Scottish media company, SMG, intends to sell its newspaper and magazine publishing business in order to reduce debt and to concentrate on its core operations of television and radio. By divesting of the publishing interests, SMG hopes to be able to benefit more readily from the changes in media ownership legislation that the new Communications… Continue reading SMG To Sell Publishing And Online Business

Pre-tax profits at SMG, the Glasgow-based media company, dropped by 42.5% to £11.5 million in H1, whilst earnings fell by 9.0% to £31.3 million, the group announced this morning. The figures, which exclude online activities and goodwill amortisation, are in line with the company’s expectations and ahead of predictions by analysts at ABN Amro. SMG… Continue reading SMG Profits Hit By ITV Ad Decline

Pan-European broadcaster, RTL Group, has said that it is not interested in acquiring the 35% stake in the UK’s Channel 5 currently owned by United Business Media (UBM), nor does it wish to buy either of the ITV companies. The group’s position was made clear by chief executive Didier Bellens at a conference call, as… Continue reading RTL Not After ITV Or Remaining C5 Stake

Global market research firm, Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), has posted a strong set of first half financial results, with pre-tax profits rising by 10.9% to £19.0 million year on year. Chief executive, Mike Kirkham, said that market conditions have been more difficult than had been expected. Nevertheless, TNS’ business performed ‘resiliently’ in the six months… Continue reading Taylor Nelson Sofres Shows Good H1 Figures, Despite Difficult Markets

One in five Americans consider the internet to be the “most essential” medium in their lives and it is now appreciated as much as television, according to a report from Arbitron and Edison Media Research. Survey results published in “Internet 9: The Media and Entertainment World of Online Consumers”, showed that 34% of respondents believed… Continue reading Web Rivals Television In The Popularity Stakes

The worldwide internet population will increase from its current level of 565 million to 725 million by the end of 2004, according to a forecast from eMarketer. The report also asserted that the Asia-Pacific region is set to surpass Europe and North America in terms of number of web users. Nua recently stated that Europe… Continue reading Internet Population To Rise By 28% In Next Two Years

Consumer online purchases in the US are predicted to increase by 27% in the course of the 2002 holiday season, according to a new forecast from Forrester Research. The study estimates that consumers will spend a total of $72.1 billion on non-travel purchases this year. This is expected to rise to $217 billion in 2007,… Continue reading US Online Spending To Surge In Run Up To Christmas

Analysts at Merrill Lynch have slightly downgraded their 2003 forecasts for US and global advertising growth, warning that further downgrades are more likely than upgrades. The broker says that in its previous forecasts in June it was modestly raising the figures, believing this was an err on the conservative side. Now, it is reducing the… Continue reading Merrill Lynch Lowers 2003 US And Global Ad Forecasts

As expected, Cordiant Communications chief executive, Michael Bungey, will leave the company in March 2003 and will be succeeded by David Hearn, currently chairman and CEO of the company’s US ad network, Bates Worldwide (see Hearn Expected To Succeed Bungey At Cordiant). The confirmation of Bungey’s departure comes as Cordiant’s first half results show that… Continue reading Bungey’s Departure Confirmed As Cordiant Profits Tumble

Regional newspaper publisher, Johnston Press, has sold the Galloway Gazette and the Stornoway Gazette businesses to Scottish Radio Holdings (SRH) for an undisclosed sum, the group announced this morning. Johnston acquired the businesses as part of its acquisition of Regional Independent Media (RIM) earlier this year (see Johnston Press Acquires RIM Newspaper Business). The Galloway… Continue reading Johnston Press Sells Scottish RIM Papers