The second half of 2003 promises to be as difficult for ITV as the first, with the increase in audience numbers failing to halt a slide in revenues. The network also faces mounting competition from terrestrial and multichannel rivals and hopes are being pinned on the proposed merger of Carlton and Granada to deliver a… Continue reading INSIGHTanalysis: ITV Treads Water In Difficult Seas

WPP is expected to announce a fall in profits for the first half of 2003, when it issues interim results this week, but there is growing confidence that the advertising industry is emerging from recession. According to a report in The Observer, WPP’s chief executive Martin Sorrell does not foresee any recovery until late-2004 but… Continue reading WPP Puts Faith In The Future

The media and communications industry in the US remains on track for recovery over the next four years, despite a small set-back resulting from the war in Iraq and the outbreak of the Sars virus. The growth of 2002, albeit patchy, has strengthened during the first half of 2003 and there will be an increase… Continue reading US Media And Communications On Target For Good Recovery

US newspaper advertising revenues increased by 1.6% to $11.1 billion in the second quarter of 2003, according to preliminary estimates from the Newspaper Association of America (NAA). This represents the fourth consecutive quarter of growth. National advertising spending rose by 12.8% to $2.1 billion with significant gains from telecommunications, factory automotive and coupon marketing. Retail… Continue reading Big Quarter For National Advertising As Newspaper Revenues Rise Again

European cinema box office revenue will reach â‚Ź7.4 billion by 2007, a 29.8% rise on 2002’s â‚Ź5.7 billion, according to an upcoming report from Screen Digest. By 2005, cinema admissions in the European Union countries will have reached one billion, up from 910 million in 2002. Separate figures from Dodona Research show that admissions across… Continue reading European Cinema Box Office To Take €7.4bn By 2007

Comcast, the US cable giant, has announced that it will not be bidding for the US entertainment assets of Vivendi Universal. Following a meeting on Wednesday, Comcast executives have decided not to make a formal offer. This represents a blow to Vivendi which is hoping to raise up to $14 billion from the sale of… Continue reading Comcast Not In The Running For VUE

With telecoms firms and IPTV providers stepping up their efforts to deploy video services, IP/DSL set top boxes are set to move from being niche products to become mass-produced devices. A new report from InStat/MDR claims that while cost is a barrier to takeup of of IP/DSL units, ASPs are declining every year. Increased shipments… Continue reading IP/DSL Set Top Boxes Here To Stay, Says InStat/MDR

The UK is Europe’s foremost wi-fi market and will have more than 4,000 hotspots by the end of the year, according to a new report from Gartner. Users with wi-fi enabled laptops and PDAs can now access the internet from a variety of locations including railway stations, airport lounges, coffee shops and cafes. The study… Continue reading UK Is European Leader In Wi-Fi

With telecoms firms and IPTV providers stepping up their efforts to deploy video services, IP/DSL set top boxes are set to move from being niche products to become mass-produced devices. A new report from InStat/MDR claims that while cost is a barrier to takeup of of IP/DSL units, ASPs are declining every year. Increased shipments… Continue reading IP/DSL Set Top Boxes Here To Stay, Says InStat/MDR

The long-running price war between the Sun and Daily Mirror has pushed operating income down by 28% for the financial year at News International (NI), the Sun‘s parent company. In the release of its year-end financial results, NI’s owner, News Corporation, said that classified and display advertising revenue gains at the Sun and News Of… Continue reading News Corp UK Papers Feel Effects Of Sun’s Price War