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Kim Howells, the new minister for broadcasting, film and tourism, has questioned whether the original time scale for the analogue switch-off is achievable. According to an interview in the Financial Times this morning, Howells believes that there are too many people dependent on television for their entertainment to rush the decision. Also in the interview,… Continue reading Howells Questions Digital Switch Date

Troubled digital terrestrial TV operator, ONdigital (see Job Losses Expected As ITV Restructures), has strongly denied that it is about to phase out its free set top box give-away, after a report in this morning’s Financial Times claimed that this possibility is being ‘explored’ by the company’s joint owners, Carlton Communications and Granada. A spokesperson… Continue reading ONdigital Denies End Of Set-Top Box Give-Away

Telecommunications hardware developer, Pace Microtechnology, and interactive television and media company, OpenTV, are to jointly develop high-end digital cable technology worldwide, the two companies have announced. Pace will port OpenTV’s broadband offering onto its cable home gateway. OpenTV’s broadband portfolio includes its interactive TV Middleware, EN2, integrated with Device Mosaic?, a standards-based HTML browser specifically… Continue reading Pace And OpenTV To Develop High-End Digital Cable

Russian telecoms minister Leonid Reimnan has reiterated his wish for €39 billion to be invested in the Russian telecommunications industry by 2010, according to a report on Europemedia. At least half of this figure is expected to come from reinvestment by existing Russian telecoms companies and the rest from foreign and Russian investors, the report… Continue reading Russian Telecoms Minister Cals For €39 billion Investment

United Business Media (UBM) has acquired 50% of the Dutch national news agency’s news release distribution division, Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau Pers Support (ANPPS), for €6.5 million (£3.9 million) in cash, the company announced this morning. The investment continues UBM’s strategy to provide its PR Newswire service with a strong local identity in key markets. ANPPS… Continue reading UBM Acquires Dutch News Release Agency

According to the Jupiter MMXI May 2001 internet behaviour study, the number of Europeans visiting business and finance sites rose by 50% in some markets last month and the time spent on such sites has risen by around 60%. Online banking has proved very popular in Europe as has online share dealing and many other… Continue reading Europe Leads In Online Finance

International media and market research firm, Arbitron, has bought US radio audience research bureau, RADAR, for $25 million from its parent company, Statistical Research Inc. RADAR (Radio’s All Dimensions Audience Research) is the US equivalent of the UK’s RAJAR survey. If offers the US a national radio ratings service that measures audiences to radio commercials… Continue reading Arbitron Acquires US Radio Survey, RADAR

Regional newspaper publisher, Johnston Press, has this morning announced the acquisition of eight free weekly papers and their related editions from Trinity Mirror, £16.1 million cash. The titles include the Peterborough Herald & Post, Northampton Herald & Post, Derby Trader and five other free newspapers which circulate in and around those areas. The titles will… Continue reading Johnston Acquires Free Weeklies From Trinity Mirror

Further weakening in the European economy could have a major impact on the demand for IT products and services over the next three years, according to IDC. The worsening outlook for the Western European economy suggests that the tech slump currently impacting on the US market may spread to Europe. Globally, IDC forecast that IT… Continue reading Worsening European Economy Could Wipe $150 Billion from IT Market, Says IDC

According to the Wall Street Journal’s semi-annual forecasting survey, many economists now predict that the US economy will begin to show signs of recovery by the end of this year despite the current trend for corporate dolor. In Q1 2001, the economy managed only 1.2% growth, the panel of forecasters consulted by the WSJ predict… Continue reading There Is Light At The End Of The Economic Tunnel, Says WSJ