Johnston Press has announced the acquisition of two regional newspaper businesses in Northern Ireland, adding Local Press Limited and Leinster Leader Limited to its publishing portfolio. The two companies bring a combined total of 18 publications into the fold, with Local Press bought for £65 million and Leinster Leader for £138.6 million. In a statement… Continue reading Johnston Extends Reach In Northern Ireland

Chrysalis has announced plans to dispose of its loss making and none-core books division for £12.5 million, allowing the management to concentrate on the group’s core music radio and music businesses. The company’s books business will be sold to a new company to be formed by Robin Wood, chief executive of Chrysalis Books and other… Continue reading Chrysalis To Sell Books Division

The Guardian is reporting a sales rise of 40% on Monday when it was relaunched in its new mid-sized (Berliner) format, with an updated masthead, expanded, daily sports section and the creation of a fully-fledged news magazine in the shape of G2.“Early reports suggest we have had a fantastic first day performance with a minimum… Continue reading Berliner Guardian Sees 40% Increase In Sales

The Advertising Association has published new research by the World Advertising Research Centre (WARC), showing an increase in consumer spending on magazines, topping the £2 billion mark for the first time.The new figures also show expenditure to have increased by £54 million year on year, equating to a rise of 34% in real terms over… Continue reading Consumer Magazine Spending Tops £2 Billion

According to a report in the Times this morning, ITV chief executive Charles Allen has called for an end to the complex Contract Right Renewal rules, which he says threaten to cost the company £150m next year.The cap was demanded by the Competition Commission as part of the merger conditions for Carlton and Granada, and… Continue reading Allen Calls To End Contract Renewal Rules

Culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, is expected to confirm media watchdog Ofcom’s proposed date for the switchover from analogue to digital, marking the 2008-2012 period as the start of the process.Speaking tonight at the Royal Television Society Cambridge convention, Jowell looks set to affirm Ofcom’s plan for the UK, switching the country to digital region by… Continue reading Jowell To Endorse Switchover Date

US online advertising expenditure is predicted to surpass the $10 billion mark for the first time this year, reaching $12.9 billion by the end of 2005, according to new predictions from eMarketer. The analyst forecasts that in four years time, companies will spend nearly $10 billion more on internet advertising, hitting a total of $22.3… Continue reading US Online Adspend To Hit $12.9 Billion In 2005

Digital penetration in the UK has reached 63% of all UK households, up from 61.9% at the end of the first quarter of 2005, according to Ofcom’s latest Digital Television Update. The report shows that by June 30 2005, the total number of digital TV households in Britain rose by almost 298,000, reaching 15.7 million.… Continue reading UK Digital TV Penetration Hits 63%

Asia is forecast to become the largest regional mobile telecommunications market in the world over the next five to ten years, with Asian mobile telecom revenues reaching over $260 billion by 2009, up from $180 in 2004. According to high-tech market research firm, India will be the fastest growing entity in the region, with a… Continue reading Mobile Telecoms In Asia Forecast To Rocket

Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) is forecast to be firmly established as an alternative platform to digital satellite, terrestrial and cable transmission over the next ten years, with delivery of television over the internet transforming the TV market industry. According to new research from LoveLace Consulting and informitiv, television will become increasing like the internet, with… Continue reading IPTV Moving Into Mainstream TV Marketplace