The number of households subscribing to satellite television has increased dramatically over the past year, with the platform continuing to erode cable’s market share, according to a new report from J.D Power and Associates. The 2005 Residential Cable/Satellite TV Satisfaction Study, shows that currently 27% of US households subscribe to satellite services, up from 19%… Continue reading Satellite Continues To Creep Up On Cable

US Newspapers enjoyed double-digit growth in their online advertising revenues in the second quarter of 2005, with online adspend rising to $500.7 million, up 28.6% compared to the same period last year. According to the Newspaper Association of America (NAA), overall advertising revenues for newspapers and their websites totalled $12.2 billion for the second quarter… Continue reading US Newspapers Enjoy Strong Growth In Online Advertising Revenues

More than 50% of television industry executives feel that the government is not doing enough to educate and communicate with consumers about the impending digital switchover, according to a new study conducted by the London Business School on behalf of Video Networks. The Digital Consensus report highlights an industry lacking any consensus on digital switchover,… Continue reading TV Executives Call For Clear Switchover Strategy

BSkyB has announced the line up of channels to be included in its high-definition services, due to be launched early next year.The new service will offer a Sky Sports channel, Sky One, Artsworld, a Sky Box Office channel and two Sky Movies screens from launch, allowing viewers to enjoy a wide variety of programming with… Continue reading Sky Announces HDTV Channel Line Up

Top city analysts have warned Sky that a move towards providing free Sky+ set-top boxes to subscribers is uneconomical and could cost the company around £2 billion in total.A report by Broadcast magazine states that Citigroup analysts fear a full subsidy could cost the broadcaster around £250 per subscriber. The company’s UK TV report claims… Continue reading Analysts Warn Against Free Sky+ Boxes

The first dedicated Xbox 360 magazine hits newsstands this week, despite the games console it covers still being months away from sale in Britain.360 magazine is published by Bournemouth-based Imagine Publishing and aimed at serious gamers in the 24-35 age bracket. Imagine claims its target audience are a discerning bunch, who “appreciate the Xbox 360’s… Continue reading New Xbox Title Targets Older Gaming Demographic

Mark Howe, managing director of interactive digital sales (ids), the advertising sales house of Flextech Television, is to leave the company after almost 13 years to pursue new challenges.In his role as managing director, Howe was instrumental in breaking new ground, both in advertising sales and creative initiatives.Commenting on his departure, Lisa Opie, managing director… Continue reading Howe Steps Down As ids Managing Director

Global advertising group, WPP, is expected to report an upturn in profits resulting in a boost in confidence in the media sector. According to industry speculation the group will reveal, at the end of the week, an increase of 25% in its profits for the first half of 2005, reaching £250 million. Revenues for WPP… Continue reading WPP Expected To Reveal Upturn In Profits

Quality and value of services are more significant drivers of customer retention than the number of channels and digital features offered, according to a new survey from TNS Media Research. The study looks into the key factors in customer loyalty, questioning 2,500 consumers of the USA’s largest cable and satellite providers on a range of… Continue reading Digital TV Customers Look For Quality And Value In Providers

Consumers are twice as likely to buy a product as a result of seeing a television commercial than they are after seeing a product in branded entertainment, according to new research from FIND/SVP. The study showed that 52% of viewers claimed they would buy a product after being exposed to a television commercial, while said… Continue reading TV Commercials Sell More Products