MediaTel Group is gearing up for the next installment in its ‘Future Of…’ series of seminars, with the latest focus on consumer magazines.Shortly after the July to December 2006 ABC data for consumer magazines is released, the UK’s leading online media intelligence company will turn its attention to this ever mutable sector, hosting a lively… Continue reading MediaTel Group Examines Future of Consumer Magazines

Sky recorded net customer growth of 183,000 in the October-December period of 2006, taking its total figure to 8.4 million customers, although its pre-tax profits in the six months to December 31 were down 4.6% year on year to £395 million.There was record growth in Sky+ boxes to 2.13 million, in 1.97 million households.It was… Continue reading Customer Growth For Sky But Profits Down

Sky’s interim results for the six months ending December 31 show that pre-tax profits were down 4.6% from year on year to £395 million. However, revenue increased by 10% to £2,220 million, including £22 million from Sky Broadband and £77 million from Easynet Enterprise. The satellite broadcaster recorded net customer growth in the October-December period… Continue reading Sky Profits Down

JCDecaux has announced 2006 revenues of €1.9 million, an increase of 11.5% compared with a year earlier. Excluding acquisitions and the impact of foreign exchange, organic revenue growth was 7.7%, reflecting stronger than expected growth in the fourth quarter and well ahead of growth in the global advertising market. In the fourth quarter, consolidated revenues… Continue reading JCDecaux Announces Strong Revenue Growth

GMG Radio is to rebrand its newly acquired Saga stations as Smooth Radio in the middle of March, taking its number of Smooth stations to six.GMG acquired the three Saga stations in December 2006 (see Saga For Guardian Media Group), although the acquisition was only formally completed this week.As part of the March rebrand, the… Continue reading GMG’s Saga Stations Go Smooth

Emap is apparently in serious discussions with Channel 4 about joining the 4Radio bid for the second national digital multiplex.According to reports in the trade press, Emap is expected to announce plans to attach one of its magazine titles to the bid.In December it was rumoured that 4Radio might join with UBC Media and UTV… Continue reading Emap Could Join 4Radio Second Multiplex Bid

The editor of the Evening Standard, Veronica Wadley, has claimed that readers are coming back to the title having tried the afternoon free papers currently available in the capital.Wadley was talking to the Guardian as the Evening Standard launches a new advertising campaign using the slogan ‘There are papers. Then there are Standards’.Wadley said of… Continue reading Editor Says Readers Returning To The Standard

The new Media Insights report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) shows that the number of mergers and acquisitions in the European media sector rose 75% to €43 billion (£28 billion) in 2006, the most activity for six years. The number of deals in Europe was up 12% to 175 transactions last year and, if the UK is… Continue reading European Mergers And Acquisitions Reach Six Year High

Active home internet usage experienced its largest growth in Spain as the year closed out, according to new research from Nielsen//NetRatings. Active Internet Universe, December 2006  Country  November 2006  December 2006  Growth (%)  Diff.  Australia 10,648,118 10,698,764 0.48 50,647 Brazil 14,448,077 14,419,335 -0.2 -28,741 France 20,876,899 21,183,022 1.47 306,123 Germany 33,282,100 33,396,576 0.34 114,476 Italy… Continue reading Home Internet Usage Increases

A new forecast from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) predicts that the world economy will continue to expand vigorously, growing by 5.0% in 2007 and by 4.8% in 2008. The strong upturn is expected to continue over the next few years, with world GDP increasing by 4.8% in 2008 and growth… Continue reading Global Economy To Expand Vigorously