The Commission is to update its 1988 Recommendation on payment systems, in the light of the rapidly expanding commercial activity in this area. The 1988 Recommendation laid down minimum standards for the issue of payment cards by banks. An updated version calls on MS to ensure by the end of 1998 that they have adequate… Continue reading EU: Electronic Payments
The Observer will be launching a discount card next weekend which will offer readers 20% off Penguin books plus further discounts over the next six months.The promotion, which will be supported with radio advertising through New PHD, will run in conjunction with Waterstones bookstores.Observer Press Office: 0171 239 9696
The ICC’s Marketing Commission has produced an “Issues Paper” discussing the ill-fated International Council of Marketing Practice (ICMP). The paper admits that the ICMP “has reviewed a very small number of cases” since its inception in the 1970s and appears to suggest that one reason for making it operational is that it is referenced in… Continue reading EU: ICC Considers Self-Regulation
General Cable, the UK’s fifth largest cable company, has said that it is in takeover talks with a number of interested parties.While it is not known who the possible suitors are, speculation is growing that TeleWest has made an offer which is being considered by the General Cable board. NTL is also said to be… Continue reading General Cable In Takeover Talks
The US TV network broadcaster CBS has seen poor ratings for the Winter Olympic Games at Nagano, Japan, and is offering advertisers free extra time as compensation. CBS paid $375m for the rights to broadcast the Games – on which it hoped to make $60m profit – but so far it appears that audience figures… Continue reading US: Winter Olympics Flop
WPP has announced the acquisition of Management Ventures Inc (MVI), a US-based consulting, information and management training firm specialising in the retail trade sector. Its clients include the majority of global consumer marketing companies.WPP commented: “As our clients’ customers become concentrated among fewer and fewer global retailers, MVI delivers insight and opinion leadership in an… Continue reading WPP Acquires Global Retail Consultancy
On 12 February the EU Research Council formally approved, without debate, its Common Position, reached at the Health Council on 4 December 1997, on the prohibition of advertising or sponsoring of tobacco products throughout the European Union. This decision still needs the endorsement of the European Parliament, likely to be in March. The Parliament’s approval… Continue reading EU: Formal Adoption Of Tobacco Ban
The BBC has reversed a previous prediction that it would face a large fall in its audience share in the face of increased competition from non-terrestrial TV.Patricia Hodgson, BBC policy and planning director, speaking at a Financial Times conference on new media and broadcasting, said the Corporation expected to maintain a 40% share of viewing… Continue reading BBC Confident Of Future Viewing Share
The board of Adscene, the regional press publisher, has announced that it is to split the role of chairman and chief executive. As a result, Harry Lambert is to stand down as chief executive and become non-executive chairman while David Fordham will move from managing director to chief executive.Lambert commented: “One of our key objectives… Continue reading Appointment Briefs
In the Philippines new legislation is being prepared which will prohibit all advertising of tobacco products in print and broadcast media within four years.
