AOL set for UK campaign

NEWS America Online (AOL) is to launch a high profile media campaign in the UK next week, with a 12-week series of television adverts. The online giant - which posted a first quarter profit of $68m this week - has made two 40 second ads, which use a 'friendly genie' character called Connie to target families. The first ad in the £6m campaign will appear next Monday in the commercial break during the News at Ten. An AOL spokeswoman said the ads, and shorter reminder spots in subsequent weeks, will finish with a freephone number, but no URL. "It's fair to say we're going after new users more than other Internet service providers' customers," she said.