Pacific Century Cyberworks, the Hong Kong-based company that had been linked with a move for Cable & Wireless, has pulled out of a bid for the troubled UK telecoms group. It was earlier reported that PCCW had tabled a £2.4 billion offer (see C&W Subject Of Takeover Speculation) but it has now ruled itself out… Continue reading PCCW Abandons Bid For C&W

Telewest Communications could be ready to merge with its cable rival NTL at the start of 2004, according to managing director Charles Burdick. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Burdick said that Telewest would complete financial restructuring in the second quarter and was on target to break even by the end of the… Continue reading UK Cable Operators Could Merge Next Year

US advertising spending rose by 5.9% in 2002, according to preliminary figures from Nielsen Monitor-Plus, the advertising information service of Nielsen Media Research. Nielsen says that the growth was fueled by gains across most major media, with nine of the eleven reported media showing positive figures ranging from 2% to over 10% rises year on… Continue reading US Advertising Grows Almost 6% In 2002, Reports Nielsen Monitor-Plus

Around 15% of consumers respond to SMS text messaging marketing, with this figure rising to around 46% of recipients for the best-performing campaigns. This is according to research conducted by Enpocket, which has monitored more than 200 UK SMS campaigns since October 2001. The group’s report shows that the most likely response to an SMS… Continue reading SMS Is Most Effective Direct Marketing Method, Claims Enpocket

Following the successful launch of Freeview in the UK, Ireland is planning to set up its own digital multi-channel service. The Irish Minister for Communications, Dermot Ahern has proposed the introduction of an all-Ireland system that will deliver a significant number of domestic and foreign channels. Customers would merely pay an initial fee of around… Continue reading Low-Cost Irish Digital Service On The Cards

The number of homes receiving analogue television broadcasts is set to decline by 24% worldwide between 2002 and 2008, according to a new set of forecasts from Strategy Analytics. As the penetration of digital platforms increases, the number of analogue homes is set to fall from 597 million in 2002 to 455 million by 2008.… Continue reading Governments Need Realistic Analogue TV Switch-Off Strategies, Says Report

According to a report in today’s Guardian, ITV chiefs Michael Green and Charles Allen are coming under increasing pressure to stand down if and when the merger of Carlton and Granada takes place. Under the terms of the deal, thrashed out in October (see Carlton And Granada Enter Advanced Merger Talks), it was agreed that… Continue reading Shareholders Round On Senior ITV Executives

It is reported that SBC Communications has entered negotiations to acquire DirecTV, a move which would ruin Rupert Murdoch’s ambition to take charge of a US satellite broadcaster. According to the New York Times, SBC may be willing to pay upwards of $10 billion for the business which is currently owned by General Motors. The… Continue reading SBC Expresses Interest In DirecTV

Revenues at Vivendi Universal increased by 6% to €61 billion during 2002 thanks in part to a strong performance by Cegetel, the group’s telecoms division. Excluding businesses that have been sold off, Vivendi’s full year revenue was up 11% to €28.1 billion. Cegetel which includes SFR, France’s second-largest mobile operator, saw sales rise by a… Continue reading Sales Boost For Vivendi After Difficult Year

The growing popularity of online shopping in the US is illustrated by a new survey from WSL Strategic Retail in which 73% of those questioned said that they made purchases via the internet in the 2002 Christmas period. The consultancy reports that 84% of US consumers said they did either the same or more online… Continue reading Consumer Approval For Online Xmas Shopping