Media in brief 4

TVN Becomes Sole Owner of "n": Private broadcaster TVN has become the sole owner of digital television platform "n" after it took full control of the ITI Neovision company, which is the operator of "n." TVN bought a 49 percent stake in Neovision Holding, the corporation of which ITI Neovision is part, from ITI Media Group for 188 million euros. Radio 3 Audience Grows: The Polish public broadcaster's Radio 3 station increased its audience share to a record 7.34 percent between December last year and February this year, from 6.61 percent a year earlier, according to a RadioTrack survey. Private station RMF FM boasts the largest audience, at 26.85 percent. Fewer Media Mergers: The economic downturn has caused a decline in the number of mergers and acquisitions on the media market, according to a report by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. A total of 90 M&As were carried out in Europe last year, and they were worth 6.3 billion euros. In 2008, there were 135 M&As worth a combined 17.1 billion euros. A similar downward trend was reported in the United States, PwC said. Models in the Making: Public television channel TVP1 has premiered SuperModels!, a new talent show in which 20 girls compete to be named top fashion model. The participants, selected through auditions, get to take part in professional photo sessions and fashion shows. Guests include fashion experts from Poland and abroad. The panel of judges consists of choreographer Katarzyna Sokołowska; Maciej Lisowski, owner of the New Age Models agency; James Ransom, a professional fashion scout who works with international modeling agencies; and Dorota Wróblewska, the producer of the show. The finals of SuperModels! will be held during the largest outdoor fashion event in Poland, Warsaw Fashion Street 2010. The winner will land a $150,000 contract with the New Age Models agency and a modeling job in New York City. The show has an online edition on the Sophisti.tv website. SuperModels! is directed by Grzegorz Gościniak and the host of the show is model Agnieszka Maciąg. Windows 7 Selling Like Hot Cakes: The Windows 7 operating system has sold 90 million copies around the world since it hit the market at the end of October last year, the Microsoft company said. Windows operating systems are installed on around 90 percent of computers around the world. Digital Terrestrial TV Delayed: Digital terrestrial television will take longer than expected to launch in Poland after the Office of Electronic Communications decided to test the new system until the end of May. The TP Emitel company is handling the tests. Digital terrestrial television was originally scheduled to be launched in this country in September last year. Online Advertising on the Rise: Spending on online advertising in Poland rose to zl.300 million in the third quarter of last year, 15 percent up on the third quarter of 2008, according to Interaktywnie.com. Display advertisements generated 45 percent of the total revenue from internet advertising in Poland against 47 percent a year before. Advertising on search engine results pages accounted for 27 percent and announcements accounted for 17 percent of the total revenue. The automotive, telecom and financial sectors spend the most on online advertising in Poland. Depardieu Promotes BZ WBK Bank: French film star Gerard Depardieu has appeared in a series of TV commercials advertising BZ WBK bank. In the commercials, he plays the roles of a samurai, a Polish tough guy, comic book character Obelix and folk hero Janosik. The aim is to promote the bank's new Wydajesz i Zarabiasz (Spend and Earn) account. Account holders can withdraw cash from any ATM in Poland without paying a fee. The commercials, directed by Tomasz Konecki, were shot at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw. Apart from television, the bank is advertising its new account in the press, on the internet and on billboards. The advertising campaign will last until the end of April. Depardieu is the latest foreign actor to take part in an advertising campaign for BZ WBK. The bank hired British comedian John Cleese for a series of commercials in 2008 and American actor Danny DeVito in 2009. New Channels from SPI International: SPI International, an independent distributor of cinema films and TV programs, plans to launch three new specialty channels in Poland this year: ActionBox, FashionBox and FightBox. ActionBox will broadcast action movies and thrillers, FashionBox will focus on fashion and FightBox will feature combat sports. SPI International owns TV channels such as Filmbox, Filmbox Extra, Filmbox HD, Filmbox Family and Kino Polska. Source: The Warsaw Voice