British Gas is reeling from accusations of profiteering levelled last week when it unveiled a five-fold rise in profits for 2007 shortly after announcing that residential gas prices would soar by 15%. The energy giant needs to counter the impression that it is exploiting rising wholesale gas prices and pushing through domestic price hikes to […]
Some things never change. Other things change slowly, and then accelerate until they vanish quite suddenly. After 30 years in this industry it seems to me that, finally, one of the gradual trends of the British economy has reached a tipping point, while another is doggedly hanging on. These trends are, firstly, the erosion of […]
Olympic sponsors, including Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Samsung and Adidas, are coming under increasing pressure over their involvement with the Beijing 2008 Games, amid criticisms of Chinas human rights and foreign policy record.
Utilities giant npower has been slammed by environmental charities for admitting that it cannot switch all of its customers to green tariffs because it does not have the capacity. Npower says that it has the facility to supply just 2% of customers with renewable energy. Despite the shortfall of supply, the company is planning to […]
Independent digital agency i-Level is understood to be in talks with AKQA and Aegis over a potential sale of the company. It is understood that the company has spoken to a number of potential buyers, also including WPP Group, and is asking over £40m for the agency. Selling a strategic stake is another possibility. The […]
Initiative has won the media planning and buying account for lingerie brand Gossard following a three-way pitch against undisclosed agencies. It is not clear if there was an incumbent agency as the brand has reduced advertising spend in recent years after being sold several times. It was bought back by Courtaulds, who sold it to […]
Universal Pictures has been forced to pull part of its campaign for serial killer film, Untraceable, after a member of a video blogging community threatened to call the police. The “alternate reality game”, which included clips of a mocked-up abduction, torture and electrocution, was posted on the Seesmic community. However, Universal was forced to pull […]
Radio ownership rules are creating unnecessary barriers to consolidation, an industry panel told the House of Lords (February 27). The comments were made as to the Lords Select Communities on Communications as part of the ongoing inquiry into Media Ownership and the News. The panel included RadioCentre chief executive Andrew Harrison (pictured), Mark Story, managing […]
Microsoft has been slapped with a record 691.4m by the European Commission (EC) for anti-competitive behaviour. It is the first time in 50 years that the EU has fined a company for failure to comply with an antitrust decision.
The 40 largest digital agencies increased their operating profits by 56% between 2006 and 2007, according to the New Media Agencies Financial Intelligence report. The surge in digital advertising and agency consolidation are the key factors in the growth. The report, which covers agencies such as Outrider, LBi, Poke London, AKQA and Start Creative, also […]
The Government is expected to officially announce that it will scrap plans for a super-casino in Manchester but will confirm plans for 16 regional casinos this week. The plans have been under review since Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister last summer. Manchester won the bid to develop a Las Vegas-style resort in January […]
Cognito, the integrated marketing agency, has won the brief to launch the first advertising for FirstAssist Legal Protection, one of the UK’s largest legal expenses insurance providers. It follows the appointment of former More Than marketer Graham Hollebon as its marketing director. The campaign is part of a two-year sales drive for the company, which […]
Just Eat’s global CMO Barnaby Dawe, who is credited with “‘transforming” the brand’s approach to marketing and spearheading its rebrand, is set to depart.
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