Dr Jonathan Freeman of Goldsmith’s University addressed the future of TV viewing from an academic’s perspective at yesterday’s MRG conference in London.Freeman began by introducing the concept of “immersive TV” pointing out that interactive services are failing to inspire digital viewers because broadcasters are not taking advantage of the massive amount of information that it… Continue reading MRG One Day Conference: The Future Of TV Viewing
The National Magazine Company is to launch a contract publishing division and has brought in experienced hands Julian Downing and Carey Sedgwick from contract publishers Citrus to head the operation.Downing and Sedgwick, previously communications planning director and editorial and design director at Citrus, will become directors of the new division, part of NatMag Specialist Media… Continue reading Natmag Launches Contract Publishers
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
Future Network was one of the best performers among the media shares yesterday, its price climbing 1¼p or over 5% to 25½p. The company is due to launch a preview issue of the official UK magazine for the Xbox games console, timed to coincide with the product’s US launch.At the other end of the scale,… Continue reading Sharewatch
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
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
