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

Newcastle-based independent radio group, Forever Broadcasting, says it has made significant progress toward profitability since the start of the year, with record revenues and audiences in the first half. Forever’s revenue growth came entirely from local advertising, which during the period accounted for over 90% of turnover. The Tower FM and Peak FM stations were… Continue reading Forever Broadcasting Moves Towards Profitability

The Outdoor Advertising Association (0AA) has announced plans to develop and manage a new poster performance reporting system in association with ISBA and the IPA. The new system will collate information submitted from outdoor media owners to allow buyers and clients to keep track of their campaigns. The system is yet to launch, but questions… Continue reading OAA Unveils New Poster Reporting System

The strong relationship between online and offline sales is demonstrated by a survey which shows that over half of the visitors accessing product information on manufacturers’ websites plan to purchase the item within a week from one source or another. Retailers were initially reluctant to evaluate their internet investment (see Online Retailers Are Blinkered When… Continue reading Internet Helps To Drive Offline Sales, Says Report

US newspaper advertising revenues grew by 1.8% in the first quarter to reach $9.9 billion, according to preliminary estimates from the Newspaper Association of America (NAA). This continues a return to growth for the sector which began in Q3 2002 (see US Newspapers Emerge From Six Quarters Of Revenue Decline In Q3). Retail advertising spending… Continue reading US Newspaper Advertising Grows 1.8% In First Quarter

The UK’s smaller radio operators have shown stronger advertising revenue growth than their larger competitors in the latest round of financial results. Scottish Radio Holdings (SRH) and Chrysalis have both reported better trading figures than the major operators of GWR Group, EMAP and Capital Radio. SRH saw its first half advertising revenues rise by 5.3%,… Continue reading INSIGHTanalysis: Smaller Radio Groups Outperform Major Operators