Jupiter Media Metrix forecasts that the online travel market (sales of air travel, car rentals, cruises and hotels) will be worth $64 billion by 2007. In 2001, the total spent online on these services was $24 billion. According to a Jupiter consumer survey, 77% percent of consumers who research or purchase their travel online visit… Continue reading Online Travel Will Be Worth $64 Billion By 2007

Despite some positive indicators for media spending, Jack Myers Report has chosen not to upgrade its outlook for US media in 2002, restating figures released in December. Myers 2002 Media Spending Outlook  Medium  % Growth  $ (x000)  % Share  Newspapers -2.0% 46,483 25.8 Broadcast Networks -4.0% 15,475 8.6 National Spot TV -9.0% 8,928 5 Broadcast… Continue reading Myers Restates US Outlook For 2002

Growth of the US online population slowed in 2001 to 6%, reaching around 105 million ‘active’ users by year-end, according to the Year In Review report released at the end of March by Nielsen//NetRatings. Growth of the overall at-home users also slowed – to 10% – with the population reaching 174 million. A mature market… Continue reading US Internet Market Reaches Maturity In 2001

Half of US homes will be regular video on-demand (VOD) users by 2008, spending $26 billion on VOD services over the next seven years, according to a report from Strategy Analytics. The group says that ‘after years of unfulfilled promised, the age of content on demand is finally approaching.’ The report estimates that more than… Continue reading Age Of Content On Demand Approaches Says Strategy Analytics

In a meeting with FA officials yesterday, football league chairmen decided that there should be no compromise on the £89.25 million payment expected by the league from ITV Digital in August. Following ITV Digital’s announcement that they would honour a £20 million payment owed to the Premiership in lieu of broadcast rights, the FA chairmen… Continue reading Football League Battle With ITV Digital Continues

A US Court Of Appeals has ruled that the Federal Communications Commission’s ‘8-voices’ ownership rule is ‘arbitray and capricious’, according to a report on Mediaweek.com. The 8-voices rule was established in August 1999 and prevents television operators from running duopolies and local marketing agreements in markets where there are less than eight voices. The Court… Continue reading US Court Brands 8-Voices Ownership Rule ‘Arbitrary And Capricious’

The refinancing and debt reduction plans of telecommunications company NTL are thought to be progressing well, with details of a structure set to be announced within weeks, according to a report on today’s Financial Times website. NTL has appointed Credit Suisse First Boston, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley to advise on a recapitalisation structure and reduction… Continue reading NTL May Take Temporary Bankruptcy As Refinancing Is Finalised

United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) has today announced that the release of full-year results for 2001 will be delayed by a further two weeks in order to finalise “the appropriate accounting treatment of certain interest rate cross currency hedging agreements in the wake of UPCÂ’s default on its public debt on March 3rd 2002” The Dutch… Continue reading UPC Results Delayed

As we head into Q2 2002, the extent of the economic and advertising downturn is really making itself known. UK media companies are struggling with the twin curses of heavy debt and falling ad revenues. ITV Digital is to be sent to the administrators (see End For ITV Digital Confirmed), whilst NTL is struggling to… Continue reading Insight Analysis: Media Healthcheck – March 2002

In the face of stiff competition from direct broadcast satellite (DBS) pay-TV services, says Cahners In-Stat, the US cable television industry is focusing on the delivery of a “package” of digital services to consumers. These services include digital video service, cable modem service and cable telephony service. In order to provide these services, US cable… Continue reading ‘Plenty Of Room’ For US Digital Cable Growth, Says In-Stat