Global advertising spend will grow by 4.5% in 2003, reaching $262.0 billion – a shade above 2000’s boom-year spend of $259.6 billion, according to figures from Initiative Media. The figures are based on research from Initiative’s offices in 40 countries worldwide. Some figures from the report – released in full this month – were reported… Continue reading Global Advertising To Grow 4.5% In 2003, Says Initiative

In the light of concerns about the impact of war in the Middle East and a resulting fall in adspend, Merrill Lynch has downgraded its 2003 US radio advertising forecasts. As expected, radio revenues in January were up 6% year on year and a similar increase is anticipated for February. However, analysts have cut their… Continue reading US Radio Outlook From Merrill Lynch

Digital television penetration is on target to exceed internet penetration in the UK if current growth rates continue, according to the Independent Television Commission (ITC). The Commission’s latest multi-channel TV figures, covering Q4 and full-year 2002, show that 41.4% of UK households had a digital TV (DTV) system by the end of last year. This… Continue reading UK Digital TV Penetration Could Overtake Internet, Says ITC

The Advertising Association (AA) has set up an industry task-force to examine the feasibility of creating a self-regulatory system for broadcast advertising. The rules governing television and radio advertising are likely to be relaxed following the creation of Ofcom later this year. However, Lord Currie, chairman of the new super-regulator, has emphasised that the responsibility… Continue reading AA Launches Task Force To Drive Self-Regulation

Advertising and public relations firm, Chime Communications, saw its pre-tax profits fall by 57% in 2002, from £16.3 million in 2001 to £7.0 million this time. Lord Bell, Chime’s chairman, described 2002 as a ‘very poor year’, with operating profits down by 50%. “Our market has been in reverse for 18 months and the effect… Continue reading Chime Communications Profits Plummet In ‘Very Poor’ 2002

The Daily Mail & General Trust has expressed satisfaction with turnover in the first half of its current financial year but warned that the political and economic climate was fostering uncertainty in some of its markets. In a trading statement issued today, DMGT said that growth of 2.4% was achieved in the five months to… Continue reading DMGT Sends Out Mixed Messages In Trading Update

Patricia Hodgson, chief executive of the ITC, has called on the Government to conduct an in-depth review of the ownership structure at ITN before allowing Carlton and Granada to increase their stake in the news provider. The two ITV partners are currently calling for an amendment to the Communications Bill to allow them to take… Continue reading Hodgson Calls For Review Of Ownership At ITN

After a protracted bidding process, spanning almost a year, KirchMedia is finally being sold to US media magnate Haim Saban and the Saban Group. As a first step in the deal, the two parties signed off the acquisition by Saban of a majority holding in ProSiebenSat.1, Germany’s largest free to air broadcaster. Saban is reported… Continue reading Haim Saban Agrees To Buy ProSiebenSat.1

Analysts are still unsure as to the impact that the looming conflict in the Middle East will have on the advertising world. Contrasting pronouncements allied to a ‘wait and see’ mentality have only muddied the waters and it is this general sense of uncertainty which is acting as a restraint on growth. Last week, stronger… Continue reading INSIGHTanalysis: War And The Ad Economy

Channel 4 is believed to be considering the launch of a new free-to-air digital television channel for older viewers, in an attempt to cash in on the success of the recently unveiled Freeview platform. Reports suggest that Channel 4, which already operates pay-TV channels E4 and FilmFour, is looking at the possibility of launching a… Continue reading Channel 4 Considers New Free Digital TV Offering