Deutsche Telekom has announced that it has been informed by the Federal Cartel Office in Bonn that it will not grant approval for the sale of Deutsche TelekomÂ’s cable TV businesses to Liberty Media (see Liberty Media’s Deutsche Telekom Cable Deal Hits Regulatory Snags). Deutsche Telekom stated that it “has always considered that the sale… Continue reading German Regulators Block Liberty Cable Deal

Regional Independent Media today reported a rise in profits of 8%, rising to £44.1 million in 2001 from £40.9 million in 2000. Turnover increased by 3.5% to £175.3million. 84% of turnover was derived from the group’s newspaper interests, including the Yorkshire Post and Sheffield Star both of which saw an increase in circulation in 2002.… Continue reading RIM Exceeds Expectations But 2002 “Remains Uncertain”

CMR forecasts that network and spot television spending for the 2002 Winter Olympics will total approximately $700 million, a rise from the $627 million grossed during the last Winter Olympics. During the 1998 Winter Olympics, network television grossed $480 million and spot television $147 million. In 2000, network advertising expenditures for the 2000 Summer Olympics… Continue reading Winter Olympics Will Boost US TV Revenue, Says CMR

Usage of interactive TV services has more than doubled over the past year according to a the Q1 2002 Digital TV Report from Continental Research. The frequency of digital TV subscribers who have ever used interactive services has grown from 4.3% in April 2001 to 9.6% in Jan 2002. The percentage of people using once… Continue reading “Content Is King” Says Interactive TV Report From Continental Research

eMarketer today reports that despite a decline in 2001, the number of mobile phone shipments will rise from 463 million in 2002 to 475.9 million by 2003. The latest report from Micrologic Research forecasts that mobile phone shipments in 2006 will number 735 million. Worldwide Mobile Phone, PDA and PC Shipment Forecasts    1998  1999 … Continue reading Mobile Phone Shipment Forecasts From Gartner and Micrologic Research

January figures from the Mobile Data Association indicate that the growth in popularity of SMS messaging recorded in 2001 is set to continue this year. 1.4 billion text messages were sent in the UK in January and the UK average daily figure for messages sent across the four UK GSM network operators is now 45… Continue reading 60 Million Text Messages Per Month In UK By The End Of 2002, Says MDA

Oftel has proposed a cut in BT’s wholesale unmetered internet access prices. The 7% cut is based on detailed information on BTÂ’s costs for providing wholesale unmetered Internet access to other operators under the FRIACO arrangements. David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications, said: “Up until now, BTÂ’s FRIACO charges to other operators to provide wholesale… Continue reading Oftel Moves To Cut BT Internet Costs

Pearson has this morning confirmed that, having received several expressions of interest in FT Business, it has appointed investment Lazard to advise on the sale. The FT Business portfolio includes Investors Chronicle, The Banker, Money Management and Financial Adviser in the UK but does not include the FT or Pearson’s 50% stake in The Economist.… Continue reading Pearson Puts FT Business Up For Sale

According to press reports this morning the ever-acquisitive WPP has approached advertising agency Leagas Delaney about a possible take over. WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell is thought to have approached the Leagas board with the intention of bringing in into the WPP fold as the headquarters of the Red Cell Network. The deal would provide… Continue reading Sorrell Eyes Leagas Delaney

NTL today announced yesterday that it has signed an agreement with Macquarie Bank to sell its Australian broadcast business for A$850 million in an all cash transaction. NTL Australia covers 98% of the terrestrial broadcast population in Australia from 578 sites located across the country. For the year ended December 31, 2001, NTL AustraliaÂ’s revenues… Continue reading NTL Sells Off Australian Broadcast Business