Future Network, the international consumer magazine publisher, has agreed to purchase Hachette Digital Presse (HDP), a subsidiary of Hachette Filipacchi Presse in France, for £3.5 million cash. The division comprises three computer games magazines and DVD Magazine. The computer games magazines to be acquired are Official PlayStation 2 Magazine, Joystick and Joypad. Turnover for the… Continue reading Future Network Acquires French Computer Mags Division

Carlton Communications and Granada’s proposed £2.6 billion merger has been referred to the Competition Commission on the grounds that it could potentially lead to a “substantial lessening of competition” in the market for television airtime sales. Trade and industry secretary, Patricia Hewitt, today confirmed the decision, which will end hopes that a lengthy investigation of… Continue reading ITV Merger Referred To Competition Commission

UK advertising expenditure rose by 4.9% year on year during the fourth quarter of 2002 to £3.7 billion. This brings total adspend for the year to £13.9 billion, an increase of 0.8% on the previous year. The latest figures compiled by the World Advertising Research Centre for the Advertising Association show that outdoor was the… Continue reading Fourth Quarter Sees Boost To UK Adspend

US advertising spend rose by 4.2%, according to new figures from CMR/TNS Media Intelligence. The group says that this growth was stronger than had been expected. CMR/TNS reports that total ad spending for 2002 came in at $117.3 billion, compared to $112.5 billion in 2001. The growth is a result of “a strong second half… Continue reading US Adspend Rises 4.2% In 2002, Finds CMR

2002 was a difficult year for internet businesses in the US and a new report from Webmergers claims that little more than $23 billion was spent on acquisitions, a decline of 70% on the previous year. Increased consolidation in the sector ensured that dealmaking remained active with 1,087 internet companies changing hands. This was equivalent… Continue reading Internet Dealmaking Remains Prevalent In 2002

Around 20% of mobile phone users will soon have handsets capable of receiving multi-media messages (MMS), according to a study by Continental Research. The Winter 2003 Mobile Phone Report shows that 4% of mobile phone users already have phones capable of sending and receiving photo-messages, with a further 14% likely to get the feature when… Continue reading Multi-Media Messaging Shows Potential For Advertisers

Carlton and Granada’s proposed £2.6 billion merger to form a single ITV company (see Carlton And Granada Enter Advanced Merger Talks) is due to be referred to the competition commission this week for a full enquiry. The decision by the Department of Trade And Industry, which has been expected for some time, will end hopes… Continue reading Full Scrutiny Of ITV Merger Looks Inevitable

The Government’s plans to relax the media ownership regulations to allow major newspaper groups to buy Channel Five could face defeat in the House of Lords, according to influential Labour peer, David Puttnam. In an interview with the Financial Times, Lord Puttnam warned the Government that up to 60 Labour peers could rebel against the… Continue reading Puttnam Warns Of Defeat Over Channel Five Ownership

The research and information company Taylor Nelson Sofres has announced a 12% rise in annual profits and is confident of further growth following a bright start to 2003. The group saw turnover, including joint ventures, increase by 6.2% to £618.9 million in 2002. As a result, TNS has now overtaken the WPP subsidiary Kantar to… Continue reading Taylor Nelson Sofres Achieves ‘Creditable’ Results In 2002

Despite the prospect of war and fears of a double-dip recession, there was a general mood of optimism at the AAAA Media Conference in New Orleans last week. Of late, industry observers have been divided over the state of the advertising business. Jack Myers has insisted that the US market is experiencing ‘sustained upward momentum’… Continue reading AAAA Chief Upbeat On Ad Outlook