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ITV has reportedly put struggling social networking site Friends Reunited up for sale in a bid to scale back costs.The commercial broadcaster paid £120 million for the online friend-finding site in 2005, which has since struggled due to the rise and popularity of similar community sites such as Facebook and MySpace.Friends Reunited was originally founded… Continue reading ITV to sell Friends Reunited

New data from the IPA reveals that Google’s pay-per-click costs have risen as click-through rates have decreased.The data comes from the IPA’s Search Group, whose agencies have provided brand data on Google’s cost-per-clicks (CPC) and click-through rates (CTR) for the first time.The anonymised and aggregated data also highlights the impact of Google’s change on trademark… Continue reading IPA: Google’s pay-per-click costs have risen as click-through rates decrease

The last in the series of Hustle, with Adrian Lester and Matt Di Angelo, attracted more than 5.7 million peak viewers last night.Around 5.6 million average viewers tuned in to see the series finale, which looks as though Mickey has finally been beaten at his own game, between 9pm and 10pm – securing BBC One… Continue reading Final Hustle wins over 5.7 million

Google is shutting its radio ads business although it will continue with plans to sell ads for streaming audio on the web.The online giant is to sell its Radio Automation business and close the AdSense for Audio and Audio Ads services at the end of May.In January, Google director Spencer Spinnell announced the closure of… Continue reading Google to close radio ads business

This week’s edition of “The Inside Line” looks at the Competition Commission’s ruling on Project Kangaroo. Each week we will take a key media topic and ask the industry for their opinion.This week’s question:What is your view on the Competition Commission’s decision to block Project Kangaroo, the joint VoD venture from BBC Worldwide, Channel 4… Continue reading The Inside Line: Project Kangaroo

Virgin Media’s TV viewers watched over half a billion on-demand programmes in 2008, with the BBC’s iPlayer on the cable TV platform approaching 1 million views.Virgin Media said that it had a record-breaking 56 million views in December alone, with on-demand’s popularity growing by over 60% in the last 12 months.It added that 52% of… Continue reading Half a billion views for Virgin Media’s on-demand TV

Condé Nast is set to launch two new glossy titles in a bid to defy declining consumer magazine circulations, claiming that the market for new mags in the recession is “stronger than ever”.The new bi-annual magazine from Condé Nast, LOVE, is set to launch next month in line with London, Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks… Continue reading Condé Nast set to launch two new magazines despite downturn

Five USA has unveiled its new on-air look to support the re-branded channel, which is set to launch on Monday.Five’s creative services have work with DixonBaxi to create an on-screen campaign, which “reflects the channel’s strong American programming with a bold and vibrant series of brand spots, idents and promos,” according to the broadcaster.Most of… Continue reading Five USA unveils new look

The mobile broadband market will continue its rapid growth during the next five years and generate valuable new revenue streams for mobile network operators, according to a new report. According to the Analysys Mason report Mobile broadband in Europe: forecasts and analysis 2009-2014, there will be 148 million mobile broadband connections in Europe by 2014,… Continue reading Mobile broadband market to continue its rapid growth

A new report has highlighted cable and pay television, B2B publishers and diversified agencies as best placed to weather the current downturn. The Ernst & Young report, Media & Entertainment… by numbers, shows that the UK media industry is suffering from the ‘multiplier effect’ – media companies’ structural challenges are being exacerbated by the onset… Continue reading New report highlights best recessionary performers