Analysts at Merrill Lynch have slightly downgraded their global advertising forecasts for 2003 from 3.0% to 2.7%, due to tougher than expected comparisons with 2002, a deterioration of the European economy and a tentative start to this year. Europe is traditionally slower into and out of a downturn than the US and this is being… Continue reading Merrill Lynch Lowers Global Advertising Forecast

The Western European ecommerce industry was worth â‚Ź309 billion in 2002, according to the new annual trends and forecasts report from the European Information Technology Observatory (EITO). Germany took the largest share of the market at 28%, whilst the UK contributed 19% of the region’s ecommerce spend, leading France’s 13%. Currently business to business (B2B)… Continue reading Western European Ecommerce Worth €309bn, Says EITO Report

A group of university academics has urged the Government to rethink proposals in the forthcoming Communications Bill that will allow Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation to buy terrestrial television station Five. Writing in a letter to the Financial Times, academics from London Business School, Goldsmiths College, the University of Westminster and the London School of Economics,… Continue reading Academics Call For Five Protection In Comms Bill

Contrary to general opinion, the advertising market is thriving and the US economy is in better shape than many observers realise. This is according to the latest analysis from Jack Myers Report. Myers asserts that advertising has traditionally lagged behind the economy by six to nine months. He uses the example of 2002 when advertising… Continue reading US Ad Economy In Good Health, Insists Myers

UK internet subscriptions increased by 7.4% during 2002, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). The latest monthly update to the survey of ISPs shows that total subscriptions were actually down 1.1% in December when compared to the previous month (see Broadband Stimulates UK Internet Market). This was due to a 2%… Continue reading Broadband Boost To UK Connectivity

One in ten US households now has a home networking system, up from 8% in 2001, according to a new report from high-tech market research company, In-Stat/MDR. The group says that home networking – the connection of multiple entertainment, internet, voice and data devices through a single network – is now moving away from the… Continue reading One In Ten US Households Has Home Networking, Finds In-Stat

Granada has hired John Bridgeman, a former director general of the Office Of Fair Trading (OFT), to advise it on the tricky regulatory path to its proposed merger with ITV partner, Carlton (see ITV Merger Set For Competition Commission Referral). It is understood that Bridgeman is one of a number of influential figures to have… Continue reading Former OFT Director To Advise On ITV Merger

Trinity Mirror is due to release its full-year financial results on 27 February and analysts at ABN AMRO are forecasting that pre-tax profits (before exceptionals) will be down by 3.0% at £148.1 million, whilst total sales will fall by 3.7% to £1.1 billion. New chief executive, Sly Bailey, will give her first presentation for the… Continue reading Analysts See Trinity Mirror Profits Down By 3% In 2002

Pre-tax profits at advertising and communications giant, WPP, tumbled by 50% to £205.4 million in the year ended 31 December 2002, indicating the severity of the worldwide recession and its impact on advertising and marketing services. The group this morning said that conditions are to remain tough throughout the remainder of this year. Budgets are… Continue reading WPP Profits Fall 50% In The Face Of Recession

UK consumers continued to spend freely on the internet during January, according to new figures from the Interactive Media in Retail Group. After a bumper December during which online sales topped £1 billion for the first time (see Internet Shopping Is A Billion Pound Industry, Says IMRG), spending remained constant at £999.85 million. This is… Continue reading E-Retail Sites Avoid New Year Hangover