Glasgow-based Scottish Media Group (SMG) has released an upbeat trading statement for the year ending 31 December 2004, revealing a 9% increase in profit before tax like for like, to £17.5 million, compared with £16 million in 2003. Total operating profit rose by a massive 62% year on year, up to £17.7 million in 2004… Continue reading SMG Enjoys 9% Rise In Profit For 2004

Publishing and media group, United Business Media (UBM), has announced the departure of its chief operating officer, Malcolm Wall. Wall has held the position since January 2001, before which he was chief executive officer of UBM’s television interests, playing a major role in building the group’s business. From 2001 onwards he delivered strong profit growth… Continue reading UBM’s Chief Operating Officer Departs

RTL Group, parent company of Five, has revealed impressive profits for the broadcaster, doubling its pre-tax figure for 2003 to total €18 million in the 12 months to December 2004.The company’s revenues also rose, adding 10.4% year on year €276 million, although RTL stated that the advertising markets could be unfavourable, remaining cautious for the… Continue reading Five Doubles Profits As Ad Revenue Rises

Cashpoint advertising specialists, ATM:ad, have unveiled the first charity advertisement to run across its network of Nationwide Building Society ATMs, designed to promote Red Nose Day 2005.The campaign, which went live this week, features at 581 sites in Nationwide branches and ASDA supermarkets and is designed to create awareness, not only of Red Nose Day… Continue reading ATM Ads To Promote BBC Comic Relief Show

ITV looks set to benefit from the BBC’s commitment to reduce its reality TV output, according to reports this morning, with the broadcaster intending to concentrate on non-advertising revenue streams, primarily lucrative interactive ventures such as telephone voting.According to the Times, ITV has doubled its revenue from premium rate telephone calls in the last financial… Continue reading BBC Reality Cuts Leave Door Open For ITV

ITV is to replace the Granada Men and Motors channel with a new offering aimed at men, believed to be the long-rumoured ITV4, taking the channel’s space on the Sky platform with the possibility of a Freeview launch as early as next month.According to reports this morning, ITV4 will absorb the daytime content currently offered… Continue reading ITV To Replace Men And Motors With ITV4

Virgin Mobile has been signed as the sponsor of MTV UK and Ireland’s flagship show Total Request Live for one year, starting from March 2005.The partnership, developed by Viacom Brand Solutions, will enable Virgin Mobile to tap into TRL‘s association with A-list celebrities, music and entertainment, as well as engage with the show’s youth audience… Continue reading Virgin Mobile To Sponsor MTV’s Total Request Live

Community media group, Archant, has completed the acquisition of Highbury Local Publications from Highbury House, making the purchase for £6.1 million in order to acquire its portfolio of six monthly lifestyle magazines and the three Property Mart titles operating in and around London.The deal marks a continuation of Archant’s strategic growth plan, with the company… Continue reading Archant Acquires Highbury Local Publications

Almost 60% of US mobile subscribers use their handsets for non-voice functions, according to a new study by mobile market measurement company, M:Metrics. M:Metrics surveyed over 23,000 mobile subscribers in the US about their usage of mobile content and applications between November 2004 and January 2005. The research found that over 37% of respondents had… Continue reading Multi Use Of Mobile Handsets

US consumers with broadband used the internet over newspapers as their primary source of information during the presidential elections, according to a new survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. The survey reveals that 52% of internet users, about 63 million people, claimed they went online to get information about the 2004 elections.… Continue reading Broadband Preferred Over Newspapers During US Presidential Elections