Amazon has started touring London this week in a series of "chemistry meetings" as it seeks to appoint a creative agency for a Europe-wide, television-led campaign to improve its public image. The brand is still reeling from criticism about its tax arrangements and working conditions its warehouses. Traditionally, Amazon has used creative from the USA for work in the UK.

YouTube is widely reported to be on the verge of buying video game streaming company Twitch for $1bn. The company allows users to watch and upload game play videos through connected Xbox 360 and PlayStation 4 consoles. If it pans out, the deal will be the biggest in YouTube's history.

Heinz has awarded the majority of its global media planning and buying business to Omnicom. OMD is taking on the GBP16m UK account, taking over from long-time incumbent Vizeum. OMD and PHD will split the majority of the international media business. In the USA and Canada Interpublic's agency UM has taken over the brief.

Johnston Press Chief Executive Ashley Highfield has called on the BBC to boost local media by closing down its own 'under-performing local Web sites' and instead share content with the regional media. Highfield, who used to be technology director at the corporation, said the BBC could go from being funded by the licence fee payer to compete with local papers, to using the local press as 'a local media distribution partner.' He was speaking at the Newspaper Society's Annual General Meeting.

London black cab drivers are planning a mass protest next month against Uber -- the app that allows users to locate and book the taxi nearest to them and pay the fare via credit card with no cash, or a tip, changing hands. London's cabbies have "the knowledge" and are more heavily regulated than minicab drivers. They believe the system is allowing mini cab drivers, who are less tightly regulated, to charge for fares on a meter-style basis, even though they do not have a meter.

More than a third of online advertising in the UK is failing to reach its target audience, according to Nielsen. Its Online Campaign Ratings (OCR) measurement tool uses anonymous Facebook data to establish the age and gender of an Internet user. The findings from clients using the tool show that only 61% of impressions were served to the desired demographic. In France the figure is as low as 52%, and the average across Europe is just 59%.

The TV marketing body Thinkbox claims television advertising is more effective today than three years ago, despite increased competition from digital. Its study, carried out by Ebiquity, found that every pound spent on tv advertising has risen from GBP1.70 to GVP1.79 over the past three years. The rise in effectiveness has been attributed to second screeners who can act immediately to messages in television adverts. Thinkbox suggests brands should therefore put more money into tv campaigns.

Fitbug's Orb is coming to town and it has tasked Brave to build awareness of the fitness wearable in the UK. The agency is not only responsible for raising awareness in the UK but also driving sales with a campaign that is set to focus on advocacy, endorsement and events through digital, particularly, social channels. The launch of the Nike FuelBand rival wearable is scheduled for June.

Perhaps ironically, considering that Sir Martin Sorrell's pay has come under so much scrutiny again recently, WPP has led a shareholder revolt against Chime's remuneration policy for directors. Nearly a quarter of Chime's shareholders, led by WPP, abstained on the issue -- allowing the resolution to pass but with a stern warning that director pay is in their sights. Among many interests, Chime owns VCCP, Comparethemarket.com's advertising agency.

Tesco's Head of Open Innovation, Nick Lansley, reveals that the company is on a "multichannel mission" that will see it position itself as an experience-centric brand rather than a food retailer. Speaking at IAB Mobile Engage yesterday, Lansley said the supermarket has already made giant leaps in the strategy through buying the restaurant chain Giraffe last year, launching a clothing brand and investing in brand devices, including the Hudl, which has sold more than half a million units.