The UK is making “astonishing progress” towards the take up of digital television, according to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, despite the fact that fewer than one in three homes have digital TV. A digital television survey just published by the DCMS shows that 25% of households predict that they will switch to digital television by… Continue reading DCMS Predicts 55% Digital Penetration By 2006

US publishing giant Hearst Corporation is backing a $1 billion (€1.17 billion) bid for the consumer magazine division of Dutch publisher VNU, according to the Wall Street Journal. The WSJ says that Hearst, publisher of Esquire and Cosmopolitan in the US, is backing a joint bid already on the table from Moscow’s Independent Media and… Continue reading Hearst Joins Bid For VNU Mags

Liberty Media is to buy six regional cable franchises in Germany from Deutsche Telekom, in a deal expected to be worth around €5.5 billion (£3.4 billion). Deutsche Telekom is disposing of six of its nine cable areas in order to finance the reduction of the group’s debt. The deal will give Liberty a strong foothold… Continue reading Insight Analysis: Deutsche Telekom Sells Cable Franchises To Liberty Media

Reports from Reuters suggest that US television network NBC is cutting its airtime prices in order to maintain its share of the advertising ‘pie’. The networks are currently in the midst of their ‘upfront’ advertising sales pitch (see US ‘Upfront’ Autumn TV Airtime Sales To Drop 14%, Says ABN), which often accounts for around three… Continue reading NBC Cuts Airtime Costs To Maintain Share

A definitive symbol of the economic downturn in the US is about to emerge as more than 1,000 companies are expected to issue negative earnings pre-announcements for the second quarter, according the Wall Street Journal. The first quarter record of 935 negative statements look set to be broken, according to the report, as companies realise… Continue reading Record Negative Earnings Announcements Expected In US

Spend on online streaming promotions and advertising will grow exponentially during the next four years, as residential broadband internet access rapidly increases in the US. This is according to a new report by the Yankee Group. The research says that the fast transfer capabilities of broadband will give businesses the chance to embrace fresh ways… Continue reading Streaming Media Adspend To Reach $3.1bn by 2005, Says Yankee Group

A new survey by Landor has established that the performance of a company’s stock price does not necessarily impact on the public perception of that company. Landor questioned over 11,000 internet users in 10 countries and asked them to rank seven aspects of technology companies in terms of positive or negative impact on brand strength.… Continue reading Strong Companies Will Survive Share Price Drops

Almost a third of US net users now have broadband access, according to new figures from market research firm Arbitron. In the report ‘Broadband Revolution 2: The Media World Of Speedies’ Arbitron found that 31% of internet users in the US had access via broadband either at home or in their workplace. Over 38% of… Continue reading Over 30% Of US Internet Users Now Have Broadband Access

The number of broadband subscribers worldwide will reach 84 million by the end of 2005, up from the 21 million expected by the end of this year. According to a new report from Cahners In-Stat Group, this rapid growth a direct result of increasing reliance on the internet as an information, communications, business and entertainment… Continue reading Broadband And DSL To Show Rapid Growth, Says Cahners InStat

CyberAtlasreport that women continue to outnumber men on the web, according to new figures from Jupiter. This is the continuation of a trend that emerged last year when the number of women on the net overall outnumbered men but particularly in the 35-54 age group. Digital Media Users by Age/Gender  Combined home & work  … Continue reading Women Continue To Outnumber Men Online, Says Jupiter