For the second time this week, Channel 4’s gay drama Queer As Folk is in the spotlight causing controversy. The Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC) received 138 complaints about the series according to its latest bulletin.Complainants were concerned about the portrayal of homosexuality in the series, explicit sexual scenes, drug use and bad language. The BSC… Continue reading BSC Tackles More Channel 4 Gay Drama Controversy
It has emerged that Greg Dyke, the chairman of Pearson Television, is to be the new director-general of the BBC. Dyke will takeover from Sir John Birt next March.The decision is surrounded by controversy due to Dyke’s links with the Labour Party in the past, and Tory leader William Hague has demanded an urgent meeting… Continue reading Dyke To Be Next BBC Director General
Following news this morning that Greg Dyke is to be the next director general of the BBC (see Newsline), Dyke has resigned from the Labour Party and pledged to uphold the Corporation’s reputation for independence.Commenting on the appointment this morning, he said: “I am absolutely delighted to be taking on the biggest and best job… Continue reading Dyke Pledges To Uphold BBC’s Independence
Pearson, international media group and publisher of the Financial Times, is selling its 50% interests in the French investment banker Lazards to investment company Gaz et Eaux, for £410 million. This ends an 80 year relationship between Pearson and Lazards.Lazards’ main activities are investment banking and asset management. Pearson intends to use proceeds from the… Continue reading Pearson Sells Lazards Stake For £410m
The Guardian Media Group (GMG), publisher of the Guardian and the Observer, has announced the appointment of John Myers as the new managing director of its radio division. Myers will be responsible for some expansion and further development within the radio sector, which will include applying for a number of new licences.GMG has radio interests… Continue reading Guardian Media Group Looks To Expansion In Radio
Regional newspaper publisher, Newsquest, has received a £904 million takeover offer from US publishing group Gannett, it has emerged this morning. The offer of 460p per share represents an 8.7% premium over Newsquest’s closing price yesterday of 423p.Newsquest, which publishes the Darlington Northern Echo and Bolton Evening News, amongst others, has described the offer as… Continue reading Newsquest Receives £904m US Takeover Offer
The Media Research Group (MRG) Evening Meeting, held at Leo Burnett earlier this week, addressed what is perhaps one of the most fundamental questions in the world of advertising: To what extent do people actually remember adverts and how can their recall be increased?To address these very questions GMTV commissioned Continental Research to conduct a… Continue reading MRG Evening Meeting – First Impressions – The GMTV Recall Study
IPC Connect, publisher of six women’s weekly magazines, has handed the £8 million creative advertising account to St Luke’s. The agency has a brief to relaunch the flagship titles Woman and Woman’s Own as well as promoting Chat, Now, Woman’s Realm and Woman’s Weekly.IPC is hoping the marketing push will help drive up circulation figures… Continue reading IPC Appoints St Luke’s To £8m Women’s Weeklies Push
The Advertising Association (AA) has published its annual Advertising Statistics Yearbook this week, showing that advertising spend rose to £14.3 billion during 1998 and accounted for its highest ever share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).Press continues to attract the bulk of adspend, grabbing a 52% share. Expenditure on newspaper classified advertising increased by 5.6% during… Continue reading ‘Press Claims Bulk Of Adspend Share’ Says Advertising Association
Cable & Wireless Communications continued to rise yesterday after announcing the opening of a new call centre in Swansea. The group climbed 20˝p to 646˝p.Highbury House Communications, the publisher which yesterday announced the acquisition of Wyvern Crest, rose by žp to 26˝p (see Newsline).Regional newspaper group Newsquest fell 2˝p to 423p yesterday. It emerged this… Continue reading Sharewatch
