No Title

Zenith Media has been appointed to handle strategic planning for Allied Domecq. The business moves from Optimedia – Publicis’ media offshoot. Zenith already handles Allied Domecq’s 20m media buying.

STV is understood to be considering a strategic partnership with neighbouring Grampian, or a bid to acquire HTV, following a deal with Flextech last week (see page 16).

Time Warner is poised to become the world’s largest media group as it negotiaties an $8.5bn (3.4bn) merger with Ted Turner. But analysts predict that other media owners – notably Rupert Murdoch – could still enter the fray.

The Radio Authority is backing a campaign by Classic FM to change the way commercial radio licences are awarded. Classic’s re-bid for its licence will take place in a blind auction unless the rules are changed.

Leslie Hill, chairman of the ITV Association, wants National Heritage secretary Virginia Bottomley to protect UK broadcasters from proposed changes to EU law which could ban ads aimed at children.

Media Sales & Marketing has secured PepsiCo as sponsor of the Network Chart Show for a further year in a 1m deal – the largest UK commercial radio sponsorship to date.

The Spectator achieved sales of 54,458 copies a week for January-June – the largest circulation in its 167-year history – according to latest ABC figures.

BBC Worldwide has appointed Richard Emery, director of strategy and marketing, as managing director of BBC Worldwide Television. He replaces Dr John Thomas, who becomes managing director of BBC Worldwide Learning.

The Newspaper Publishers’ Association has told the Government that it is opposed to the single-media limits on ownership contained in its cross-media proposals.

Carlton UK Sales, which two weeks ago claimed that Laser Sales’ attempt to mix TV deals with other Granada companies was restrictive selling, is offering clients services that use Carlton’s video and book companies.

CNN has launched a multimedia news service on the Internet. Full-time staff will update news around the clock.