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
In reaction to the ECJ´s recent criticism of EC inaction, Competition Commissioner Karel Van Miert, has announced that the EC is drawing up a working paper on ‘State Aid to Public Television Stations’. Speaking at a press conference last week, Van Miert said that he intends to draw up guidelines to enable the EC to… Continue reading EU: EC Acts on Public TV Funding
IPC Magazines has bought Link House Media, of which Link House Magazines is a wholly-owned subsidiary, in the first IPC acquisition since its leveraged buyout in January (see IPC Magazines Gains Independence). The financial consideration for the purchase was not disclosed, although the group was backed by venture capitalists, Cinven, the same group which financed… Continue reading IPC Acquires Link House Media For Undisclosed Sum
Representatives of EU and US consumers´ organizations have met with government officials in the first Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue conference in Washington. The dialogue, which forms part of the New Transatlantic Agenda, signed by President Clinton, Council President Tony Blair and Commission President Santer in December 1997, calls for discussions on product safety, food safety and… Continue reading EU: Consumer Dialogue Group meets
A survey for Reuters Business Insight reports that top UK brand companies are forecast to increase spend on direct marketing and sales promotion to 45% of marketing spend by 2002 (compared to 41% in 1997).
The Newspaper Society has commissioned research to examine the regulatory and commercial framework within which regional and local newspapers operate.A working party has been set up, and NERA (National Economic Research Associates) have been appointed as consultants to produce a report on the economics of the regional press and to examine the commercial impact of… Continue reading Newspaper Society Examines Ownership Regulation
The Council of Ministers Working Group on Consumer Protection has prepared a draft resolution on the consumer dimension of the Information Society which calls for the application of the country of destination principle. This resolution is being discussed at the next meeting of the group on 5 October 1998. The Federation of Direct Marketing is… Continue reading EU: Council goes for country of destination
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
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
