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The new year got off to a positive start for some of Britain’s largest broadcasters, as the Office of Fair Trading gave the thumbs up to the merger of NTL and Telewest, as well as BSkyB’s acquisition of Easynet just days before 2006 began.Announcing its decision, the OFT stated that “Both cases relate to the… Continue reading OFT Gives Green Light To Media Mergers

ITV’s drama Rebus performed well last night, attracting an average adult audience of 8.1 million to dominate prime time viewing.Going head to head with BBC One’s film Catch Me If You Can, with a comparable audience of 5.6 million, ITV’s crime drama secured a share of 33.94% compared with BBC One’s 23.73%.However, The BBC’s earlier… Continue reading Rebus Reaps Rewards For ITV

Cinema admissions in November received a massive boost from the latest film in the Harry Potter series, with the Goblet of Fire fuelling a 4.3% rise in admissions year on year, as well as becoming 2005’s biggest film to date.The movie quickly stormed Britain’s box offices, grossing £31.6 million during November and smashing numerous records… Continue reading Potter Enchants Moviegoers To Smash Cinema Records

BBC One saw victory with Eastenders on Christmas Day, drawing an average adult audience of 9 million adults to beat ITV’s Coronation Street, which scored 8.6 million 30 minutes earlier.The Corporation’s festive victory was helped at least in part by a special edition Dr Who, airing from 7pm-8pm and drawing 8 million against ITV’s Christmas… Continue reading BBC Wins Christmas Day Ratings Battle

Channel 4 looks set to cause controversy this Thursday, with the latest series Celebrity Big Brother rumoured to have signed shamed TV presenter Michael Barrymore.Newspaper reports this morning claim the former TV presenter and comedian will join Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith and comedian Johnny Vegas in the show, just weeks after Ofcom dismissed criticism… Continue reading Barrymore Tipped For Celeb Big Brother

The NewsLine team would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and an even happier New Year. We will be taking a break over the festive season, but will return on 3 January with the latest media news, comment and analysis.Early in the New Year we will bring you round-ups for 2005 from… Continue reading Merry Christmas From MediaTel NewsLine

BBC1’s premier of football film Bend It Like Beckham attracted a healthy average of 3.6 million adult viewers last night, rising slightly in the second part of the film showed after the news.ITV’s Doc Martin however, was the clear ratings winner last night, with an average of 7.3 million adults tuning in.Eastenders attracted an average… Continue reading ITV Wins With Doc Martin

Government watchdog, Ofcom, has announced plans to allocate three additional blocks of radio spectrum filling the gaps in local multiplex coverage, resulting in local DAB digital radio services being accessible to every part of the UK.The new proposals will also see a block added to national commercial multiplexes, offering additional choice to as many listeners… Continue reading Ofcom Announces New Spectrum Plans

Media and communications group, Aegis, has announced the acquisition of market research business RBMR for a cash consideration of €5.4 million payable over five years.RBMR includes the market research subsidiaries of German based Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, which specialises in business to business, financial, utilities, telecoms and transport research.Commenting on the deal, Robert Lerwill, chief… Continue reading Aegis Acquires German Market Research Business

Kelvin Mackenzie has resigned as chairman of magazine publisher Highbury House Communications, leaving the company after just three months in the role.The high profile media boss, who secured the chairman’s position in September (see MacKenzie Secures Chairman’s Role At Highbury Highbury Entertainment Welcomes New Managing Director).Earlier this month saw Highbury request that trading in its… Continue reading Mackenzie Steps Down From Highbury