United Business Media (UBM) is expecting revenue and profits to finish the year in line with expectations, despite the difficult market conditions. In a pre-close trading statement issued today, chief executive Clive Hollick said the company had achieved a “satisfactory performance in an exceptionally tough year,” adding that, the ‘significant reduction’ in UBM’s cost base… Continue reading UBM Says Profits Will Be As Expected

Year end results for Daily Mail & General Trust plc, released today, revealed a 7% drop in profits despite an overall rise in advertising revenues. Adjusted profit before tax was £178 million compared to £192 million for 2000, turnover was up 6% to £1.96 billion. The last two months have seen a sharp decline in… Continue reading DMGT Results Bring No Respite From Ad Gloom

The FT reports this morning that troubled German media company Kirch have held talks with Liberty Media regarding the group’s debts (see Kirch Group Faces Financial Crisis, Say Reports) and possible ways of raising funds in order to meet loan repayments and satisfy demands from shareholders. In November Liberty boss John Malone met Leo Kirch… Continue reading Kirch In Talks With Liberty Media

Jupiter Media Metrix today released the third instalment of its Online Shopping Index, which revealed that visitors to a sample of around 500 shopping sited increased 50% compared with the same week last year, rising from 34.9 million to 52.4 million unique visitors. The index was up 1% against the previous week, when 51.7 million… Continue reading Jupiter Reports Record High In US Online Shopping

According to the Publishers Information Bureau, total US magazine revenue fell again in November to $1,582,558,240 – an 11.2% decrease on last year. Advertising pages were down 17.3% on last year to 23,053. Advertising revenue for the year to date decreased 4.3% on the same period 2000 at $14,907,644,194 and ad pages were 219,554, down… Continue reading US Magazine Revenues Tumble Further In November

German media giant, Kirch Group, is reportedly facing a financial crisis if the Dresdner Bank calls in a loan repayment, as expected, of around E500 million. The deadline for the loan is officially the end of this year, although credit is often extended. However, the reports suggest that Dresdner will not be allowing an extension… Continue reading Kirch Group Faces Financial Crisis, Say Reports

Vivendi Universal may be able to put together a global cable and television production business, using the entertainment arm of the USA Networks media company, press reports are suggesting today. Jean-Marie Messier, chairman of the French group Vivendi, is said to be in discussions with Barry Diller, his opposite number at USA Networks, about carving… Continue reading Vivendi May Take USA Networks’ Cable And TV Businesses

In its annual report on the UK, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says that the UK economy has fared better than most in the current global slowdown as a result of a “prudent and predictable fiscal policy”. Unemployment is now at its lowest level for 25 years and Gordon Brown’s recent pre-budget report (PBR) is… Continue reading UK Economy ‘On A Steady Course’ Says IMF

Online marketing has become a ‘critical element’ in the European marketer’s mix, according to a research report from DoubleClick, published this month. The European Digital Marketing Survey looked at the use of online marketing tools in France, Germany, the UK, Spain, Italy and Scandinavia. It found that the UK leads the way in the adoption… Continue reading UK Leads Europe In Online Marketing Usage

Regional newspaper publisher Johnston Press has this morning released a pre-close trading update which boasted profits in the ‘top range of market estimates’ and a growth in ad revenue of 1.6%, compared to to the same period 2000. Growth of 3.6% in ad revenue for the period to June 2001, boosted by a 13% rise… Continue reading Johnston Press Bucks Advertising Trend With Positive Growth For 2001