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One of the main challenges facing the newspaper industry if it is to arrest the trend of declining sales is to reach out to young people, many of whom are showing ambivalence to the printed word. Attracting and Retaining Young Readers, a new report from the World Association of Newspapers seeks to address the issue… Continue reading Rethink As Newspapers Strive To Attract Young Readers

Wi-fi has a long way to go to establish itself in the public consciousness, according to a new report from Parks Associates which found that fewer than 3% of US internet subscribers have used hot spots. Public Hot Spots: Moving Beyond Road Warriors examines the current state and future development of the WLAN market. It… Continue reading US Consumers Still Cold On Hot Spots

Merrill Lynch has revised down its forecasts for the US newspaper industry due to weakness in a number of advertising sectors. Only last week, the broker expressed confidence that revenue growth for 2003 would be 2.9% (see US Newspaper Spend To Grow 3% In 2003, Says Merrill Lynch) but disappointing May results have forced its… Continue reading Broker Lowers US Newspaper Growth Forecasts

The inability to initiate professional business plans has been the main reason for the lack of success of many European pay-TV channels, says a new report. Some 150 channels across Europe have been forced to close in the last six years, costing investors more than £2 billion. Wasted investment in the UK alone is in… Continue reading Poor Business Plans To Blame For Pay-TV Failures

ITV needs to brace itself for a 3.3% fall in advertising revenues this year, according to new analysis of the commercial television sector from Lehman Brothers. Earlier this year, ITV companies were told to anticipate flat revenues for the full year to September (see ITV Advertising And Merger Outlook From Lehman Brothers) but the situation… Continue reading ITV Advertising Forecasts From Lehman Brothers

Carlton and Granada were seen in focus yesterday, rising 4.26% and 3.29% respectively, as the media sector moved upwards following the overnight rally of the US dollar against the pound.WPP was also seen up, by 3.94%, despite revelations that Nahed Ojjeh, the Syrian-born chess promoter, had built up a 10.75% stake in Cordiant. There are… Continue reading Sharewatch: ITV Partners Rise After Positive Sentiment

Kevin Lygo is to step down as programming director at Five and is to rejoin Channel 4 following the departure of Tim Gardam.The move, which was widely predicted by the industry, will see Lygo become director of television at Channel 4, after Gardam’s decision to leave the role for “partly personal reasons” at the end… Continue reading Lygo Set To Return To Channel 4

The latest figures from BARB reveal six of the top ten most watched dramas this year were shown on ITV1 and were produced by Granada.The data will be welcome news for ITV and its advertisers who have voiced concern over the network’s declining power ratio in the digital marketplace.According to BARB, Coronation Street, which is… Continue reading ITV Beats BBC In Drama Battle

Liberal Democrat peer, Lord McNally, has narrowly failed to enforce changes to the Communications Bill which would have prevented Rupert Murdoch from buying Channel Five.Despite support from across the political divide, the proposed amendment (see Lib Dems May Scupper Communications Bill Compromise) was defeated by 167 votes to 137.Prior to the vote, Lord McNally gave… Continue reading Lords Fail to Carry “Murdoch Amendment”

Nahed Ojjeh, the Syrian-born chess promoter, has increased her stake in Cordiant Communications to more than 10%, it was revealed last night.The crisis-torn advertising group has told the stock exchange that Mrs Ojjeh, the widow of a Saudi billionaire, had “built a stake in the company during the period 10 June 2003 to 4 July… Continue reading Mystery As Chess Queen Raises Cordiant Stake