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ITV is planning to create new versions of several classic drama series in an effort to increase ratings and win back viewers.The broadcaster has confirmed its intention to create the new programmes, with Inspector Morse, Sharpe and Rumpole of the Bailey understood to be in the planning stages.A spokeswoman for ITV said: “They are very… Continue reading ITV To Rescue Ratings By Resurrecting Classics

The Office of Fair Trading has issued a statement to the London Stock Exchange stating that ITV’s proposed acquisition of Scottish Media Group’s 25% stake in GMTV may be referred to the Competition Commission for investigation.The statement invites feedback about any competition or public interest issues to be sent to the OFT by 29 July… Continue reading GMTV Purchase May Be Judged By Competition Commission

In a new report, Point Topic estimates that spending from businesses on broadband value added services (BVAS) helped push the worldwide broadband market through the $50 billion barrier early this year. The report, Broadband Money-Makers Service, says that value-added services, which include both broadband applications and the platforms which enable the applications to work, have… Continue reading Extra Broadband Services Help Push Market to $50bn

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) has predicted that faster broadband connection is set to fuel growth in the video games market, which is expected to generate a staggering $55.6 billion revenue by 2008. Gaming will see a 20.1% annual gain globally by 2008 thanks to fast broadband and wireless expansion over the next few years, which will act… Continue reading Broadband To Fuel Video Games Growth

Following several recent turnarounds on the outlook of radio advertising revenue, Merrill Lynch has today announced that it has also revisited the US TV revenue forecast and now expects this to outperform all previous predictions to grow by 8.3% this year. The global analyst group said, several factors contributed to its boost in confidence, including… Continue reading US Political Spending Boosts The TV Outlook At Merrill

Although the number of video-on-demand (VOD) users continues to rise, a new report from In-stat/MDR says, consumer interest remains lukewarm due to pricing and content concerns. A recent survey from the research group revealed that although 80% of US households were familiar with VOD services, the take-up rate was only 8%. In-stat said that this… Continue reading VOD Interest Lukewarm But Uptake To Soar By 2008

WPP was the talk of trading floors yesterday, dipping by 1.51% as rumours circulated that the advertising giant is preparing to buy US rival Grey Group.A purchase would bring the company into WPP’s portfolio and bring an end to one of the few remaining independent advertising agencies. Grey was put up for sale in June,… Continue reading Sharewatch: WPP Dips As Grey Purchase Speculation Mounts

Film giant UIP has announced the first online campaign to promote summer blockbuster, Thunderbirds, employing United Virtualities’ Ooqa-Ooqa technology to replace viewers’ web browsers with branded alternatives.The technology is used for the first time today as the campaign launches on www.citv.co.uk, with Ooqa-Ooqa replacing visitors’ normal browser toolbar with an advertiser branded browser.The technology is… Continue reading UIP Pushes Thunderbirds With Branded Internet Browser

It was confirmed today that Guardian Media Group (GMG) has bought a 14% stake in Development Hell, publisher of the music and entertainment magazine Word.After much interest from other trade investors, the bosses at Development Hell decided that a tie with GMG would be ideal. Publisher, Jerry Perkins said: “It is a diverse media group… Continue reading GMG Acquires 14% Stake In Development Hell

Emap Advertising and Starcom Motive have secured a £1.5 million cross-media deal with Golden Wonder to promote its Nik Naks snack brand across Emap’s range of Kiss and Kerrang branded media.The four-month campaign will target 16 to 24 year-old consumers with a range of on-air sponsorship and promotions covering Kiss TV, Kerrang TV and The… Continue reading Emap Bags Golden Wonder For Cross-Media Deal