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 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

About 21 million Europeans are regular visitors to newspaper websites, according to a new report by Forrester Research. This is equivalent to just 8% of the the continent’s population. Nevertheless, the study found that individuals who access web newspapers are generally younger, wealthier, and better educated than the average consumer. They also tend to have… Continue reading Newspaper Sites Attract Upmarket Readers, Says Forrester

Video game platforms are set to experience rapid growth in the coming years according to a report by Screen Digest for the European Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA). The study entitled Wireless, Interactive TV & Online Gaming claims that iTV, mobile and multiplayer console games will energise the home entertainment sector and bring about a… Continue reading Bright Future Predicted For Gaming Platforms

Take-up of digital TV has increased by 10% in the UK during the past year, according to a survey conducted by MORI on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Approximately 40% of UK households now have access to digital television, up from 30% last year. Moreover, the report found that 71% of… Continue reading Digital TV Take-Up On The Increase, Says Report

US media spend is set to total $155.6 billion this year, according to new, upgraded forecasts from Jack Myers Report. Myers Report has slightly revised its figures for 2002 and 2003 in its July update. It had previously calculated that total spend would amount to $151.2 billion this year. Adspend is expected to hit $160.3… Continue reading Myers Amends US Advertising Forecasts