The strength of online advertising expenditure has been confirmed, with web portal Yahoo! announcing that its profits have almost doubled in the last quarter of 2004, making $187 million (£143.2 million). This validates key industry forecasts that the internet will lead 2005 in terms of advertising, with predictions from media commentary group Jack Myers predicting… Continue reading Online Advertising Breaking Records

International media group, Pearson has today issued a positive scheduled trading update ahead of its 2004 preliminary results announcement on 28 February, stating that Pearson’s flagship publication, The Financial Times is breaking even in the fourth quarter, reiterating expectations in the Group’s November trading update (see Financial Times Expected To Break Even By Year End).… Continue reading Financial Times Will Break Even For 2004

The former director-general of the BBC, Greg Dyke, has denied recent speculation that he has held talks with Clive Hollick regarding a consortium bid for commercial broadcaster ITV, according to industry sources. Mr Dyke has had no contact with Lord Hollick and the first he knew of the outgoing United Business Media (UBM) chief executives’… Continue reading Dyke Denies ITV Takeover Rumours

A rise in utility bills and housing costs has helped to push the UK’s inflation rate up, with December’s figure hitting its highest level since June 2003, according to the Office for National Statistics.According to the ONS, the consumer price index has risen by 1.6% year on year in December. The bulk of the blame… Continue reading Inflation Rises As Utility Costs Climb

Marketing budgets continued to rise, with further upward revisions reported for the fifth consecutive quarter and internet related marketing, direct marketing and sales promotion are all expected to do well in 2005. The IPA’s latest quarterly Bellwether report, compiled by NTC research, reveals that many companies have set their budgets for the first quarter of… Continue reading Q4 Bellwether: UK Marketing Budgets Continue To Rise

The UK is leading Europe in its internet shopping habits, with over a quarter of UK consumers spending more than £1000 online during 2004, compared to a European average of just 15%. The new research undertaken by global research agency Millward Brown, commissioned by the European Interactive Advertising Association (EIAA), was designed to investigate the… Continue reading UK Leads Europe In Online Spending

The ability to avoid TV commercials through the use of PVRs (personal video recorders) is costing UK advertisers £30 million a year, according to a new white paper produced by media analyst Big Picture. The growth in the penetration of PVRs, such as Sky+, has given a significant number of TV viewers the opportunity to… Continue reading UK Ad Avoidance Costing Advertisers £30 Million Per Year

The number of 15-22 year old web users accessing the internet via a broadband connection has experienced dramatic growth, rising to 70% in the final quarter of 2004. Results from a new survey published by youth-oriented online content site, Bolt, show an 11% increase on the previous quarter. One half of total number of 15-22… Continue reading Increased Broadband Uptake By Young Surfers

Media heavyweights, Lord Clive Hollick, Stephen Grabiner and Greg Dyke may launch a £6 billion bid for broadcaster ITV, according to industry reports. The three work for private equity houses and are rumoured to have held talks, discussing the possibility of forming an alliance to fund a bid for the commercial giant. Last week it… Continue reading Possible Consortium Bid For ITV

ITV’s future is at the centre of renewed speculation today, with reports surfacing that a possible bid of £6 billion is being prepared for the broadcaster by a conglomerate of investors, including Lord Hollick and former BBC director general, Greg Dyke.The rumours build on comments made by Hollick last week, when the outgoing chief executive… Continue reading Greg Dyke Implicated In ITV Bid Speculation