BRIEFS

DoubleClick, the global online advertising specialist announced

this week record financial results for the third quarter ending 30

September. Revenues were up 45 per cent on the second quarter - a

year-on-year increase of 190 per cent. Gross profit was recorded as

dollars 22.9 million. However, when operating expenses were taken into

account, DoubleClick made a loss of dollars 5.4 million.

Mark Walker, managing director of Independent Radio Group’s Wigan-based

station Wish FM has been made redundant. Wish FM’s head of programming

Trevor Shepherd said Walker, who was promoted to managing director in

February, was on ’gardening leave’. IRG is reported to be the target of

a takeover bid by Kelvin MacKenzie’s Talk Radio.

Walker Media has promoted its three directors - Steve Anderson, Jon

Horrocks and Andrew Sherman - to the roles of managing partners.

Christine Walker and Phil Georgiadis have changed their titles to

partner. The company has also hired Nick Andrews, senior planner at

MediaCom TMB, as senior account manager. Andrews will work on accounts

including IPC, Bhs and Heart FM.

Proposals to charge digital television viewers in the UK an additional

licence fee could run into trouble with the European Commission for

breaching state aid rules. Awarding the BBC an extra pounds 24 per

digital viewer to invest in new services could give the corporation an

unfair competitive advantage over its commercial rivals, commission

officials said. They plan to write a warning letter to the

Government.

24/7 Europe, the European online ad network, has appointed John Barbera,

former president of Turner Broadcasting Sales worldwide, to take over

the daily running and expansion of 24/7’s core business.

Adline, the national marketing magazine for the regions, has undergone a

redesign following a merger with sister publication, Synergy. From next

month the title will have 68 pages and a circulation of 20,000.

Reuters and ft.com have agreed that Reuters will supply 26 news media

services to the Financial Times website. The online services offer

breaking news reports on business, technology and sports. In the last 12

months, traffic to ft.com has increased by 123 per cent.

BSkyB has given up its exclusive rights to the second leg of the England

v Scotland European championship qualifier. The 17 November game will

instead be shown on ITV, Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports Extra.

Designate, the Brighton-based ad agency, has been appointed to promote

the Isle of Wight as a holiday destination. The pounds 750,000 drive,

launching in February 2000, is to run in national newspapers and

magazines, on TV and as direct mail.

ONdigital is to exclusively screen German Bundesliga football matches

from November. The matches will be shown on Fridays and Sundays on the

football station Channel 99.

Choice FM North London has won the local radio licence for

North/North-west London. Choice FM fought off 19 other contenders to win

the award, which runs for eight years from the date the service

commences broadcasting.