Multimedia messaging (MMS) to mobile telephones is seen by the telecoms industry as a much-needed revenue elixir that will help ease their current financial woes (see MMS Study Brings Little Cheer To Operators). However, research shows that consumers may not be so readily won over. MMS is capable of delivering audio and visual information to… Continue reading Will Europeans Respond To MMS Marketing?

Revenues from sales of broadband modems and gateways fell by 11% during 2002, as technology prices plummeted, according to research from Strategy Analytics. The new report, Residential Broadband Modems and Gateways: Global Market Forecast found that worldwide sales of broadband modems actually increased by 52% to 26.3 million units last year and it is estimated… Continue reading Broadband Modem Revenues On The Slide

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

Granada chairman, Charles Allen, has delivered a scathing attack on the BBC, arguing that the Corporation should lose 10% of its licence fee to fund public service programming on commercial channels. Despite the fact that ITV pulled in almost £1.7 billion in revenue last year, Allen told industry figures at the Royal Television Society last… Continue reading Granada Chairman Calls For Slice Of BBC Licence Fee

Lastminute.com fell back into the red in the first quarter as a seasonal lull in sales and one-off charges hit the balance sheet at the online retailer. Having reported its first quarterly profit in November (see City News), losses totalled £1.58 million before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation in the three months to December. However,… Continue reading No Alarms As Lastminute Slips Back Into The Red

Vivendi Universal chief Jean-René Fortou has reportedly backtracked on plans to break up, sell and float various tranches of the Canal Plus pay-TV broadcasting business. According to a report in today’s Financial Times, Fourtou has sent a letter to Vivendi employees indicating that Canal Plus is no longer for sale and that it will retain… Continue reading Vivendi Will Retain Canal Plus, Says Report

The outdoor advertising industry experienced a positive end to 2002 with fourth quarter revenues rising by 15% year on year, according to the latest figures from the Outdoor Advertising Association. The data shows that bookings for the last quarter of 2002 totalled £187.8 million, taking revenue to levels experienced in 2000. Total outdoor revenue for… Continue reading Outdoor Revenue Rises 15% During Fourth Quarter

Buoyed by a growing economy, Russian adspend shot up by 51% in 2002, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The newspaper quotes figures from the Russian Advertising Agencies Association (RAAA) which show that $2.68 billion was spent on advertising in the country last year, up from $1.75 billion in 2001. Television revenues… Continue reading Russia Has Fastest Growing Ad Market