The following is an edited version of the Worldview Address, delivered by Barclay Knapp, President and CEO of NTL, at the Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival, on Saturday.In 1905 Albert Einstein began the “creative destruction” of classical Newtonian physics with his theory of special relativity, proving that space and time could stretch and bend in… Continue reading “Television Is The Internet, The Internet Is Television”: Barclay Knapp, President Of NTL, Speaks

A total of 92 viewers complained to the Independent Television Commission (ITC) when NTL were unable to cope with the response to advertising of its free internet service.Huge demand for NTL World led to a backlog in demand which forced the company to pull the advert in May (see NTL Pulls Advertising Of Net Service).… Continue reading ITC Upholds Complaints Of 92 Against NTL World Ads

GWR has agreed to consolidate DMG Radio, the radio interests of the Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), in its own radio business. The deal, worth £146 million, will see GWR, which owns Classic FM as well as 38 local licences, add a further eight UK local stations to its portfolio and enhance its overseas… Continue reading Feature: GWR Seeks Licence Disposal Amid Consolidation

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) has published a new draft of its Sponsorship Code. Although key principles regarding editorial independence and the distinction between advertising and sponsor credits remain, the code aims to simplify rules on sponsorship credits, reflecting the fact that the ITC sees itself as a ‘light touch regulator’.Martin Hart, ITC’s head of… Continue reading ITC Takes Simpler Approach In New Draft Sponsorship Code

BARB, the industry body in charge of television audience research, has this morning announced that it is to increase the size of its sample panel when the new research contract begins in January 2002. The current panel size is 4,500 homes; this will be increased by 13% to 5,100 under the new contract.There is also… Continue reading BARB Increases Panel For New TV Audience Research Contract

As predicted the recently-merged Trinity Mirror group has consolidated the remainder of its regional newspaper sales into the Amra sales house (see Trinity And Mirror Expected To Merge Sales). Amra, which is owned by Trinity (see Trinity Acquires Amra), is to take over from the Mirror Group’s regional sales operation by handling Trinity Mirror’s 45… Continue reading Trinity Mirror Consolidates Regional Sales Into Amra

Following its AGM yesterday, the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) has decided on the new members for its Council. Competition for places on the Council was strong this year, particularly in the business press sector where nine candidates competed for just three seats (see Publishers Vie For Place On ABC Council). Similarly, the three regional… Continue reading ABC Announces New Council Members

Regional newspaper publisher, Eastern Counties Newspapers (ECN), has moved all its national and provincial advertising sales out of Amra and into rival sales group, Clacksons. The move follows ECN’s £58.3 million acquisition of Home Counties Newspapers (HCN) in April 1998 (see Home Counties Surprise Sell To Eastern); Clacksons already handles sales for HCN.ECN’s newspapers have… Continue reading Eastern Counties Pulls Sales Out Of Amra

As a result of yesterday’s £33.8 billion ($56 billion) US merger between Clear Channel Communications and AMFM, the UK radio sales subsidiaries, Clear Channel Radio Sales (CCRS) and Katz Radio Sales, are likely to merge their operations creating the UK’s only independent radio sales house.Clear Channel Communications operates over 700 radio stations around the world,… Continue reading Clear Channel And Katz Radio Sales Houses Set To Merge Following US Deal

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has this morning approved the takeover bids for Mirror Group by both Trinity and Regional Independent Media (RIM) (see Trinity Offers £1 Billion For Mirror Group). However trade and industry secretary, Stephen Byers, has stipulated that Trinity divest of its four Northern Ireland titles – the Belfast Telegraph,… Continue reading DTI Approves Mirror Group Takeover Bids