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Five US is being renamed Five USA as part of the branding refresh of the broadcaster’s channels.The renamed channel will have a completely new on and off air look from February 16, containing returning shows and newly acquired programmes.Jeff Ford, Five’s director of digital channels and acquisitions, said: “I’m delighted with the look and feel… Continue reading Five US to be renamed Five USA

The culture secretary Andy Burnham has pledged to save Channel 4 and favours a deal with BBC Worldwide over a potential merger with Channel Five.Speaking at the Oxford Media Convention today, Burnham said “the Channel 4 brand is here to stay” and will play a pivotal role in providing plurality of public service content beyond… Continue reading Burnham backs Channel 4

The profit margins within traditional media, including newspapers and television, will never be the same again, according to WPP’s chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell.Speaking at an IAA event yesterday, Sorrell warned that the media industry continues to be “disintermediated” by low-cost business models.“The painful thing for old media is it will never be the same… Continue reading Sorrell: Old media will never be as profitable again

US consumers are spending 11% more time online than watching TV, and internet video is emerging as the key platform for the delivery of on-demand video services. Yankee Group analysts advise that media companies should focus on the internet as a primary opportunity in 2009. The emergence of the ‘Anywhere Consumer’ – Yankee Group’s vision… Continue reading US consumers spending more time online than watching TV

Russian oligarch Alexander Lebedev has acquired London’s Evening Standard for £1 from Daily Mail & General Trust. The deal will see a new company, Evening Standard Ltd, established that will own the paper, with Lebedev taking a stake of 75.1% and DMGT subsidiary Associated Newspapers becoming a minority shareholder with 24.9%. Associated will continue to… Continue reading Ex-KGB spy buys Evening Standard

US newspaper ad revenues are forecast to fall to $28.4 billion by 2012, down from an estimated $37.9 billion in 2008, according to new research from eMarketer. eMarketer forecasts a 15.9% drop in 2009, pulling ad revenues down to $31.9 billion. From 2010 through 2012, the rate of decline will slow but remain in negative… Continue reading US newspaper ad revenues on downward slide

BBC One’s live coverage of President Obama: The Inauguration pulled in more than 7 million peak viewers yesterday, making it one of the highest rating programmes of the day.More than 5.1 million average viewers tuned in to see Barack Obama enter the White House yesterday afternoon, securing BBC One with a significant 33.2% audience share… Continue reading Obama’s inauguration attracts 7 million viewers

Former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev has acquired London’s Evening Standard for £1 from Daily Mail & General Trust.The deal will see a new company, Evening Standard Ltd, established that will own the paper, with Lebedev taking a stake of 75.1% and DMGT subsidiary Associated Newspapers becoming a minority shareholder with 24.9%.Associated will continue to provide… Continue reading Lebedev buys Evening Standard

The BBC should be at the heart of public service broadcasting in the UK and take on a key role of pioneering new digital platforms, according to Ofcom’s new report published today.Ofcom’s much-anticipated public service broadcasting blueprint suggests that the BBC should focus on the development and take-up of content across new platforms but rejects… Continue reading Ofcom rejects top-slicing the BBC’s funding

Ed Balls, the secretary of state for children, schools and families, has criticised a proposal to remove local councils’ obligation to place public notices in local newspapers.Balls described such a move as a “retrograde thing to do”, adding “I don’t think it would be sensible to have any strategy on these things which actively damages… Continue reading Balls opposes removal of mandatory council ads in local press