Regional newspaper publisher the Observer Standard Media Group has gone into administration, according to a report in the Birmingham Post. The report says that the company made an announcement to staff, with the group believed to be looking for a buyer for its titles. The group publishes 20 weekly newspapers across the Midlands, most of… Continue reading Regional newspaper publisher goes into administration

Archant has announced a 27% fall in operating profits for 2008 to £2.2 million, down from £30.5 million in 2007. Archant chairman Richard Jewson attributed the drop to declines in recruitment and property advertising revenues in the newspaper business and in property and display advertising in the Life magazines. Turnover from ongoing operations reduced 9.2%… Continue reading Archant’s operating profits fall 27%

National advertisers’ radio spend was down 21.2% year on year in the fourth quarter of 2008, with total spend in Q4 down 14.5% to £129 million. According to figures from the Radio Advertising Bureau, total ad spend for the year was £560.2 million. National advertisers’ spend for the year was down 9.6% to £304.8 million.… Continue reading National advertisers’ radio spend down 21.2% in Q4 2008

New UK research has revealed a marked increase in the consumer recall of mobile advertising during the first quarter of 2009, with SMS seeing the biggest increase of all the most common channels. The survey, carried out by GfK Technology in conjunction with Limbo, reveals that consumer recall of mobile advertising has jumped to 55%… Continue reading Consumer recall of mobile advertising increases in Q1 2009

Member communities – which includes social networks and blogs – has become the fourth most popular category online, visited by over two-thirds (67%) of the global online population according to new research from Nielsen. John Burbank, CEO of Nielsen Online, said: “Social networking has become a fundamental part of the global online experience. “While two-thirds… Continue reading Social networks and blogs increase in popularity

The mobile content and services market is predicted to generate over $340 billion in end-user service revenues in 2013, up from around $183 billion in 2008. According to a new forecast from Informa Telecoms & Media, the two most significant service categories for revenues in 2008 were mobile messaging and mobile internet, which together contributed… Continue reading Mobile content and services market to generate over $340bn in revenues in 2013

Google and Universal Music are understood to be in talks to launch a premium online music offering on YouTube.Reports claim that the deal would see YouTube power a site professional video content from Universal Music artists such as U2.It is predicted that advertisers will be charged a higher rate for ads on the new site… Continue reading Google and Universal Music in talks to launch YouTube music channel

Talks between Sky and Tiscali over the satellite broadcaster’s purchase of Tiscali’s UK assets have broken down due to deteriorating market conditions. Tiscali said today that talks with BSkyB are “almost impossible” to continue due to the financial climate. On Friday, Tiscali suspended its shares and asked banks to halt its interest repayments while it… Continue reading Sky and Tiscali end talks

ABC figures for February reveal that the London Evening Standard‘s circulation was down 5.3% period on period and 3.7% year on year, to around 277,500 copies.Afternoon freesheets the London Lite and thelondonpaper remained static period on period, with distribution figures of around 401,000 and just under 501,000 respectively.Morning business freesheet City AM once again saw… Continue reading Evening Standard sees circulation dip

Malcolm Wall, chief executive of Virgin Media’s content division, is to leave the company next month.The news follows reports that Virgin Media is to sell its content business (see Virgin Media could sell content division in next few weeks).Virgin Media’s content division, thought to be worth about £500 million, includes assets such as the company’s… Continue reading Virgin Media content chief to step down