BSkyB today launched Sky+, its second generation set top box. The box, which is an integrated satellite receiver and personal video recording system (PVR), will go on sale from September and has a retail price of £300.The system provides a range of extra features, allowing Sky customers to record one programme whilst watching another, pause… Continue reading BSkyB Launches New Set Top Box
Sports.com, a European internet and mobile data provider of sports content, has today announced a further $13 million (£9.3 million) in equity funding from existing investors, including SportsLine.com, Soros Private Equity Partners and IMG. It is expected that the funds will enable Sports.com to continue to implement its business plan and thereby achieve profitability. “Sports.com… Continue reading Sports.com Secures $13m Extra Funding
In keeping with other analysts and forecasters (see Forecasts), Merrill Lynch has downgraded its ITV revenue forecasts citing “growing evidence of advertiser cutbacks or switching” in the TV advertising market. Merrill now forecast ITV revenue growth at -12.3% to September 2001 and see no reason to expect a recovery until around April 2002. Growth for… Continue reading Merrill Lynch Downgrades Spell Further Misery For ITV
Two major US newspaper publishers have this week reported declining profits due to fall advertising revenues and a rise in newsprint costs, according to analysts at ABN Amro. Knight Ridder, the second largest newspaper group in the US, saw Q2 profits drop by 85%. The company, which publishes 32 daily titles including the Miami Herald… Continue reading US Newspaper Groups See Profit Falls
More than half of the UK’s internet users are willing to pay for premium content, possibly paving the way for the widespread introduction of paid -for events and information. According to a new survey by technology consultancy iSTRAT, 52% of respondents said that would be willing to pay for good quality information; 80% of these… Continue reading More Than Half Of UK Web Users Willing To Pay For Premium Content
Chanel is old enough to know better and Colgate needs to brush up after the Advertising Standards Association (ASA) upheld complaints against both companies.The ASA received objections to a national press advertisement for a Chanel skin care product called “Precision Age Delay”, which claimed to “delay time” and “visibly rejuvenate the skin.”Complainants challenged whether Chanel… Continue reading ASA Upholds Complaints Against Chanel And Colgate
Although the US has the largest base of mobile phone users in the world, less than $4 billion will be spent on shopping and travel via internet-enabled mobile phones in 2006. This is less than 2% of all online shopping, according to new wireless research by Jupiter Media Metrix (JMM). The survey reports that consumers’… Continue reading Consumer Apathy Hinders Wireless Transactions Growth
Yesterday was a day of falls on the stock market for media companies, as the IPA’s Bellwether report confirmed the decrease in marketing spend and therefore advertising revenue (see Few Surprises In Bellwether Report). Today is likely to bring a further bruising to confidence, as the press reveals Merrill Lynch forecasts which contradict hopes that… Continue reading Sharewatch
The economic downturn and the well-publicised failure of dotcoms have dented the share of those who see the internet as ‘an engine of, economic growth’, down slightly from 82% in October 2000 to 75% in June 2001. However, there has been no significant change in the share of the US public that has a positive… Continue reading Internet Viewed Positively Despite Dotcom Failures
