Ofcom, the new super-regulator that assumes its full powers later this month, has announced the launch of the first comprehensive review of the UK telecommunications sector for well over a decade. The strategic review, which begins next year, will examine the extent to which the sector benefits from competition in the rapidly expanding fixed and… Continue reading Telecoms Industry Set For Review

Editor of the Daily Express, Chris Williams, has been poached by rival Associated Newspapers to take up a senior post at the Daily Mail. Williams, who has been in charge of the newspaper for the past three years, will edit the Scottish edition of the Daily Mail, in a move that looks likely to anger… Continue reading Williams Quits Express To Join Rival Associated

The Radio Authority has blocked a local newspaper group from taking over a regional radio station in Telford, in a move that could that could deter major publishers from expanding into the sector. The watchdog ruled that the Midland News Association, which owns several local newspapers in the area, should not be allowed to buy… Continue reading Radio Authority Blocks Cross-Media Acquisition

Spending on marketing and communications in the world’s major markets is set to rise by 4.4% next year, according to a study carried out by the French advertising group Havas. The report, published in conjunction with the London Business School, claims that expenditure on traditional advertising will grow 4.2% in 2004 with spend on market… Continue reading Havas Foretells Growth In Marketing Spend

As the retail season got underway, a significant number of Americans eschewed shopping malls in favour of internet stores spending a total of $8.5 billion online last month, according to a new study. The latest eSpending Report from Goldman Sachs, Harris Interactive and Nielsen//NetRatings shows that online expenditure was 55% higher in November 2003 than… Continue reading US Consumers Splash Out Online

Regional newspaper advertising revenues are showing signs of stabilisation, whilst national revenues remain difficult and volatile, according to the UK’s largest newspaper group Trinity Mirror. The company says that total advertising revenues were up by 1.0% in the five months to November 2003. Within this, regionals grew by 3.9%, although London and the south-east saw… Continue reading Trinity Mirror Sees Weak National Revenue, Better Regional

Independent News & Media (INM), publisher of the Independent, is to sell its London regional newspaper businesses to Archant Regional for £62.0 million, it announced this morning. Archant today paid £52.0 million for three of the five newspaper divisions – ‘Post’, ‘East London’ and ‘North London’. The two remaining divisions – ‘Kent’ and ‘North West’… Continue reading INM’s London Titles Go To Archant For £62m

The newly updated advertising spend, growth and share forecasts from Jack Myers Report are shown below. For a comparison of all the latest advertising forecasts click here. US Advertising Growth, Spend & Share Forecasts By Medium 2002-04  Medium  2002  2003  2004    % Growth  Spend ($m)  % Share  % Growth  Spend ($m)  % Share  %… Continue reading Revised US Advertising Forecasts From Jack Myers

Internet advertising revenues in the US grew by 20% in the third quarter of the year to reach $1.7 billion, according to the latest figures from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). “We believe the fundamentals of interactive advertising will further drive industry revenues. The 5% quarter over quarter growth further demonstrates that… Continue reading US Internet Advertising Revenue Rises 20% In Q3

High-definition television (HDTV) is beginning to cast off its reputation as a niche technology and almost one-in-six US adults say that they plan to get a compliant set. According to Ipsos Reid, the proportion of Americans who are somewhat or very likely to get HDTV has increased from 10% to 15% in the past year.… Continue reading TV Viewers Enter High Definition Era