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

Total Japanese advertising expenditure was down by 5.9% in 2002, the second successive annual fall, according to the leading ad agency Dentsu. Total adspend for the year was £29.6 billion but revenues fell across the board as the market failed to recover from the estimated 0.9% decline in 2001 (see Japan Advertising Falls 0.9% In… Continue reading Japanese Ad Revenues Decline In 2002

Newspapers are failing to realize the full potential of online content because of a reluctance to introduce flexible payment schemes. That is the conclusion of a new study by the Dutch research firm, Van Dusseldorp & Partners entitled The Guide to European Content Payment Solutions. The advertising downturn has had a particularly severe effect on… Continue reading Online Newspapers Can Profit From New Payment Solutions

Growth in the UK radio advertising market stabilised in 2002, but was at best subdued, with growth of around 2.3%, according to estimates from analysts at Merrill Lynch. The broker is forecasting that 2003 growth will be a little stronger, at around 3% to 4%, but the ‘lacklustre macro conditions’ are likely to prevent any… Continue reading UK Radio Update From Merrill Lynch

The chief executive of RTL, Europe’s biggest commercial broadcaster, has quit to take charge of the telecoms operator Belgacom. The departure of Didier Bellens throws into doubt the future direction of RTL which has a 65% stake in Channel 5 and interests across the continent. Bellens is credited with guiding the company relatively unscathed through… Continue reading RTL Chief Leaves For Pastures New

Cordiant, the troubled international advertising group, is coming under increasing pressure to sell off assets in a bid to shore up the share price and reduce debts in excess of £200 million. Reports in the weekend press intimated that the new chief executive David Hearn is planning to strip down the company to include only… Continue reading Market Downturn Takes Toll On Cordiant

Over 4.4 million UK adults bought products over the internet during Christmas 2002, spending a total of â‚Ź753 million (£503 million), according to a new study by Continental Research. Preliminary findings from the Winter 2003 Internet Report show that the number of people shopping online over the festive season has increased by almost three million… Continue reading Online Shopping Converts Splash Out For Christmas