MediaCommunications

MediaCom View: It is fair to say that ITV have had one of its best years for impact performance in recent years. ITV's Adult impacts are up 1.2% for the period Jan-Aug 2007, compared to being down 7.4% for the same period the previous year. With programmes such as ''Britain's Got Talent' and 'Hell's Kitchen' performing well, ITV are now being talked about in positive terms by advertisers. Michael Grade's strategic presentation gave advertisers a taste of what was in store for the main commercial broadcaster. The two most important announcements for them were doubling ITV's content income and the increase of internet revenue.

ITV's programming heritage is about producing quality programming. The promise to have 75% of all ITV1 programmes made in-house can only be a positive thing and will be closely monitored by us.

ITV.Com is a good site and we have been a supporter of its pre-roll video content. Michael Grade has set a target of increasing internet revenues to £150m by 2010, where currently it stands at £30m. This may seem a little ambitious, but it's good to see ITV finally realise the potential of the web and it certainly has the content to make it attractive to users.

MediaCom View: The uptake of digital radios in the UK is likely to reach 59% household penetration by the end of 2011, according to the Digital Radio Development Bureau. It is expected that 9.2 million DAB sets will be sold by the end of next year. This sales growth is ongoing with Ian Dickens from the DRDB saying that the long term future of DAB lies in the penetration of new products - including in-car and mobile phones. The digital platform is steadily growing, with digital radio accounting for 14% of all commercial radio listening.

MediaCom View: With thelondonpaper.com, thisislondon.co.uk and other local websites such as ITV local already providing a variety of information for Londoners online, The Evening Standard is entering a very cluttered environment. However, as with any online product if it can provide great content, more choice and something different, something that will set it apart from it's competitors, then it is a welcome addition.