Though the majority of US households are ready for the changeover to digital television next month, 5.7% – or 6.5 million homes – remain unprepared according to a report from The Nielsen Company. This is an improvement of more than 1.3 million ready homes since Nielsen reported at the end of December, the company said,… Continue reading 6.5m US homes not ready for digital switchover

BSkyB’s first half adjusted operating profit was up 26% to £388 million, according to a financial statement released today. Reporting a strong first half performance, the satellite broadcaster also revealed an increased rate of customer growth. There was an increase in average revenue per user, up 5% year on year to reach a new high… Continue reading BSkyB announces 26% increase in operating profit

Future Publishing’s revenues grew 1% to £41 million in the three months leading up to December 31. In a statement released today, Future said that increases in advertising and other revenue streams offset a 2% decline in circulation revenue, while a 25% increase in online advertising more than offset a 4% decline in print. Stevie… Continue reading Future’s revenues up 1%

Subtv, the national youth media network, and Gym Screen Media, the national health club network, have agreed a merger of their ventures which will see them brought together under the newly formed Media 42 Group.The two networks will maintain their brand identity and positioning but production, technology and delivery skills will be combined in content… Continue reading Subtv and Gym Screen Media agree merger

Independent News & Media has promised to eliminate “any loss-making businesses”, which could lead to a sale of its Independent and Independent on Sunday newspapers.It is understood that IN&M is open to discussions with potential buyers of the titles, which are thought to be losing at least £10 million per year.Alexander Lebedev, the Russian oligarch… Continue reading IN&M could sell Independent titles

The customer publishing industry has experienced impressive growth in the face of a tough economic climate, according to new market research from Mintel, commissioned by the Association of Publishing Agencies (APA) and sponsored by DHL.The report reveals that since the last study three years ago the customer publishing industry has grown to a value of… Continue reading New research reveals customer publishing showing impressive growth

The onset of the Christmas shopping season brought increased traffic to UK online retail sites, with the jewellery/luxury goods/accessories category experiencing the strongest growth, according to new figures from comScore. Other categories that performed well were the mall, music, and flowers/gifts/greetings categories. High street retailers were particularly influenced by the seasonal uptick, said comScore, with… Continue reading Christmas sees increased traffic to UK online retail sites

Most young TV viewers in the US are already living in a post-DVR world with much greater availability of online video both legally and also via peer-to-peer sources, according to new research from Solutions Research Group. Solutions Research Group interviewed 1,200 Americans aged 12 and older in November 2008 for the Prime Time is Anytime… Continue reading US TV viewers living in ‘post-DVR world’

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

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