The Office of Fair Trading could intervene in the proposed merger between NTL and ITV owing to NTL’s 50% stake in pay-TV provider UKTV. Flextech, wholly owned by NTL, could be required to sell its stake in UKTV, which is a joint 50/50 venture with BBC Worldwide, according to a report in the Telegraph. Because… Continue reading OFT Could Intervene In NTL/ITV Merger

Emap has reported a 4% half year increase in profits to £93 million, although revenue for its UK consumer magazines division was down 4% to £185 million from £193 million in the same period in 2005. Revenue from Emap’s B2B division grew strongly, up 11% to £134 million, with Emap saying that it benefited significantly… Continue reading Emap Revenue Increases 4%

In the first half of 2006 there were nearly 26.2 million VOD capable homes, according to new a new report from Kagen Research. This equates to 86% of the 30.4 million digital cable homes in the US, says Kagen in its Video On Demand: A Strategic and Economic Analysis report. According to the report, growth… Continue reading US VOD Capable Homes Reach 26.2 Million

Nearly half of all individuals in the European Union used the internet at least once a week in 2006, according to new research from Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities. Eurostat says that 52% of households had access to the internet during the first quarter of 2006, compared to 48% during the first… Continue reading 52% Of EU Households Have Internet Access

The twenty largest cable and telephone providers in the US, representing about 94% of the market, acquired over 2.5 million net additional broadband subscribers in the third quarter of 2006, according to Leichtman Research Group (LRG). LRG says that these top broadband providers now account for nearly 50.9 million high-speed internet subscribers, with cable having… Continue reading Over 2.5 Million Broadband Subscribers Added In US

In the United States in 2011, $128 billion in travel will be sold online, according to new a new report from JupiterResearch. The JupiterResearch report US Travel Forecast, 2006 to 2011 says that 38% of travel revenue will be made online in 2011. Higher fares and an increase in people flying have driven total air… Continue reading US Online Travel Spending To Reach $128 Billion

Martyn U’ren outlined, to Wednesday afternoon’s MRG Conference, how News International are continuing to provide massive audiences by pursuing a policy of co-existence between paper and digital media for their newspaper brands.He quoted Rupert Murdoch as saying that consumers want their content delivered “when they want it, how they want it and very much as… Continue reading MRG Conference: By Using Mass Brand Management, The Age of Mass Media Isn’t Over

Tess Alps, CEO of Thinkbox, echoed the thoughts set out on day one of the MRG conference by Walker CEO, Phil Georgiadis, although in a much more playful manner, when she offered her thoughts on Google, the IAB, and PR-driven research in her keynote speech on the final day of the conference in Vienna.Commenting on… Continue reading MRG Conference: Thinkbox CEO Criticises Google Research

Mobile phone company 02 saw its UK third quarter mobile service revenue grow by 14.9% year on year. The company also saw year on year growth of 6.1% in Germany and 1.7% in Ireland. Mobile average revenue per user in the UK was £272, compared to £271 for Q2 2006 and £265 for Q3 2005.… Continue reading 02 Records 14.9% Revenue Growth

BSkyB has announced several new senior management appointments, including chief operating officer, managing director of its customer group, and group director for communications and brand marketing. Brian Sullivan, currently Sky’s director of product strategy and management, is appointed to the role of managing director, customer group with responsibility for leading the company’s marketing, product development… Continue reading BSkyB Announces Senior Management Appointments