The US advertising market looks set to remain relatively tepid, with analyst Merrill Lynch revising US ad growth for 2005 downwards to 4.5%, from the previously expected 4.8% growth. Global ad predictions mirror Merrill’s drop in its confidence for the US market, dipping substantially to 3.8% growth from earlier estimates of 4.6%. An initial forecast… Continue reading Merrill Revises 2005 Ad Growth Forecasts Downwards

Xfm has announced the management structure for its newly-won FM licence in Manchester, promoting Andy Ashton to the newly-created role of programme director for the Xfm Network to oversee the station’s launch.As well as continuing his role as programme controller for Xfm in London, Ashton will assume responsibility for developing output for Xfm Manchester, which… Continue reading Xfm Lines Up Management For Manchester Launch

BSkyB has signed a deal to become the sole owner of Artsworld, the UK’s only dedicated arts and culture channel, in a move which will make the channel available to the broadcaster’s seven million subscribers from September.Since its launch on December 2000 Artsworld has been available to Sky customers for an additional subscription fee of… Continue reading Sky Scoops Artsworld To Bolster Portfolio

GCap Media today warned that the outlook for the radio advertising market remained weak, after advertising revenues fell dramatically during May. The company revealed that total group revenues dropped by 14% in May, on the back of “weak” consumer confidence and a decline in marketing spending from a number of key advertisers. GCap said that… Continue reading GCap And Chrysalis Warn Against Weak Radio Ad Market

Emap has secured control of Scottish Radio Holdings (SRH) for £391 million, seizing control of the company’s 22 radio stations and selling its newspaper interests off to Johnston Press for £155 million. The SRH board accepted Emap’s deal, which values the company at £391 million, with the company receiving 1,088 pence per share, after rejecting… Continue reading Emap Buys Scottish Radio Holdings

In May, media agencies and industry bodies used the performance of the advertising market from the first quarter of 2005 to predict advertising expenditure for the coming year. Online advertising was shown to perform in line with predictions, growing at a rapid rate. At the beginning of the month, analyst eMarketer, released new forecasts for… Continue reading INSIGHTanalysis: Media Healthcheck – May 2005

The US advertising economy continues to look mixed with results from two major media, outdoor and business to business media giving confusing signals to marketers. Outdoor advertising expenditure in the US was shown to rise only 2.9% during the first quarter of 2005, a much slower rate than previously estimated by industry experts. Business to… Continue reading Mixed Outlook For US Advertising Market

UBC Media has seen its losses narrow in the 12 months to 31 March, with the company’s full year results revealing an increase in advertising revenues in the face of a largely depressed market.The company’s outlook is optimistic, with second quarter revenues for 2005 growing by 22% on quarter one last year in the face… Continue reading UBC Optimistic As Ad Revenues Outpace Market

WAP usage continues to go from strength to strength, with a total of 1.76 billion page impressions viewed in the UK during April, according to the latest figures from the Mobile Data Association (MDA).The new figure represents a 24% increase in WAP pages viewed compared with the same period in 2004, and an average daily… Continue reading UK WAP Usage Continues To Grow

Channel 4 has extended its deal with Endemol UK to retain the UK rights to Big Brother for another two years, signalling the broadcaster’s confidence in the programme after a heated ratings battle with ITV’s Celebrity Love Island.The new deal will see Channel 4 airing Big Brother and its spin-off programmes to the end of… Continue reading Channel 4 Extends Rights To Big Brother