More Media Business articles

Vivendi Universal is understood to have written to its bank lenders outlining a plan to take control of the French telecoms company, Cegetel, without increasing its substantial debt burden. According to a report in today’s Financial Times, the media group is proposing to create a special purpose vehicle with which it would make the acquisition… Continue reading Vivendi Talks To Bankers About Cegetel Bid

The Independent and Independent On Sunday newspapers turned in a loss of £15.7 million during 2001, according to a report on Media Guardian today. The site refers to the annual report of the papers’ parent company, Independent News & Media (INM), filed at Companies House last week. INM bought the Independent titles in 1998 and… Continue reading Losses Continue At Independent Titles, Says Report

SMG is currently outperforming the market in its television, radio, outdoor and cinema businesses, leading Merrill Lynch to upgrade its investor recommendation on the Scottish media company from neutral to buy. The broker says that SMG is gaining share amongst the ITV franchises, whilst the company’s Virgin Radio station is showing revenue growth year on… Continue reading Solid Performance At SMG Gains Merrill Lynch Upgrade

WPP is to acquire a 25% stake in Shanghai Advertising Agency, a major full-service advertising agency in Shanghai, China, the group announced today. Shanghai Advertising, one of the top 10 advertising agencies in China, was established early in China’s advertising history by Shanghai East Best International Group, which will continue to hold 50% of the… Continue reading WPP Takes 25% Of Shanghai Advertising

Things are looking shaky, but not entirely bleak, for the media and advertising industries at present. Following a recent period of slight recovery, the deteriorating outlook for consumer spending levels may begin to negatively impact on advertising spend, forcing growth down once again. As consumer confidence has begun to slip, particularly in the US, there… Continue reading Insight Analysis: Media Healthcheck – October 2002

Guardian Media Group (GMG) has continued its radio expansion with the acquisition of Clear Channel UK’s radio sales division for an undisclosed sum. The future of the advertising house had been in doubt following GMG’s £44.5 million purchase of Jazz FM, which accounted for about 52% of Clear Channel’s advertising sales revenues (see Jazz FM… Continue reading GMG Set To Consolidate Radio Ad Sales

UK cable company, Telewest Communications, today said that it is making progress in its plans for the full financial restructure that will rid the group of £3.5 billion of its £5.3 billion debt. However, the company has run into a glitch with one of its creditors, French banking institution Credit Agricole, which is attempting to… Continue reading Telewest Defers Payments Ahead Of Restructure

After a recent period of slight recovery, the deteriorating outlook for consumer spending levels may begin to negatively impact on advertising spend, forcing growth down once again. Advertising is very closely tied to consumer confidence and corporate profitability. In 2001 there was a sudden dip in corporate profitability and it was primarily this which caused… Continue reading Insight Analysis: Will A Consumer Spending Dip Bring Down Ad Revenues?

Ad revenues at regional newspaper publishing group, Johnston Press, are performing strongly in ‘challenging market conditions’, with Q3/Q4 growth expected to be 1-2%, according to Merrill Lynch analysts. The broker is expecting a full year growth of about 2%. Johnston’s management is budgeting for a 2-3% growth next year, in line with analysts’ forecasts, but… Continue reading Johnston Press Revenues Resilient In Challenging Market

The world’s largest radio group, Clear Channel, yesterday reported third quarter radio revenues up by 11% to $964 million, representing a strong indication that US radio advertising is on the rebound. US radio has been looking stronger and stronger in recent weeks and Q4 is expected to post double-digit growth, according to analysts at Merrill… Continue reading Clear Channel Sees Stronger Radio Revenues