MediaCommunications

MediaCom View: Channel 4 have launched their own range of audio programmes, along with future plans for an online radio station. Consumers will now be able to listen to extensions of their favourite shows (such as Lost, Big Brother and Richard and Judy) with more shows in the pipeline for later this year. Their planned radio website currently in development will allow access to streamed content and downloadable audio files. This follows the recent news that the BBC will also be offering personalised radio content online. This is good for consumers – who can pursue their interests across a wider range of media channels. This further evolution of digital technology enables increasingly niche audiences and is changing the face of media consumption as we know it.

MediaCom View: The ban proposal stated that all cabs in Edinburgh should be of a uniform corporate colour rather than displaying superside advertising. Cab advertising in Edinburgh is thought to be worth £1million. Had the ban been successful, overall outdoor revenue in Scotland would have been affected and obviously the additional advertising income to cab drivers would have stopped. However, the major concern was that other cities might follow suit, eventually leading to a blanket ban across most of the UK.

MediaCom View: There are 1.5m PVR homes in UK , and we expect this to double in next 12 months as Freeview Playback launches in September. Although adverts are forwarded in PVR homes, advertising awareness is maintained if creative is of high quality. TV viewing in PVR households is higher than those without – so exposure to adverts is actually greater.

MediaCom View : Five needed to ‘future proof’ their business by entering the digital market. The new channels will be Five US and Five Life – extensions of Five’s core strengths - American imports on Five US, and children’s / women’s strands on Five Life. The channels will launch on Freeview in the Autumn.

MediaCom View : Clients are continuing to show their commitment to Online Marketing by allocating nearly 40% of their budgets to online. An increase of nearly 27% over the last year. Clients believe the key areas for growth are likely to be; Paid Search (25%), Natural Search (19%) and mobile (17%).