The rise of internet television signals the evolution of traditional TV rather than its death, according to Xtreme Insight analyst Lucy Wright.Speaking at last week’s MRG Evening Meeting, Wright said that the common perception that traditional TV is dying is not true, instead TV is actually evolving, with consumers “watching more TV than we were… Continue reading MRG Evening Meeting: The rise of internet TV

Member communities – which includes social networks and blogs – has become the fourth most popular category online, visited by over two-thirds (67%) of the global online population according to new research from Nielsen.John Burbank, CEO of Nielsen Online, said: “Social networking has become a fundamental part of the global online experience.“While two-thirds of the… Continue reading Social networks and blogs increase in popularity

Facebook is the brand most searched for by UK internet users, according to new research from online intelligence service Hitwise.During the 12 weeks ending 3 January 2009, 1 in every 42 UK internet searches in the UK included the term ‘facebook’, Hitwise said.Facebook received 52% more searches than the second most popular brand, YouTube. The… Continue reading Facebook is UK’s most searched for brand

The debut mobile ad spend study from the Internet Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers will be without data from Google after it refused to submit revenue figures.The report, due out in April, will provide information about the overall size of the market as well as which sectors are spending on mobile.Google has a global policy which… Continue reading Google will not submit revenue figures for IAB/PwC mobile adpsend study

The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) has launched new guidelines for online behavioural advertising.Drawn up in collaboration with key players in behavioural advertising, the Good Practice Principles are the UK’s first self-regulatory guidelines for companies that collect and use data in this way.Supported by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the independent data protection regulator, the Principles… Continue reading IAB launches online behavioural advertising guidelines

The men’s magazine market took a blow yesterday with the news that Bauer Media’s Arena is to cease printing after 22 years.Although the latest ABC figures – for July to December 2008 – show that its circulation was up 16.5% year on year, its total was less than 30,000 copies.Arena was launched in 1986 by… Continue reading The rise and fall of Arena

The chief executives of the UK’s top regional newspaper groups have joined forces to pressure the government into relaxing merger restrictions.According to a report in the Financial Times, the Local Media Alliance came into being in January and then held a secret meeting at Claridge’s with communications minister Lord Carter on February 2.The seven executives… Continue reading Regional newspaper groups form alliance

More than 70% of UK adults take more notice of mail that is aimed specifically and accurately at them, according to new research.The research, from direct marketing specialist GI Direct, found that receptiveness to personalisation was highest in Scotland and the South, while people in East Anglia and the North West appear more “jaded and… Continue reading Consumers take more notice of personalised DM

Bauer Media’s men’s lifestyle magazine Arena is being “suspended” in a move which could see the loss of 12 jobs.A four-week staff consultation has begun, which could lead to redundancies in editorial and advertising. The April issue, out next Thursday, will be the last.The magazine, which launched in 1986, had a circulation of 29,374 according… Continue reading Bauer Media’s Arena to close after 22 years

Luke Johnson, chairman of Channel 4, has expressed confusion at a story in the Sunday Telegraph regarding merger talks between BT and Channel 4.Johnson told MediaWeek.co.uk: “I am not sure how the story came about, as we held a meeting with BT Vision more than a year ago.“The company might have submitted an interest in… Continue reading Johnson reacts to BT Vision/Channel 4 merger speculation