Five chief executive Dawn Airey is surprised at the hostility towards a Channel 4/Five merger, calling the proposal a “credible solution” to Channel 4’s funding gap.In an interview with the Sunday Times, Airey also voiced doubts as to whether a Channel 4 partnership with BBC Worldwide would be of long term benefit to the broadcaster.“Merging… Continue reading Airey: Channel4/Five merger credible solution to funding gap

Over three quarters (78%) of the UK’s most trusted brands regularly publish a customer magazine, new research from Royal Mail has revealed.Organisations including British Airways, Tesco, Virgin, Norwich Union, British Gas and AA were all recently named trusted brands within their respective categories (non-FMCG categories) by Reader’s Digest annual survey. They were also found to… Continue reading Over three quarters of trusted brands publish customer magazines

Virgin Media has launched a new on-demand Sci-fi & Fantasy area on its cable TV platform.The new section features up to 150 hours of programming from Warner TV, FX UK, ContentFilm and Virgin Media TV.Virgin Media Television customers on the XL package, or those subscribing to TV Choice, will have unlimited access to classic shows… Continue reading Virgin launches Sci-fi on-demand

WPP and Omniture have announced a strategic partnership to provide clients with more-effective insights across digital and traditional media channels.The two companies will collaborate on technology development, on sharing data and information, and in consulting services. The collaboration will focus on providing chief marketing officers and other marketing executives at clients, with greater consumer insights,… Continue reading WPP and Omniture launch partnership to improve marketing ROI

Hannah Barnes, Five’s director of programmes for Fiver and Five USA, is leaving the broadcaster following the relaunch of the digital channels.Five Life rebranded as Fiver at the end of April last year as the broadcaster sought to attract a younger audience (see Fiver Gets Launch Date).Barnes also managed the rebranding of Five’s other digital… Continue reading Hannah Barnes to leave Five

The latest RAJAR figures, for the fourth quarter of 2008, show that All Commercial radio enjoyed a year on year increase in weekly reach, although its average hours per listener figure was down over the same period.All BBC also saw its average hours per listener figure drop year on year, while its weekly reach showed… Continue reading Weekly reach increase for commercial radio

Every home in Britain should have a broadband connection by 2012 according to Lord Carter’s interim Digital Britain report, published today.The report, which contains a 22-point action plan, also reveals that the government is to set out a digital migration plan for radio that involves taking the majority of listening from FM to DAB as… Continue reading Broadband for all by 2012

Q4 RAJAR figures reveal that listening via DAB was up from 114 million hours to 116 million period on period.DAB radio also increased its share of listening on digital platforms, from an 11.3% share in Q3 to an 11.4% share in Q4 2008.In what was a good quarter for digital radio, DAB’s weekly reach rose… Continue reading DAB enjoys rise in listening hours

MySpace has started letting brands take over its homepage in an attempt to take on Yahoo! and Microsoft’s MSN portals.MySpace has also placed “safe havens” on its site for advertisers reluctant to place their brands on personal profile pages.The News Corp owned site has previously based its ad business on information supplied by its users.Speaking… Continue reading MySpace takes on portals for ad revenue

Carat UK managing director Neil Jones has joined News International as director of commercial strategy, while Jeremy Schwartz, former marketing director at L’oreal and Sainsbury’s, has been appointed to the board-level role of chief marketing officer.Jones will report directly to Paul Hayes, managing director of News International commercial. He joins News International after 18 years… Continue reading Carat UK marketing director joins News International