The future of radio as a medium is under threat unless it goes digital, according to the BBC’s director of radio and music, Jenny Abramsky. Speaking at a National Association of Broadcasters conference yesterday, Abramsky warned against the dangers of taking radio for granted in a future were the next generation of listeners face more… Continue reading Abramsky Claims Future Of Radio Is Under Threat

Carlton Communications has defied calls from a powerful group of institutional shareholders for Michael Green to be removed as chairman of the newly merged ITV by noon tomorrow. The broadcaster has confirmed that it has received requests from a coalition representing more than a third of the combined ITV’s shareholders for Green to immediately relinquish… Continue reading Carlton Defies Shareholders Over Calls To Oust Green

Conrad Black’s Hollinger Inc is close to securing a $15 million cash injection from private equity group Bain Capital, according to weekend reports. The Observer claims that the companies are in exclusive negotiations that should see Bain acquiring a holding in the next month. As yet, neither party has commented on the supposed deal but… Continue reading Hollinger To Get Help With Debt Relief

The Competition Commission has approved the purchase of thirteen Independent News & Media titles in the Greater London area by Newsquest but has blocked the transfer of eight others, the Department of Trade & Industry revealed today. Earlier this year, INM agreed to sell its entire portfolio of regional newspapers to US-owned Newsquest for £60… Continue reading Commission Agrees To Partial Sale Of INM Regionals

Europeans will use the internet to originate half a million mortgage loans in 2003, equivalent to five per cent of total new mortgages, according to a brief by Forrester Research. The number of gross new internet-originated mortgages is set to grow from 495,000 this year to 1.6 million in 2008, equivalent to $230 billion. Remortgagers,… Continue reading Europeans Turning To The Web For Mortgages

Film studios are inclined to regard the web with suspicion on the basis that illegal file sharing threatens to erode revenues across the industry. However, a new report from Informa Media Group claims that piracy will only have a limited impact on sales and Hollywood will ultimately gain from internet services. Unlicensed downloading is widely… Continue reading Web An Opportunity For Movie Business, Says Report

In mature European mobile markets, price is the main reason for switching providers and operators need to refine their marketing plans to reflect the changing wireless environment. A new Yankee Group report has found that 85% of European mobile users consider cheaper pricing to be the main lure when changing to a new provider. The… Continue reading Price Is The Priority For Mobile Consumers

The merged ITV is to retain control of the two film businesses owned by Carlton Communications, according to press reports today. The Financial Times claims that Granada and Carlton have agreed to keep the latter’s cinema advertising business and its interests in Thomson Multimedia when their £4.2 billion merger is complete. Carlton Screen Advertising sells… Continue reading ITV To Keep Carlton Film Assets Following Merger

The decision by the owners of The Independent to introduce a tabloid version of the newspaper seems to have paid off with reports suggesting that total circulation has increased by as much as 30,000 per day. Ivan Fallon, the CEO of Independent News & Media will give the lowdown on the new format at the… Continue reading Publishers To Assess Changing Shape Of Newspapers

Radio advertising revenues were flat in the US during August with 5% growth in national sales offset by a 2% decline in local revenues, according to new figures from the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB). After two months of steady growth (see US Radio Advertising Rises 3% In July), during which national revenues increased by double-digit… Continue reading US Radio Advertising Update And Forecast