US radio revenue growth slumped in November as the economy stalled ahead of the Christmas shopping boom. Local revenues were down by 4% and national spend was down by 6%, giving a total decline of 4% for the month. The calendar year-to-date growth was a little stronger, with national spend up by 6%, whilst local… Continue reading US Radio Revenues Slump In November

Digital television is beginning to make headway in the Asia Pacific region with more than 10 million subscribers signed up by the end of 2003, according to a new report from Informa Media Group. The Far East has, until now, been slow to join the digital crusade but a large TV viewing population and the… Continue reading Asia-Pacific Primed For Digital Take-Off

Speculation is mounting that press tycoon Conrad Black could be forced out as chairman of Hollinger International as controversy over unauthorised executive payments lingers on. Black stepped down as chief executive of the newspaper group in November after it was revealed that he and other executives had received unapproved payments totalling $32.2 million (see Black… Continue reading Hollinger Chairman Could Be Ousted

The European Commission today approved the takeover of Vivendi Universal’s publishing division by the French group Lagardere. Competition concerns mean that Lagardere will only retain a 40% stake in Editis (formerly VUP) with the remainder of the business going up for sale again. Lagardere is the world’s largest magazine publisher but has been keen to… Continue reading Lagardere Cleared To Acquire Editis

Analysts are quietly confident that 2004 will bring about an upturn in the US advertising market with demand being driven by economic confidence. In a New Year update, Merrill Lynch states that there are grounds for “muted optimism” regarding ad-supported media and restates its 5.8% ad growth forecast (see Ad Growth To Accelerate In 2004,… Continue reading Air Of “Muted Confidence” As US Ad Demand Grows

BT has secured a landmark deal with McDonald’s that will see wireless broadband access offered to customers in hundreds of the fast food chain’s restaurants across the UK. Under the agreement, BT Openzone access points will be installed in around 500 McDonald’s flagship and drive-thru restaurants by the end of March, in a move that… Continue reading BT Extends Wireless Network With Restaurant Deal

The number of people accessing the internet via their mobile phones continued to increase during November with the total number of WAP page impressions increasing to a record 947 million. According to the latest research from the Mobile Data Association, November’s figure represents an increase of 50 million page impressions on October’s total and provides… Continue reading Mobile Phone Users View Record Number Of WAP Pages

The troubled Interpublic Group has taken steps to ease its financial situation by selling four of its five UK motor racing circuits. The famous Brands Hatch complex has been sold, together with Oulton Park, Cadwell Park and Snetterton to a new company called MotorsportVision for an undisclosed sum. The business is fronted by former racing… Continue reading Chequered Flag Comes Down On IPG Motorsports Empire

Communications regulator Ofcom has set out proposals for new guidelines that could hamper Government plans to make media mergers easier in the newly deregulated marketplace. The cross-media watchdog, which assumed its full responsibilities last week, plans to investigate companies hoping to complete deals that could fall foul of the plurality test amendment to the Communications… Continue reading New Ofcom Guidelines Could Tie-Up Major Media Mergers

The record industry appears to be having some success in its efforts to deter internet users from downloading music files from unlicensed websites. The results of a survey carried out by comScore Media Metrix and issued this week by the Pew Internet and American Life Project indicate that 18 million people, equivalent to just 14%… Continue reading Legal Crackdown Scares Off Music Downloaders