According to an IDC survey of more than 2,500 American wireless subscribers and customers, nearly three-quarters (72.5%) of respondents did not use any data services outside of messaging in the third quarter of 2006. IDC says that steep prices are one of the main reasons Americans are not jumping to subscribe to entertainment services for… Continue reading Mobile Data Services Too Expensive For US Subscribers

Worldwide, the market for digital radio receivers will grow from 5 million units in 2005, to almost 25 million unit shipments in 2010, according to a new forecast from In-Stat. In-Stat added that in 2006, 73% of respondents to an In-Stat US consumer survey were aware of HD Radio on some level, whilst in Europe,… Continue reading Market For Digital Radio Receivers To Grow

More US households now own DVD players (81.2% of all households) than VCRs (79.2% of households), according to a new report from Nielsen Media Research. The 3rd Quarter Home Technology Report also shows ownership of most media technology trending up from previous years, which could continue to climb as Christmas approaches. As of third quarter… Continue reading DVD Households Overtake VCR In US

New research from the Outdoor Advertising Association reveals that outdoor advertising has broken through the 10% revenue share barrier for the first time during Q3 2006.Outdoor experienced its slowest growth since 2002 during April to June, although figures just released for for the third quarter of the year show a recovery, with an increase from… Continue reading Outdoor Breaks 10% Revenue Share Barrier

The NewsLine team would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. We will be taking a break over the festive season, but will return on 2 January with the latest media news, comment and analysis.Early in the New Year we will bring you round-ups for 2006 from… Continue reading Merry Christmas!

The BBC will be granted a below inflation licence fee increase, rising by 3% annually until 2008 and by 2% for the following three years, according to reports.The deal, which is understood to have been made between Tessa Jowell and Chancellor Gordon Brown, has not yet received approval from Prime Minister Tony Blair, but could… Continue reading BBC Granted Below Inflation Licence Fee Rise

Ofcom’s proposed restrictions on the TV advertising of junk food to children won’t be effective, according to the consumer group Which?Which? said that its analysis shows that the suggested methodology used to define which programmes appeal to children under 16 is fundamentally flawed.The consumer group added that it had looked at a snap-shot of TV… Continue reading Which? Criticises Ofcom Junk Food Ban

BBC Radio 3 is to appoint a new breakfast show presenter as part of an overhauled schedule that will include more specially recorded broadcasts.Rob Cowan, is to replace current presenter Penny Gore to host the Rob Cowan Show between 7am and 10am, when the station’s new schedule is irolled out on February 17 next year.Radio… Continue reading Radio 3 To Revamp Breakfast Show

Visits to the Hitwise UK Retail Index (an index of 100 of the top retailers based on visits) continued strongly last week, and were up 8% year-on-year, according to new analysis from Hitwise. However, Hitwise reports that the week ending December 9 saw visits to online retail sites reach their highest peak this year, the… Continue reading Visits To Retail Websites Increase Year-On-Year

During the third quarter of 2006, 88 million picture messages (MMS) were sent throughout the UK, equating to an average of almost one million per day throughout July, August and September, according to the Mobile Data Association. October’s total was the highest yet, with 30 million picture messages sent across the networks. Earlier this year,… Continue reading First UK Picture Message Figures Show 88 Million Sent In Q3