ABN AMRO this morning reports that Zenith will downgrade its ad spend forecasts for 2002 citing a ‘lag’ in US spending as adspend struggles to catch up with the improving economy. Zenith now believes that the advertising market will not recover until Q4 2002. The new figures from Zenith compare with those from ABN AMRO… Continue reading Zenith Downgrades ‘Overly Optimistic’ 2002 Forecasts

Debt-laden cable company NTL (see NTL Rejects Liberty, But Merger With Telewest Could Still Make Sense) announced this morning that a deal with bondholders had been agreed in principle which would see operations divided between two companies in order to facilitate recapitalisation. NTL said that agreement had been reached “in principle on recapitalisation terms with… Continue reading NTL Rescue Plans Revealed

The Online Publishers Association (OPA) has revealed the results of a ‘media mix’ study undertaken with Millward Brown IntelliQuest during February 2002. The study, testing recall and memorability of online and television advertising, concluded that there is a “positive, synergistic effect” when TV and online advertising are used in tandem. In an ad recall test,… Continue reading TV And Online Ad Mix Generates Greater Recall, Says The OPA

In its eighth annual survey of senior executives at leading advertising and markting organisations, AdMedia Partners found evidence of optimism amongst the execs when asked about the outlook for the industry. Advertising and marketing executives from across the US were questioned: 45% from newspapers; 44% from interactive media; 39% from business-to-business publications; 36% from exhibitions/trade… Continue reading AdMedia Discovers Optimism Amongst Ad Execs

With local television audiences turning to cable, the web and print options for daily news, Forrester forecasts that broadcasters can recover local relevance only by extending their programming and promotion throughout the day to cable operators, newspapers and online providers. Forrester says “Stations must recreate themselves as providers of video programming and marketing services across… Continue reading US TV Stations Must Collaborate For Local Audiences, Says Forrester

US newspapers are showing stronger advertising revenue performances than had been expected, sending signals of a possible ad recovery to the industry, according to a report in the Editor and Publisher. The article says that Merrill Lynch had expected a 7% year on year decline in revenue during February, but that figures were coming in… Continue reading US Newspaper Groups Show Stronger Than Expected Ad Revenues

In a report released yesterday, Aberdeen Group forecasts that worldwide information technology (IT) spending will reach $1.43 trillion by 2005. The report Worldwide IT Spending 2002-2005: Timing the Recovery forecasts that IT spending growth will be significantly lower than the double-digit rates observed in the late 1990s. “Total IT expenditures in 2001 were flat worldwide,… Continue reading IT Spending Will Reach $1.43 Trillion By 2005, Says Aberdeen Group

A quarter of all internet-connected British businesses are planning to adopt a broadband connection within the next 12 months, according to the latest wave of the Business Internet survey, published this month by NOP Business, the specialist business research division of NOP World. High speed drivers Recently announced price reductions in high-speed, broadband services are… Continue reading British Businesses Enticed By High-Speed Net Connections

US cable advertising revenues will increase from $4 billion to $4.5 billion in the 2002/03 season and to $5.5 billion in 2003/04, according to forecasts from Discovery Networks’ sales chief, Bill McGowan, as reported by Jack Myers Report today. McGowan also predicted that basic cable audience share would surpass that of the four leading broadcast… Continue reading US Cable Upfronts Look Stronger, Whilst Network TV Sales Remain Weak

Indebted UK cable company, NTL, this week rejected a $2 billion bid from US company Liberty Media, preferring instead to restructure and refinance with its own bondholders (see NTL Is Close To Refinancing, Says Report). Liberty Media already holds a 25% stake in Telewest Communications, the UK’s second largest cable operator and is known to… Continue reading NTL Merger With Telewest Could Still Make Sense