Online travel sales in Western Europe increased by 53% during 2002, according to the latest research from the Centre for Regional and Tourism Research. The Danish-based organisation estimates that online travel and tourism was worth â‚Ź7.3 billion last year, equivalent to 3.5% of the total market. Air tickets are by far the most popular purchase… Continue reading European Online Travel Sales Hit €7 Billion In 2002

Gerhard Zeiler, the new chief executive of RTL, today vowed not to sell Channel Five and maintained that his company remained committed to the success of the venture. Five has been a notable success story for RTL, which today announced narrowed losses for 2002 (see RTL Cuts Losses As Results Beat Expectations). The channel generated… Continue reading Five Not For Sale, Says RTL Chief

UK publishing group, Highbury House Communications, is planning to buy Cabal Communications for around £10 million, it announced this morning along with year-end financial results. Cabal, which publishes Front, The Real Homes Magazine and Procycling, was set set up in June 1998 by ex-IPC editor in chief, Sally O’Sullivan. Its Front title is ranked fifth… Continue reading Highbury House To Buy Cabal Comms, As Profits Rise 9%

Pan-European broadcaster, RTL Group, has reduced its losses from €2.5 billion in 2001, to just €56 million last year, according to the company’s year-end financial results released today. The results were ahead of expectations from analysts at Merrill Lynch, due to a significant outperformance in television and radio. The broker says that losses at the… Continue reading RTL Cuts Losses As Results Beat Expectations

Ulster Television has defied challenging advertising conditions to record a 3.7% rise in pre-tax profits for 2002, according to the company’s figures published today. Northern Ireland’s television broadcaster continues to outperform the likes of Carlton and Granada and ad revenues rose by 4.7% to £37.8 million against a decrease of 1% across the whole network.… Continue reading Ulster Outshines ITV Giants In Latest Results

The UK is set to lead any European advertising recovery this year, with growth of 2.3% forecast by the Ad Barometer report from OMD France and Interdeco. In second position behind the UK, will be France, which is predicted to see advertising spend rise by 1.6%, according to reports. Overall, though, recovery is expected to… Continue reading UK To Lead European Advertising Growth, Finds Survey

Wi-Fi technology is expected to be the centre of attention at the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association conference in New Orleans this week. CTIA Wireless 2003 will feature major players from across the industry, many of whom are keen to tap into the wireless internet access market. Wireless fidelity or Wi-Fi sends internet signals through… Continue reading Towards A Wi-Fi Future

Britain is leading the world in the development and adoption of digital television, with 34% of homes now subscribing to the platform, according to a new report from Screen Digest. In the stronger digital markets it has been satellite rather than cable which has been the driving force behind DTV uptake, with customers enticed by… Continue reading DTV Europe Remains A ‘Distant Dream’, Says Screen Digest

UPC has had its recapitalisation proposals approved by a Dutch court, a major step in the company’s efforts to recover from bankruptcy. The pan-European cable group was seeking authorisation to restructure debts of around €10 billion, the legacy of an ambitious acquisitions policy that took it to the brink of collapse (see UPC Files For… Continue reading UPC Wins Backing For Refinancing Plan

The commercial radio industry is outraged at the Government’s plans to give Ofcom the power to regulate the amount of advertising on local radio. In an attempt to protect the content of local radio following the relaxation of the media ownership regulations, the Government is proposing to give the new super-regulator the power to determine… Continue reading Radio Industry Attacks Plans For Local Advertising