The US Senate has stepped up its efforts to scupper new media ownership laws by invoking a seldom used “congressional veto” that threatens to frustrate rule makers. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking to relax existing restrictions on ownership. Proposed moves include scrapping the ban on cross-ownership of newspapers and television and allowing broadcast… Continue reading US Congress Stands Up To FCC Over Media Ownership
ARCHIVE ▸ The Media Leader Staff
UK magazine publisher Highbury House Communications (HHC) today said that the costs of its acquisition and restructuring programme, together with continued weak business publishing markets, are likely to push down profits for the whole of 2003. Announcing first half financial results, the group said that the second half of the year should see a good… Continue reading Highbury House Profits Fall After Restructure Costs
Online spending in the UK has almost doubled in the past year as the internet population continues to grow and more consumers are attracted by the lower prices and sheer convenience of web shopping. Broadband is also having a significant effect on ecommerce activity. The Autumn 2003 Internet Report from Continental Research provides an update… Continue reading UK Becoming More Internet-Friendly
The cost of digital radio receivers looks set to drop dramatically with news that leading consumer technology manufacturer, Sony, is to enter the market. Sony’s digital radios are expected to launch early next year and will undercut the price of the cheapest digital receivers, which currently retail at £99. The news has been welcomed by… Continue reading Sony To Drive Growth In Digital Radio Market
The major broadcast and cable television networks in the US have been ‘quietly but steadily’ turning to enhanced, interactive TV programming in greater numbers and with higher frequency, according to a new report from BrightLine Partners. The study notes that many commentators had dismissed early predictions that interactive programming and advertising would revolutionise television, turning… Continue reading Interactive TV Shows Steady Growth, Says US Study
David Elstein’s potential bid for ITV has been boosted by reports he has received tentative backing from US entertainment giant Hallmark. According to reports, Elstein has set up camp in Hallmark’s London offices to thrash out an alternative management plan for ITV, as Carlton and Granada remain on the cusp of a merger decision from… Continue reading Elstein’s ITV Bid Boosted By Hallmark Link
Independent News & Media is investigating ways in which it can satisfy the competition authorities should the company be successful in acquiring the Irish titles of Trinity Mirror. According to The Guardian, executives at INM are talking to a number of leading business figures in Northern Ireland about making a joint bid for the newspapers,… Continue reading O’Reilly To Compromise In Bid For Trinity Titles
The emergence of the internet has had a profound effect on the consumption of other media over the last five years, with its powerful combination of speed, wealth of material and a facility for customisation, proving very attractive to users. Forrester Research has been tracking the effect of technology on consumers’ lives since 1998 and… Continue reading Internet Brings Huge Changes In Traditional Media Consumption
New research from Parks Associates suggests that the death of the compact disc may have been exaggerated as only a small proportion of digital music enthusiasts have MP3 players. A recent study from Forrester Research found that one in five Americans engage in music downloading and half of these admitted to buying fewer CDs (see… Continue reading Digital Music Revolution Yet To Take Hold, Says Report
Total US magazine advertising revenues rose by 8.9% year on year in August, closing at $1.2 billion, according to the latest figures from the Publishers Information Bureau (PIB). However, the number of advertising pages was down 2.9% at 14,295. In the year to date, advertising revenue closed at $10.9 billion, an increase of 9.6% while… Continue reading US Magazine Revenues Maintain Growth In August