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Second half advertising levels have showed continued, modest growth at regional newspaper group, Johnston Press, up by 2.8% in the five months to 30 November 2002. Ad revenues at the recently-acquired Regional Independent Media (RIM) grew by 1.1% during the period (see Johnston Press Acquires RIM Newspaper Business), the group said in a trading statement… Continue reading Johnston Press Sees FY Profits At Top End Of Estimates

Channel 4 has confirmed that it is set to report a profit for 2002 following a wave of job losses and stringent cost-cutting across the network. According to the Channel, the turn-around is due to a reduction in losses at its commercial arm, 4 Ventures, alongside a 4.5% boost in advertising revenues driven by record… Continue reading Channel 4 Set To Return To Profit

The global advertising communications company Interpublic is forecasting that 2003 revenues will come in flat compared to this year. Speaking at the UBS Warburg Media Conference in New York, chairman and CEO John Dooner admitted that 2002 had been a difficult year but he is hopeful that better times are ahead. Zenith Optimedia foresees 2.9%… Continue reading Interpublic Says That 2003 Will Be Flat

ITV Digital’s liquidators, Grant Thornton, are set to undertake the mammoth task of contacting the platform’s 1 million former subscribers to request they give up their set top box or pay £39.99 to keep it. Grant Thornton is to contact each of the 1 million subscribers by post to inform them that the boxes were… Continue reading ITV Digital Liquidators To Retrieve Set Top Boxes

IPC chief executive, Sly Bailey, is to replace Philip Graf as chief executive of Trinity Mirror, when he steps down early next year (see Chief Executive Steps Down At Trinity Mirror). Bailey has been chief executive of IPC since December 1999 and was instrumental in discussions that resulted in the sale of the company to… Continue reading Bailey Leaves IPC To Replace Graf At Trinity Mirror

The proposed takeover of SMG’s publishing unit by the regional newspaper group, Newsquest has been referred to the Competition Commission. The Competition Minister Melanie Johnson took the decision after Gannett, the parent company of Newsquest, applied for permission to acquire the titles, which include The Herald, Sunday Herald and Scotland on Sunday. SMG put its… Continue reading Gannett Bid For SMG Titles Referred To Competition Authorities

The tough market conditions affecting UK business over the last year have hit advertising and marketing budgets more than other areas of expenditure, according to a new survey from Continental Research. The report finds that two-thirds of the UK’s 1.1 million businesses have made cutbacks on their original spending plans over the past year, with… Continue reading Advertising & Marketing Hit Most By UK Business Downturn

Shares in Cable & Wireless fell by almost 50% in early trading as news spread that the ailing telecoms group needs to find £1.5 billion after being downgraded to junk status. Moody’s, the credit rating agency, downgraded the stock on Friday triggering a clause in a contract signed with Deutsche Telekom when C&W’s sold its… Continue reading C&W Stock Nosedives Following Downgrade

Regional newspapers are the most popular medium for UK businesses to market themselves, according to Continental Research‘s Autumn 2002 E-Commerce Report, which is launched today. The survey shows that over half a million businesses currently use the regional press for their advertising and that it is especially favoured by small and medium-sized businesses, as shown.… Continue reading UK Business Favours Regional Press For Marketing

The regional newspaper group Newsquest is in pole position to take control of SMG’s newspaper business after increasing its offer for the group to £215 million. Newsquest, which is owned by the US newspaper group Gannett, and a consortium led by Independent News & Media are now the only two bidders for the SMG titles… Continue reading Newsquest Favourite To Take Over Herald Titles