Industry headlines:
Week ending Friday 12th March
Digital:
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12/03/10 Google trials TV search service
Google is trialling a new television search service, letting users find TV shows and online videos, and personalise a lineup of their favourites. It is testing the system with US satellite TV provider Dish Network through set-top boxes running Google software, reports the Wall Street Journal. It said the test, which began last year, is limited to a very small number of Google employees and their families. Viewers can use a keyboard to type queries, the report added, with Google hoping to partner the service with its new TV advertising brokering business, which will allow it to target ads to households based on their search and viewing habits.
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12/03/10 iPhone "not encroaching" on Nintendo DS according to NoA president
There’s more than enough evidence to suggest that Apple can rightly lay claim to be the fourth platform holder of the modern video games market – but Nintendo has dismissed the idea that Apple’s gain is its loss. "There's been no data to suggest an encroachment on our business," Nintendo’s American president Reggie Fils-Aime told Forbes.
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12/03/10 Microsoft unveils new VoD service
Microsoft is set to launch its UK video on demand service with content including Skins, Faking it and Waterloo Road. The new MSN Video Player, which has been in testing phase since last summer, features around 300 hours of programming from BBC Worldwide and All3Media, including Peep Show, Shameless and Midsomer Murder
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12/03/10 News Corp executive argues for dual revenue streams
News Corporation executive claims paywalls and free models can "co-exist". Jonathan Miller, head of digital media at the Rupert Murdoch-owned group, said the media industry needs to start charging for content by introducing subscription models for access to news websites.
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12/03/10 TV budgets driving growth of online video advertising
A new survey reveals that 41% of UK media buyers use online video advertising to deliver incremental reach to TV, indicating that TV budgets are driving growth
Outdoor:
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12/03/10 JCDecaux profits fall 77%
JCDecaux has reported a 77% fall in profits for 2009, to £22 million, with revenue down 11.5% year on year to £1.7 billion. Operating profits were down by 28.7% to £357 million, with organic revenue down 10.9%. The group's operating margin was 20.4%, down from 25.4% in 2008. The company's billboard business saw operating profits fall 46.1% year on year,while transport fell 32.6% and street furniture down 24.8%.
Press:
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12/03/10 Johnston Press profits fall 56%
Like-for-like advertising revenues were down 26.5% year on year at the regional press publisher. The company also confirmed that Freddie Johnston, the last family member on the board, will be leaving on 30 April. This means that for the first time in 243 years, there will be no Johnston family member on the board.
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12/03/10 Rise in newspaper ads boosts sector at start of 2010
National newspapers are showing early signs of an advertising recovery at the start of the year, with a raft of titles upping their volume of ads from December to January 2010. Although the Nielsen data reveals only advertising volumes and does not take into account page yield and expenditure.
Radio:
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12/03/10 BBC Trust to review BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and Radio 7
The BBC Trust is set to review BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and digital station Radio 7. Last week, the BBC's director general Mark Thompson said local stations had to improve their "quality and originality" following a 15% decline in listeners in the five years to 2008-2009. In the BBC's strategic review announcement, Thompson also said BBC Radio 7 is to be rebranded as Radio 4 Extra in a bid to link it with its sister station.
Television:
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12/03/10 ITV1's UEFA Champions League coverage scores 8.7m viewers
ITV1's Live UEFA Champions League coverage secured the highest ratings during Wednesday's prime time slot with more than 8.7 million peak viewers; seeing off competition from BBC One's new series Famous Rich and Jobless and BBC Two's new documentary Inside John Lewis.
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12/03/10 Zeiler announces Five's €41 million loss last year
RTL has been forced to write down the value of Channel Five by more than half following losses of €41 million (£37 million) in 2009. The write down values RTL's Five subsidiary, which also includes Fiver and Five USA, at €112 million. Overall, the Five group saw revenues drop 30% year on year to €303 million.