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

Freeview, the new digital terrestrial service, is proving a much-needed shot in the arm for the multi-channel industry in the UK, says a new report out today. Continental Research found that awareness of Freeview, which launched last autumn, has grown significantly in the last six months. Back in July 2002, only 39% of UK adults… Continue reading Freeview Boosts Digital TV Sector

A crisis is brewing at Bertelsmann, the European media giant, following a war of words between the company’s ruling family and senior management. Tensions were stirred up last week when Bertelsmann patriach Reinhard Mohn gave an interview in which he criticised the ‘vanity’ of past managers. This, he said, justified his family’s majority control of… Continue reading New Battle For Power At Bertelsmann

The management of Scholz & Friends, Germany’s largest advertising group, is preparing to bid for the business in a bid to extricate it from the Cordiant Communications network. A report in today’s Financial Times claims that the managers have the backing of private equity groups to buy out Cordiant’s 77% stake in the agency which… Continue reading Cordiant Contemplates Management Buyout At German Agency

There are no signs of recovery in the financial information markets, Reuters CEO Tom Glocer told a news conference this morning, as his group posted heavy losses. Reuters Group as a whole unveiled revenues down by 8% during the year to 31 December 2002, with pre-tax losses coming in at £493 million, largely stemming from… Continue reading Reuters Chief Sees No Signs Of Recovery As Losses Soar