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The culture secretary Andy Burnham has pledged to save Channel 4 and favours a deal with BBC Worldwide over a potential merger with Channel Five.Speaking at the Oxford Media Convention today, Burnham said “the Channel 4 brand is here to stay” and will play a pivotal role in providing plurality of public service content beyond… Continue reading Burnham backs Channel 4

US consumers are spending 11% more time online than watching TV, and internet video is emerging as the key platform for the delivery of on-demand video services. Yankee Group analysts advise that media companies should focus on the internet as a primary opportunity in 2009. The emergence of the ‘Anywhere Consumer’ – Yankee Group’s vision… Continue reading US consumers spending more time online than watching TV

The profit margins within traditional media, including newspapers and television, will never be the same again, according to WPP’s chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell.Speaking at an IAA event yesterday, Sorrell warned that the media industry continues to be “disintermediated” by low-cost business models.“The painful thing for old media is it will never be the same… Continue reading Sorrell: Old media will never be as profitable again

Sharon Parsons has been appointed editor of Bauer Media’s health and wellbeing title Top Sante. She replaces Marina Crook who left last year.Parsons’ return to the helm of Top Sante comes as it repositions itself as a mainstream health magazine for 40-something women, with editorial focused on health, wellbeing, nutrition and beauty.Previously editor of the… Continue reading New editor for Top Sante

The IPA has published its 2008 Agency Census report showing that there was a record number of people working in agencies last year.There were 20,131 people working in 272 member agencies on September 1 last year compared to 19,077 people in 261 member agencies a year previously.This is a rise of 1,054 people and the… Continue reading IPA reveals record agency staff levels

BBC One’s The Secret Life of Elephants was the ratings winner in last night’s all important 9pm slot, just edging out Heston Blumenthal’s attempt to improve the menu at Little Chef in Big Chef Takes on Little Chef on Channel 4.The Secret Life of Elephants, a documentary revealing the emotional and dramatic lives of elephants… Continue reading Big Chef takes on Elephants and loses

Two of the media industry’s most respected commentators gave their views on the coming year at a one-off MediaTel Group event earlier this week.Torin Douglas and Ray Snoddy discussed topics such as Ofcom’s PSB review, the purchase of the Evening Standard by Russian oligarch Alexander Lebedev and leadership in the media.Held under the Chatham House… Continue reading MediaTel Group looks at the year ahead

Five US is being renamed Five USA as part of the branding refresh of the broadcaster’s channels.The renamed channel will have a completely new on and off air look from February 16, containing returning shows and newly acquired programmes.Jeff Ford, Five’s director of digital channels and acquisitions, said: “I’m delighted with the look and feel… Continue reading Five US to be renamed Five USA

Ed Balls, the secretary of state for children, schools and families, has criticised a proposal to remove local councils’ obligation to place public notices in local newspapers.Balls described such a move as a “retrograde thing to do”, adding “I don’t think it would be sensible to have any strategy on these things which actively damages… Continue reading Balls opposes removal of mandatory council ads in local press

Channel 4, ITV and Five are all pleased with the recommendations set out in Ofcom’s Public Service Broadcasting blueprint, which was published earlier today (see Ofcom rejects top-slicing the BBC’s funding).Channel 4’s chief executive Andy Duncan has welcomed Ofcom’s proposals to create a new commercial public service broadcaster, moulded around C4.Duncan said that Ofcom’s idea… Continue reading C4, Five and ITV welcome Ofcom recommendations