Metro International has announced that its operating profit fell from €3.6 million (£2.9 million) to €0.6 million (£0.49 million) in the second quarter. The company, which publishes freesheets across the world (although not the British Metro titles which are published by Associated Newspapers), also reported an overall net loss of was €1.9 million (£1.5m) Sales… Continue reading Metro International Reports Fall In Operating Profit

IPC Connect’s Pick Me Up has unveiled a refreshed look and format backed by a significant marketing investment.The new look Pick Me Up has a larger format, a new glossy cover, a cleaner logo, refreshed layouts and new editorial franchises alongside existing favourites.The design elements have been over-seen by IPC Connect group creative director Lottie… Continue reading Pick Me Up Unveils New Look

Amazon.com is launching a new streamed video-on-demand service offering 40,000 TV shows and films, according to reports.The new service streams the video as soon as a customer has paid for it, unlike the online store’s existing video download service Amazon Unbox which requires users to download a video to their hard drive before watching it.Speaking… Continue reading Amazon Launches Streamed On-Demand TV And Movie Service

Erik Huggers has been appointed director of BBC future media & technology, replacing Ashley Highfield.Huggers, currently group controller of the division, takes over from Highfield, who left the BBC to become CEO of video-on-demand service Kangaroo (see Highfield To Leave BBC For Kangaroo).In his new role, effective from 1 August 2008, Huggers joins the BBC… Continue reading BBC Appoints Erik Huggers Director Of Future Media

Global IPTV subscriber numbers have more than doubled for the second year running with an increase of 53% in the 12 months to 31 March 2008, according to a new report from The Broadband Forum. It also found that worldwide broadband subscribers have reached over 370 million with DSL remaining the most dominant access technology… Continue reading Global IPTV Subscribers More Than Double

Worldwide spending on internet advertising will total $65.2 billion in 2008, representing nearly 10% of all ad spending across all media, according to IDC’s Digital Marketplace Model and Forecast. IDC projects 15-20% annual growth throughout the forecast period, with this share reaching 13.6% by 2011 as internet ad spending grows to $106.6 billion worldwide. “Compared… Continue reading Global Online Adspend To Total $65.2bn In 2008

Google search properties accounted for 87.34% of all UK searches for the four weeks ending 26 June 2008, research firm Hitwise has announced. This represents a 10% percent increase compared to June 2007. By comparison, Yahoo! search properties accounted for 4% of UK searches in June 2008, a slight decrease on May 2008. There was… Continue reading Google Accounted For 87.4% Of UK Searches In June

Spending on total US advertising and marketing will grow 3.9% in 2008 to reach $412.4 billion, with the advertising portion reaching $249.1 billion, according to the third annual ad spending report by Outsell, Inc. Reflecting the overall economic slowdown, the growth rate for advertising and marketing spending has declined from 5.8% in 2007. Outsell surveyed… Continue reading US Aspend To Grow 3.9% In 2008

Mobile outdoor contractor Look Media is upgrading its Look Walker mobile billboards product with new Bluetooth capability.The Bluetooth facility enables clients to deliver their digital content straight to their target audiences in high footfall pedestrian areas, while the use of experienced staff to wear the Walkers allows a personal interaction offering guidance to people on… Continue reading Look Media Adds Bluetooth To Mobile Billboards

Demand Five, Five’s recently relaunched video on demand service has seen the number of visitors to the site more than double since its soft-launch three weeks ago, the broadcaster announced today.The 30-day catch-up service provides viewers with online access to a significant percentage of Five’s peaktime schedule including much of its hit acquired content such… Continue reading Visitor Numbers Increase For Five’s On-Demand Service