Reuters announced yesterday that it is pressing ahead with the proposed flotation of its financial information service Instinet. The move has provoked criticism from media analysts as the timing coincides with worldwide slumps in stock markets. The filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission indicates the business is valued around $3bn, a figure which,… Continue reading Reuters’ Plan To Float Instinet Meets With Market Criticism

While press reports declare the UK to be slipping into ad revenue decline the outdoor industry continues to enjoy a boom period. Still one of the market’s smaller players, with around 5% of total adspend, its growth continues, partly as a result of corrosion across other media. Iain McLellan, director of the Outdoor Advertising Association… Continue reading Insight Analysis: Feature: Outdoor Holds Onto Its Place In The Sun

Korea is leading the world in broadband usage, while the UK has one of the lowest rates of broadband penetration, according to new research by NetValue. More than half of Korean households with internet use a broadband connection, whilst only 3.1% of online UK households do. % Of Internet Households Connected Via Broadband Korea 57.3%… Continue reading Korea Leads In Broadband Usage While UK Lags

Global marketing communications group, Cordiant, has announced the acquisition of Gallagher & Kelly Public Relations, a leading business communications consultancy in Ireland. Based in Dublin, Gallagher & Kelly provides clients with a range of corporate communications services, including media relations, public affairs and corporate brand communications. The company advises and represents a range of domestic… Continue reading Cordiant Acquires Dublin PR Firm

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