MediaCommunications

MediaCom View: Certainly outdoor didn’t have the best start this year in comparison to previous years. But where other media show a year on year decline in Q1, outdoor continues to be a growing medium with a reported revenue increase of 3.6%. The digital out of home market moves from strength to strength, with great success in particular environments (e.g. pharmacies, hair salons, bars and cash machine advertising). Due to the surge in demand for digital platforms, more media owners are keen to promote independent research initiatives, testing the accountability of the market and investigating the benefits of specific environments, display and consumption of the format. The billboard market is a challenging one, but recent contractor and product developments mean there is greater optimism moving forward. Despite a difficult Q2, the outdoor industry anticipates the first six months of 2006 will show a small year on year increase.

MediaCom View: With the industry waiting for news on who will win the contract for afternoon distribution on the London Underground, Associated Newspapers are speaking to media agencies regarding plans for an afternoon edition of Metro, so in order to investigate a direction for the newspaper and to set a suitable rate card. Hopefully launching this summer with a proposed circulation of 300,000, this edition of Metro will be distributed at the 10 London railway stations managed by Network Rail.

Associated are also understood to be interested in the contract for the afternoon distribution on the London Underground, already holding the contract for morning distribution with Network Rail. Steve Auckland, the Metro managing director has said that he is exploring all options.

MediaCom View: According to recent Continental Research, at least 2.6 million UK consumers have downloaded TV programmes from the internet at some point. The report which focused on media convergence makes the claim that of those consumers who download programmes, 29% do so at least once a week but watching live TV over the internet is less popular.

MediaCom View : A lack of awareness amongst Consumers has prompted Freeview to launch an initiative promoting ‘Freeview Playback’. Retailers are being asked to push the product and the Digital Television Group are set to establish an industry standard to ensure that the variety of different players on the market all conform to the same standard. Freeview claim the launch will drive ‘consumer understanding…and will help to clearly define the category.”