Leading US cable and DSL providers accounted for over 19 million high-speed internet users by the end of the first quarter of this year, according to the latest figures from Leichtman Research Group (LRG). The figures show record growth for the quarter, with the major providers adding almost 1.9 million new subscribers. This represents 65%… Continue reading US Broadband Internet Subs Top 19m

Recent forecasts show that more than $50 billion will be spent on online purchases in the US this year and there are signs that internet retailers are prospering at the expense of their offline rivals. A report from The Media Audit shows that 29.6 million US homea have made five or more online purchases in… Continue reading INSIGHTanalysis: US Ecommerce Estimates & Forecasts

US business-to-business (B2B) print advertising spend rose for the fifth consecutive month in March, according to new figures from American Business Media (ABM). Advertising dollars were up 5.8% year on year, while pages were down 5.0%. For the quarter, spending was up 4.2% and pages were down 5.0%. ABM had anticipated a rise of 3%… Continue reading American B2B Print Adspend Jumps 6% In March

The Government’s target of 2010 for the switch-off of the analogue television broadcast will be met, according to ecommerce minister Stephen Timms. Speaking at the Westminster Media Forum this morning, Timms cited the success of digital terrestrial service Freeview as a key driver toward the Government’s target. Freeview has signed up over 1.4 million customers… Continue reading Analogue TV Switch-Off Target Will Be Met, Says Timms

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has begun the formal review process of News Corporation’s proposed acquisition of the US satellite operator DirecTV. News Corp supremo Rupert Murdoch announced last month that a deal had been struck which would give his company a satellite foothold in the United States (see Murdoch Seals Acquisition Of DirecTV). The… Continue reading Murdoch Puts The Case For Sky America

UK magazine publisher, Highbury House Communications, says that trading in the first quarter of the year has been encouraging, with profits ahead of last year. The group says that the consumer portfolio is performing well, although difficult conditions remain in the business publishing market. However, a few business sectors have shown some improvement. Trading figures… Continue reading Highbury House Sees Encouraging Trading, Despite Iraq Glitch

Deals that see advertisers agreeing to commit a proportion of their budget to ITV in return for air-time discounts, could be banned by the Competition Commission if the proposed merger of Carlton and Granada is allowed to go ahead. The ban is one of a number of suggestions being put forward by the Commission, which… Continue reading Competition Commission May Ban ITV Share Deals

US advertising spend rose by 1.5% year on year in the first quarter, according to preliminary figures from Nielsen Monitor-Plus, the advertising information service of Nielsen Media Research. Hispanic television showed the greatest gain, at 15%, while national magazines grew 14%, and local newspapers rose almost 9%. US Advertising Growth, Q1 2003       … Continue reading US Advertising Grows 1.5% In First Quarter

The UK business-to-business (B2B) press market has now seen the worst of the downturn, according to industry commentators who are forecasting that trading conditions are on the road to improvement. The PPA‘s B2B Strategic Conference was told that there will be steady growth in the sector over the next twelve months. Speaking at the conference,… Continue reading UK Business Press Set To Emerge From The Doldrums

Commercial radio has seen advertising expenditure rise to record levels, with £138.9 million being spent on the medium in the first three months of this year, according to the latest data from the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB). The figures represent a 2.3% increase on the same period the previous year and take first quarter adspend… Continue reading Commercial Radio Sees Highest Ever First Quarter Adspend