The UK Radio Authority has published a new version of its advertising and sponsorship code: among the important changes are the granting of permission to newsreaders to voice commercials; the tightening of advertising bans on offensive weapons; and clarification of the rules concerning the promotion of alcohol. The Authority has also introduced clearer rules on… Continue reading UK: Radio Authority code
The European Parliament’s Environment Committee has appointed Horst Schnellhardt, a German Christian Democrat, as General Rapporteur for the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs. The Commission Directive was referred to the European Parliament in February this year. No timetable has yet been set but it is understood that the first discussions in committee will occur… Continue reading EU: New Rapporteur Appointed
On 16 April Mario Monti – the Internal Market Commissioner – and Martin Bangemann – the Industry Commissioner – jointly presented a Communication to the European Parliament and Council, promoting the development of a single market in electronic commerce. The Communication is intended to generate debate concerning electronic commerce and to promote the application of… Continue reading EU: Communication On Electronic Commerce
Miller Freeman is reported to be launching a new subscription based on-line business news service.The service called Link 2 Business Finder will aim to provide an editorial archive and product news service. News will be updated daily and sites will be linked to Miller Freeman’s titles. The service is set to go on-line in May.
BSkyB and some of the bigger UK cable companies such as Nynex and Telewest are believed to be negotiating a deal which would see their co-operation in the launch of pay-per-view film and sports events.It is reported that the cable companies, which in the past have always attacked BSkyB’s dominant position in the pay-TV market,… Continue reading BSkyB And Cable May Join For PPV Deal
The latest ABC figures reveal that, for the period October 1996 – March 1997, The News of the World was the highest selling newspaper, selling 4,537,641 copies. In the daily market, The Sun remains the most popular title selling 3,962,745 copies. Nevertheless, both these titles saw their circulations fall during this time by between 2… Continue reading National Newspaper March ABCs – Summary
Boots is the first retailer to trial an interactive home shopping service. The experiment begins in the Kingston Upon Hull area on 16 April.The system carrying the service operates through the customer’s television and telephone wire. TV’s are fitted with a set-top box and viewers are given a special remote control unit to gain access… Continue reading Boots Opens Virtual Store
Channel 5’s first full week of ratings has now been made public and Elstein and his crew have nothing to celebrate.Mrs Doubtfire is its biggest ratings winner to date, attracting 2,849,000 consolidated viewers. Indeed, the evening film is proving to be the channel’s most popular slot; My Step Mother Is An Alien recorded 1,694,000 viewers… Continue reading Channel 5 Ratings Round-Up
The Swedish minister for social affairs, Margot Wallstroem, has promised to oppose an important preliminary ruling of the European Court of Justice which threatened the country’s state monopoly over the retail sales of alcoholic beverages. “No matter what the [ultimate] verdict of the European Court of Justice (which is expected in the next couple of… Continue reading SWE: Promise to oppose the ECJ
Jessica Larive MEP, the European Parliament Rapporteur on the Green Paper on Commercial Communication, has completed her report. It judges that the “internal market for commercial communications is not presently functioning in a satisfactory manner, as 99 per cent of those consulted providing commercial communication services identified potential trade barriers linked to disparity in national… Continue reading EU: Larive Report Finalised
