Online Video Growth Fueled by the Young

With the growth of broadband subscriptions, and an increasing number of online viewing options, online video use has expanded in the past year, according to consumer research from Leichtman Research Group (LRG), MarketingCharts reports. 31 percent of adults online at home report that they view video online at least weekly, compared with 25 percent that said […]

Posted: Friday, May 9th, 2008

Best Buy Forks $2.1B Over for 50% of The Carphone Warehouse

Best Buy has purchased a 50 percent stake in The Carphone Warehouse, a European mobile phone vendor, for $2.1 billion. The deal includes The Carphone Warehouse's 2400 stores, which span nine European countries, as well as its online and direct businesses, insurance operations and airtime reselling businesses, CNN reports. The Carphone Warehouse will maintain proprietary ownership of […]

Posted: Friday, May 9th, 2008

Mobile Social Networking Gains Momentum

A growing number of global mobile phone users are accessing social networks over the mobile internet, according to research from Nielsen Mobile - via MarketingCharts. In the US, over 4 million do so each month, Nielsen said. That's 1.6 percent of all US mobile subscribers. The UK leads Europe with 812,000 - or 1.7 percent of […]

Posted: Friday, May 9th, 2008

April US Social Networking Traffic Down 16% from '07

The market share of April US visits to a custom category of 57 of the leading social-networking websites increased 3 percent from March - but was down 16 percent from April 2007, Hitwise reports - via MarketingCharts. MySpace.com led in traffic, receiving 73.82 percent of the market share of US visits in April. Facebook ranked second […]

Posted: Thursday, May 8th, 2008

TBA Global Sets Sights on Digital Entertainment

Today TBA Global is expected to announce the launch of its digital entertainment division, MediaPost reports. TBA Digital Entertainment Engagement Programming (TBA DEEP) is reportedly already used amongst clients like MTV, McDonald's and Ford. Its 12 employees — six specialists, six in sales — will focus on threading campaigns on multiple media, including online and on […]

Posted: Thursday, May 8th, 2008

Media, Entertainment Execs: Digital Is the Future - but How to Get There?

Media and entertainment companies generally agree about how the digital market is evolving, where the opportunities lie and what will drive revenues over the next five years. But execution remains an issue, according to an Accenture survey, MarketingCharts writes. Accenture's 2008 Global Media Content Survey — its third annual survey of over 100 senior executives in the […]

Posted: Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

Big Jump in Online Radio Listening at Work

American workers that listen to radio at work online, as opposed to traditional radio receivers, grew dramatically from 2007 to 2008, according to data from Arbitron and Edison Media Research, MarketingCharts reports. The Internet & Multimedia series of studies found that among people who are employed full- or part-time and listen to radio at work, […]

Posted: Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

Online Channels Work Well for Large Retailers, Less So for Others

Consumers cite the web as the fastest-growing retail channel by a 2-to-1 margin. They are also starting to expect more from businesses, including the ability to order products in one place and pick them up — or have them delivered — elsewhere, according to a Retail Systems Research (RSR) report, MarketingCharts writes. Large retailers (those […]

Posted: Tuesday, May 6th, 2008

Coldplay's Free Single Propels Website to No. 1 among Bands and Artists

US visits to Coldplay.com increased 1,800% since the band's new single, Violet Hill, was released free online. Hitwise compares daily US visits for April 29, 2008 to visits for April 27, 2008, MarketingCharts reports. On April 29, 2008, the day the single was released on Coldplay.com, the website ranked as the most visited website among the Bands […]

Posted: Monday, May 5th, 2008

AP Launches iPhone-Ready Mobile News Network

The Associated Press (AP) Mobile News Network launched today. iPhone users may download an "optimized" version at the App Store. Built on Verve Wireless technology and comprised of over 100 news publishers, Mobile News Network topics include breaking news, sports, entertainment and business. The iPhone App enables users to sift through photo galleries and watch video coverage. […]

Posted: Monday, May 5th, 2008

Microsoft and Yahoo Get Their Merge On

Insiders reveal Microsoft increased its bid for Yahoo "by several dollars," which has — at long last — sparked active merger talks. The news brings closure to what appeared to be a public stalemate between the two giants, which in turn followed an emotional ultimatum by Microsoft — and Yahoo's cool decline. The original buyout offer valued […]

Posted: Monday, May 5th, 2008

AT&T Mobile TV Goes Live — Really, This Time — On Sunday

AT&T has announced it will launch its mobile TV initiative this Sunday. After a handful of delays, last March the company conservatively arranged a May debut. The service is available on LG Vu and the Samsung Access, across 58 markets including New York, Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Chicago. Powered by Qualcomm's MediaFLO, the AT&T Mobile TV lineup includes […]

Posted: Friday, May 2nd, 2008

Online Shopping More Appealing as Gas Hits New Highs

One-third (33 percent) of online US adults are more likely to shop online, rather than at a store, because of high gas prices, according to a Harris Interactive study conducted for iCongo - writes MarketingCharts. Some highlights from the study: Incentives Consumers give various other reasons they would be more likely to shop online as opposed to a […]

Posted: Friday, May 2nd, 2008

New Releases Now Available to Rent or Own on iTunes

Apple announced it will begin selling new release films on iTunes. The deal includes inked signatures from Fox, Walt Disney Studios, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, Sony, and New Line Cinema — which currently also deliver rentals to iTunes users. The relationship is a fresh grievance for Wal-Mart, whose DVD division is expected to suffer. In February, […]

Posted: Friday, May 2nd, 2008

Web 2.0 Proves Handy for Integrating Brand and Direct Marketing

Web 2.0 paves the way for integrating direct and brand marketing, enabling real-time dialog with customers and the joint creation of content that improves brand awareness and perception. More importantly, all that work can generate sales and leads, according to a new report, MarketingCharts writes. "New Media Emergence in DM & Brand," a report from the […]

Posted: Friday, May 2nd, 2008

Ballmer Sways, Considers Higher Yahoo Bid

Microsoft is reportedly willing to raise its bid for Yahoo to $33 a share, reports The Wall Street Journal. The news gives legs to a recent rumor that, despite Steve Ballmer's threats to oust Yahoo's board, he'd prefer a non-hostile takeover. Following Wednesday's board meeting, Microsoft's directors gave Ballmer discretion to either go hostile or give up […]

Posted: Friday, May 2nd, 2008

ADSDAQ Exchange Fills Campaign Holes with Extra Reach

ContextWeb's ADSDAQ, an online exchange for site publishers and advertisers, has launched a "reach extension program" that enables publishers to fill campaign gaps on short notice. "The program eliminates inventory holding cost for publishers and is essentially risk free since publishers buy on the exchange only when they have a specific need for additional audience and […]

Posted: Thursday, May 1st, 2008

Mobile Display Ads Increase Brand Awareness and Interest

Awareness of and interest in "The Golden Compass" among users exposed to promotional full-screen mobile ads increased significantly, according to results of a mobile ad campaign by Greystripe and New Line Cinema, MarketingCharts reports. Greystripe commissioned Dynamic Logic to measure the campaign's success in raising awareness, interest and intent to see the movie. Survey respondents […]

Posted: Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

Industry Buzz & Snippets: 4/29/08

Ad Buying, Planning and Selling: Media service agency KSL Media is launching eWorld Asset Trading, allowing for the bartering of surplus for ad inventory. Emmis Communications is opening its Emmis Interactive online ad production and sales unit to other radio stations. It's already signed a Pittsburgh broadcaster as its first outside client. Ad Networks and Analytics: Video ad network […]

Posted: Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

Cox Adds Adify to Multi-Channel Ad Spread

Cox Enterprises has just purchased Adify for $300 million, reports PaidContent. The union joins a major online ad network with a high-profile representative of major news and cable ad alliances. Last August Adify launched the Gay Ad Network, which now tops the LGBT category. Adify also helps power Six Apart Media and enjoys the attentions of major […]

Posted: Tuesday, April 29th, 2008