More Media Business articles

Over half of European broadband internet users are willing to pay to download music files from the web, according to a survey by Strategy Analytics. As a result, music companies are missing out on a â‚Ź650 million market opportunity, says the report. Music downloads look set to be a driver of paid content downloads, with… Continue reading European Internet Music Downloads Could Be Worth €650m

American publishing giant Gannett has confirmed its intention to join the long list of potential bidders vying to take control of the Daily Telegraph from beleaguered Hollinger International. Gannett, which owns UK regional newspaper publisher Newsquest, is understood to have told analysts in New York that it is examining a number of assets that would… Continue reading Gannett Considers Telegraph Swoop

The Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT) says that national newspaper advertising revenues have begun to increase, although it remains too early to call a turnaround in the market. The group’s Associated Newspapers, which houses the Daily Mail, Mail On Sunday, Evening Standard and Metro titles, saw display advertising increase by 5.4% in the five… Continue reading DMGT Sees Good First Half, But Markets Still Volatile

GWR Group has increased its stake in Digital Radio Group (DRG), the third London digital multiplex, from 23.6% to 30.2%, it announced this morning. It has increased its holding through the £3.3 million acquisition of shares from Clubmend, Asian Sound and Matsushita Electric Europe. GWR provides a range of digital services on DRG through its… Continue reading GWR Raises Stake In London Digital Multiplex

The UK economy grew by 2.3% during 2003, according to Chancellor Gordon Brown, who delivered his eighth Budget this afternoon. Brown claims that the country is witnessing its longest period of economic growth since the Industrial Revolution. The Chancellor is maintaining his forecast of 3-3.5% economic growth for 2004 and 2005. Along with the US,… Continue reading Britain Enjoys Longest Economic Growth In 200 Years, Says Brown

Regional newspaper group, Johnston Press, has posted a 38% rise in 2003 profits to £128.0 million. These include the first full-year contribution from Regional Independent Media (RIM), which Johnston acquired in 2002. The group says that like-for-like advertising revenues grew by 3.8%, with a rise of 3.0% in H1 followed by 4.6% growth in H2.… Continue reading Johnston Press Sees ‘Superb’ Year In 2003

Pan-European broadcaster, RTL Group, moved back into the black in 2003, as pre-tax profits rose from 2002’s â‚Ź56 million loss to a profit of â‚Ź14 million this time. The group owns 65% of the UK’s Five, which reported positive earnings for the first time since its launch in 1997. In a broadly weak television advertising… Continue reading RTL Is Back In Black As Five Performs Well

US cable corporation, Liberty Media, is to spin off its international businesses to shareholders, as part of efforts to simplify the group’s complex structure. The detached businesses will run as Liberty Media International (LMI) and will operate principally in Europe, Japan and Latin America. These businesses include UnitedGlobalCom, Jupiter Telecommunication and Liberty Cablevision of Puerto… Continue reading Liberty Media To Spin Off International Businesses

Ulster Television (UTV) continued to outperform ITV in terms of advertising in 2003, with its revenues rising by 2.1% whilst ITV’s fell by 3.4%. This gave UTV a record annual share of ITV advertising of 2.4%, according to the company’s full year results released this morning. The group expects television ad revenues to rise by… Continue reading Ulster TV Sees Airtime Revenues Up 10% In Q1 2004

WCRS, the agency that devised the high-profile 118 118 directory services campaign, is reported to be on the verge of agreeing a £20 million management buyout from French advertising network Havas. It is understood that WCRS managers, who have been in talks to gain independence from Havas for some time, will buy a majority stake… Continue reading WCRS Close To Finalising £20 Million Buyout From Havas