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

Channel 4 has confirmed that it is set to report a profit for 2002 following a wave of job losses and stringent cost-cutting across the network. According to the Channel, the turn-around is due to a reduction in losses at its commercial arm, 4 Ventures, alongside a 4.5% boost in advertising revenues driven by record… Continue reading Channel 4 Set To Return To Profit

The global advertising communications company Interpublic is forecasting that 2003 revenues will come in flat compared to this year. Speaking at the UBS Warburg Media Conference in New York, chairman and CEO John Dooner admitted that 2002 had been a difficult year but he is hopeful that better times are ahead. Zenith Optimedia foresees 2.9%… Continue reading Interpublic Says That 2003 Will Be Flat

ITV Digital’s liquidators, Grant Thornton, are set to undertake the mammoth task of contacting the platform’s 1 million former subscribers to request they give up their set top box or pay £39.99 to keep it. Grant Thornton is to contact each of the 1 million subscribers by post to inform them that the boxes were… Continue reading ITV Digital Liquidators To Retrieve Set Top Boxes

IPC chief executive, Sly Bailey, is to replace Philip Graf as chief executive of Trinity Mirror, when he steps down early next year (see Chief Executive Steps Down At Trinity Mirror). Bailey has been chief executive of IPC since December 1999 and was instrumental in discussions that resulted in the sale of the company to… Continue reading Bailey Leaves IPC To Replace Graf At Trinity Mirror

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

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