Speaking at the MRG conference on Friday, Peter Bowman, media research director at WCRS, called for a change to the National Readership Survey. He said that the survey was not as robust as the research for the TV industry. BARB, he argued, provides a meaningful currency while NRS seems only to be used for things… Continue reading Changes Urged For NRS
The European Commission hosted a conference on 7/9 April in Bonn, part of a project launched by the G7 Ministerial Conference on the Global Information Society in February 1995 in Brussels. The Bonn conference was held to discuss the development of a global business information network and electronic commerce for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).… Continue reading EU: SME Conference
On 16 April the Conciliation Committee achieved a compromise on the amendments proposed by the European Parliament in its second reading of the Television Without Frontiers (TWF) Directive (89/552). The most significant referred to two key topics: the requirement for public broadcasters in the EU to guarantee access to the public to major sports events;… Continue reading EU: Compromise on TWF Directive
Quality Market Among the quality titles the Sunday Telegraph continues to perform well and in the period October ’96-March ’97, it showed the largest year on year increase at 30.15% to 863,147 copies sold. Its sister daily paper also had a good growth in sales, with an increase of almost 7% to 1.117 million. The… Continue reading National Press Round-Up – March ABCs
The UK Radio Authority has published a new version of its advertising and sponsorship code: among the important changes are the granting of permission to newsreaders to voice commercials; the tightening of advertising bans on offensive weapons; and clarification of the rules concerning the promotion of alcohol. The Authority has also introduced clearer rules on… Continue reading UK: Radio Authority code
On 16 April Mario Monti – the Internal Market Commissioner – and Martin Bangemann – the Industry Commissioner – jointly presented a Communication to the European Parliament and Council, promoting the development of a single market in electronic commerce. The Communication is intended to generate debate concerning electronic commerce and to promote the application of… Continue reading EU: Communication On Electronic Commerce
BSkyB and some of the bigger UK cable companies such as Nynex and Telewest are believed to be negotiating a deal which would see their co-operation in the launch of pay-per-view film and sports events.It is reported that the cable companies, which in the past have always attacked BSkyB’s dominant position in the pay-TV market,… Continue reading BSkyB And Cable May Join For PPV Deal
Boots is the first retailer to trial an interactive home shopping service. The experiment begins in the Kingston Upon Hull area on 16 April.The system carrying the service operates through the customer’s television and telephone wire. TV’s are fitted with a set-top box and viewers are given a special remote control unit to gain access… Continue reading Boots Opens Virtual Store
The Swedish minister for social affairs, Margot Wallstroem, has promised to oppose an important preliminary ruling of the European Court of Justice which threatened the country’s state monopoly over the retail sales of alcoholic beverages. “No matter what the [ultimate] verdict of the European Court of Justice (which is expected in the next couple of… Continue reading SWE: Promise to oppose the ECJ
CIA Group PLC, Europe’s second largest independent media buyer, has published its preliminary results for the year ending 31 December 1996.The Group saw turnover rise 28% last year to £774 million. Pre-tax profits were £7.5 million, the 12% rise was attributed to new business wins. Multinational account wins include Shell, Wrangler, Swatch, Ericsson and products… Continue reading CIA Group Report Healthy Profits
