The personal video recorder (PVR) may be the next killer application for BSkyB’s digital satellite service, with the current free trials to be followed by a marketing push towards Christmas. Speaking at a Merrill Lynch-hosted TMT conference this week, Sky’s chief executive, Tony Ball, outlined some of the company’s forthcoming plans. PVRs look set to… Continue reading PVRs Could Be The Next Killer App For BSkyB
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US media ownership restrictions were yesterday relaxed by the country’s Republican-led Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In a 3-2 vote over the body’s Democrat contingent, rules governing cross media ownership and audience share limits were eased in a move that is similar to proposals in the UK’s pending Communications Bill (see Puttnam Threatens To Quash Communications… Continue reading FCC Relaxes US Media Ownership Rules As Expected
Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, has issued a stern defence of the Communications Bill, warning that if Rupert Murdoch takes control of Five, new rules will be introduced to prevent him from using the channel to cross promote his other media interests. Peers are due to gather in the House of Lords today to discuss the… Continue reading Jowell Hints At New Laws If Murdoch Moves On Five
The full scale roll-out of digital cinema installations could begin as early as next year, according to new analysis from Screen Digest. At present, only 160 screens worldwide have high-end digital cinema presentation capability, equivalent to just one-eighth of one per cent of total first-run cinemas. However, initial screenings have proved popular, with a recent… Continue reading Digital Advertising Kickstarts Cinematic Revolution
Online banking is expected to maintain its upward momentum in Western Europe with the number of accounts set to increase by over 50 million in the next five years, according to a new study from IDC. It is estimated that there were around 50 million European surfers accessing internet banking services by the end of… Continue reading Europeans Switch To Internet Banking
The mobile phone industry experienced a stronger-than-anticipated first quarter with handset sales up by 18% from last year, according to new figures from Gartner Dataquest. The US-based research firm calculates that sales totalled 112.7 million units, up from 93.8 million units in Q1 2002 (see Worldwide Mobile Phone Sales Dipped in Q1). This reflected high… Continue reading Record First Quarter For Mobile Providers
WPP, the advertising group headed by Sir Martin Sorrell, is set to launch a bid for ailing rival Cordiant Communications, according to Sunday press reports. Cordiant has been the subject of takeover talk for most of this year, having borne the brunt of the advertising downturn (see Market Downturn Takes Toll On Cordiant). The company… Continue reading Sorrell Indicates Interest In Cordiant
Things are certainly starting to firm up in the US, particular after the whopping upfront season, which has just closed around 15% higher than last year’s commitments. The upfront spend has exceeded pretty much everyone’s expectations and this will have a positive effect on the confidence of the industry. Aegis Group says that the advertising… Continue reading INSIGHTanalysis: Media Healthcheck – May 2003
Until now, mobile messaging has not had the impact in the Western Hemisphere that it has in other markets but texting is becoming increasingly popular and by 2007, IDC estimates that US subscriber revenues from SMS and IM will grow to around $1.9 billion for each service. Asia and Europe continue to lead the way… Continue reading America Wakes Up To The Text Phenomenon
Between sixty and seventy percent of television advertisements are being screened out by viewers who own personal video recorders (PVRs), according to equipment manufacturer TiVo. This statistic will reinforce worries in the TV industry that the widespread adoption of PVR technology will pose a major threat to the fundamental economics of the broadcasting sector. Since… Continue reading Ad Avoidance As High As 80% For PVR Users