Market information group, Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), has announced an increase of 20.7% in full year profit for 2005, with strong growth in its syndicated research division offsetting a weak UK market. Adjusted operating profit for the year rose by 9.5% year on year, reaching £112.6 million, up from £102.8 million, while the group’s adjusted… Continue reading TNS Enjoys 20% Profit Increase In 2005

The online French economy is growing at an impressive rate, with the country at the forefront of many internet trends and enjoying one of the most competitive market places. According to a new report from eMarketer, over the past three years French internet users have overwhelmingly switched to broadband and are increasingly subscribing to telephone… Continue reading French Online Industry Pushing Forward

Search engine marketing is only at 10% of its potential size, with Geoff Ramsey, chief executive officer of eMarketer, forecasting the media to double over the next three years. Speaking at the recent Search Engine Strategies Conference & Expo, Ramsey predicted that $10 billion would be spent on the advertising channel in 2009, up from… Continue reading Search Engine Marketing To Double By 2009

US Internet advertising revenues for 2005 are estimated to exceed $12.5 billion, up by 30% over the previous revenue record of $9.6 billion in 2004, according to the latest figures from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Revenues from the fourth quarter of 2005 totalled a record $3.6 billion, up 35% year on… Continue reading US Online Adspend Passes $12.5 Billion In 2005

Telecoms giant BT is to roll out vastly increased broadband speeds to wholesale customers across the country, raising the stable speed of individual lines to a maximum of 8 Megabits per second.The speed boost follows successful trials, with BT upgrading more than 5,300 local telephone exchanges, supporting 99.6% of the UK’s homes and businesses, to… Continue reading BT Boosts Broadband Speeds Across Britain

Shareholders in cable giants NTL and Telewest have given the companies the go ahead to merge, with a 99% vote of confidence expected to see the transaction completed today.The move will see Telewest shareholders acquire 25% of the combined companies, while NTL shareholders will own around 75%.NTL chairman James Mooney said yesterday: “The combination will… Continue reading Shareholders Give Cable Merger Thumbs Up

Virgin Radio is to run a cross media promotion to launch search engine Ask.com’s new look, devoid of its once synonymous butler mascot, Jeeves.The promotion will run on air through evening DJ Ben Jones’ show, with listeners posed trivia questions and directed to a special Ask.com microsite where the search engine can be used to… Continue reading Virgin Radio To Promote New Ask Engine

Channel 4 has announced a second series of new comedy series, The IT Crowd, capitalising on the show’s strong performance amongst younger audiences, and its growing popularity online.The show, which is produced for Channel 4 by Talkback Thames, is written by Graham Linehan, co-creator of critically acclaimed Channel 4 comedies Father Ted and Black Books.… Continue reading Channel 4 Reloads IT Crowd For Second Series

IPC’s quintessentially English magazine Country Life will switch focus this month to celebrate the very best of London, in a special supplement entitled City Life.The unusual venture is the fruit of a cooperation between IPC and Guest Invest, a company which allows investors to buy a luxury hotel room and earn 50% of its income… Continue reading IPC Country Title Shifts Focus For City Special

Shareholders in cable giants NTL and Telewest have given the companies the go ahead to merge, with a 99% vote of confidence expected to see the transaction completed today. The move will see Telewest shareholders acquire 25% of the combined companies, while NTL shareholders will own around 75%. NTL chairman James Mooney said yesterday: “The… Continue reading Shareholders Approve NTL Telewest Merger