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Advertising revenue at Independent News & Media (INM) – publisher of the Independent newspaper in the UK – fell by 6.8% during the first half of the year, whilst circulation revenues grew by 2.1% on 0.5% rise in volume market share. The tough ad conditions saw pre-tax profits dip 10.2% to E51.7 million in the… Continue reading Independent News & Media Profits Dip In Tough Ad Climate

The US television prime-time advertising marketplace is so close to being sold out that some executives are encouraging advertisers to take back the upfront commitments, according to a report on Mediaweek.com. The situation, which is somewhat incongruous with the weak economic conditions currently being experienced in the US, has driven the prices in this ‘scatter’… Continue reading US Scatter Market Virtually Sold Out

A new survey from In-Stat/MDR indicates that business broadband usage is likely to grow in the next few years. However, these findings are tempered by claims that the technology will largely be confined to non-essential applications in small remote branch offices or for home workers. The research found that over a fifth of large US… Continue reading US Firms Reluctant To Commit To Broadband

The chief executive at RTL, Europe’s largest broadcaster, has called on the UK government to extend the ban on companies outside the EU investing in British broadcasting firms until similar laws in the US are relaxed. Speaking at the Royal Television Society’s International Conference in London, Didier Bellens voiced his disapproval of US TV ownership… Continue reading RTL Chief Calls For Level Playing Field On Media Ownership

Global advertising network, Publicis, has released first half financial results which saw revenues increase by 2.4% year on year, outperforming the overall market. While the worldwide advertising market dropped an estimated 6% in the first six months of 2002, Publicis’ organic growth only declined 3.6%, the statement says. Publicis owns a number of agencies worldwide,… Continue reading Publicis Results Outperform Struggling Ad Market

Global media and market research network, Aegis Group, this morning reported a strong performance at its media buying agency, Carat, which managed to build market share and report some positive organic growth, despite the prolonged depression in advertising conditions. The group says that there have been some signs of an advertising recovery in the US,… Continue reading Aegis Sees No Improvement In Europe, Results In Line

AOL Time Warner, the world’s largest media company, has substantially reduced its full-year forecasts for the America Online (AOL) internet service provider division, citing the continued softness in business’ advertising revenues as the main cause. AOL’s full-year revenues are now expected to be $1.7 billion, down from the previous forecast of $1.8 billion to $2.2… Continue reading AOL Time Warner Pulls Back Forecasts Due To Poor Online Ad Revenues

Scottish media company, SMG, intends to sell its newspaper and magazine publishing business in order to reduce debt and to concentrate on its core operations of television and radio. By divesting of the publishing interests, SMG hopes to be able to benefit more readily from the changes in media ownership legislation that the new Communications… Continue reading SMG To Sell Publishing And Online Business

Pre-tax profits at SMG, the Glasgow-based media company, dropped by 42.5% to £11.5 million in H1, whilst earnings fell by 9.0% to £31.3 million, the group announced this morning. The figures, which exclude online activities and goodwill amortisation, are in line with the company’s expectations and ahead of predictions by analysts at ABN Amro. SMG… Continue reading SMG Profits Hit By ITV Ad Decline

Pan-European broadcaster, RTL Group, has said that it is not interested in acquiring the 35% stake in the UK’s Channel 5 currently owned by United Business Media (UBM), nor does it wish to buy either of the ITV companies. The group’s position was made clear by chief executive Didier Bellens at a conference call, as… Continue reading RTL Not After ITV Or Remaining C5 Stake