Aegis Group, the owner of Carat and Vizeum, says it is “relatively optimistic” about its performance over the coming year but sounded a cautious note about the “macro-economic outlook” for the year. It made the comments as it reported a 16% increase in underlying pre-tax profits for the year ending December 31. It attributed the […]
Ofcom has admitted it is powerless to prevent ITV from reducing the amount of children’s programming the broadcaster airs on terrestrial channel ITV1. The media regulator was responding to ITV proposals for children’s programmes in 2008. ITV consulted Ofcom about plans to reduce the amount of children’s programmes shown on ITV1 from about four hours […]
Friends of the Earth has appointed Tearfund campaigns director Andy Atkins as executive director. Atkins will join the charity in late June and will replace outgoing executive director Tony Juniper later in the summer. Atkins, who was part of that group that created the high-profile Make Poverty History campaign in 2005, has been at relief […]
BSkyB has been awarded the lion’s share of Champions League football rights for three years from the 2009 season. Sky is understood to have trumped rivals by tabling an estimated £240m bid. The satellite broadcaster has been awarded the rights by football governing body UEFA after bidding against a number of UK broadcasters. Although the […]
Yo! Sushi is the first restaurant group to adopt the Food Standard Agency’s traffic light labelling scheme. The chain has produced a booklet using the front-of-pack scheme to help diners make choices “at a glance”. The booklet, which is available in restaurants now, highlights the fat, salt, sugar and protein, as well as potential allergens […]
SpinVox has appointed Archibald Ingall Stretton (AIS) to its agency roster without a pitch. The agency been given a brief to develop an international digital customer relationship strategy. The campaign aims to help the service increase its subscribers as well as retaining existing users. The UK-based service is planning to increase its global subscribers to […]
Matthew Anderson, BSkyB group director of communications and brand marketing, is joining former boss James Murdoch at News Corporation. He will take on the new role of group director of strategy and corporate affairs for Europe and Asia next month. He will have a “wide remit” including overseeing marketing, communications, strategy, corporate and public affairs, […]
Kraft Foods has moved the UK advertising business for Ritz biscuits into Euro RSCG from JWT as part of a consolidation of it roster. The agency has also scooped the pan-European ad account for the LU biscuit brand. The changes have been prompted by Kraft’s acquisition of Danone’s bottle water and biscuit divisions at the […]
Ocado, the online grocery service, and Tesco have ramped up their spat over pricing with both launching campaigns defending their strategies. Tesco fuelled the row over the weekend with a full-page press ad that refuted Ocado’s claims that it matches Tesco on price. It invited consumers to check on an independent price-comparison website, using the […]
Calls by leading airlines for the break up of BAA and an overhaul of UK airport regulation have been backed by the House of Commons transport committee. It described BAA’s industry position as “bad for passengers”. The company which owns Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted as well as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Southampton airports is already […]
PepsiCo International is launching a social networking site focused on global sports stars and celebrities. It will be supported by a major advertising campaign. The ad campaign will be rolled out in stages, kicking off today (March 17) in Europe followed by the UK next month. The focus will be around football stars including David […]
DIY retailer Focus has put its 10m advertising business up for pitch almost a year after it was sold off for a 1. It is understood that the retailer has invited eight undisclosed agencies to briefing meetings.
Online grocery service Ocado has hit back at “aggressive” Tesco in a row over comparative advertising. Tesco had earlier disputed claims in Ocado’s advertising and threatened to complain to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The dispute arose over an Ocado advertisement, which claimed it could match Tesco’s prices on “all household brands”. Tesco rubbished the […]
Stella Artois has ended its 30-year relationship with the Lawn Tennis Association over strategic differences. The 2008 Artois Grass Court Championship will be the last to carry the Artois name. The move is part of the LTA’s new commercial strategy to boost income into British tennis by attracting a sponsor to support a wide range […]
Global ad spend will not suffer a “severe” slowdown in 2008 despite the credit crunch and growing economic uncertainty, according to research from media agency Carat. The Aegis-owned agency has revised its 2008 global forecasts marginally downwards to 6% growth, from the 6.2% forecast in September last year. Its forecast for the UK has been […]