Omnicom has poached IPC Media board director Phillipa Brown to take on the new role of chief executive of its Omnicom Media Group UK. The parent company was set up the group last September to house its two media networks, OMD and PHD. It is not clear when Brown will take over the role. She […]
The BBC Trust has given the go-ahead to the BBC Executive’s controversial iPlayer on-demand plans. The plans have been given the green light despite fears from its commercial rivals that the scheme would allow the subsidised broadcaster to dominate video-on-demand. The decision-making body has given final approval today for the iPlayer, the corporation’s proposed online […]
Former JWT integrated creative directors Ken Muir and Ray Howard announced the launch of a new advertising agency, muirhoward. It has also announced that price comparision site Beat That Quote.com as its first client…
Vimto Soft Drinks is launching a range of indulgent dessert drinks with less than 20 calories in a move aimed at tapping into the healthy drinks market. YUM will target health conscious and female consumers and will be positioned as an alternative to a dessert. The range, which will cost 99p for a 200ml bottle, […]
Westminster City Council says it has had “productive” meetings with the publishers of London’s two afternoon freesheets, thelondonpaper and London Lite, over contributions to its 500,000 recycling costs…
Ofcom and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) have recommended that the government look further at BSkyB’s acquisition of 17.9% shareholdng in ITV.The media regulator†believes that there are public interest issues “in relation to sufficient plurality of news provision for both cross media and television news in the UK”. Meanwhile, the OFT has urged the […]
Consumer group Energywatch has slammed rival utility providers Powergen and Npower for not reducing prices for their poorest customers. The two companies are introducing lower prices from today (Monday)†but not all customers will see the benefit. Npower’s prepayment meter electricity customers will see no cut in tariff, while Powergen has only given meter customers for […]
The commercial radio industry has revealed plans for the second UK Music Week. The event will see over 250 stations across five commercial radio networks collaborating on a week of special programming. The week, which will run from May 21 to May 28, will see programming tailored to suit the individual needs of the networks taking part. […]
David Lloyd Leisure, the health and fitness club chain, and private health care provider BUPA have teamed up to create a new health club that aims to unite medical and fitness expertise.
The BBC Trust has given the green light for a national roll out of the free-to-air BBC digital satellite service. The corporation has been developing Freesat as a joint venture with ITV.The service is expected to launch in Spring next year following the formal approval from the Trust, the body which overseas the BBC’s work. […]
First, let me declare a personal interest in what follows. I once briefly worked with the legendary Tim Carron Brown, lately funding rainmaker at Dawn Airey’s ill-fated Iostar production company, and I suffered no financial impairment as a result. I have also lived in Dunoon, the dour Clydeside resort where Carron Brown first practised his […]
The Portman Group is making the case for encouraging giving children small amounts of alcohol at home to avoid binge-drinking. This follows Alcohol Concern’s call for parents who give alcohol to children under the age of 15, even with a meal at home, to be prosecuted. Charity Alcohol Concern call follows research which concludes that […]
Grey has lost the bulk of its Nokia business after failing to make it through to the final round of the Finnish handset manufacturer’s £175m global advertising pitch. JWT, Wieden & Kennedy and Mother will now compete for the account. Grey could continue to act as the company’s network agency after making it through to […]
Virgin Media, the cable TV operator, has submitted a 33-page complaint to the High Court as it looks to sue its “abusive” rival BSkyB over anti-competitive behaviour in the latest round of the public spat between the media giants. Virgin says Rupert Murdoch’s BSkyB was “abusive” by engineering the withdrawal of Sky One and other […]
Ken Kutaragi, the man behind Sony PlayStation, has quit the Japanese electronics giant. Kutaragi, chairman and chief executive at games division Sony Computer Entertainment, will leave the company in June. However, he will take the role of honorary chairman and technology advisor to Sony chief executive Howard Stringer. Kutaragi’s departure comes amid tough times at […]