The contrasting fortunes of advertising markets on either side of the Atlantic became more apparent in June with bullish mood in the US unmatched in the UK and across Europe. However, economic growth is slow in most major countries and there is little prospect of a boom to rival that of the late nineties. Reflecting… Continue reading INSIGHTanalysis: Media Healthcheck – June 2003

Revenues from online gaming are set to rise from last year’s $875 million to over $5 billion worldwide by 2008, according to a new report from DFC Intelligence. The research group predicts that this growth will be driven by video games consoles users, as well as PC-based subscription services. By 2008, it forecasts that the… Continue reading Online Gaming Revenues To Pass $5bn By 2008, Says Report

The cost of GPRS data will have to fall if it is to achieve its potential. So says a new report, GPRS Pricing Improves, But Users Still Paying A Packet, from Strategy Analytics. GPRS has been made more accessible through the introduction of a pay-per-use pricing system. However, prices are generally found in the $10… Continue reading GPRS Users Still Overcharged, Says Report

EMAP has been given competition clearance to acquire France’s Excelsior Publications, propelling it to the number two spot in the country’s consumer magazing publishing sector. The deal was originally announced on 2 April, but required approval from the French competition authorities before it could go ahead (see Emap Raises Profile With French Acquisition). The newly… Continue reading EMAP Becomes France’s Second Largest Consumer Mags Publisher

Global market research network, Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), this morning said that trading in its markets will yield broadly flat revenues for the first half of the year. The group’s figures paint a similar picture to WPP’s trading statement this week (see Sorrell Sees Signs Of Stabilisation). That is to say, the US is stronger… Continue reading TNS Sees Flat H1, NFO WorldGroup Deal Progressing

Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of WPP, last night set out clearly his group’s position over the proposed takeover of Cordiant Communications (see WPP Seals £266m Cordiant Takeover), saying that the offer on the table will not be revised. The statement comes after Cordiant’s major shareholder, Active Value, has gradually increased its holding in the… Continue reading WPP Stands Firm On Cordiant Deal

Respected market observer, Sir Martin Sorrell, yesterday told WPP’s AGM that there are signs of stabilisation in the advertising and marketing services industry, particularly in the US. Sorrell has long held the belief that a turnaround in the depressed advertising sector would not begin until 2004 and that it could take until 2008 for growth… Continue reading Sorrell Sees Signs Of Stabilisation

The European internet population continues to grow at a healthy rate and new research suggests that it is on target to top 200 million by the end of 2003. The IDC study One Europe? Internet Usage and eCommerce in Western, Central and Eastern Europe 2002-2006 highlights the fact that increased connectivity is moving the European… Continue reading European Internet Usage Continues To Climb

Advertising conditions for the US newspaper sector are improving in June, following a disappointing May, where revenues rose by just 1%, according to analysts at Merrill Lynch. The broker says that it now expects the second quarter to return growth of around 2%. For the whole of 2003, growth is predicted to be 2.9%, with… Continue reading US Newspaper Spend To Grow 3% In 2003, Says Merrill Lynch

Granada shareholders are growing increasingly unhappy over the terms of the proposed £2.6 billion merger with Carlton Communications and are concerned about whether they are getting a fair deal. According to a report in The Independent On Sunday, institutional investors met with Granada executives recently to discuss whether the deal, which would save the merged… Continue reading Granada Shareholders Uneasy Over ITV Merger Deal