Following a two-year struggle to gain approval for EC proposals on EU-wide rules governing the sale of financial services via telephone, direct selling or the Internet, a speech by Commissioner Mario Monti on 14 October is expected to propose a compromise to break the stalemate. In trying to reach agreement with the EP and MS,… Continue reading EU: Financial Services Distance Selling
Inflation has hit the Government’s target level of 2.5% for the second month running, according to the Office for National Statistics, which uses figures excluding mortgage payments and interest rates.The Retail Prices Index for September was announced this morning as 161.8, a 0.4% increase on last month and a 3.2% increase on September 1997.The news… Continue reading Inflation On Target At 2.5%
The Department of Culture has proposed an amendment to its broadcasting law that would protect important national and international sporting events from being shown only on pay or pay-per-view TV. It proposes that only channels reaching 90% of the population will be allowed to broadcast those events, which will include the summer and winter Olympic… Continue reading NOR: Protected sports list introduced
The meeting of the EU’s Expert Group on Commercial Communications on 22 October will apply the proportionality assessment methodology for the first time to discounts, and will also have a first exchange of views on premiums. Predictions that the group would also start to consider advertising to children may be premature, as the EC is… Continue reading EU: Expert Group meeting
Discussions are under way on a global accord on an international email preference service, which would enable email address holders to register with a national database accessible to users of commercial email. Direct marketing bodies will be meeting in the USA later this month to consider proposals for the international framework.
The Department of Trade and Industry has sent to interested parties a Consultative Document “Liberalising Trade in Services” seeking comments and advice on what should be the UK’s objectives and priorities for the new multilateral negotiations on trade in services starting in 2000. Copies of the Document are available from the DTI, 348 Kingsgate House,… Continue reading UK: DTI Consultation on GATS
The Radio Authority has decided to award the national commercial digital multiplex licence to Digital One, the digital consortium owned by GWR (57%), NTL (33%) and Talk Radio (10%).Digital One was the only group to submit an application for the licence (see Newsline), although in the run up to the deadline other parties considered submissions,… Continue reading Radio Authority Awards Digital Radio Multiplex To Sole Applicant
The Word, the centralised sales and marketing operation which represents the regional daily paid-for press to national advertisers, reported a successful year at its 10th Annual Meeting.Turnover was £3.9 million, and the group announced that it intends to phase out subscriptions by the year 2000. As well as this, the website, at www.theword.co.uk, is to… Continue reading The Word To Phase Out Subscriptions
ADscience, a UK-based computer company, launched new software today called ADfilter: a new internet facility that the group claims removes advertising from web pages and so speeds up internet browsing.When installed, ADfilter removes advertising banners, pop-up ads and other promotional material on the internet, and the company claims that tests show that download speeds increase… Continue reading UK Computer Company Filters Out Net Ads
The Radio Authority has imposed a £4,000 fine on Capital Radio’s Xfm following a failure to meet the Promise of Performance as set out in its licence description.Capital Radio bought the indie/alternative London station in May this year (see Capital’s Xfm Move Dependent On Watchdogs) and moved its operation from Charlotte Street to Capital’s headquarters… Continue reading Capital Radio Fined By RA For Xfm Output
