Andrew Jaspan, the managing director of the Big Issue and former
editor of the Observer, has been signed up by the Scottish Media Group
to develop its multi-media potential. As the business development
executive, Jaspan will work with Andrew Flanagan, the chief executive of
Scottish Media, to identify areas of operation which will help
consolidate the group’s publishing, television and new-media
interests.
Marcus Plantin is returning to LWT to take up his old job as director of
programmes. He quit the post in 1992 to become network director of ITV,
but is now returning to a programming role. Simon Shaps, the incumbent,
is moving to Granada TV to take on a wider brief as director of
programmes.
ITN has acquired a 49 per cent stake in Euronews, the European news and
information channel. The majority shareholder remains Secemie, a
consortium made up of 18 other public broadcasters in Europe. ITN is the
first UK-based company to get involved.
Cosmopolitan, in its latest brand extension project, has linked up with
optician, Vision Express, to launch an eyewear range. The collection is
designed to reflect the core values of Cosmo women, with frames carrying
names such as Daring, Mystery and Seduction.
Dennis & Beyond, the customer magazine division of Dennis publishing,
has won the contract to publish a magazine for Compuserve, the online
service provider. The contract was previously with Emap.
Live TV is now in the top five cable and satellite channels, according
to BARB viewing figures for 10-16 November. Live TV has 31.1 per cent
average weekly reach, below - in ascending order - Cartoon Network, Sky
News, UK Gold and Sky 1.
The Ministry of Sound magazine, Ministry, launches this week. The
strapline, ’Clubbing’s only the half of it’, reflects the magazine’s
content which will include fashion, music and lifestyle. The cover price
of the monthly magazine will be pounds 2.40, and it is aiming for a
settle-down circulation of 120,000.
Several regional ITV companies, including Carlton, Central, Granada and
Meridian, are discussing proposals to bid for the Channel 4 News
contract. The 15 regional companies would join forces, and look at the
possibility of drawing in a partner to provide international news. An
ITV source denied that this was an attempt to undermine ITN, which will
fight to keep its contract with Channel 4.
London News Radio has signed a pounds 150,000 sponsorship deal with
Yellow Pages, to support Entertainment News Direct. News Direct 97.3’s
format includes an entertainment slot at 30 minute intervals throughout
the day and night. The scripts have been written by staff at Abbott Mead
Vickers BBDO.
Nicorette will sponsor free travel on London Transport on New Year’s
Eve. TDI organised the pounds 225,000 deal with Pharmacia and Upjohn,
the manufacturers of Nicorette. A campaign, created by Bates Dorland and
planned by Zenith Media, has broken on posters covering bus sides,
leaflets and timetables.
BSkyB is considering offering Sky News free to cable operators to
counter the threat from its rival, BBC News 24. The idea has been raised
with cable operators who are considering dropping Sky News in favour of
the BBC’s free-to-air cable news service.
An annual memorial award to recognise the most pro- mising trainee at
CIA Medianetwork has been set up by the media independent and the
parents of Suzy Lawton, the planner/buyer who died in March. The pounds
500 award will run for ten years and link with CIA’s existing internal
award scheme.
