Flextech Plc. has announced the appointment of Maurice Saatchi as a non-executive director. The co-founder of Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising is described by Flextech’s chairman Adam Singer as possessing “knowledge of the media and particularly the advertising industry [which] will be extremely valuable to Flextech”.Flextech is the BBC’s commercial partner in the UKTV cable/satellite venture.…The… Continue reading Flextech Appoints Lord Saatchi
The IPA Media Policy Group has said that no ITV sales house should strike ITV-wide share deals with advertisers and agencies.The Group, headed by Ray Kelly, says that while it is acceptable to base deals on percent of total advertising or percent of total television, “it would be anti-competetive to stipulate an ITV share or… Continue reading IPA Urges Against ITV Network-Wide Share Deals
MTV Europe has announced details of its further regionalisation throughout mainland Europe and the UK. The second phase of its strategy will see programming, production and key support personnel transferring from the London headquarters to the increasingly self-sufficient regions. Ultimately, total responsibility will be given to the regions for marketing, advertising sales, human resources and… Continue reading MTV Continues To Regionalise
William Kennard, new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has continued the tough line of his predecessor, Reed Hundt, on the issue of alcohol advertising on television. Kennard has endorsed the idea of an inquiry in TV spirits advertising, promising to discuss the matter with his fellow Commissioners before the new Commission meets for the… Continue reading US: FCC Continues Tough Line
The ITC has called into question product exposure in television programmes in its recent complaints report. A Tyne Tees children’s show contained a studio interview with ‘a Lego bloke from Legoland’ who proceeded to talk about Lego products. The interview was followed by a competition offering the prize of a trip to Legoland or Lego… Continue reading Children’s Show Criticised For Over-Exposure Of Lego Products
The Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC) has produced a draft of its new Code on Fairness and Privacy. The Broadcasting Act 1996 required the newly-formed BSC to produce the codes of conduct which have been constructed in consultation with over 200 interested parties. The code is a statutory requirement for broadcasters.Copies of the code will be… Continue reading Fairness And Privacy Codes
In the UK Parliament it has been decided that the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (comprising MPs from all parties) will conduct a inquiry into audio-visual communications and the regulation of broadcasting, in the light of the convergence between broadcasting, telecommunications and computer technologies. The inquiry will not examine in detail the operation of current… Continue reading UK: Inquiry Into Convergence Regulation
Under the co-decision procedure, the Conciliation Committee of representatives of the Council and the European Parliament has reached agreement on the Directive concerning common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service. The Directive creates a common internal market in the postal sector and… Continue reading EU: Agreement on Postal Services
A report commissioned by the British government is understood to have concluded that the Minister for Public Health should ban food advertising aimed at children. Although it gives no specific timetable it suggests that the ban should be implemented in the lifetime of the current administration (by May 2002 at the latest). Professor Philip James… Continue reading UK: Report Threatens Ad Ban
WPP has formed a new company called the Intuition Group, to focus on advertising and marketing to women.Intuition’s headquarters will be in New York though there will be offices opening in Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. The outfit’s first client will be Clairol’s brands such as Nice ‘n’ Easy, Loving Care, Lating Color and… Continue reading WPP Launches New Company
