Carlton and Granada are to link up with WebTV Networks to carry out an interactive television UK trial in London and Liverpool this year (see Newsline).The trial with gather information on how consumers will use interactive television. WebTV has 500,000 users in the US, and the aim of its service is to provide better TV… Continue reading Carlton And Granada In Interactive Television Trial
The European Parliament has adopted a controversial report on consumer protection which calls for additional responsibility from manufacturers of defective products. Adopting the Roth-Behrendt report on farmers’ liability, MEPs voted in favour of amendments which call into question a number of EU principles over producer liability. Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Mario Monti said… Continue reading EU: EP Report on Consumer Protection
The EP’s call for proposals for a Europe-wide code to govern media ownership, has received a mixed response. The Association of Commercial Television (ACT) said that MEP’s demands came as no surprise, but “the debate has moved on. We are now in a digital age.” The European Newspaper Publishers Association (ENPA) welcomed the debate as… Continue reading EU: Media Ownership proposals
DMG Radio, a subsidiary of Daily Mail & General Trust, has agreed to acquire Sussex-based Radio Mercury for £3.75 million.Radio Mercury runs Mercury FM and Fame 1521 AM which broadcast across the Reigate and Crawley area and have a combined weekly reach of 87,000 listeners according to the latest RAJAR figures. The takeover will be… Continue reading DMG Radio Acquires Radio Mercury
The German government’s case concerning the EU Directive on tobacco advertising reached the European Court of Justice on 19th October. The government’s core argument against the legality of the Directive is that the EU has no competence to set up rules in the area of health protection. The German company Salamander AG has filed an… Continue reading DE: Legal action gets under way
Digital television now has 97% awareness, and 18% of respondents intend to switch to digital television within the next year, says the latest report from CIA Sensor. However, although advertising for digital television is generating a climate of awareness, many people have yet to understand the full implications of the development and its proposed benefits.Last… Continue reading ‘Digital Television Awareness Is Vague’ Says CIA
The closure of The European is imminent as the title has failed to find a buyer. The paper announced in late September that it would fold if a buyer were not found within 30 days (see Newsline), and a spokesperson told Newsline this morning that the shut-down will go ahead.The final edition of The European… Continue reading The European’s Time Is Up
Bath-based Future Publishing has launched a new computing title this month called Arcade. The magazine will take a populist look at computer and video games across all formats.Future also publishes PC Gamer, .net and N64 Magazine.Future Publishing: 01225 442 244
The Observer is introducing three new sections, starting from 3 January 1999.The first will be a travel and leisure pursuits magazine, the second will focus on film and television. Lastly will be a section dealing with personal finance, which will have 24 pages.Stephen Palmer, marketing director at Guardian Newspapers, said: “Under Roger Alton The Observer… Continue reading The Observer Creates New Sections
The Independent Television Commission has this afternoon decided to allow ITV to go ahead with its evening schedule shake-up. The biggest repercussion of these changes is that the Network’s flagship news programme, News At Ten, will be axed and replaced with two shorter bulletins, one at 6:30pm and one at 11:00pm.The Commission met this afternoon… Continue reading ITC Agrees To News At Ten Move
