Faster internet connections and lowering prices will not be enough to induce the widespread adoption of broadband services in the UK, says a new report from PPAinteractive. In the past month, BT, AOL and Telewest have all introduced new high-speed internet services and according to a recent report from Oftel (see Cheap UK Broadband Internet… Continue reading Broadband Providers Must Look Beyond Price, Says PPAi

The switch-off of the analogue television signal throughout European countries is unlikely to occur before 2015, later than the 2010 target that many governments are hoping to achieve, according to analysts at Lehman Brothers. In a new report on the European digital terrestrial television (DTT) market, the broker says that take-up of the platform will… Continue reading European Analogue TV Switch-Off Unlikely Before 2015

Pearson has today ended speculation that it was prepared to sell its FT Business magazines by confirming that the titles are to be retained within the organisation. A management team led by Stephen Hill, former chief executive of the Financial Times Group, had tabled a bid, believed to be in the region of £80 million,… Continue reading Pearson Opts To Keep FT Business

After the most traumatic week in its short history, the French media group, Vivendi Universal, is in the process of effecting a rescue package which the management hopes will enable it to avoid a E1.8 billion shortfall. The heavily-indebted company is believed to have only E2.4 billion in cash reserves as well as unused credit… Continue reading Vivendi Launches Debt Relief Strategy

The number of digital cable TV subscribers in France increased by 30% in a year, according to the country’s organisation of cable operators, Aform. Figures show that at the end of March this year, there were 710,000 people viewing digital television via cable. Meanwhile, cable internet subscriptions had reached 210,000, a rise of 40% year… Continue reading French Turning On To Cable, Says Research

The successful bid by the BBC led coalition for the DTT licences formerly held by ITV Digital could mark a watershed in UK broadcasting, according to analysts at Lehman Brothers. The Independent Television Commission (ITC) yesterday awarded the available multiplex licences to the BBC, Crown Castle and BSkyB consortium. The three organisations are set to… Continue reading BBC/BSkyB To Reap Fruits Of DTT Victory, Says Lehman Brothers

The beleaguered cable firm, Telewest, has announced that it is to start talks with bondholders and Liberty Media about restructuring its balance sheet. In a letter sent to shareholders today, the board confirmed that Liberty, which has a 25% share in the company, had made an offer to buy 20% of Telewest’s outstanding bonds. Chairman… Continue reading Telewest Agrees To Discuss Refinancing

Twelve percent of the US population now have broadband at home, according to a new report from Pew Internet & American Life Project. The total number of people using high speed web services now stands at 24 million, up from just 6 million in June 2000. Twenty-one percent of US internet users now access the… Continue reading US Broadband Net Population Swells To 24m

Revenues from online music services are set to multiply in the next few years, according to a new study from Screen Digest. With retail sales in Europe stabilizing, record companies are stepping up efforts to distribute their products by alternative means. The report predicts that online music sales will represent 17% of total music industry… Continue reading Music Sites To Find Right Rhythm, Says Screen Digest

Public access wireless local area networks (PWLANs) will not have a dramatic impact on the European telecommunications market, according to a new study by The Yankee Group. The report, Public Access WLAN in Europe: A Technology in Search of a Business Case?, acknowledges the progress made in developing WLANs but questions whether the infrastructure is… Continue reading Potential of WLANs Has Been Exaggerated, Says Yankee Group