RAI, the Italian state broadcaster faces the prospect of privatisation in a new set of proposals revealed by the country’s communications minister, Maurizio Gasparri. Gasparri is planning to introduce a bill into the Italian parliament that will result in the step-by-step privatisation of RAI, which broadcasts across three TV and eight radio networks. Silvio Berlusconi’s… Continue reading Italian State Broadcaster Facing Privatisation

27.08.02 RTL, the pan-European television group owned by Bertelsmann, has quashed speculation linking it with a takeover move for either Carlton or Granada. It will instead concentrate on developing its Channel 5 subsidiary. According to a report in the Financial Times, Didier Bellens, RTL chief executive, is set to increase programme spending at the channel… Continue reading RTL Rules Out ITV Acquisitions

First half US advertising revenue came in pretty much flat, according to new figures from CMR, suggesting that, at the moment, a solid rebound seems far from likely this year. CMR’s data shows that overall spend dropped by 0.2% in H1 2002, to $53.7 billion, as against a particularly weak H1 2001. This flat performance… Continue reading US First Half Adspend Comes In Flat, According To CMR

A new report from Forrester Research reveals that while the growth in internet usage is slowing, there are now more regular online shoppers. The internet penetration rate in Europe rose from 43% in the final quarter of 2001 to 46% in the second quarter this year. However, although the number of new internet users appears… Continue reading Europeans Revel In Online Shopping Experience

Newspaper advertising expenditures for the second quarter of 2002 reached $10.9 billion, down 1.8% year on year, according to preliminary estimates from the Newspaper Association of America (NAA). Retail advertising spending was flat in the quarter, off just 0.1% to $5.3 billion. National was down 1.7% to $1.8 billion and classified slipped 4.1% to almost… Continue reading US Newspaper Revenue Down 4.0% In First Half, Says NAA

US magazine readership amongst adults has increased by 5.3% since 1998, outpacing the 4.4% growth in the adult population over the same period, according to the Magazine Publishers of America (MPA) and Mediamark Research Inc. (MRI). Ellen Oppenheim, chief marketing officer and executive vice president of the MPA, notes that this growth comes despite the… Continue reading US Magazine Readership Growth Outpaces Population Rise

AT&T, the US telecoms company, has completed the sale of its 27.6% stake in Time Warner Entertainment. AOL Time Warner has paid $9 million for full control of TWE and will now take sole charge of the Warner Brothers film studios plus a number of cable channels including HBO amd Comedy Central. The payment will… Continue reading AOL Finalises Deal With AT&T

The indebted cable operator, Telewest Communications has announced the appointment of a new finance director to lead it through a period of financial restructuring. Mark Luiz moves from his current position as chief operating officer to succeed Charles Burdick, who was promoted to managing director earlier this month (see Telewest Chief Executive Removed In ‘Boardroom… Continue reading Luiz To Manage Telewest Finances

This is the question being posed by market analysts currently, after recent worries over corporate profitability and a waning consumer confidence have raised the spectre of an economic dip into a second period of recession. The notion was given further credence by comments from WPP chief executive, Sir Martin Sorrell, who warned earlier this week… Continue reading Insight Analysis: Advertising – Double Dip Or Return To Growth?

US online retail sales increased by 3.7% in the second quarter of 2002, but market share slipped to 1.2%, according to the US Commerce Department. New figures show that ecommerce sales totalled $10.24 million, up from $9.88 million in the first quarter of the year. However online purchases were up by 24.2% year on year.… Continue reading US Ecommerce Sales Exceed $10 Million In Q2