Advertising spend across Europe’s six major markets will be virtually flat this year but the improving economic situation should ensure stronger increases from 2004. The PricewaterhouseCoopers report, Entertainment And Media Outlook: 2003-2007 Europe analysed advertising conditions in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK and noted broadly similar trends. Traditionally, advertising has outstripped… Continue reading European Adspend Trails GDP Growth, Says PwC

French media and telecoms firm Vivendi Universal has announced a 59% drop in third quarter sales following structural changes at the group. Vivendi reported sales of €5.90, down from €14.55 in the same period last year. The 2002 figure included revenues from units such as Veolia Entertainment and Vivendi Universal Publishing which have since been… Continue reading Sales Slide As Vivendi Sheds Assets

Earnings at Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation more than doubled in its first quarter with the media conglomerate’s movie unit reporting the largest growth. The company posted a net profit of $422 million in the three months to the end of September, up from $162 million in the same period last year (see Price War Drives… Continue reading Film Sales Lift News Corp Profits

Losses at Telewest fell by 25% in the third quarter of 2003 as the cable firm sought to build on its customer base and free itself from crippling debts. Telewest said today that turnover was up 1% to £339 million in the three months to September while operating losses were slashed by 73% to £17… Continue reading Telewest Losses Narrow In Third Quarter

Spending on entertainment and media in Europe’s largest economies will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4% between now and 2007, according to a report published by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The global professional services firm calculates that total media and entertainment spending in six key countries (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the… Continue reading European E&M Industry To Remain Buoyant, Says Report

Men in the 18-34 age group view more web pages and spend more time online than the average internet user, according to a study by comScore Media Metrix. US media and advertising companies have begun to express concern at the apparent decline in television viewing among young males. One theory is that this key demographic… Continue reading Young Males Flocking To The Internet, Says Report

Gaming currently accounts for only a small proportion of European mobile entertainment revenues but it is a growing sector that will be worth â‚Ź3 billion by 2008, according to a report by Analysys. The emergence of Java handsets prompted the development of colour arcade games which have attracted considerable interest from consumers. The mobile industry… Continue reading Mobile Games Set For Big Future, Says Analysys

Almost two-thirds of American internet users plan to research or purchase gifts online during the 2003 holiday season with those in high income households most likely to turn to the web for Christmas presents and ideas. The fourth quarter accounts for over half of full-year sales for some retailers and online traders will be encouraged… Continue reading Consumers Prepare For An Online Christmas

High-speed data penetration will reach 30% in the US by the end of 2005, according to growth forecasts from Merrill Lynch. In a synopsis of the North American broadband landscape, the broker claims that high-speed data services were in 19.3% of US homes at the the end of the third quarter. It is thought that… Continue reading North American Broadband Forecasts From Merrill Lynch

Despite competition from other media, US newspaper sales are holding up well and more than half of the adult population still reads a daily paper, according to the Newspaper Association of America (NAA). The latest Competitive Media Index (CMI) shows that the average daily circulation for newspapers tracked in the Audit Bureau of Circulations’ Fas-Fax… Continue reading US Newspaper Circulation Remains Stable