NTL, the debt-laden UK cable operator, had a mixed message for investors when it issued its third quarter figures yesterday. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) totalled £182 million in the three months to September 30, up 44% on the same period last year. However revenues fell to £617 million from £627 million… Continue reading NTL Earnings Rise As Cost Cutting Continues

Commercial radio groups have warmly welcomed the Government’s decision to allow greater consolidation within the industry through the further liberalisation of the radio ownership regulations. The move to allow a minimum of two radio operators (in addition to the BBC) to operate in a specific local area was announced yesterday by culture secretary, Tessa Jowell.… Continue reading UK Radio Industry Given Further Deregulation

US media giant, Viacom, is expecting to surpass its earnings estimates for 2003, thanks to a recovery in advertising levels, according to a report on Brand Republic today. The article quotes Viacom’s chief executive, Sumner Redstone, as saying that the current indications bode well for advertising in 2003 and that he believes the market has… Continue reading Viacom Chief Sees Advertising Recovery In 2003

A new survey has revealed that 93% of US internet users have made a purchase online although privacy and security concerns mean that less than 40% are regular web shoppers. The study by market researchers at Ipsos-Reid showed that attitudes to e-commerce are changing with 64% of respondents claiming that they are now more likely… Continue reading Most Net Users Have Shopped Online, Says Survey

Broadband internet connections have reach a 28% penetration of online households in the US, according to a new report from Dataquest, a division of Gartner. This compares with just 12% in the UK (see Insight Analysis: Broadband Britain – A Progress Report). The Dataquest report covered a 28-month survey period, during which the rate of… Continue reading US Broadband Hits 28% Penetration, DSL Makes Inroad On Cable

Strategy Analytics estimates that 10 million embedded-camera phones were sold worldwide in the first nine months of 2002. Almost half of these sales occurred in the third quarter, as demand escalated in Japan. Neil Mawston, Senior Analyst with the Global Wireless Practice, commented: “Strategy Analytics expects 16 million camera phones to be sold worldwide in… Continue reading Far East Driving Camera Phone Sales, Says Strategy Analytics

Outdoor advertising revenue increased by 5.1% year on year during the third quarter of 2002, according to the latest figures from the Outdoor Advertising Association (OAA). The OAA’s chief executive Alan James describes the figures as ‘steady, rather than rocketing’ and does not anticipate a stronger upswing for at least another twelve months. Growth was… Continue reading UK Outdoor Revenue Grows 5.1% In Q3

“Broadband will become the backbone of the UK economy. Ensuring that more people and businesses can take advantage of this – regardless of where we live or the size of company we are involved in – is a major priority” Stephen Timms, Minister for E-commerce Within Europe, the UK is surpassed only by Germany in… Continue reading Insight Analysis: Broadband Britain – A Progress Report

European online retail sales will total E7.6 billion over the festive period, an increase of 86% on last year’s figure, according to Forrester Research. The percentage of European adults who buy online has increased from 14% in 2001 to 19% this year while average annual spend is up from E374 to E527. “Last Christmas, Europeans… Continue reading European Shoppers Set Online Tills Ringing

A new survey from Ipsos-Mediangles has revealed that 20% of French internet users connect to the web via broadband. The study claims that some 2.3 million French households now have broadband access. Of these, 60% use DSL and 40% connect with cable. The average broadband user’s profile is female, in the 15-24 age group and… Continue reading One Fifth Of French Homes Have Broadband