German publishing group Axel Springer is reported to be in talks with Hamburg agencies about the launch campaign for a German edition of Maxim. Axel has acquired the publishing licence for the men’s monthly from UK owners Dennis Publishing. According to a report on AdAge.com, agencies invited to pitch for the lads’ mag launch campaign… Continue reading Axel Springer Invites Agency Pitch For German Maxim Launch

ABN Amro has said there is a risk of disappointment in European cable group UPC’s digital cable roll-out. The broker says that one of the key elements in driving growth in UPC’s average revenue per user (ARPU) is the development of its digital cable service. However, ABN thinks that the roll-out will have a negative… Continue reading UPC’s Digital Cable Roll-Out May Disappoint, Says ABN Amro

Global marketing and communications group, WPP, has made three small but key acquisitions this week, helping to build its marketing services businesses. It has bought UK sales and marketing management company, Glendinning. The group helps clients such as Coca-Cola, Nestlé and Tesco develop sales development skills, customer marketing and management. WPP has also acquired icon,… Continue reading WPP Makes Three Acquisitions

Following a trading statement last week outlining plans to further cut its internet operations (see EMAP Trading Statement – Reaction), EMAP has now given details of a boost to its launch budget. The media group is to increase its new launch spend from £17 million to £22 million for the 2001/2 financial year. EMAP has… Continue reading EMAP Boosts Magazine Launch Budget

German parliament has approved the use of electricity power lines and wall sockets for delivery of the internet to households, paving the way for a new platform of web access. The system works by converting data signals into frequencies that electricity networks can carry and proponents say that the system will offer lower prices and… Continue reading German May Receive Net Via Electricity Network

According to French newspaper La Tribune, media group Vivendi Universal is considering the acquisition of sports rights company ISL – itself close to bankruptcy. Vivendi is also close to merging its own sports rights division, Sport Plus, with Group Jean-Claude Darmon and RTL’s UFA Sport. However, this merger will not give Vivendi a huge international… Continue reading Vivendi May Buy Up Troubled Sports Rights Group, ISL

B2C sales in the nine leading product categories are expected to soar to $168 billion by 2005, up from $34 million last year, according to new research from Boston Consulting Group. Key sectors for growth include leisure travel, grocery and clothing categories and BCG maintain that traditional retailers, those with an established product and sales… Continue reading Positive Outlook For Retail eCommerce

In a Forrester poll of more than 700 senior business executives attending the Forrester B2B Technology Leadership Forum in Arizona, 59% stated that they are maintaining or furthering their internet efforts despite the slowdown in the economy. Of these executives, 85% stated that connecting more closely with business partners and customers is a top priority.… Continue reading US Companies Remain Committed To eBusiness, Says Forrester

According to new research by NOP, 12% of German internet users taking advantage of wireless access in comparison with only 6% of British and French users. Likewise, German internet users are also more aware of advances in technology and two thirds of those questioned were aware of the impending arrival of the new 3G mobiles… Continue reading Germans Lead The Way In Mobile Net Use

According to a recent survey by Folio:, a trade magazine for magazine publishers, more than 200 of the top 500 magazines in the US distribute free online newsletters believeing this to be a good way to drive traffic to their sites. Opinion was divided on whether such newsletters were a good source of revenue though,… Continue reading US Mags Make Use Of eNewsletters To Drive Traffic