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Week ending November 4, 2006

Prof-Media to acquire 54.8% in Rambler Media Limited  - October 31, 2006

from Konstantin Vorontsov/Prof Media

Prof-Media acquired shares representing approximately 48.8% in Rambler Media Limited (“Rambler Media” or “the Company”), a leading provider of internet services to the global Russian-speaking community. Prof-Media has also agreed to purchase approximately 6.0% of the issued shares in the Company, subject to the receipt of the approval of regulatory authorities.

Rambler Media is a leading internet-based diversified media entertainment, services and content delivery company. It targets the global Russian-speaking Internet community which is estimated at approximately 300 million people. Rambler is the second most popular Russian based search engine and one of the top three most popular Internet resource in Russian Internet by traffic and page views. Rambler Media’s main online resource Rambler.ru (www.rambler.ru) has 21 million unique monthly visitors, while monthly page views exceed 1.5 billion. Rambler Media’s consolidated net sales reached US$16 million for the first sixth months ended 30 June 2006 (up nearly 100% period on period) and a net profit of nearly US$2.5 million.

Rambler Media’s shares are listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and Prof-Media is interested in their healthy trading market and further appreciation. Currently, Prof-Media does not envisage any further purchase of shares in the Company except as described above.

Prof-Media believes that the Russian internet has very high growth potential and is particularly optimistic about Rambler Media, a leader in search, social networking, communication services and e-commerce. Rafael Akopov, CEO of Prof-Media, commented: “This transaction is another important step in establishing Prof-Media as a leading Russian diversified media group with a significant exposure to new media. Our stake in Rambler Media, which will become a pure play internet company, is going to be a key element in Prof-Media's on-line strategy. As a strategic investor in Russian media we intend to build on the impressive achievements of the Company to date and to take it to the next level of development (including M&A), while supporting management continuity and best corporate governance practices”.

As reported by Rambler Media last week, Prof-Media has also signed a contract on October 24, 2006 for the purchase of “Rambler TV”, the TV business of Rambler Media, from the Company. The transaction is expected to be completed as planned after the receipt of regulatory approvals by the end of this year.

Renaissance Capital acted as an exclusive financial advisor to Prof-Media on the acquisition of the interest in Rambler Media.

BBC launches its first marketing campaign across Afghanistan – October 31, 2006

from Lala Najafova/BBC WS

BBC World Service has launched its first marketing campaign in Afghanistan promoting its Pashto- and Dari-language broadcasts on FM across the country.  From Tuesday, 31 October, the two-month campaign will promote the ever-increasing BBC FM network in the country’s six major cities: Ghazni, Herat, Jalalabad, Kabul, Kandahar and Mazar-e-Sharif.

Working with a leading Kabul-based full service agency, Aina - Darya Communications, BBC World Service has developed a highly visible bi-lingual Pashto and Dari campaign promoting BBC FM availability on billboards, TV, radio and print ads.

Alan Booth, Controller, Marketing, Communications & Audiences, BBC World Service, comments:  “This is our first ever advertising campaign in Afghanistan.  As the country’s market continues to develop, we are keen to consolidate our position in its modern media scene.  A recent survey in the rural and urban areas of five provinces of Afghanistan suggested that the BBC is one of the most popular international broadcasters there, with our programmes in Pashto, Dari and other languages reaching almost 70% of the population.” 

BBC World Service has 17 FM frequencies in key towns across Afghanistan, including Kabul 89.0FM and 101.6FM (in Dari and Pashto), Mazar-e-Sharif 89.0FM (Dari), Jalalabad 89.0FM (Pashto), Herat 89.2FM (Dari), Kandahar 90.0FM (Pashto) and Ghazni 88.3FM (Pashto).  BBC programming is also re-broadcast via partnerships with two local media providers, Internews and Equal Access. 

BBC to reach more Kyrgyz and Uzbek audiences via new FMs in Kyrgyzstan – October 31, 2006

from Lala Najafova/BBC WS

BBC World Service has further expanded its broadcasting on FM in Kyrgyzstan.  The newBBC 103.7FM brings BBC Kyrgyz programming in crystal clear sound quality to listeners in the capital,Bishkek, whileBBC 102.2FM inBatken andBBC 106.3FM inKerben give audiences in these cities the opportunity to tune in to BBC Kyrgyz and BBC Uzbek broadcasts. 

Hamid Ismailov, Head, Central Asia and Caucasus service, BBC World Service, says he is delighted to be in Bishkek to officially mark the launch of the new BBC FMs: 

“We have had a very good partner relationship with the Kyrgyzstan State TV and Radio Broadcasting Company which rebroadcasts a mix of BBC language programming.  With the new BBC FM frequencies in Bishkek, Batken and Kerben, the BBC programming in Kyrgyz and Uzbek will be available, at key listening times, across the country through uninterrupted, loud and clear signal.  This means more people in Kyrgyzstan will have daily access to reliable and objective news and information in their mother tongues.”

Programme schedules (all local time):

BBC 102.2FM inBatken andBBC 106.3FM inKerben:

Weekdays:  19.00– BBC Uzbek, 20.00 and 21.00– BBC Kyrgyz, 22.00– BBC Uzbek.  Weekends: 19.00, 20.00, 21.00 and 22.00– BBC Uzbek

BBC Kyrgyz onBBC 103.7FMinBishkek: Weekdays: 19.00, 20.00 and 21.00

BBC Kyrgyz on1st Channel of Kyrgyzstan State Radio: Weekdays: 19.00 and 21.00. 

Arbitron - Los Angeles bus riders spend over one and a half hours with Transit TV per day – October 30, 2006

from Jessica Benbow/Arbitron

New custom research from Arbitron Inc. (NYSE: ARB) reveals that 42 percent of Los Angeles bus riders consider Transit Television to be one of their regular sources for news and weather information. On average, riders spend one hour and thirty-four minutes exposed to the on-board television network.

The new study titled, Moving Entertainment: Arbitron Evaluation of Transit TV Network, explores commuters’ engagement with ad supported news and entertainment programming available on over 2,200 Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (LACMTA) buses citywide. The study focuses both on the demographic composition of the Transit TV audience and the impact of commercials aired on the network.

“In the same way radio is the preferred out-of-home broadcast medium to reach people in their cars, Transit TV has shown to be an effective way to reach those additional commuters who take mass transportation,” says Diane Williams, Manager, Arbitron Custom Research. “Los Angeles bus riders spend a major part of their day exposed to on-board television programming and that is reflected in the strong content and advertising recall levels.”

“While traditional media face an increasing struggle to reach a young audience, this study demonstrates Transit TV’s ability to frequently reach young, attentive and engaged viewers,” says Gerry Noble CEO and President of Transit TV.


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