Virgin Media has been confirmed as the sponsor of the next series of reality behemoth Big Brother, taking over the reigns from Carphone Warehouse who dropped their deal following the allegedly racist bullying row (see Carphone Warehouse Hangs Up On Big Brother).Sir Richard’s company will promote its Virgin Mobile brand through the multi-channel sponsorship, with… Continue reading Branson Secures Big Brother Sponsorship

It was a great night for ITV1 on Saturday, with the final of Dancing On Ice attracting the biggest adult audience of the evening.More than 8.6 million tuned in to the first edition of the show, giving the channel a 43.7% share between 6.30pm and 8pm, whilst the final programme, which saw hot favourite Kyran… Continue reading Dancing On Ice Wraps Up With More Than 8.6 Million

America’s Audit Bureau of Circulations has taken a further step towards introducing aggregated audience figures, after its board approved plans to develop various cross-media measurements for ABC reports this week.The board revealed plans to use data from a newspaper research firm to produce in-market net audience figures, combining print and online readership without duplication, according… Continue reading US ABC Steps Up Cross-Media Measurement Plans

A high definition access group has started a campaign to make the television technology available to everyone in the UK.The push, which has been labelled HdforAll, has come from a group of broadcasters, retailers and manufacturers, who say that plans to auction off the airspace required for HDTV to work on the Freeview platform means… Continue reading Campaign Group Applies Some Pressure For HDTV Access

Ofcom chief executive, Ed Richards, has received a letter from consumer campaign group, the Consumer Panel, urging the watchdog to step in to solve the spat between Branson’s Virgin Media and Murdoch’s BSkyB.While in theory the three million Virgin customers who are now without Sky’s flagship channels can switch, the process is too complex and… Continue reading Consumer Pressure Group Wades In To Virgin/Sky War

Flagship BBC One children’s programme, Blue Peter, has joined the ever-growing list of shows to be immersed in the premium rate phone-in scandal.It has emerged that the classic TV format faked the winner of a viewer competition to raise money for the Blue Peter Appeal in aid of Unicef, after the phone lines failed.A technical… Continue reading Blue Peter Fakes Winner, Joins Phone-In Blacklist

BBC One’s time travelling cop drama, Life On Mars, was watched by almost 4.9 million adults last night, giving the channel around a 22% audience share between 9pm and 10pm.The conclusion of ITV1’s crime drama Fallen Angel, also set in the 70s, failed to gain as many viewers, with a little over 4.6 million adults… Continue reading ITV1 Crime Drama Falls From Grace

More than one million households converted to digital television in the three months to the end of December last year in the UK, according to a new report from Ofcom.According to the communications regulator, growth has been driven by another strong quarter for digital terrestrial television (DTT), with total sales of DTT equipment reaching 2.4… Continue reading More Than A Million UK Homes Switch To Digital TV In Q4 ’06

thelondonpaper has once again nudged ahead of its fellow freesheet, the London Lite, with the title recording a circulation increase of more than 13% month on month.The News International paper now boasts an ABC of a little under 495,000, compared to last month’s figure of just over 436,000. The title’s rival has actually seen a… Continue reading thelondonpaper Widens Gap On Freesheet Rival

Five has become the latest broadcaster to suspend programming involving premium rate phone-ins, after Endemol UK told the channel about issues surrounding its quiz show Brainteaser.As well as the daily quiz show, the suspension will affect Quiz Call on Five and Five US and competitions in and around programming.“We are shocked and disappointed and wish… Continue reading Five Suspends Brainteaser Amidst Phone-In Controversy