AMV BBDO has consolidated its position as the UK’s largest advertising agency with billings of £345 million in the twelve months to the end of June, according to figures from Nielsen Media Research published by Campaign. The creative shop, which is part of the Omnicom group, saw revenues fall by 8% overall but this represents… Continue reading Mixed Fortunes For Leading Agencies In 2002/3

The number of British companies with broadband internet access has more than doubled over the last year to 39%, according to new research from the British Chambers of Commerce. The survey shows that more than half of all companies believe that broadband is critical for success of their business, with one in six firms planning… Continue reading British Businesess See Broadband Uptake Double

The third generation phone operator 3 is to launch a new handset to boost uptake of its services in the UK. The Motorola A920 comes on the market this week and is exclusively available to 3G subscribers. The distinctive looking phone has a full-colour widescreen display to highlight 3’s person-to-person video calling capabilities. The handset… Continue reading Advanced Handset Invigorates 3G Market

Edgar Bronfman Jnr, vice-chairman at Vivendi Universal, has called on directors to accept his bid for the group’s US entertainment assets rather than merge with TV network NBC. The media giant aims to raise $14 billion from the sale of the film studios, cable channels and theme parks that make up Vivendi Universal Entertainment (VUE).… Continue reading Bronfman Dismisses Rival’s Bid For VUE

News Corporation has announced that it has sold its shareholding in Japanese satellite broadcaster Sky Perfect Communications in a deal worth $227 million. The media giant said that its 8.1% stake in Sky Perfect had been sold to the company’s exisiting shareholders, namely Sony, Fuji Television and trading house Itochu. The divestment follows the disposal… Continue reading Murdoch Walks Away From Japanese TV Scene

The US advertising market grew by almost 7% in the first half of 2003, confirming industry views that a recovery is in the offing. Fifteen of the sixteen media categories examined by TNS Media Intelligence/CMR experienced gains with cable television recording the largest percentage increase. The latest results show that advertising expenditure in the six… Continue reading US Advertising Spend Rises 6.8% In First Half

Commercial radio saw adspend increase by 3.3% year on year to £144 million during the second quarter of 2003, as advertisers continued to flock to more cost-effective forms of marketing, according to the latest figures from the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB). This sixth consecutive quarter of growth has been driven by FMCG brands, which have… Continue reading FMCG Brands Drive Growth In Commercial Radio Revenue

Personal video recorders are having far less impact on viewing habits than was once predicted and currently pose no significant threat to television advertising, according to executives at this year’s Media Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival. ITV’s marketing and commercial director, Jim Hytner, was just one of a number of senior industry figures to dismiss… Continue reading PVRs Fail To Revolutionise TV Viewing

The long awaited merger of ITV giants Carlton and Granada will have little impact if the two companies are forced to divest their sales houses, according to analysts at Lehman Brothers. Advertisers and rival broadcasters claim that the merger, in its proposed form, is unacceptable because it will result in the creation of a single… Continue reading ITV Merger Likely To Be Watered Down, Says Lehman Brothers

Only around 13% of European mobile users are interested in using their phones to make payments for services, according to a report by Forrester Research. A survey of mobile users across twenty European countries found that only 13% of users claim to be likely or very like to use mobile payment services if they were… Continue reading Few Mobile Users Interested In Mobile Payments