Independent News & Media has unveiled a series of cost-cutting measures and has promised to focus on “eliminating any loss-making businesses”. In a trading statement released today, INM said that it has failed to find a buyer for its 39% stake in Australian and New Zealand media business APN. The group had hoped to cut… Continue reading Independent News & Media unveils cost-cutting measures

MediaTel Group is hosting a full morning seminar next month looking at the ‘Future of TV’, which will be examining Ofcom’s reviews of PSB and CRR and asking what the future holds for Channel 4.The morning’s first session will look at the future of TV in terms of advances in technology and the impact upon… Continue reading ‘Future of TV’ seminar coming next month

Google reported a 15% year on year increase in global ad revenue in Q4 2008 to $5.5 billion, despite experiencing its first quarterly profit decline in the same quarter. The internet search giant managed to buck the continuing downward trend, as ad revenues from its own website increased from $3.1 billion in Q4 2007 to… Continue reading Google’s global ad revenue up 15% in Q4

The total global internet audience (age 15 and older from home and work computers) surpassed 1 billion visitors in December 2008, according to data from the comScore World Metrix audience measurement service. The Asia-Pacific region accounted for the highest share of global internet users at 41%, followed by Europe (28% share), North America (18% share),… Continue reading Global internet audience increases

US consumers are spending 11% more time online than watching TV, and internet video is emerging as the key platform for the delivery of on-demand video services. Yankee Group analysts advise that media companies should focus on the internet as a primary opportunity in 2009. The emergence of the ‘Anywhere Consumer’ – Yankee Group’s vision… Continue reading US consumers spending more time online than watching TV

Two of the media industry’s most respected commentators gave their views on the coming year at a one-off MediaTel Group event earlier this week.Torin Douglas and Ray Snoddy discussed topics such as Ofcom’s PSB review, the purchase of the Evening Standard by Russian oligarch Alexander Lebedev and leadership in the media.Held under the Chatham House… Continue reading MediaTel Group looks at the year ahead

Former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev has acquired London’s Evening Standard for £1 from Daily Mail & General Trust.The deal will see a new company, Evening Standard Ltd, established that will own the paper, with Lebedev taking a stake of 75.1% and DMGT subsidiary Associated Newspapers becoming a minority shareholder with 24.9%.Associated will continue to provide… Continue reading Lebedev buys Evening Standard

Ed Balls, the secretary of state for children, schools and families, has criticised a proposal to remove local councils’ obligation to place public notices in local newspapers.Balls described such a move as a “retrograde thing to do”, adding “I don’t think it would be sensible to have any strategy on these things which actively damages… Continue reading Balls opposes removal of mandatory council ads in local press

Declan Boyle has been appointed ad director at IPC Innovator – IPC Advertising’s centralised insert and cross platform direct division.Boyle will spearhead a repositioning of Innovator as it offers direct response clients solutions to their database marketing and direct multiplatform needs.Ali Deas, IPC Advertising central sales group ad director, said: “Declan’s wealth of experience in… Continue reading New IPC Innovator ad director

Russian oligarch Alexander Lebedev has acquired London’s Evening Standard for £1 from Daily Mail & General Trust. The deal will see a new company, Evening Standard Ltd, established that will own the paper, with Lebedev taking a stake of 75.1% and DMGT subsidiary Associated Newspapers becoming a minority shareholder with 24.9%. Associated will continue to… Continue reading Ex-KGB spy buys Evening Standard