BT is to launch Mill-e-Mail, a free e-mail service which will be available over the Internet later this year.The scheme, which is aimed at putting e-mail “within the grasp of every person in the UK”, will give users a free e-mail address and a globally accessible e-mail directory. It is targeted especially at those who… Continue reading BT To Launch Free E-Mail For Millennium
Nkosazana Zuma, health minister, has said that the government is considering introducing legislation to ban smoking in public places and places of work, and also to ban tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotions.
On 1 June this year new controls will come into force concerning outdoor advertising in Britain. Under the new procedure, if the Advertising Standards Authority (responsible for all adjudications in non-broadcast advertising in the UK) upholds a complaint against a poster for breaching rules on taste, decency or social responsibility, a “poster alert” will be… Continue reading UK: New Outdoor Controls
The Advertising Association has written to the UK Government to protest against the proposed consolidated text of the revised European convention on transfrontier broadcasting. It is particularly concerned about Article 24A of the revision.The Advertising Association holds that this revised article “is the first documentary and legislative departure from the principle of country of origin,… Continue reading EU: AA Protest At Convention Compromise
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
