Independent News & Media this morning released preliminary full year results for 2002 which reveal a slump in the company’s profits in what it describes as a ‘difficult’ year. Pre-tax profits fell to £38 million, compared to £95 million in 2000, turnover also fell slightly on 2000 totals. The company said that despite the difficulties… Continue reading Independent Reports ‘Robust’ Performance As Profits Slump

The fate of ITV Digital looks set to be decided following a High Court meeting this morning at which the company’s administrator – Deloitte & Touche – confirmed that it is preparing the business for sale. Following weeks of negotiation with the Football League (see Football League Battle With ITV Digital Continues) – still ongoing… Continue reading ITV Digital Prepared For Sale As One Week Of Talks Remains

A series of ‘hidden liabilities’ scuppered rescue plans made by investors to save the Kirch media group from insolvency according to press reports. Investors including Rupert Murdoch and Silvio Berlusconi withdrew offers of funding following the emergence of hidden liabilities – most notably an E150+ arrangement with Leo Kirch’s son Thomas – within the group’s… Continue reading Kirch Investors Abandon Rescue Plans

The New York Times Company today announced that advertising revenues for the company’s Newspaper Group decreased 9.7% in March 2002 when compared with the same month last year. The decline in March was slightly greater than that recorded in February (8.9%) due to a switch of the Easter holiday from April last year into March… Continue reading NYT Ad Revenue Drops Further

More evidence that 2001 was one of the toughest years ever for the advertising industry was revealed today, as US trade magazine Adweek published its 19th annual Agency Report Card. The figures show that revenue for the 33 US agencies on the survey was down by an average of 3.5%. The year before, at the… Continue reading Agency Revenue Survey Shows Extent Of 2001 Ad Fall

The UK market research industry saw better growth than other marketing sectors in 2001, according to the latest data from the British Market Research Association, reported by the World Advertising Research Center. Turnover at BMRA companies rose by 7.1% last year and although this is lower than the 9.3% growth of 2000, it is nonetheless… Continue reading UK Market Research Markedly Outperforms Advertising In 2001

BizRate.com has increased its US online retail sales estimate for 2002 from $45.2 billion to $51.5 billion, representing a jump from 26% growth to 44%, according to a report from eMarketer. The number of online transactions rose from 68 million in Q2 2001 to 92 million in Q1 2002 – a increase of 35%, according… Continue reading US 2002 Online Retail Sales Forecasts Comparisons

US newspaper groups are about to start posting their Q1 2002 financial results, offering an indication of how the sector has started the year from an advertising point of view and what the outlook for the coming months is likely to be. A recent report in Editor and Publisher found that revenue levels for February… Continue reading Insight Analysis: An Upward Tilt In US Advertising?

Newsprint costs in the US are set to fall in 2002, according to forecasts from Merrill Lynch. The broker says that costs will drop by 16.5% this year, boosting newspaper companies’ operating margins. However, newsprint costs are expected to rise by 23% in 2003. As a result, Merrill Lynch is modelling for an average 10-12%… Continue reading Newsprint Costs To Fall In 2002 But Rise In 2003

ABN AMRO has cut its EBITDA forecast for BSKyB by £25m in reponse to slower advertising growth and lower wholesale revenues, increasing predicted pre-tax losses from £158m to £188m. Advertising forecasts have been cut £18m, or 6%, although a 14% growth is still expected, to £274m. Wholesale revenue forecasts have been cut by £8m to… Continue reading ABN AMRO Makes