The number of internet users who have ever used streaming media has crossed the 50% threshold, according to a new study from Arbitron and Edison Media Research, released last week. The Internet & Streaming: What Consumers Want Next study finds that, as of July 2001, 52% of online Americans had used streaming media. More than… Continue reading Over 50% Of US Net Users Have Tried Streaming Media, Finds Arbitron

Video on-demand services (VOD) will reach more than 8.5 million people across Europe and generate revenue of up to $2.5 billion by 2006, according to analysts at marketing research firm, Frost & Sullivan. In a report released this month, Frost & Sullivan claims that the lure of the ‘vast new marketplace’ will lead an increasing… Continue reading European Video On-Demand To Reach 8.5m People By 2006

With cautious optimism, regional newspaper publishers Johnston Press today announced a 14.3% rise in H1 profits but warned that growth in H2 was likely to be more modest. Following the company’s optimistic trading statement in June (see Johnston Press Sees Positive Second Half), Johnston announced a like-for-like advertising increase of 3.2% buoyed by a 13%… Continue reading Johnston Press Announces 3.2% Growth In Ad Revenue For H1

Plans by pan-European cable company UPC to merge its German business with Primacom – the country’s third largest cable operator – were looking shaky yesterday when a Primacom shareholders’ vote to pass the deal was postponed. The merger of the two groups would create Germany’s second largest cable company. Regulatory clearance for the merger was… Continue reading UPC’s German Cable Merger In Doubt

Two thirds of all small businesses in the US now have access to the internet and half of these have their own website, according to research from Dun & Bradstreet published this month. The research shows that the majority of these businesses still have a dial-up connection to the web, but as 60% plan to… Continue reading Two Thirds Of US Small Businesses Have Web Access

The slow start to the US television market’s upfront sales, coupled with a very low rate of conversion to confirmed orders (see US TV Networks Suffer Low Pre-Season Ad Bookings), has seen the costs per thousand fall at all but two of the major networks, according to data from yesterday’s Myers Report. Costs per thousand… Continue reading US TV Upfronts Show Declining Airtime Costs That Could Be Here For A While

WPP’s The Media Edge (TME) and Tempus’ CIA have ended their partnership in Germany, according to a report in AdAge yesterday. The news comes as WPP is poised to takeover Tempus for £440 million. TME and CIA’s German subsidiary, Mediahaus Stroebel, have been in alliance for around seven years. The partnership is set to officially… Continue reading Media Edge And CIA End German Partnership

European free-to-air broadcaster RTL is reported to have delayed its UK stock listing for the second time. Whilst RTL stock does trade on the London Stock Exchange, it current has a float of less than 15%, the minimum required for entry to the FTSE100. Earlier in the year RTL delayed the 15% freefloat from April… Continue reading RTL Delays Full UK Stock Exchange Listing

Cable company Telewest’s interactive applications developer, SmashedAtom, is to shut its business unless a buyer can be found. The joint venture with Atomic Tangerine had a business model which relied on demand from third party broadcasters – a demand that has dwindled over recent months. Telewest says that it is now not necessary for it… Continue reading Telewest Closes Interactive Apps Developer SmashedAtom

The late start to the ad-buying period for the 2001-2002 US television season is starting to cause concern for the TV networks, according to an article in the US’ Mediaweek yesterday. The site reports that with only three weeks before the start of the season advertisers have placed formal orders for only around a third… Continue reading US TV Networks Suffer Low Pre-Season Ad Bookings