Carlton Communications and Granada may report a combined loss of £300 million in their full-year results, due to be released later this week. According to the press speculation, Carlton will show heavier losses than Granada. Both groups have been hit by write-downs following the collapse of the joint ITV Digital venture. Further strain has come… Continue reading ITV Giants Set To Unveil £300m Exceptional Losses

US advertising will grow by 4% in 2003, Merrill Lynch analysts have concluded following a survey of large national advertisers. In the survey, the broker received responses from 17 advertisers of the largest national advertisers, 70% of which said that they do not plan to reduce ad budgets for 2003; 18% expected budgets to remain… Continue reading More Confidence Seen In US Advertisers By Merrill Lynch

Online retail sales in the US increased by 7.8% to $11.06 billion in Q3, according to new data from the Department of Commerce’s Census Bureau. The total, which excludes travel purchases, has been surpassed just once, in the final quarter of 2001, and sales were up 34.3% year-on-year. E-commerce transactions in the three months to… Continue reading US E-Commerce Sales Top $11 Billion In Third Quarter

ITV’s troubles will continue into 2003 and the channel faces a battle to convince advertisers to part with their cash, according to a report in the Independent On Sunday. Carlton and Granada are currently negotiating with media-buying agencies to determine how much advertising spend they will receive next year. The two companies have witnessed revenues… Continue reading Tough Times Ahead For ITV Companies

Lastminute.com, the trailblazing internet travel company, has provided a boost to the e-commerce sector by announcing its first ever quarterly profit. The online retailer today reported pre-tax profits of £302,000, before one-off costs, for the three months to September. This contrasts with the £3.9 million loss recorded in the previous quarter (see Lastminute Strives To… Continue reading Lastminute Posts First Profits

Vivendi Universal (VU) has been offered E15 billion for its US and European entertainment assets, an offer which it has so far declined, according to reports. The French media group has said that its music and entertainment businesses are not up for sale, although it is thought that chief executive, Jean-René Fourtou, would seriously look… Continue reading Vivendi Receives €15bn Offer For Ents Businesses

The outlook for European and US advertising remains largely gloomy, despite some more promising signs from the big networks, according to Lehman Brothers. The top five global ad agency groups have now reported their third quarter results, which contained a few more positive indicators – organic growth up on Q2 and some stabilising of the… Continue reading Ad Agencies Q3 Figures Leave Gloomy Outlook For Lehman Brothers

The UK e-commerce sector continues to buzz as the festive season approaches. New figures from the Interactive Media In Retail Group (IMRG) show that internet sales in October were up 21.5% on the previous month. In all, online orders totalled £860.5 million, representing year-on-year growth of 113.6%. This compares with an increase of just 7.1%… Continue reading Online Retailers Have A Red Hot October

The next decade will see more big consumer magazine launches than ever before, according to Tim Ewington, director of specialist media strategy consultancy Human Capital. Writing in FT Creative Business, Ewington argues that publishing companies will be forced to launch new titles as other routes to growth have begun to disappear, whilst competition is increasing.… Continue reading Big Consumer Mags Launches Expected In Next Decade

Scottish Radio Holdings (SRH) is beginning to see improvements in its radio advertising levels, following a flat performance in the year to 30 September 2002. The group says that radio revenue was flat during its financial year, with national advertising showing a 6% decline, whilst local revenues grew by 3%; sponsorship and promotions revenue was… Continue reading Scottish Radio Sees Brighter Start To New Year