MediaCommunications

MediaCom View: It was revealed last month that News International are set to launch a free evening paper regardless of whether it wins the contract for afternoon distribution on the tube or not. NI are moving forward with their plans and are rumoured to have registered the title name as ‘thelondonpaper’.

If not successful in their bid, NI have been looking at alternative ways to reach commuters on their way home, including handing out the paper outside tube and train stations and utilising dump bins. They are also believed to be setting up distribution through coffee shops including Starbucks, who already sell The Times.

There are five companies in total who are applying for the Network Rail distribution contract which also includes Associated Newspapers and Metro International. A decision on who will win the London Underground contract is expected towards the end of the year.

MediaCom View: Channel 4 is in discussion with Sky about a bid for the second national digital radio multiplex to be advertised later this year. It is thought that Sky are an interested party due to the potential to expand into mobile TV technology on DAB. BT currently have the rights to mobile TV services on the Digital One multiplex and are due to launch their service next month.

Channel 4's intended bid follows the broadcaster's recent launch of their own range of audio programmes, with an on-line radio station in the pipeline. Their proposition is to offer listeners a rival to BBC programming - which prides itself on coverage of news and current affairs. Sky is an appealing partner due to its strengths in news and sports programming.

MediaCom View: As the broadband on demand marketplace continues to attract new content providers, Sky has announced details of extensions to their current offering. The popular Sky Movies and Sport by Broadband (open to Sky subscribers only) will be extended as a service to include entertainment from the autumn. Although exact details of the entertainment line-up have not yet been announced it is expected that popular Sky One programming such as 24 will be included in the service.

MediaCom View : Google has released an advanced campaign management feature that allows advertisers to determine when their Pay-Per-Click ads run. Previous to this, ads on Google were available to run 24 hours a day. Ad scheduling (also known as "dayparting") lets you tell Google exactly when you want your ads to run, and more importantly - when you do not want them to run.

Selecting a time period means your ads will be available at that time, but does not guarantee your ads will receive impressions or clicks. There is an advanced mode that allows an advertiser to increase (or decrease) their maximum a bid for a selected time interval increasing (or decreasing) the likelihood that the ad will show.