Total communications spending in the US is projected to increase 5.4% to $923.91 billion in 2008, according to a new forecast from Veronis Suhler Stevenson. VSS predicts that strong gains in the US institutional and alternative media sectors will offset the downward pressure of declining traditional advertising spending. Broadcast TV is expected to surpass newspapers… Continue reading US Communications Spending To Grow 5.4% In 2008

comScore has released a new study of worldwide usage of social networking sites, indicating that while the growth in new users in North America is beginning to level off, it is burgeoning in other regions around the world. During the past year, the total North American audience of social networkers has grown 9% compared to… Continue reading Social Networking Enjoys Worldwide Growth

Bauer Media’s Q magazine has appointed Matt Mason to the newly created role of senior editor as it gears up for an autumn redesign.The magazine has also secured a string of contributing editors – including Miranda Sawyer, David Quantick and Billy Bragg – in time for the unveiling of its new look on September 27.Mason… Continue reading Q Appoints Senior Editor Ahead Of Redesign

The twenty largest cable and telephone providers in the US – representing about 94% of the market – acquired 887,000 net additional high-speed Internet subscribers in the second quarter of 2008, according to new figures from Leichtman Research Group (LRG). These top broadband providers now account for 65.1 million subscribers – with cable companies having… Continue reading US Broadband Growth Slows In Q2

Bauer Media and Guardian Media Group are understood to be in talks with GCap and Global Radio over the acquisition of Midlands stations BRMB and Heart 106. Last week, the Office of Fair Trading announced that Global Radio will have to divest five radio stations in the Midlands, plus related Gold stations, to gain approval… Continue reading Bauer And GMG Could Buy Midlands Stations

Digital media firm MIVA has rejected the $1.20 a share takeover offer from video search engine Blinkx. MIVA said that it believed that Blinkx’s takeover offer undervalued the company. Larry Weber, MIVA’s chairman, said: “After careful evaluation, the MIVA board believes that Blinkx’s proposal significantly undervalues MIVA’s assets, including our technology, brand recognition and network.… Continue reading MIVA Turns Down Blinkx Takeover Offer

Simon Dodd, CEO of RLA Group, has been appointed as IPA vice-chairman of the regions.Dodd will assist Mike Leeson, managing director of Golley Slater, in his chairmanship of the group, which promotes the value of work undertaken by regional agencies and provides a forum for the IPA’s 90-plus regional members through a programme of annual… Continue reading Dodd Elected As IPA Regional Vice-Chairman

The use of ad networks in the US surged from 5% of total ad impressions sold in 2006 to 30% in 2007, according to a new study from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and Bain & Company. As online publishers continue to experience growth rates of 20-30% in ad revenue, the race to create new… Continue reading Use Of Ad Networks Surges

Wireless broadband services will create significant opportunities for revenue growth, according to the latest report from Analysys Mason. Globally, 2.1 billion wireless broadband customers will generate USD784 billion in service revenue by 2015. This revenue increase of about 2400% will be underpinned by continued developments in wireless technologies, improvements in devices and more flexible pricing… Continue reading Wireless Broadband To Exceed 2bn Customers By 2015

Blinkx, the online video search engine, has made a $1.20 per share bid for digital media firm MIVA. MIVA (formerly known as FindWhat), operates in North America and Europe and has two core divisions running consumer destination sites and interest-specific toolbars and a third-party contextual Pay-Per-Click ad network. Blinkx has been working with MIVA as… Continue reading Blinkx To Buy Digital Media Firm MIVA