Vivendi Universal has entered exclusive negotiations with General Electric aimed at merging its entertainment assets with those of US television network NBC. Any deal would result in the creation of NBC Universal, the world’s sixth-largest media group, valued at more than $40 billion. The company will encompass the national, local and cable stations of NBC… Continue reading Vivendi-NBC Merger In The Offing

BT and Yahoo! have formally launched their new high-speed internet service, BT Yahoo! Broadband. The co-branded offering, which became available yesterday, is designed to be the UK’s most advanced broadband internet product, combining high-quality access with a range of content and services for £29.99 per month. BT announced the joint venture with Yahoo! back in… Continue reading BT & Yahoo! Launch New Broadband Product

The recording industry is yet to accommodate the concept of paid-for downloading but this will change, thereby sounding the death knell for physical music media, says a new study from Forrester Research. It is claimed that 20% of Americans engage in track downloading and half of these admit to buying fewer CDs. As a result,… Continue reading Legal Downloading To Drive Out CDs And DVDs

Europe’s largest broadcaster has suggested that the worst of the advertising recession is over and there is cautious enthusiasm about prospects for growth. RTL Group, which owns 45 television and radio stations across the continent, issued first half results on Wednesday which showed significant gains in earnings (see Positive First Half For RTL And Five).… Continue reading RTL Sees Signs Of Improving Ad Economy

David Palmer, the former group chief executive of the Financial Times, has emerged as a bidder for the Irish newspapers owned by Trinity Mirror. According to The Times, Palmer has joined forces with the private equity firm HgCapital and held talks with Trinity and its adviser UBS as recently as last week. The Irish titles,… Continue reading Palmer Casts Eye Over Trinity’s Irish Titles

The Wireless Group has reported its first ever half year profit and management is confident that the company will go from strength to strength in the near future. The radio firm saw turnover rise by 3.8% to £14.8 million in the six months to the end of June with revenues from the thirteen local stations… Continue reading Wireless Group Hits Right Frequency In H1

In 2007, the majority of internet users in prominent western countries will be experienced surfers. Even now, the US can no longer claim be the most web savvy nation, according to a study by Jupiter Research. North America pioneered internet use but growth has slowed in recent years and CommerceNet estimates that by 2005, 68%… Continue reading Seasoned Net Users Will Hold Sway In 2007, Says Jupiter

Mobile operators and technology providers are yet to fully exploit the business market for mobile data services, according to a recent report by Analysys. The telecoms consultancy found that although businesses account for 15% of mobile operators’ customers and 40% of mobile voice revenue, they generate only 11% of mobile service revenue from non-voice services… Continue reading Email To Drive Mobile Data Revenues In Europe

The popularity of WAP-enabled mobile phones continued to surge in July, with the total number of page impressions viewed in the UK hitting 904 million, according to the latest research from the Mobile Data Association (MDA). The figures from GSM Network operators O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone represent a 15% increase on the previous month… Continue reading WAP Usage Hits New High In July

Lord Black, the chairman of Hollinger International, has signalled his intention to sell a minority stake in the company, but played down talk of financial crisis at the newspaper group. Last month, Hollinger, whose interests include the Telegraph Group, cut its full year income forecasts in the wake of disappointing second quarter results. The company… Continue reading Black Awaits New Investment At Hollinger