British Gas has launched the first online tariff for prepayment meters and is testing 10,000 new pay-as-you-go units in consumers’ homes. It is hoped that the move will help tackle fuel poverty. It follows yesterday’s (June 24) meeting between the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s select committee and bosses from the “big six” […]
Virgin Holidays has launched viral as to support its “Ask for the world” campaign, featuring Charlotte Church. The viral shows the Welsh diva singing “I want it now” from the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. It has also created a website called stilldemanding.com, based on actress Julie Dawn Cole, who played Veruca […]
Admedia, the out-of-home and experiential media owner, has appointed Garry Lace to the new role of managing director. The former Lowe and Grey chief executive will take over the role on July 1. Lace, who has been low profile since he was ousted from Lowe in 2006, will be responsible for building senior relationships with […]
Digital Cinema Media, the cinema company formerly known as Carlton Screen Advertising, has appointed Naked Communications to undertake a strategic review of its business. The agency will look at the current and future cinema market and develop a new long-term brand positioning and identity for Digital Cinema Media. The agency is now talking to key […]
Creston has reported a 25% rise in profits for the year ending 31 March 2008 and is upbeat about the potential impact of an economic downturn. The company says that new business wins, worth £9m, have buoyed its year. The marketing services and research group, which owns agencies Delaney Lund Knox Warren (DLKW) and direct […]
The “big six” energy companies will meet with MPs to defend price hikes imposed on households throughout the country. Energy bosses will meet politicians on the Business and Enterprise Select Committee today (June 24). It is understood chief executives from British Gas, EDF, npower, E.on, Scottish power and Scottish & Southern Energy will also discuss […]
Camelot is launching new a National Lottery Scratchcard to raise funds for the London 2012 Olympics. A series of cards featuring Britain’s six most popular Olympic champions will go on sale in July. The sporting legends were picked after Ipsos Mori reseach found they were the national favourites. The six, who have 12 gold medals […]
iVillage.co.uk, the UK women’s portal, is launching a new online drama series aimed at parents. It is currently in talks with brands about sponsoring the series, which will be called Parentshood. The comedy series, which will be launched this autumn, will tell the story of people coming to terms with parenting in a modern world. […]
Budget hotel chain easyHotel has relaunched its website ahead of bold expansion plans for the company. The new site offers a booking system that aims to offer a foundation for its growth from seven hotels to 200 within 10 years.
News International chief James Murdoch has unveiled sweeping changes including merging the top commercial, marketing and managing operations of News Group Newspapers and Times Media divisions. The move will lead to “some” redundancies across the newspaper groups. Murdoch, who confirmed the plans to staff today (June 23), says the changes will allow brands including The […]
UK radio services should be migrated on to digital audio broadcasting (DAB) by 2020, according to the Digital Radio Working Group’s interim report. It proposes to move stations gradually over the next 12 years rather than setting a cut-off date. The report, published today, says the national, regional and large local radio stations should be […]
Cheapflights, the travel and airline price comparison site, will relaunch in the UK next month. It also plans to launch a European site before the end of the year. The new look UK website will be based on the technology platform used for the US version of the site, which went live in February. The […]
Channel 4 has cautiously welcomed BBC proposals to create “practical partnerships” to avoid “top-slicing” the licence fee by sharing its expertise with rival broadcasters although chief executive Andy Duncan (pictured) has warned that proposals “need to be more than warm words”. In its submission to Ofcom’s second public service broadcasting review, the BBC questioned suggestions […]
Kingfisher, the Indian domestic airline owned by drinks firm UB Group, which also produces the lager of the same name, is set to begin flights to the UK this summer. The Bangalore-based carrier has obtained two slots at Heathrow and is believed to be in negotiations to take over a second pair of slots from […]
The European Commission is moving to break down national borders in online retailing in a bid to allow consumers to take advantage of prices offered by companies in different countries. It is understood that Meglena Kuneva, European Union consumer protection commissioner, will announce the strategy today as she announces separate EU legislation on simplifying rules […]