The mobile operator 3 has this week launched the UK’s first international video calling service, allowing users to make video calls to countries in which the feature is available. Customers can already make video calls within the UK but the service has now been extended to cover Italy, Sweden, Austria, Australia and Japan. Video callers… Continue reading 3 Introduces Video Call Service
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On-demand television services may be the saviour of cash-strapped cable operators which have sunk huge investments into developing their digital TV platforms only to receive little ROI from consumers, according to analysts at the McKinsey Quarterly. In the US, the major cable companies have ploughed more than $70 billion into digital upgrades, but few consumers… Continue reading INSIGHTanalysis: Will On-Demand Save Cable?
The Senate has dealt a blow to the Federal Communications Commission and the Bush administration by voting against new ownership rules that would have given large media companies more influence in the US market. On Tuesday, senators approved a resolution to overturn the regulations by 55 votes to 40. This follows the intervention of a… Continue reading FCC Rule Changes Shot Down By Senate
Broadband Britain came a step closer yesterday with news that BT is converting almost 100 of its phone boxes into special Wi-Fi hotspots. The telecoms operator plans to have installed BT Openzone access points in 91 broadband enabled pay phones by the end of this week and more than 200 kiosks will have the service… Continue reading Broadband Britain Boosted By New Wi-Fi Hotspots
The next generation of mobile phones, dubbed ‘smartphones’, are set to be commonplace by 2007 and by 2008, most will have built-in digital cameras as the two handset technologies become merged into one. However, according to a new report from InStat/MDR, whilst these two mobile categories should have a bright future, there are still a… Continue reading Smartphones Struggle For User Acceptance, Says InStat
Figures for July show that broadcast advertising is picking up in the US and prospects for 2004 are even brighter with political and sporting events likely to act as a springboard. At its recent annual forecasting conference, the Television Bureau of Advertising re-iterated that spot TV advertising would increase by 1-3% this year with growth… Continue reading Nielsen Confirms Upturn In TV Adspend
BSkyB chief executive, Tony Ball, could leave the satellite broadcaster as part of a wider management shake-up implemented by Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch, whose News Corporation controls over 35% of BSykB, is reported to be in talks with Ball about his future at the television company following the expiry of his contract in June next year.… Continue reading Ball Could Depart BSkyB After Management Restructure
A strong performance in the US has helped international magazine publisher Future Network to achieve a rise in first half pre-tax profits of 22% to £1.1 million, on a rise in turnover of 9% to £80.6 million. The company said that UK profits, down by 0.1% to £6.0 million, were held back by increased launch… Continue reading Future Network Profits Up 22%, Buoyed By Strong US
Advertising groups WPP and Publicis have been linked with sports rights agency Sportfive, which is reported to have been put up for sale by its current owners. According to Reuters, potential bidders have been sent a prospectus on the business which matches up corporate sponsors with sports teams and individual players. It also sells the… Continue reading Advertising Giants Pursue Sportfive
Advertising expenditure in the UK increased by a nominal 1.2% year on year to almost £3.5 billion during the three months to June, as weaker than expected business conditions and the war in Iraq continued to weigh heavily on the market. The latest figures from the Advertising Association and World Advertising Research Centre (WARC) show… Continue reading Growth In UK Adspend Slows During Second Quarter