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The digital services industry has added its voice to calls for the Government to strengthen the push towards digital take up, warning that Britain will fall behind the rest of Europe unless action is taken. Malcolm Miller, CEO of Pace Technology, which makes set top boxes for the digital TV industry, said: “More action is… Continue reading Set-Top Box Manufacturer Joins Calls For Government To Push Digital

Embattled magazine and internet group, Future Network, is in talks with potential financial investors, according to reports from Reuters today. The news agency says that Electra Partners and Duke Street Capital are separately considering bids of between £80 million and £100 million. Future has declined to comment and it is thought that the talks are… Continue reading Future In Investment Talks, Reports Reuters

The advertising industry looks set for its worst year since the recession of the early 1990s, as Zenith Media has downgraded its global forecasts yet again. According to a report on FT.com, the agency is now predicting a global adspend decline of 2.6%. A couple of months ago it estimated a 1.5% fall. The US… Continue reading Zenith Cuts Ad Forecasts Again

Two thirds of all small businesses in the US now have access to the internet and half of these have their own website, according to research from Dun & Bradstreet published this month. The research shows that the majority of these businesses still have a dial-up connection to the web, but as 60% plan to… Continue reading Two Thirds Of US Small Businesses Have Web Access

With cautious optimism, regional newspaper publishers Johnston Press today announced a 14.3% rise in H1 profits but warned that growth in H2 was likely to be more modest. Following the company’s optimistic trading statement in June (see Johnston Press Sees Positive Second Half), Johnston announced a like-for-like advertising increase of 3.2% buoyed by a 13%… Continue reading Johnston Press Announces 3.2% Growth In Ad Revenue For H1

Plans by pan-European cable company UPC to merge its German business with Primacom – the country’s third largest cable operator – were looking shaky yesterday when a Primacom shareholders’ vote to pass the deal was postponed. The merger of the two groups would create Germany’s second largest cable company. Regulatory clearance for the merger was… Continue reading UPC’s German Cable Merger In Doubt

Almost 70% of retailers are wrongly judging the success of their internet investments on top-line return on investment (ROI) metrics such as online sales and profits, according to research from Jupiter Media Metrix released last week. Companies that look at the non-transactional benefits of their sites ÂÂ- including online influenced sales and improved payroll productivity… Continue reading Retailers Wrongly Judge Online ROI, Says Jupiter

Cable company Telewest’s interactive applications developer, SmashedAtom, is to shut its business unless a buyer can be found. The joint venture with Atomic Tangerine had a business model which relied on demand from third party broadcasters – a demand that has dwindled over recent months. Telewest says that it is now not necessary for it… Continue reading Telewest Closes Interactive Apps Developer SmashedAtom

The late start to the ad-buying period for the 2001-2002 US television season is starting to cause concern for the TV networks, according to an article in the US’ Mediaweek yesterday. The site reports that with only three weeks before the start of the season advertisers have placed formal orders for only around a third… Continue reading US TV Networks Suffer Low Pre-Season Ad Bookings

UK venture capital group Cinven has tabled a E2 billion offer for Vivendi’s business to business (B2B) magazine portfolio, the French media group revealed this morning. The management of Vivendi is supporting the offer despite ‘several’ other approaches for the business, reportedly from the likes of Reed Elsevier, Pearson, VNU and EMAP (see EMAP May… Continue reading Cinven To Acquire Vivendi Magazine Portfolio For E2bn