ITV is looking to boost the profile of its digital-only channel ITV2 by launching an interactive version of ratings winner quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? at the end of this month.The shows, which are sponsored by BT, will begin on 24 November, and will broadcast simultaneously with the ITV1 version. Interactive viewers… Continue reading ITV2 To Launch Interactive Millionaire
Channel 4 is cutting around 30 jobs and is reducing its investment in its commercial arm, 4 Ventures, by 50% as a result of the current advertising downturn.Channel 4’s acting chief executive, David Scott, has announced that around 15 staff will be made redundant from the main channel as well as a similar number from… Continue reading Ad Downturn Claims Jobs At Channel 4
Analysts at ABN AMRO are sticking by their forecast of a 20% drop in ad revenue at ITV in November despite popular opinion within the trade press that 15% is a more likely figure. ABN ‘remains cautious’ about ITV, but says that if the general trends within the market continue to look ‘cyclical’ there is… Continue reading ABN ‘Remains Cautious’ On ITV Ad Revenue Forecasts
NTL and Telewest are developing a joint interactive television service due to launch on the broadband spectrum next year.The “enhanced broadband service” will be available to both NTL and Telewest customers and will link programming and interactive services such as shopping, betting and games over a high-speed cable network.A spokesman for NTL said: “The service… Continue reading NTL And Telewest To Launch iTV Service
Global advertising forecasts from ABN Amro show a continuing decline across most regions, with the UK market forecast to drop by 6.1% this year and 1.1% in 2002. Europe as a whole will show a slightly more modest decline of 4.3% this year and 1.0% next year. North America, meanwhile, is to show a weaker… Continue reading Global Advertising Forecasts From ABN Amro
The professional media arm of United Business Media, CMP Information, has begun a consultation process with its staff this week regarding a £10m cost reduction proposal which could see the loss of 200 jobs.The magazine and events business is headquartered in the UK but also operates in the US and Europe. Its portfolios cover ten… Continue reading UBM Begins Job Cuts Consultation At CMP
MSN.com was host to the most popular banner ad during September knocking Capitalone of the top spot and dominating the top end of the table. The search engine’s most visited banner gained exposure among 3,113,000 at home internet users and commanded a 20.7% digital reach. Casino-on-net re-entered the top ten in fifth position after an… Continue reading New Media Round-Up
The ITC’s current focus is content, in order that competition will not lead to “commodity television”, according to chief executive Patricia Hodgson.Speaking at a Royal Television Society dinner in Newcastle last night, Hodgson said that the three priorities for regulation were firstly for it to be investment-friendly, second to use competition rather than regulation to… Continue reading Hodgson Says ITC Focusing On Content
First quarter financial results released by News Corp yesterday show a weakening performance at News International (NI), the company’s UK newspaper publishing division.Operating profits at NI fell by 24% year on year for the quarter and whilst circulation increases post-11 September will boost revenues temporarily, this effect is likely to drop off over the coming… Continue reading NI Operating Profit Hit By Classifieds Downturn
The future of ITV Sport could be endangered unless its £315m contract with the Nationwide football clubs is renegotiated, according to a report in today’s Financial Times. The paper maintains that ITV has concluded that the business cannot afford the cost of the contract under the existing terms.Analysts at ABN AMRO say that this view… Continue reading ITV Sport May Be Closed By Soccer Contract
