Housing workshops and open plan offices for film and TV productions located at the Studios, the top floor of this 60,000 sq foot building will be available for longer term occupation from companies within the media sector who will benefit from basing all or part of their operation at Shepperton.

The completion of the building is a major step in the first phase of Shepperton’s Masterplan, a joint venture with Morley to further develop the Studio’s facilities.

Currently in production at Shepperton is Universal Pictures and Working Title Films latest feature The Boat That Rocked directed by Richard Curtis and new BBC sitcom Beautiful People starring Meera Syal and Olivia Colman. The Studios recently played host to the TV series Gladiators currently broadcasting on Sky One as well as independent film Moon, a debut feature from award-winning commercials director Duncan Jones starring Sam Rockwell.

Says Pinewood Group’s CEO Ivan Dunleavy “Shepperton’s Gainsborough building will provide a new focal point for the UK’s creative industry, hosting world class film and TV production teams together with leading media specialists. We’re delighted the Culture Minister is attending to mark the occasion.”

Margaret Hodge commented “Outstanding productions need the best possible facilities, and this important new base for media companies will help ensure that Shepperton Studios continues to make a vital and sustained contribution to the success of our film, TV and commercial sectors.”

BBM Canada announced on April, 28th that it has selected a joint bid by Arbitron Inc. and TNS Media Research to deploy Portable People Meter technology for electronic measurement of television in Canada.

BBM issued the request for proposals in June 2007 and received bids from three organizations as well as a joint bid from Arbitron/TNS. The submissions were reviewed by a committee of BBM members and after ten months of evaluation a recommendation was made to select the Arbitron/TNS bid. The subcommittee was appointed by BBM’s Board of Directors and had broad representation from conventional television, specialty television and agency members.

“BBM’s goal is this process was to ensure that our electronic television measurement system was employing the most efficient and cost-effective technology available,” said Jim MacLeod, President and CEO, BBM Canada. “I am confident that BBM’s Board of Directors has chosen a technology solution that will not only meet the audience measurement needs of today but will also anticipate and adapt to the needs of the future.”

“We’re delighted that the Portable People Meter will be an integral component of the world’s most advanced, single source, radio and television ratings system which the BBM is now creating for Canada’s radio and TV broadcasters, agencies and advertisers,” said Steve Morris, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Arbitron Inc. “We designed the Portable People Meter to be a robust and adaptable technology. That’s why the PPM is the ideal solution for single source media measurement where one panel of consumers is used to measure many channels of media distribution.”

“BBM blazed the trail in portable measurement when it adopted PPM for TV audience currency in Montreal and Quebec in 2004,” said Richard Marks, Global Head, TNS Media Research. “Since then the system has been adopted as currency in a number of countries so we are delighted that the PPM is ‘coming home’ to the rest of Canada. We are looking forward to partnering with BBM and Arbitron to roll out what will be the world’s largest meter panel providing both TV and Radio currency.”

The new PPM television service is currently scheduled to begin installation in early 2009 with a commercial launch in Fall 2009.

For more information please contact:
Tom Jenks
Director, Communications
Phone: 416.847.2078
Email: tjenks@bbm.ca

About BBM Canada BBM Canada, Sondages BBM in Québec, is a not-for-profit, member-owned tripartite industry organization, which has been operating since 1944. It supplies radio and television audience ratings services to the Canadian advertising industry. BBM’s membership includes television and radio stations and networks, advertising agencies, and advertisers.

BBM’s services include an electronic measurement system and diary surveys for our 100+ radio and television markets. BBM is located in Toronto, Ontario with operations in Moncton, Montreal, and Vancouver. Find out more about BBM at www.bbm.ca.

adidas, the global sports apparel and footwear maker, has won the Advertiser of the Year Award at the 11th Asia Pacific Advertising Festival (AdFest), held at the PEACH Convention Centre and Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Pattaya, Thailand. This year’s festival – the so-called Cannes of Asia - received over five thousand entries competing in twelve major categories, recognising talent in every aspect of the advertising and production industry.

“Winning this award is obviously important for the adidas brand, and to be recognised as the best of the best at AdFest is something that is extra special. More important, however, is how strongly our campaigns have been resonating with audiences throughout Asia Pacific. As consumers become harder and harder to reach, this award reminds us that we’re on the right track in our efforts to produce leading edge advertising” said Christophe Bezu, CEO adidas Asia Pacific.

adidas has long been a front runner in the creation of outstanding advertising and communication. A prime example is the high profile work that has been developed in the region over the past seven years, the most recent of which was the highly successful launch of the Olympic campaign in Beijing in partnership with TBWA, which was greeted with rave reviews last year. Incidentally, this partnership of adidas China and TBWA Shanghai resulted in 1 Gold, 6 Silvers, 1 Bronze and 5 finalists at this year’s AdFest, and this just for the first phase of this campaign.

“We are indeed extremely happy to have won Advertiser of the Year at AdFest”, adidas Brand Marketing Director Celine Del Genes commented, “adidas is always trying to redefine consumer approach in order to build a closer and more personal relationship with its audience. The award demonstrates we are achieving this goal through cutting edge creative developed in partnership with TBWA.”

AdFest, apart from promoting creative excellence, provides an opportunity for participating delegates to learn from the best in the Asia Pacific region. Its 2008 theme was “REiNVENT”, with 1,592 delegates attending the four-day event

Mediaedge:cia announces the birth of Arthur Schlovsky, opening the door to a new generation of agency. Its mission:  “the finest content for your brand”.

The Arthur Schlovsky media studio is the first to grasp all elements of the communication chain:  conception, creation, production and mediatisation of strategic content for brands.

It will be headed by three talents, well-known in the marketplace, all associated with Mediaedge:cia:

• Stéphanie Jolivot, Mediaedge:cia Directrice Générale Adjoint
• Franck Botbol, founder of Milk, producer
• HuguesCholez, founder ofLabviral

Eric Mourouvin, Mediaedge:cia Directeur-Général will preside over Arthur Schlovsky’s destiny, slated for development in the other principal European countries by 2010.

ArhturSchlovsky is located on the 1^st floor of the Mediadedge:cia, at 32 rue Guersant in Paris’ 17th arrondissement,  along with all of France’s WPP media agencies, under the aegis of GroupM.

comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released its final study of the online shopping activity of U.K., French and German consumers during the 2007 Christmas season. This study tracked the number of visits to online retail sites each week for the complete period between October 29 and December 23, using data from the comScore World Metrix audience measurement service.

Online Shopping Activity Peaks in First Two Weeks of December

In the U.K. and France, online shopping activity built steadily throughout the season, peaking during the first half of December. The sixth week of the season (Dec. 3 – Dec. 9) recorded the highest level of online shopping activity, up 38 percent versus the base period (Sep. 3 – Oct. 28) in the U.K., and up 45 percent in France. Week 7 (Dec. 10 – Dec. 16) was the second busiest period of online shopping activity, up 35 percent in the U.K. and 39 percent in France.

Germany’s online shopping season built more slowly, achieving peak traffic that was only12 percent higher in the seventh week (Dec 10 – Dec 16) than in the base period. The high point occurred a week later in Germany than in the U.K. and France. The slow season in Germany appears to be the result of low consumer confidence and the rail strikes that brought the country to a stand still early in season.

*Point index represents the percentage change in the number of visits to online retail sites compared to the pre-Christmas season base period average,  defined as the average weekly visits to online retail sites excluding auction sites for the period Sep 3 – Oct 28 

**Total U.K.., French & German Internet Audiences, Age 15+, Home & Work Locations. Excludes traffic from public computers such as Internet cafes or access from mobile phones or PDAs

***Defined as the average weekly visits to online retail sites excluding auction sites for the period Sep 3 – Oct 28 

“The online retail season seems to have built normally  in the U.K. and France, while Germany lagged behind this Christmas,” said Bob Ivins, EVP of European markets for comScore. “The typical pattern we note in all countries, including the U.S., is that online retail activity peaks in mid-December as consumers have to allow time for shipping and delivery of their purchases in most categories.”

U.K. Online Retail Traffic Leaders

Throughout the Christmas shopping season, visits in the U.K. to online retail sites were led by Amazon Sites, which attracted a 9-percent share of total online retail category visits for the period. Apple Inc., which also has high-street stores in the U.K., had a 6-percent share, while the Home Retail Group, owner of multi-channel retailers Argos and Homebase, had a 5-percent share. Supermarket chain Tesco and online pure-play retail property Play.com Sites rounded out the top five with 4 percent and 3 percent shares, respectively.

*Average share of total visits to online retail sites (excluding auction sites)  by U.K. visitors for the period Oct 29 – Dec 23

** Excludes traffic from public computers such as Internet cafes or access from mobile phones or PDAs

French Online Retail Traffic Leaders

The leading retail site in France during the Christmas shopping season was Groupe PPR. The French multi-channel retailer, which owns brands such as LaRedoute.fr and Fnac.com, earned an 11-percent share of total visits to the online retail sector, more than twice the share of its closest competitor, Apple Inc. Amazon Sites, Otto Gruppe and CDiscount.com each followed with 4 percent of retail site visits.

*Average share of total visits to online retail sites by French visitors for the period Oct 29 – Dec 23, excluding auction sites

** Excludes traffic from public computers such as Internet cafes or access from mobile phones or PDAs

German Online Retail Traffic Leaders

Throughout the Christmas shopping season, visits to online retail sites in Germany were led by multi-channel catalogue specialist, Otto Gruppe, with a 13-percent share of the online retail visits for the period. Amazon Sites – also a popular choice in the U.K. and France – ranked second with a 9-percent share. Arcandor AG, owner of multi-channel catalogue specialist Karstadt.de, had a 5-percent share, followed by Apple, Inc with 4 percent, and 02online.de with 3 percent.

*Average share of total visits to online retail sites by German visitors for the period Oct 29 – Dec 23, excluding auction sites

** Excludes traffic from public computers such as Internet cafes or access from mobile phones or PDAs

About comScore

comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a global leader in measuring the digital world. This capability is based on a massive, global cross-section of more than 2 million consumers who have given comScore permission to confidentially capture their browsing and transaction behavior, including online and offline purchasing. comScore panelists also participate in survey research that captures and integrates their attitudes and intentions. Through its proprietary technology, comScore measures what matters across a broad spectrum of behavior and attitudes.  comScore analysts apply this deep knowledge of customers and competitors to help clients design powerful marketing strategies and tactics that deliver superior ROI.  comScore services are used by more than 800 clients, including global leaders such as AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo!, BBC, Carat, Cyworld, Deutsche Bank, France Telecom, Best Buy, The Newspaper Association of America, Financial Times, ESPN, Fox Sports, Nestlé, Starcom, Universal McCann, the United States Postal Service, Verizon, ViaMichelin, Merck and Expedia. 

Havas, one of the world’s leading advertising groups, today announced a further expansion of its UK operations with the acquisition of BLM, the market’s number one independent media agency.

The transaction forms part of Havas’ strategy to consolidate growth in core mature markets and build on the success of its UK brands, which have seen a turnaround
over the past three years.

The global arm of Havas, will benefit from both BLM’s management team and its attractive UK client base, where BLM has long term relationships with companies such as Dolland & Aitchison, Domino’s Pizza, Setanta Sports, Paul Smith, Young Seafoods and Suzuki. Havas also sees strong potential in BLM Quantum, the awardwinning integrated digital agency.

Under the terms of the transaction, BLM will be combined with Arena Media Communications. The combined business, to be renamed Arena BLM, will almost double Havas’ media presence in the UK. The enlarged operation, together with Media Contacts, gives a collective digital capacity that makes it the country’s second largest digital media group.

Arena BLM will be managed by Steve Booth, current BLM Chief Executive. Booth will report into Arena Global CEO, Joaquín Bohorquez. Joaquín Bohorquez, Global CEO of Arena said: “We are delighted with this significant acquisition. The BLM group has the style of operation that fits with the culture and ambition of Arena. The launch demonstrates our commitment to the UK as it strengthens the Group’s media offer in this key market for the benefit of its local and international clients.”

Steve Booth CEO of Arena BLM added: “We are very excited about our future with Arena and the wider Havas Group. We have been considering our growth options for some time and wanted to work with a company that shared our philosophy and ambitions. It is great news for our clients and employees as this deal will give us more resource and also enable us to keep the BLM management team together.”

The Arena BLM brand is operational as from today.

About Arena BLM
Arena BLM is the new brand launched in 2008 following an investment from Arena Media Communications, part of Havas Media. Founded in 1990 BLM is the only media agency to have won five IPA Advertising Effectiveness Awards. In 2007 BLM Group had 115 employees, managing billings of £123 million. Arena BLM has two offices, one in London and regional specialist, Arena BLMC, based in Bristol. In 1998, it launched digital agency, BLM Quantum growing to be the UK’s second biggest independent digital agency. In 2007 BLM Quantum was voted Digital Agency of the Year. BLM also comprises of BLM Azure, a specialist in the toy and kids sector that was launched in 2002. In 2006 the company acquired Red Media, a media specialist focusing on the premium and luxury sector, to create BLM Red. Arena BLM’s clients include: Bulgari, Character Options, The COI, Dolland &
Aitchison, Domino’s Pizza, Setanta Sports Network, MBNA, Pathe Films, Paul Smith, Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Suzuki, T-Mobile, TK Maxx and Young’s Seafoods.

Arena is Havas Media’s fastest growing tailor-made communications network and now operates in 8 markets: UK, Spain, Portugal, France, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Colombia. In most markets established prior to 2008, Arena is ranked within the top five agencies.

Arena’s global client list include brands such as Santander, Movistar (Telefonica), Wal Mart, Bwin, Damm Group, Aero Mexico, Bebidas, Fox Channel, Paris, Bayer, Parmalat, Quala, Pritty Cola, Comunidad de Madrid (feria de artesania &Plan Fico, and Cetelem) and Mitsubishi.

About Havas Media

Havas Media is the global media network of Havas. Havas Media represents one of the world’s fastest growing media networks, its agencies have grown from 10 Markets in 1999 to 102 markets in 2007.

Havas Media services its clients through a portfolio of specialist global networks and agencies. This group is organised to maximise local market dynamics whilst leveraging the extensive global insight and strategic support within Havas Media. The range of companies within Havas Media include: MPG (Havas Media’s global media network), Arena (Havas Media’s network for tailor-made communication services), Media Contacts (Havas Media’s global interactive network), Havas Sports (Havas Media’s global sports communication network) and B6 Integrated Entertainment (Havas Media’s branded entertainment network).

Recent new business wins from across the Havas Media teams include: Sears (USA), BBC (UK), Danone (Canada, US, Colombia), Credit Suisse (Global), ING (Italy), Coca-Cola (Latam), Christian Dior (Portugal), Reckitt Benckiser (Belgium, Thailand, Switzerland), Turespaña (Spain), Olympic Art Festival (China), DCNS (France), French Hiking Federation (France), Nature Valley (UK), Tourism Malaysia (UK), F&C Investments (UK), Bwin (Argentina), Fox Channel (Argentina), Audi (Mexico), Grupo Damm (Spain), Goodyear (Spain), Emirates Airlines (India), Nokia (Chile), Schering Plough (Mexico), Lacoste (UK), Honda, BP Gas and Geox (Portugal).

Time Warner’s UK businesses - AOL UK; IPC Media; TIME and Fortune magazines; Turner Broadcasting; and Warner Bros. - announce today, October 9, a one-stop-shop for advertisers with the formation of the Time Warner UK Advertising Council.

The Council is designed to provide a single, easy access point to the combined strength of Time Warner’s assets on all platforms – online, TV, print, movies, video, mobile and music – mirroring a model that has been operating successfully in the US for three years, with clients such as Unilever and Mercedes.

UK-based clients will be able to extend their own reach through the combined reach of Time Warner’s peerless portfolio of brands. They will also gain access to unique consumer insight and research, as well as a wealth of content.

Members of the Time Warner UK Advertising Council are Michael Steckler, managing director, AOL UK; Caroline McDevitt, managing director, IPC Advertising; and Simon Cox, vice president, Turner Media Innovations.

Caroline McDevitt said, “This level of collaborative working with Time Warner means that clients will be able to make their brands famous for harnessing the success of a big idea that works across all platforms.”

The Council will meet bi-monthly to consider prospects and negotiations will be idea rather than inventory-led.

Simon Cox said, “The idea is paramount, so having the client at the table for the creative process is a pre-requisite. Our US colleagues have found that to be pivotal to success.”

Michael Steckler added, “The Council is a complementary resource to enhance clients’ experience of and impact from working with Time Warner but of course does not change the unfiltered, day-to-day dialogue that those clients will have with individual businesses on vertical projects.”

Council members will be supported by an executive of senior colleagues including: Andrew Moore, group head - Agency Sales, AOL UK; Steve Campbell, Creative Solutions team leader, AOL UK; Peter Edwards, Head Of Business Development, Advertising, IPC Media; Ben Young, creative director, Advertising, IPC Media; Adam Eagle, director of Sponsorship & Promotions, Turner Broadcasting; and Richard Kinning, senior producer, Turner Media Innovations.

Latest figures published from Nielsen//NetRatings, a global leader in Internet media and market research, reveal the most popular, most engaging and fastest-growing social networks in the UK.

The UKs most popular Social Networks

- Facebook received 6.5 million Unique Visitors in August 2007 compared to 6.4 million for MySpace – both are now visited by one in every five Britons online
- Since December 2006, Facebook‟s audience has grown by 541% compared to 20% for MySpace
- Almost half (48%) of Britons online (15.3 million people) visited at least one of the ten most popular social networks in August 2007

E.g. In August 07, 6.5 million Britons (20% of all active Britons online) visited Facebook; 541% more than did so in Dec 06

Alex Burmaster, European Internet Analyst, Nielsen//NetRatings says, “Three months ago I predicted Facebook would catch MySpace in September this year but it‟s continued phenomenal growth meant it only took until August to achieve this feat. This is particularly extraordinary considering that at the end of 2006 Facebook was one fifth the size of MySpace. However, even in the fickle sphere of social networking, MySpace has managed to maintain more than six million visitors in each of the last six months – it will be interesting to see if Facebook can achieve this level of audience retention.”

The UKs fastest growing Social Networks across 2007

- Perfspot.com had no recorded figures until April 2007; since then it has grown by 756% in just four months - making it the fastest growing social network in 2007 ahead of Facebook, which has grown by 541% across the eight months from December 2006 – August 2007
- Three of the ten fastest growing social network brands are formed around specific interest groups – business, travel and music

Facebook’s audience grew 541% from 1 million in Dec 2006 to 6.5 million in Aug 2007 “The suspicion that the next big thing in social networking could always be just round the corner is illustrated by PerfSpot. It wasn‟t even on the social network radar until April of this year but in the last four months its visitor numbers have grown at a greater rate than Facebook has across the last eight months. Some, however, have theorised the future of social networking will revolve around specific interest-groups as opposed to the general behemoths that dominate today. The fact that a number of the fastest-growing networks concern specific interest areas, such as business (LinkedIn), travel (WAYN) or music (Imeem), seems to add credibility to this theory.”

The most engaging social networks amongst UK audiences
- Amongst social networks, Facebook accrued the most total time spent by Britons (991 million minutes) followed by Bebo (600 million minutes) and MySpace (540 million minutes)
- Virtual world Second life is the leading social network in terms of monthly time per visitor (5 hours 29 minutes) followed by teen community Habbo (3 hrs 6 mins) and Tagged.com (2 hrs 40 mins)

“Not surprisingly, the most popular social networks tend to rack up the most total time amongst Britons online. Bebo, although less popular than MySpace, accrues more total minutes due to a much higher average time per visitor. However, one has to look away from the „Big 3‟ to find the most engaging social networks. The average Second Life visitor spends an astonishing five and a half hours there – over twice as long as the average visitor to Facebook and almost four times as long as the average visitor to MySpace.”