The proposed takeover of SMG’s publishing unit by the regional newspaper group, Newsquest has been referred to the Competition Commission. The Competition Minister Melanie Johnson took the decision after Gannett, the parent company of Newsquest, applied for permission to acquire the titles, which include The Herald, Sunday Herald and Scotland on Sunday. SMG put its… Continue reading Gannett Bid For SMG Titles Referred To Competition Authorities

UK advertising expenditure grew by 3.6% during the third quarter of the year, or 2.0% after adjusting for inflation, with television currently leading the recovery, according to the latest figures from the Advertising Association (AA). TV showed growth of 7.7% in constant currency, significantly above the combined average of 2.0%. Only direct mail managed a… Continue reading UK Advertising Grows 3.6% In Q3, Says Ad Association

UK advertising growth is likely to be muted over the next three years, with other European countries overtaking the UK after 2003. This is according to a new set of forecasts from Zenith Optimedia. The group says that UK growth will be 2.1% next year in current currency, outperforming a 1.8% European average, but this… Continue reading European Advertising Forecasts From Zenith Optimedia

New research from the Online Publishers Association has revealed that users of branded media websites are more likely to read, watch or listen to those same media brands offline. A recent OPA survey found that 56% of online media users were inclined to use the offline component of a brand. It also revealed that 66%… Continue reading Online Media Users Consume The Same Brand Offline

The Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) market has had a difficult year and high profile closures and cutbacks have prompted research bodies to reassess the prospects for set-top box producers. A report, Can You See Me Now? Digital Terrestrial TV On The Edge Of Its Seat – Updated DTT Set Top Box Forecast, from Instat/MDR claims… Continue reading DTT Stands At The Crossroads, Says Instat/MDR

Shares in Cable & Wireless fell by almost 50% in early trading as news spread that the ailing telecoms group needs to find £1.5 billion after being downgraded to junk status. Moody’s, the credit rating agency, downgraded the stock on Friday triggering a clause in a contract signed with Deutsche Telekom when C&W’s sold its… Continue reading C&W Stock Nosedives Following Downgrade

The regional newspaper group Newsquest is in pole position to take control of SMG’s newspaper business after increasing its offer for the group to £215 million. Newsquest, which is owned by the US newspaper group Gannett, and a consortium led by Independent News & Media are now the only two bidders for the SMG titles… Continue reading Newsquest Favourite To Take Over Herald Titles

NTL chief executive Barclay Knapp has sought to deflect blame from his company’s own management and accused TV regulators of failing to control the dominance of BSkyB in the pay-TV market. Speaking at last week’s Westminster Media Forum, Knapp claimed that the lack of regulation in the television industry had contributed to the collapse of… Continue reading NTL Chief Turns On Pay TV Regulators

Global advertising is set to grow by 2.9% in 2003, as an upswing that began in the latter half of this year continues into the next. This forecast will be delivered to a UBS Warburg media conference in New York today by Zenith Optimedia chief executive John Perriss, according to reports. Zenith says that it… Continue reading Zenith Optimedia Predicts 2.9% Global Ad Growth In 2003

Zenith Optimedia today released a new set of world advertising expenditure forecasts, predicting a 2003 global growth of 2.9% in current currency and 1.0% in constant currencies (see Zenith Optimedia Predicts 2.9% Global Ad Growth In 2003). The full figures from Zenith’s report are included here. They show that Europe is currently lagging behind other… Continue reading World Advertising Forecasts From Zenith Optimedia