The number of ads per break on Italian TV was getting beyond a joke, which is when the industry stepped in to bring real value back to the medium. By John Shannon

Diary has this week decided to make a break with tradition and run a quote of the week slot. Charlie Scott, chief executive at Saatchi & Saatchi plc (or Cordiant as it is now to be known), said on the appointment of Al Prendegrast as executive vice-president of human resources worldwide: “In the advertising business, […]

Coca-Cola Schweppes Beverages is to distribute a series of New Age drinks which are direct rivals to Coca-Cola’s Fruitopia. CCSB has begun talks with the trade and plans to launch a soft drink called Schizan which is believed to be manufactured by Cadbury-Schweppes. It is also said to be readying a UK launch for Oasis […]

John Ayling’s daughter Caroline writes to a schoolfriend.

Although Talk Radio has made a sluggish start, initial audience levels are encouraging.

Sponsorship of `worthy causes’ is gathering pace, with firms viewing funding of areas like education and health as good commercial opportunities. However, there are fears that core services will lose Government funding and become reliant on bu

Gordon’s Gin is launching the “Innervigoration” advertising campaign this week through cinema, press and posters. The ads are aimed at younger drinkers and the creative work is by Leo Burnett. The ú2.5m media budget is part of a ú10m marketing spend for the brand. TEXT:

Kraft General Foods launches a ú2.5m campaign for Maxwell House later this month with a TV commercial featuring Noel Edmonds, who recreates his BBC TV Noel’s House Party role.

Sainsbury’s is to review “in due course” the advertising accounts for Texas and Homebase DIY chains, held by Grey and Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO respectively. It already reviewing how to integrate the chains. The Guild of Excellence this week launches its ú11m campaign through Broadway to recruit members, in what promises to be the biggest national […]

Two Way Television has struck a deal with BSkyB to develop an in-pub quiz using TWTV’s interactive television system. A weekly quiz night will be tested in 50 Morland pubs in the Oxford area in early summer. An interactive quiz will be broadcast in each using a “spare” channel on pub TV sets that carry […]

By our EC correspondent Ice cream advertising is poised for meltdown this summer after an historic conclusion to the four year-long freezer cabinet dispute between Unilever and Mars.

We were fascinated by Paul McCann’s report “When billings size isn’t everything” (MW last week). The big media buying shops are “repositioning” themselves as a vanguard because the media market is moving away from bulk buying, and that other services, such as “creative planning”, are becoming increasingly important to clients. This has already happened. There […]

TV `95 provided a real opportunity for advertisers and ITV to settle their differences, but despite a few exceptions, the big issues were brushed aside. By Torin Douglas

A record number of gold stars has been given in the 1995 Starpack Awards, the UK packaging design competition organised by the Institute of Packaging. Five golds, 20 silver, six technical innovation and 39 bronze stars were awarded, from the total entry of 193 packages. In the consumer section, Constar International won a gold and […]

Chiat Day has won the ú6m account for the relaunch of Carlsberg-Tetley’s Tuborg lager. The agency has beaten Griffin Bacall, CME KHBB, Walsh Trott Chick Smith and Saatchi & Saatchi.