The Independent Television Commission (ITC) has extended its investigation into the cross-promotion of digital television services on terrestrial channels. According to analysts at ABN Amro, the consultation process received an unexpectedly large number of responses and the Commission was unable to make a decision by its 19 July deadline. ITV will be hoping that the… Continue reading ITC Extends Investigation Into Digital Cross-Promotions

Anglo-Dutch publishing group Reed Elsevier is one of the front-runners to buy the publishing arm of Vivendi Universal, according to this morning’s Financial Times. The paper reports that the French media group has given potential suitors three weeks in which to turn in offers for the business. Pearson, Wolters Kluwer, VNU, Bertelsmann and a number… Continue reading Reed Elsevier Is Likely Buyer Of Vivendi Publishing Arm

Although results fell in line with expectations, the expectations had never been particularly good and shares dropped to a low of 704 pence as Reuters announced a 21% drop in first-half pre-tax profits this morning. The group also announced an acceleration in its proposed ‘business transformation programme’, which includes axing 1,100 jobs over the next… Continue reading Reuters Results Fall In Line With Expectations, Speeding Job Cuts

There appears to be two opposing trends developing in the online world at present – the advertiser’s view of the web and the user’s. Whilst the former deteriorates, the latter grows more positive. In some ways the internet has suffered from the kind of over-hype that is often bestowed on the latest rock ‘n’ roll… Continue reading Insight Analysis: Does The Obsession With Click Rates Blind The Ad Industry To The Benefits Of The Internet?

eCommerce in the four Central European countries, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, is set to grow from $100 million in 2000 to $650 in 2001 according to latest figures from IDC. ‘End-use’ ecommerce is set for the greatest growth and will account for two thirds of all B2B revenues in 2001, that is… Continue reading Strong E-Commerce Growth Forecast For Central Europe

Carlton Interactive is to close its consumer entertainment websites, Popcorn and Jamba, while Granada plans to cut 80 jobs from its health TV channel and website, Wellbeing. Carlton’s online ad sales arm, Carlton Hyperactive, will cancel all ad campaigns booked across its Popcorn and Jamba sites from 1 September; all third party contracts will cease… Continue reading Carlton Interactive To Close Websites

The European Commission (EC) is challenging the UEFA over the way it sells the television rights to football games to broadcasters in Europe. Currently, free-to-air and pay-TV rights are sold to a single television network in each country. Champions’ League Rights    Free TV  Pay-TV        UK  ITV ITV Digital Italy  Mediaset Stream… Continue reading EC Challenges UEFA TV Sales Contracts

New data from Webmergers reports that 726 Internet companies were acquired in the first half of 2001, in deals worth a total of $6 billion. 56% of the deals in Q1 and Q2 involved acquisitions of infrastructure companies, such as those providing networking products and ebusiness software. A further 30% involved Internet destinations such as… Continue reading Strong Start To 2001 In The US M&A Market, Says Webmergers

The latest Report On eBusiness from Forrester shows that whilst some areas of B2B ecommerce are growing, many businesses are adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach to online purchasing and the like. Almost 73% of companies surveyed claimed that they used the internet for ‘indirect’ purchases, an increase from the 71% recorded in Q3, and… Continue reading Forrester Report Reveals Limited Growth In B2B E-Commerce

ITV Digital claims that it will reach its break even target of 2004, despite the widely reported difficulties experienced by the recently rebranded digital TV business. It was announced today that 48,000 new subscribers signed up during the last quarter, bringing the total at 30 June to 1.1 million and overtaking previously gloomy forecasts. Churn… Continue reading ITV Digital Places Breakeven At 2004