Week commencing 27th October 2008
 Universal Pictures has joined forces with the pay TV operator, Top Up TV,
to launch a subscription based on-demand TV service in the UK. TVBox is the first extension of NBC Universal's PictureBox, a subscription-on-demand service for feature films.
The service, which will be a part of Top Up TV's Anytime services, is set to offer programmes from Universal's portfolio of more than 55,000 television episodes,
including Law & Order and Friday Night Lights. A number of TV classics such as Quantum Leap, Rockford Files and Columbo will also be available via the TVBox service. Source: MediaTel
ITV is set to relaunch its online video-on-demand service as ITV Player, following plans to increase its web activity. ITV.com, which offers live channel streaming and a 30-day catch-up service,
has been criticised for not being as user-friendly as the BBC's iPlayer.
The iPlayer has dominated the market since its launch, despite ITV being the first to launch its VoD product - the BBC revealed that it had received over 75 million requests to stream or download programmes earlier this year. Source: MediaTel
Last week, the BBC and BSkyB signed a deal to make the iPlayer available through the satellite broadcaster's online TV service, Sky Player.
The BBC's iPlayer service is also now available via Virgin Media as well as on the Apple iPhone, iPod Touch and Nokia's new N96 handset. Source: MediaTel
Ofcom has outlined plans which could see Londoners receive HD TV on the Freeview platform as early as 2010. The regulator has launched a consultation to look at temporarily reassigning Freeview spectrum,
allowing some high density population areas to receive services such as HD TV earlier than planned.
London was going to receive Freeview HD services in 2012, however, following a request from the BBC, Ofcom has looked at the city as a case study for possible accelerated roll-out.
Ofcom announced last week that ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC would launch HD channels on Freeview next year. Under existing plans, only Granada would get HD on Freeview late next year, followed by Wales, Scotland and the West Country by 2010.
Viewers in the ITV regions Central, Yorkshire, Anglia and Meridian would be able to get the services in 2011, with London, Tyne Tees and Ulster following in 2012. The consultation on proposals to fast track the introduction of
Freeview HD closes on November 19. Source: MediaTel
 Country Homes & Interiors is introducing a new look intended to boost its upmarket feel.
Giving more focus to a relaxed country lifestyle, the magazine also has a new logo and refreshed fonts. The last ABCs saw the magazine boost its circulation by 5.7% year on year.
The new look launches in the December issue, on sale from 30 October. The issue is bagged with a free calendar sponsored by Laura Ashley. Source: MediaTel
IPC specialist title Cage & Aviary Birds has relaunched with a new look masthead and range of new features including a weekly 60-second interview with leading figures in the birdkeeping community and monthly vet clinic.
The masthead of Cage & Aviary Birds has been redesigned with a quirkier font and new fonts across the magazine will make it easier to read. Source: Media Week
 Former News Group Newspapers chief Mike Gordon is to become Global Radio's commercial head - the latest key hire as the radio group looks to fulfil the potential of its £375m acquisition of GCap Media. Source: Media Week
 JCDecaux Airport
has created a range of short-term networks in Heathrow airport to target travel trade professionals heading to the World Travel.
Six packages will allow brands to target delegates with the Heathrow squares format, six-sheets, 96-sheets and digital airport panels as they pass through Heathrow Terminals 1, 3, 4 and 5.
JCDecaux Airport has a network of 160 airports around the world. In the UK JCDecaux Airport managed 11 air and rail concessions including Heathrow and Gatwick and the Eurostar. Source: Media Week
Primesight has launched eight targeted campaign packages for the seasonal shopping period within its premium malls product Mall2.
The packages allow clients to target audiences by retailer, mall or category. Mall2 includes 37 shopping malls across the UK, including Bluewater in north Kent and the Bullring in Birmingham,
and claims to offer advertisers a footfall of more than 26 million in a two-week campaign. The eight packages include health and beauty, department stores, entertainment, fashion, housewives and children, technology,
telecoms and youth, and include 4m x 1m panels near relevant retailers. Primesight is also offering clients the ability to create their own campaigns through an interactive online campaign planner on the Primesight website.
Through the online tool, clients are able to search for any retailer, category and mall to create bespoke campaigns for their target audience. Source: Media Week
 The Financial Times is launching a forums feature on the Alphaville section of its website to allow
finance professionals to start their own discussions. The new user generated content element, called the Long Room, lets users start their own debates, known as 'tables',
and comment on existing conversations and upload documents, video and images. Source: MediaTel
Dennis Publications is to publish a digital recipe magazine for Waitrose, Waitrose Seasons LIVE, launching in January 2009. The magazine will be emailed to over four million male
and female customers by utilising a combined database of Waitrose customers, Dennis Publishing's reader database and other relevant UK consumers.
Waitrose will distribute two different versions of the magazine: one targeted at a general food customer and a second specifically aimed at men. Source: MediaTel
 |
Weekly Top 10:
- High School Musical 3
- Saw 5
- Burn After Reading
- Ghost Town
- Eagle Eye
- Igor
- The House Bunny
- Taken
- Mamma Mia!
- Mirror
|
Source: Pearl and Dean
|
Newsletter edited by Sarah Halliday and Jenna Morton
|
