Powerful institutional investors at Carlton and Granada are calling for more radical cost cutting at the merged ITV plc, just days after forcing the resignation of Michael Green as chairman designate of the company (see Green Relinquishes Role As ITV Chairman Designate). It is understood that shareholders, led by Fidelity and Standard Life, believe that… Continue reading Investors Call For Radical Cost Cutting At Merged ITV

Scottish Radio Holdings has expanded its presence in Ireland by capturing the Dublin radio station FM104 for €26 million. The acquisition of Capital Radio Productions, which operates the station, will be partly funded through the issue of new shares with the balance of 55% paid in cash. SRH already owns one radio station, Today FM,… Continue reading SRH Swoops For Dublin Station

Entertainment giant Viacom saw profits grow by 9% in the third quarter on the back of an advertising upturn, notably at the group’s cable division. The US company, which owns the MTV, Nickleodeon and CBS Networks, yesterday reported net income of $700 million for the three months to September. This is up from $640 million… Continue reading Fruitful Third Quarter For Viacom Empire

Faith in the online medium as an advertising vehicle is at an all time high and a significant number of companies are prepared to increase their spending on interactive campaigns, according to a new study from MSN and the Interactive Advertising Bureau. The latest Online Pulse study, which is based on a survey of 500… Continue reading Advertisers Head Into Online Territory

The number of person to person text messages sent across the UK’s four GSM networks during September beat all previous records to reach 1.73 billion, according to the latest figures from the Mobile Data Association. The UK daily average for September stands at 58 million, which compares to 28 million in the same period the… Continue reading Text Messages Reach Record Levels In September

There is no prospect of a recovery in UK television advertising, at least in the short term, according to respected media consultant, John Billett. Speaking from the US where he is setting up an office to service “indigenous” clients, the chairman of media auditing firm Billetts said: “There isn’t going to be a renaissance in… Continue reading Billett Rules Out TV Ad Revival

Profits at media giant Time Warner climbed beyond $500 million in the third quarter of 2003 but the performance of the company’s online unit continues to be a cause for concern. The group said yesterday that revenues were up 4% to $10.3 million in the three months to September with the cable and networks divisions… Continue reading AOL Troubles Still Dog Time Warner

The total number of American internet users passed the 150 million mark for the first time ever in September, according to the latest figures from comScore Media Metrix. The online research group claims that the number of people online in the US increased by 0.8% last month while the resumption of university studies helped boost… Continue reading US Internet Users Top 150 Million, Says comScore

The US hi-tech business publishing sector saw advertising page volumes fall by 15.7% in September, according to the latest statistics from United Business Media (UBM). The group’s own CMP Media division recorded a 12.4% year on year decline. In the calendar year to September, the technology publishing market decreased by 15.5% compared to the same… Continue reading Technology Publishing Ad Volumes Down 16% Last Month

Ongoing weakness in the local advertising market and difficult year on year comparisons have persuaded Merrill Lynch to cut its Q4 US radio and TV station growth estimates. Earlier this month, the broker lowered its 2003 spot radio growth forecast from 2.8% to 2.5% on the basis of local advertising softness (see Top Broker Trims… Continue reading US Broadcast Advertising Remains Off The Pace