Pearson has indicated that it is defying the advertising and dotcom slump and heading for revenue and operating profit growth for the year ending 31 December. Among its success stories will be the FT’s internet enterprises, which are expected to break even two years ahead of schedule, in 2002. The second half of this year… Continue reading Pearson Heralds Revenue And Profit Growth Despite Advertising Slump

Anglo-Dutch publishing group, VNU, has announced the acquisition of US market research group, ACNielsen. The deal, worth $2.3bn, will be settled by an all cash transaction. Due for completion in the first quarter of 2001, the deal will reunite ACNielsen Corp, which tracks consumer shopping habits and box-office and internet data, with its former television-ratings… Continue reading VNU In $2.3bn Deal To Buy ACNielsen

Daily Mail & General Trust has reported a 7% dip in pre-tax profits during 2000 to £191.5 million. The group said increased expansion costs were to blame for the fall from £205.0 million for the same period last year. Turnover was up 15% at £1.9 billion and operating profit rose 23% to £311.5 million. The… Continue reading Expansion Of Metro Eats Into Profit At DMGT

Northern & Shell, the new owner of Express Newspapers, has sold the group’s internet sites for a nominal fee. The ownership of the sites – which include Express.co.uk, Sportlive.co.uk and Allaboutparents.com – has been transferred to stockbroker Seymour Pierce for £1. The move is part of a series of cost-cutting moves by Northern & Shell… Continue reading Desmond Pulls The Plug On Express Websites

Natmags has announced that it has taken a dominant equity share in AIM Publications, the UK’s leading publisher of wedding magazines. The publisher of Cosmo will add You & Your Wedding, Bride & Groom and the recently-launched London Wedding to its list of titles. The business will be renamed Natmag Specialist Media (AIM) and will… Continue reading Natmags Enters Wedding Sector With Acquisition Of AIM

United News and Media has announced that its profits for the year are likely to be in line with expectations, thanks in part to the disposal of £3.25bn of its consumer media assets. As a result it has confirmed that the company will be renamed United Business Media from Monday 18 December, and will restructure… Continue reading United News And Media Predicts Profits In Line With Expectations, Confirms Name Change

The board of United News and Media (UNM) has decided to exercise the option in its merger agreement with Granada Media which allows it to receive cash of £1,250m instead of Granada Media shares as the balance of consideration for UNM’s ITV and related assets. In September the company announced that if it took the… Continue reading United News and Media Announces Intention To Repurchase Shares

IPC has released results for the year which has seen a revival of the past – in the form of the Nova relaunch and an embracing of the future with the success of digital brand unmissabletv Profit before tax for the company, which introduced a new, brand-focussed strategy in June, reached £15.1m, compared to a… Continue reading IPC Announces More New Media Investment And NTL Deal For Unmissabletv

Yesterday’s Communications White Paper produced a mixed response from the media industry. The blueprint for the regulation of communications in the digital age was welcomed with caution by most industry bodies, and drew criticism for dodging important issues such as cross-media ownership and the creation of an independent regulator for the BBC. The biggest sweeping… Continue reading Industry Gives Cautious Welcome To White Paper

Almost 16 percent of US online households connected to the Internet via broadband this year, but a new report reveals security risks associated with the use of always-on Internet connections. By 2003, broadband services such as cable modem and DSL connections will penetrate 46 percent of all online households in the US. This forecast is… Continue reading Possible Risks To Security With Broadband Connection