More Industry News articles

Media journalist Ray Snoddy believes that the magazine industry now has the freedom to plan and invest in launches, in preparation for when the recession ends.Speaking at MediaTel Group’s ‘Future of Consumer Magazines’ seminar yesterday, Snoddy said the magazine industry is in a good position because “the entire sector is in private hands, which is… Continue reading Snoddy: “Publishers should be planning launches”

ShortList‘s chief executive Mike Soutar rebuffs claims that the publisher is set to launch a new women’s weekly title to rival the likes of Grazia magazine.Speaking about the reports, which are thought to have surfaced a “few weeks ago” and suggested that ShortList Media planned to launch a free celebrity and fashion title aimed at… Continue reading ShortList’s chief exec denies rumours of new mag

UTV has reported pre-tax profits of £20.3 million in 2008, down from £20.8 in 2007. Group operating profit remained static at £28.1 million, with radio operating profit up 12% to £18.5 million. There was also an impressive increase in new media operating profits, of 44%, taking the total to £2 million. However, television operating profits… Continue reading UTV reports £0.5m drop in pre-tax profits

RTL Group, owner of Five, has reported a 1.2% rise in revenue to €5.7 million for the year ending December 31 2008, with underlying revenue at constant exchange rates up 2.6%. Earnings before the deduction of interest, tax and amortization (EBITA) were up 2% to €916 million. The net profit attributable to RTL Group shareholders… Continue reading RTL Group reports 1.2% rise in revenue for 2008

Secretary of state for culture, media and sport Andy Burnham has ruled out product placement on UK television.In a statement released today, Burnham said that there is a lack of evidence of economic benefits, coupled with “serious concerns about blurring the boundaries between advertising and editorial”.The statement follows a three month government consultation on the… Continue reading Government rules out product placement on UK television

A peak of 6.4 million viewers – a 25.5% share of the audience – tuned in to ITV1 last night to see Liverpool thoroughly outplay Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League.An average of five million viewers watched the football coverage, from 7.30pm to 10pm, which ended with Liverpool beating the Spanish… Continue reading 6.4m watch Liverpool humble Madrid

Google has introduced behavioural targeted advertising as a beta test on its AdSense partner sites and YouTube.Starting today, users will see more personally relevant ads on sites including the New York Times, Reuters, Napster, ITN, AutoTrader and Rolling Stone.According to Google, the scheme will reach 80% of the global online population and 32 million people… Continue reading Google introduces behavioural targeted ads

Regional newspaper publisher Johnston Press suffered a 28% drop in adjusted pre-tax profits last year, with ad revenue down 36% at the start of 2009.Adjusted pre-tax profits fell from £137.4 million in 2007 to £98.8 million in 2008.The group’s adjusted pre-tax profits do not include non-recurring items such as a non-cash impairment charge of £417.5… Continue reading Johnston Press suffers 28% fall in pre-tax profits

Sony Playstation has signed a deal with NBC Universal to make its films and television programmes available for download on the console.The partnership, which follows Microsoft’s Xbox deal with the studio (see NBC Universal signs Xbox 360 movie deal), allows PlayStation Network users to download NBC TV programmes and Universal films for about $5 (£3).Content… Continue reading Sony Playstation signs NBC Universal content deal

Up to 300 jobs are likely to be cut at local weekly paper owner MEN Media and regional newspaper publisher Observer Standard Media Group.Around 150 jobs are under threat at the Observer Standard Media Group, which currently has the administrators in, after it announced that it is looking for a buyer for nine of its… Continue reading Regional publishers to cut up to 300 jobs