The web is gradually gaining in popularity in Central and Eastern Europe and new figures show that internet penetration in the region will reach 17% in 2003. According to a new IDC report, Internet Usage and E-Commerce in Central and Eastern Europe, 2001-2006, total internet connections will top 5.6 million in 2003. Approximately 85% of… Continue reading Internet Usage On The Rise In Central And Eastern Europe

Commercial radio has again been boosted by the increasing popularity of sponsorship and promotions, which helped the industry to see its total revenue for 2002 increase by 2.5% year on year to £562.8 million. The latest figures from the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) show that commercial radio revenue for the fourth quarter of 2002 was… Continue reading Commercial Radio Boosted By Sponsorship And Promotions

The continuation of ‘extremely difficult’ market conditions has caused 2002 revenues at advertising network, Cordiant Communications, to fall by 11% to £533 million. The figure was further dented by key account losses in the US, the group said in a trading update this morning. Despite the fall in revenues, operating profits look set to meet… Continue reading Cordiant Revenues Dip 11% In 2002, Disposals Underway

Anglo-Dutch publishing group, Reed Elsevier, has this morning posted a strong set of 2002 financial results, with organic growth outperforming the market in each of the group’s publishing divisions. After adjusting for currency changes, revenues rose by 13% in the year, whilst pre-tax profits increased by 2%. Reed says that it has achieved the targets… Continue reading Reed Elsevier Sees Good Growth Despite Tough Markets

A survey of over 1,000 US media buying executives has concluded that 2003 will be a ‘rebound year’ for advertising, with 45% of respondents expecting their budgets to increase. Conducted by online research firm, InsightExpress, and MediaPost, the survey shows that only 18% of buyers are anticipating a budget decline this year. MediaPost reports that… Continue reading Survey: 2003 Media Budgets To Rise, Along With Accountability

Online gaming has achieved unprecedented growth in Europe in the past year with new figures showing that almost 6 million people visited a games site in January. Nielsen//NetRatings claims that the number of surfers going to online gaming sites has more than doubled from 2.8 million to 5.9 million since January 2002. Germany and France… Continue reading Broadband Growth Takes Online Gaming To New Heights

The arrival of 3G competitors with large capacity on the market is likely to lead to a price war, according to the wireless strategy consultancy Northstream. In a report brought out to coincide with the the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes, it is alleged that established players are delaying 3G and infrastructure investments while concentrating… Continue reading 3G Price War On The Horizon

Digital video recorders could still achieve widespread adoption, despite the recent decision of key manufacturer Tivo to withdraw from the UK market. According to analysts at IMS Research, Tivo’s exit does not mean DVR failure in Europe. In its Worldwide Market for Digital Video Recorders report, IMS forecasts that 4.1 million DVR units will be… Continue reading Digital Video Recorders Will Thrive In Europe, Says IMS Research

Shareholders at UPC, Europe’s largest cable operator, have approved plans to press ahead with a restructuring programme that will enable the group to emerge from bankruptcy protection. At a meeting in Amsterdam, an overwhelming majority of shareholders were in favour of a debt-for-equity swap that should secure the future of the network. UPC wants to… Continue reading UPC On The Road To Recovery

Consumer use of mobile phones for the transfer of data will generate revenues of $71 billion worldwide by 2007, according to a new report from analyst and consulting group Ovum. This year, traffic and subscription revenues generated by consumers sending data via their phones will account for 93% of operators’ data revenues; this will fall… Continue reading Consumer-Driven Mobile Data Revenues To Hit $71bn By 2007, Says Ovum