The total number of cable subscribers to high speed internet services in the US is approximately 10 million, according to a new survey by the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA). The organisation asserts that since 1996, operators have spent more than $65 billion upgrading cable systems to enable consumers to access digital broadband services.… Continue reading US Cable Modem Customers Reach 10 Million Mark

Online map sites have experienced some of the fastest growth seen on the internet in the last year, according to a report from Nielsen//NetRatings. The research shows that 7.1 million European web users accessed a mapping website during July, an increase from 2.5 million in October 2001. Online map sites are especially popular with office… Continue reading Online Map Sector Could Produce The ‘New Google’

A new study has found that increasing numbers of broadband users are watching sports coverage online and the budding industry is already worth more than $100 million. Researchers at technology research firm, Strategy Analytics examined hundreds of international sports sites and reported on the current availability of webcasts and their potential for the future. At… Continue reading Broadband Offers Sporting Chance To Rights Holders

A leading media analyst at Merrill Lynch has offered a grim prognosis for the short term future of the advertising industry, claiming that recent events have conspired to foster uncertainty rather than spread optimism. Lauren Rich Fine says that negative earnings announcements, volatile share prices, confusing economic forecasts and the ongoing threat of war mean… Continue reading US Advertisers Hold Fire As Difficult Conditions Prevail

US consumer confidence in the internet remained stable in the third quarter of 2002, according to a new report from ACNielsen. The Internet Confidence Index monitored by Yahoo! and ACNielsen remained flat in Q3 at 113 from the previous quarter. However, it has increased from 105 at the same period last year, indicating greater confidence… Continue reading Internet Confidence Steady In Third Quarter, Says ACNielsen

The Daily Mail & General Trust, publisher of the Daily Mail, is to remain family controlled, according to its chairman Viscount Rothermere. According to a report in today’s Times newspaper, Rothermere has no intention of changing the company’s controversial share structure that gives his family control of the voting rights. He asked: “Why should the… Continue reading Daily Mail & General Trust To Remain Family Owned

The publishing assets of SMG which were put up for sale earlier this month (see SMG To Sell Publishing And Online Business), have attracted considerable interest from the UK’s prominent newspaper groups but many analysts believe that the company’s valuation is excessive given current market conditions. SMG has decided to concentrate its attention on television… Continue reading Publishing Giants To Compete For SMG Titles

Outdoor advertising contractor, Maiden Group, said that sales declined by 5.1% in the six months to 30 June 2002, pushing the group into the red. Pre-tax loss for the period was £2.3 million, down from the £2.2 million profit of the same period last year. However, things are starting pick-up, with a ‘slow but steady’… Continue reading Maiden Pushed Into Red By Tough First Half

The business community is yet to be inspired by high-speed internet connections with the result that UK companies account for just 30% of ADSL services, according to a new report from Oftel. The telecoms regulator also found that under one in ten SMEs have taken up broadband. This is partly due to the fact that… Continue reading UK Companies Remain Cool On Broadband

The business to business (B2B) information technology publishing sector saw advertising page volumes decline by 24.1% during August, according to the latest figures from United Business Media (UBM). UBM’s US publishing division, CMP Media, saw its own ad volumes decline by 10.3% in the month, buoyed by an increase in share of the market from… Continue reading Technology Advertising Remains Very Weak, Says UBM