Newly merged broadcasting giant ITV has announced it is on target to save £100 million in the first set of results to be published since its multi-billion pound merger was completed in February. The results also reveal a 2% drop in the broadcaster’s net advertising revenue for 2003. ITV has blamed this on a reduced… Continue reading ITV On Target To Save £100 Million From Merger

New research from the Branded Content Marketing Association estimates that branded television content will quadruple by the end of 2004 as advertisers search for more cost effective ways to promote their products. The research, which was conducted across major terrestrial and non-terrestrial broadcasters, found that the £5 million spent on branded programming last year could… Continue reading Advertiser Funded Television To Take Off In 2004

Merrill Lynch has upgraded its ad revenue forecast for ITV after the newly-merged TV giant said it has seen “positive signs” in the market. In ITV’s first financial results release yesterday (see ITV On Target To Save £100 Million From Merger), the company said it expects ITV1 advertising in the first quarter of 2004 to… Continue reading Merrill Lynch Upgrades ITV Ad Forecasts

Media professionals are seriously concerned about a significant decline in the number of consumers taking part in reader and audience surveys, according to the latest poll from the MRG.An online study of the Media Research Group’s 150 core members shows that almost 40% of respondents believe that falling response rates will be an area of… Continue reading Media Researchers Concerned Over Falling Response Rates

The Barclay brothers have withdrawn their £260 million offer to buy Conrad Black’s stake in Hollinger Inc, in a move that exacerbates the uncertainty surrounding the Daily and Sunday Telegraph.The decision to cancel the bid was something of a foregone conclusion after a US court last week stopped Black from selling his majority stake in… Continue reading Barclay Brothers Withdraw £260 Million Telegraph Bid

Richard Desmond, owner of the Express Newspaper Group, has sold off his soft porn titles for an estimated £20 million in an attempt to improve his chances of buying the Daily Telegraph.It is understood that Desmond feared his ownership of magazines such as Asian Babes and Big Ones might work against him if media regulators… Continue reading Desmond Pawns Adult Magazines For Telegraph Bid

Centaur Communications is expected to be floated on AIM next week following its sale to Numis Securities. A holding company, Centaur Holdings, set up by Numis, has entered into a sale and purchase agreement to buy the B2B publisher, which includes The Lawyer and Marketing Week in its portfolio, for £145m.It plans to float the… Continue reading Centaur To Float On Junior Share Market Next Week

The Barclay brothers are understood to be putting together a new deal to buy the Telegraph titles, which could include finding a private equity partner to launch a bid for all the assets of Hollinger International.The reclusive media moguls were forced to rethink their options last week after a US court scuppered the £260 million… Continue reading Barclays Seek Equity Partner For Hollinger Bid

MediaCom was the most successful individual media buying agency in terms of billings during 2003, according to the latest league table published by Nielsen Media Research.The Grey Global-owned agency rose from third place in the previous year’s rankings, overtaking ZenithOptimedia and Carat to take the top spot with an 11% increase in billings to almost… Continue reading MediaCom Comes Out Top In Terms Of Billings

The Financial Times posted a loss of £32m during 2003, as advertising revenues slumped 15% and sales continued to fall. A cost-cutting programme across the business daily has failed to stem losses, which were £9m higher than in 2002, according to the full-year results of its parent company Pearson released today.The company blamed a “savage… Continue reading Losses Widen At FT And The Outlook Remains Uncertain