The radio industry is calling on the Government to announce a definitive switch-off date for the analogue signal as part of a wider initiative to boost the uptake of digital radio in the UK. Speaking at an industry seminar yesterday, GWR chairman Ralph Bernard said he had written to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and Ofcom… Continue reading Radio Industry Calls For Analogue Switch-Off Date

The number of worldwide cable TV subscribers increased last year but the rate of growth was the slowest in over a decade. Operators are banking on new services to encourage greater uptake in 2004. In-Stat/MDR claims that annual cable TV subscriber growth was tracking around 3% in 2003, despite a 22% increase in digital subscriptions.… Continue reading Cable TV Looks To Capitalise On New Opportunities

The US Securities and Exchange Commission is unlikely to take steps to block the proposed acquisition of Hollinger Inc by the Barclay brothers (see Barclay Brothers Agree Telegraph Takeover Deal), according to reports today. Hollinger is currently under investigation for unauthorised payments made to senior executives, including erstwhile chief executive and non-executive chairman, Conrad Black… Continue reading SEC Has Few Qualms About Hollinger Takeover

The IPA‘s latest Bellwether report has added weight to the belief that advertising and marketing conditions are picking up. The outlook for expenditure growth is at its most optimistic since 2000. The Q4 survey shows the majority of existing budgets to have remained relatively unchanged in the past three months. However, the proportion of marketers… Continue reading INSIGHTanalysis: UK Marketing Spend On The Rise

The Government is planning to set wide-ranging new targets for the take-up of high-speed internet services following warnings that it cannot afford to be complacent in its drive towards enabling a broadband Britain. The Broadband Stakeholder Group has today published a report urging the Government not to relax its push to get consumers online, when… Continue reading Government To Set New Targets For Broadband Britain

Online retail sales in the US increased by 30% in the fourth quarter of 2003, according to new figures from comScore Media Metrix. The information firm estimates that $17.21 billion was spent on US shopping sites in the three months to the end of December. This figure includes event tickets but excludes auctions, car sales… Continue reading Internet Retail Boom Persists In Q4

Hollinger International has called an emergency board meeting to discuss whether to block a £260 million bid by the reclusive Barclay brothers to acquire The Daily and Sunday Telegraph. It is understood that the board could meet as early as today to discuss the impact of the deal after shareholders to express their outrage at… Continue reading Dispute Grows As Barclay Brothers Move On Telegraph Titles

The Wireless Group (TWG) has increased its interest in DRG, owner of the London III digital multiplex licence, it was announced today. The radio company has concluded an agreement with the administrators of Clubmend Ltd to acquire its 6% stake in DRG. The acquisition is subject to the exercise of pre-emption rights by the shareholders… Continue reading Wireless Group Invests Further In Digital Radio Market

The outlook finally appears to be improving for UK advertisers and new research reveals a rising tide of corporate optimism that could see adspend climb to levels not seen since the dotcom boom. The IPA’s latest quarterly Bellwether report shows that the improving economic conditions have prompted more than half of all companies to increase… Continue reading Bellwether Reveals Increasing Optimism For Advertisers

US adspend rose by more than 5% during 2003, according to the latest data from Nielsen Media Research, with local media showing the strongest growth throughout the year. Nielsen Monitor-Plus, the advertising information arm of the research company, has reported that all major media categories showed a growth in adspend during the year, and each… Continue reading US Adspends Tops 5% During 2003, Says Nielsen