Richard Desmond is believed to be planning the launch of a free evening newspaper for London early next year.According to reports, Desmond, who owns the Express Newspaper Group, is set to launch the Evening Mail in the first quarter of 2003. The title would compete directly with Associated Newspapers’ Evening Standard, which currently enjoys a… Continue reading Desmond Plans To Launch New Evening Paper For London
The first instalment of this year’s Celebrity Big Brother attracted a peak of 7.9 million viewers to Channel 4 last night, breaking the opening night ratings record for the show.According to unofficial overnight figures from BARB, the programme, which saw six minor celebrities enter the Big Brother house for a ten day charity ordeal, drew… Continue reading Celebrity Big Brother Goes Down A Storm
Shadow Culture Secretary, John Whittingdale, is calling for the BBC come fully under the control of the new super-regulator, Ofcom, following the publication of the Government’s Communications Bill yesterday (see Government Finally Publishes Communications Bill).Whittingdale, who has been an outspoken critic of the Bill, welcomes the liberalisation of the media ownership regulations and the creation… Continue reading Tories Urge Government To Bring BBC Under Ofcom
Ad Agencies are out of touch with the needs of marketing directors and have failed to adapt to new interactive communication methods, according to new research from the Haystack Group and Brainjuicer.416 senior clients and agency chiefs took part in the survey, which aimed to discover why client marketers and ad agencies have grown apart… Continue reading New Research Suggests Ad Agencies Are Out Of Touch
ITV’s Pop Stars: The Rivals is proving that there is still enthusiasm for reality-TV programmes, after a record number of SMS votes were cast during last Saturday’s show.According to mobile phone operator O2, more than 200,000 votes were cast via premium rate text messaging during last week’s one-hour voting period. It is understood to have… Continue reading SMS Voting Continues To Generate Revenues
Scottish Radio Holdings (SRH) is beginning to see improvements in its radio advertising levels, following a flat performance in the year to 30 September 2002.The group says that radio revenue was flat during its financial year, with national advertising showing a 6% decline, whilst local revenues grew by 3%; sponsorship and promotions revenue was up… Continue reading Scottish Radio Sees Brighter Start To New Year
JCDecaux has secured the contract to provide street furniture to the city of Leicester in a deal thought to be worth around £16 million in advertising revenue over the next 15 years.The contract, which was previously held by Clear Channel, consists of 500 advertising faces including bus shelters, freestanding units and a number of non-advertising… Continue reading JCDecaux Wins Leicester Street Furniture Contract
The ASA has dismissed complaints against a Channel Five poster for using bad language and being unsuitable for children.The poster was advertising the film The Matrix and used the strapline: “Special is too small a word for effects like these. Fanbleedingtastic would be closer.” Complainants objected to the use of strong language in the ad,… Continue reading ASA Dismisses Channel Five Poster Complaints
Media stocks were seen falling on Tuesday after negative economic indicators from the US, continued jitters over creative accounting in the media sector and a host of downgrades from leading London brokerage houses.GWR was seen under pressure, after posting disappointing results (see GWR Losses Deepen To £12m As Tough Market Conditions Bite), which showed a… Continue reading Sharewatch
Ministers have reportedly rejected requests from Carlton, Granada and other ITV companies to reduce their £300 million annual broadcast fees.According to a report in today’s Times, the broadcasters have been lobbying the Government to link the annual payments to their advertising revenues, which have been sizeably diminished by the ongoing recession.ITV’s current broadcast fee is… Continue reading Ministers Refuse To Bail Out ITV
