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Sir Michael Lyons, BBC Trust chairman, has hit back at the proposed merger between BBC Worldwide and Channel 4, saying its a “fanciful idea that distracts from what is actually doable”.The BBC released a statement yesterday, suggesting a potential partnership between BBC Worldwide and Channel 4, as a means to help secure the future of… Continue reading BBC Trust Chairman hits back at Worldwide & Channel 4 merger idea

WPP’s chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell warns of possible job cuts in the group’s key markets, including the UK.Speaking at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference, Sorrell predicted a bleak forecast for 2009, confirming once again that jobs in Western markets will be axed as group revenue shifts towards emerging markets.Sorrell said: “In the… Continue reading Sorrell predicts WPP job losses in 2009

More than one in 10 (11%) young adults age 18-34 in the US now watches TV online at least once a week, and these internet-TV watchers also spend an extra hour each day with media compared with their same-age counterparts, according to new data from Knowledge Networks. Specifically, the 18-to-34 ‘leading-edge media group’ – defined… Continue reading Watching online TV growing in popularity in US

Advertisers in the UK are complying with rules governing junk food marketing aimed at children, according to an Advertising Standards Authority compliance report.Of 927 ads surveyed by the ASA across media including TV, cinema, online and posters, just 10 breached the advertising code – a compliance rate of 99%.Eight of the 10 breaches were in… Continue reading Majority of junk food ads complying with advertising code

Channel 4 could be merged with the profitable BBC Worldwide in a new move to prevent the broadcaster from going bankrupt.The BBC’s merger plan to save Channel 4 is currently being discussed by regulators and ministers, though Ofcom originally dismissed the idea.In July, Ofcom rejected the idea of giving Channel 4 a stake in BBC… Continue reading Channel 4 could merge with BBC Worldwide

The BBC, ITV and BT are joining together to work as partners to deliver on-demand TV over broadband. The initiative is open for all public service broadcasters, device developers and other ISPs.The proposals, which form part of the BBC Executive’s wider partnership proposals, would see the development of a standards based open environment for broadband… Continue reading BBC outlines proposal for broadband TV partnerships

Adam Smith of GroupM gave a few pointers yesterday as to the shape of 2009 at an M&M Briefing at the Century Club, with GroupM “desperate” for Kangaroo to launch.Speaking at an afternoon briefing entitled ‘Advertising and Recession’, Smith went on to say that his organisation’s buyers would buy Kangaroo “three times over”. Smith attributed… Continue reading GroupM are “desperate” for Kangaroo

Culture secretary Andy Burnham has said he will not rule out top-slicing the licence fee to secure the future of Channel 4.Speaking at a Voice of the Listener and Viewer event in Parliament, Burnham said that although this option is a last resort, it would not be ruled out.“There is real potential in examining several… Continue reading Culture secretary will not rule out top-slicing licence fee

Merrill Lynch has lowered its global ad forecast to 0.4% growth this year, with a fall of 1.6% expected in 2009. The financial services firm previously forecast growth of 1.9% and 1.2% in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Merrill Lynch has also lowered its US advertising forecast, with a fall of 4.2% expected this year and… Continue reading Merrill Lynch lowers global ad forecast

ITV1’s live coverage of the UEFA Champions League match only managed to pull in 3.3 million average viewers between 7.30pm and 10pm last night.Around 4.2 million peak viewers tuned in during the second half of the game to see Chelsea beat CFR Cluj 2-1, securing a 14.6% average audience share for the commercial broadcaster.Meanwhile, BBC… Continue reading ITV’s football coverage loses out to Survivors