Press reports today have suggested that EMAP is considering spinning off its radio interests into a separate business. This may pump up its market rating ahead of a relaxation of ownership rules and the subsequent consolidation in the radio industry. EMAP is primarily a magazine publishing group and because consumer press is a slower growth… Continue reading EMAP Radio Business Spin-Off Speculated By Reports

US media executives are eyeing takeover and merger opportunities in the UK, following the relaxation in ownership restrictions proposed by the Draft Communications Bill, according to report in this morning’s Financial Times. The paper notes that Bob Wright, chief executive of NBC, was in London last week on the lookout for possible deals for his… Continue reading US Media Execs Eye UK Opportunities, Says FT

Scottish Radio Holdings (SRH) says that radio revenues are expected to drop by 2% in the year to the end of September. This is offset by a 2% rise in press revenue, leaving overall group revenues flat for the year, excluding acquisitions and disposals. Including acquisitions, radio and press revenues combined are 12% ahead of… Continue reading SRH Radio Revenues Drop 2% In Full Year

Jazz FM and Guardian Media Group (GMG) have reached an agreement following a revised takeover offer from GMG for the radio station, the two groups announced yesterday evening. GMG had previously tabled an offer of 180p per share, or £41 million, but the Jazz FM Board had urged its shareholders to take no action with… Continue reading Jazz FM Agrees To £44.5m Takeover By Guardian Media

A new report on global entertainment and media (E&M) spend published by PricewaterhouseCoopers has found that the industry will enjoy a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% between this year and 2006, eventually reaching $1.4 trillion (see Entertainment And Media Spend Set For 5.2% Growth To 2006, Says PWC). The report also makes a… Continue reading PricewaterhouseCoopers Predicts Global Media And Entertainment Sector Growth

Merrill Lynch analysts have cut their European advertising growth forecasts for 2002 and 2003, as economies remain relatively weak. The forecast for this year has been reduced from -2.0% to -3.0%, whilst 2003 is downgraded from 3.5% to 1.5-2.0%. The broker has made similar reductions to its US and global ad forecasts (see Merrill Lynch… Continue reading Regional Forecasts Nudged Down By Merrill Lynch

The high interest of under 25s and up scale consumers will drive demand for 3G mobile services, much as these groups drove the growth of the overall mobile phone market. This is one of the findings of the Wireless and Internet Technology Adoption By Consumers Around The World report from Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). The… Continue reading Young, Up-Market Consumers Will Drive Mobile Internet, Says TNS

Revenue from interactive television (iTV) has been slow to materialise and underneath the high expectations there is a sense of disappointment. This is according to a new outlook report from analysts at Accenture. Interactive services were first launched in Europe in the late 1990s, but so far the medium has pretty much failed to live… Continue reading Interactive TV: Disappointingly Slow Start, But Potential Is There, Says Accenture

Independent News & Media (INM) this morning said that it is ‘cautiously optimistic’ that 2002’s results will show an improvement on those achieved during the past year. The group publishes the Independent national newspaper in the UK and has other print, outdoor and broadcasting interests across the world, notably in Ireland, New Zealand and Australia.… Continue reading Advertising Shows More Consistency, Says Independent

Upfront television sales in the US indicate that the advertising market there is improving, according to an analysis of network figures by ABN Amro. NBC has confirmed that it has sold all of its prime time inventory and has won forward commitments valued at $2.7 billion, up from $800 million in 2001, according to the… Continue reading US Upfronts Indicate Recovering Market