscription fee.In a world first, users will be able to keep the downloaded music permanently and store it on any MP3 compatible device. An “entry level” offer will also be available for customers who download music… Continue reading Virgin Media to launch unlimited music download service

New research from the IPA reveals a continuing trend of declining click through rates (CTR) on Google in paid search advertising but with increasing cost per click (CPC).The data, covering January 2008 to March 2009 and submitted by 12 agencies on 47 brands, shows that average CTRs have declined from around 40% to around 20%,… Continue reading IPA search study shows continuing trend of increased Cost Per Click

BSkyB will next year launch the UK’s first news channel to be broadcast in HD.The launch is scheduled for spring 2010 after an upgrade to Sky’s news gathering operations, studios and production facilities.The new HD news channel will be simulcast alongside Sky’s existing news channel and will join the broadcaster’s 33 HD channels including Sky… Continue reading Sky to launch UK’s first HD news channel

Communications minister Lord Carter is expected to leave his job after the publication of the Digital Britain report next week.According to reports, Carter will leave the government by the end of the month to return to the private sector.In an interview with the Times he refused to confirm if he would still be a minister… Continue reading Lord Carter expected to step down

The IPA is to integrate UKOM data into TouchPoints 3, which is due to launch in around a year’s time.The move comes as many in the industry are stepping up their calls for a standard online currency.Lynne Robinson, IPA research director, said: “There were several currencies we could have used but didn’t want to get… Continue reading IPA to integrate UKOM with TouchPoints

Russian oligarch Alexander Lebedev may have to pay up to £20 million to acquire the Independent and Independent on Sunday newspapers.According to a report published today by Citigroup, the titles, which lost £13 million last year, could be worth as much as £20m.It said that while the papers are arguably “core” to the INM brand,… Continue reading Lebedev may have to pay £20m for Independent titles

ITV1 was on the ball last night, with its coverage of England’s football World Cup qualifier bagging a peak of 9.2 million viewers – a 40% share of the audience.Playing an Andorra team ranked 196 in the world, England managed to rack up a convincing 6-0 victory. The coverage had an average of eight million… Continue reading Overnights: 9.2m watch England victory

Five could launch HD services on digital terrestrial television (DTT) from 2010 after Ofcom provisionally reserved capacity for the broadcaster.The decision to award the HD licence is subject to Five resolving certain key criteria related to its application by 31 December 2009, said Ofcom.Five said in its application that it will initially simulcast its main… Continue reading Five could launch DTT HD services by 2010

Alexander Lebedev, Russian oligarch owner of the London Evening Standard is understood to be in talks to acquire the Independent and Independent on Sunday.Senior executives from Independent News & Media (IN&M) have been in discussions with Lebedev’s representatives over a possible sale, with one source claiming that a nominal offer for both titles has already… Continue reading Evening Standard owner in talks to buy Independent titles