SMG has performed strongly over the last six months and will continue to see increases in revenue across all of its main media interests over the coming year, according to outgoing chairman Don Cruickshank.The company’s AGM statement on Friday saw Cruickshank commend SMG’s achievements to date, including growth in its television advertising revenues, both national… Continue reading Outgoing SMG Chairman Predicts Positive Year

The Sunday Telegraph is attempting to cash in on this summer’s feast of football by publishing a special 48-page Euro 2004 magazine with the newspaper next weekend.The title, sponsored by British Airways, includes contributions from regular football columnists Gary Lineker and Gerard Houllier, who will both be writing for the paper during the forthcoming tournament.The… Continue reading Sunday Telegraph To Cash In On Euro 2004 Football Frenzy

SMG, the Scottish media conglomerate, is reportedly in the process of sounding out potential buyers for its Virgin radio station, which it hopes to off-load for around £130 million.It is understood that several rival radio groups have expressed an interest in Virgin, which SMG acquired three years ago for £225 million. However, industry sources say… Continue reading Virgin Radio Could Be Sold For £130 Million

BBC Radio Five has secured the exclusive broadcast rights for coverage of FA Premier League football matches for the next three seasons.The long-running deal will see the station continue its coverage of the league on analogue and digital networks until the end of 2006/2007 season. Content will also be streamed online via bbc.co.uk for the… Continue reading Five Live Secures Premier League Coverage Until 2007

SMG, the Scottish media conglomerate, is reputedly in the process of sounding out potential buyers for its Virgin Radio station, which it hopes to sell for £130 million. It is understood that several rival radio groups have expressed an interest in the radio station, which SMG acquired for £225 million three years ago. However, industry… Continue reading Virgin Radio May Be Sold As SMG Predicts Positive Year

Recent studies by InsightExpress and MediaPost have discovered that US TV viewers are watching 24% more television once they become DVR subscribers, with hours spent viewing rising from 19.2 hours to 23.9 hours per week. In addition, it seems DVR subscribers are providing a better audience for adverts than non-subscribers, since they merely forward through… Continue reading DVRs Lead To Heavier TV Viewing

Total US advertising revenue rose by 9.6% during the first quarter of 2004, according to TNS Media Intelligence/CMR, to $31.5 billion compared to the same time period in 2003. Almost all media showed an upturn during the first three months of this year, with some outperforming the average, including the Internet as well as syndicated,… Continue reading US Ad Revenue Growth Signals Positive Outlook For 2004

More than 100 million homes worldwide now buy on-demand films and this is forecast to triple to 327 million homes (a third of global TV households) by 2010, says a new report from Informa Media Group. These homes are reported to generate an estimated $12 billion in on-demand film revenues, compared to 91 million homes… Continue reading On-Demand Films To Reach 327 Million Homes By 2010

Lord Rothermere’s Daily Mail & General Trust is believed to have taken the lead in the race to seize control of the Telegraph titles with a seemingly unbeatable cash bid approaching £700 million.It is understood that the newspaper group took pole position over its two rivals – the Barclay brothers and 3i – after last… Continue reading Lord Rothermere Tables Knock-Out £700 Million Telegraph Bid

Scottish Media Group has announced the appointment of Chris Masters, a former oil and manufacturing boss, as its new non-executive chairman following the departure of Don Cruickshank earlier this year.Masters joins SMG with no direct media experience, but has held senior positions with several high-profile companies, most recently as non-executive chairman of heating unit suppliers… Continue reading SMG Appoints Media Newcomer As Chairman