Friday 30 May 2008

INM buys 20 percent share in Indonesian publisher

Independent News & Media has spent $7.5 million on a 20 percent stake in Indonesian newspaper publisher Abdi Bangsa TBK, the Independent reported Friday.

Abdi Bangsa, which publishes Indonesia's highest circulated daily papers, also has online publishing, magazines, books, radio and outdoor advertising interests.

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Australian watchdog: Courier advertising anti-competitive

The Wentworth Courier's 15 year hold on real estate advertising in Sydney's eastern suburbs is over, after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Thursday revoked the paper's exclusive dealing notification it has held since 1993, The Sydney Morning Herald reported Friday

The complaint that the deal was anti-competitive was placed by Fairfax Media, which reported the deal gave the Courier “immunity from court action.”

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Online TV grows in Europe, broadcasters face threats

A question has arisen again and again for a long time: How will old and new media converge? According to Karin von Abrams, eMarketer senior analyst and author of the new report, Web Television in Europe: An Expanding Scene, "Broadcasters have no choice but to embrace new technology and delivery channels, but they are desperate to ensure they can still monetise their content, even when they are no longer monopoly distributors."

By January 2007, about one-half of all broadband users in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK were already watching TV online over high-speed connections, according to a study by Motorola.

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Western and Eastern Europe lead in mobile density in 2006

In 2006, Western and Eastern Europe had the highest mobile density in the world, according to research firm IDATE.

In 2002, the leading regions with highest density were Western Europe and advanced Asian economies, with 79 percent and 68 percent penetration, respectively. Eastern Europe and North America, on the other hand, followed behind, both with mobile reach of about 50 percent.

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Qué! down €3 million in first quarter

Spanish free daily Qué! was down €3.235 million EBITA in the first quarter, Newspaper Innovation reported Thursday.

The Vocento-owned title launched in January 2005.

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The Times to launch full-colour revamp

The Times is set to launch the first phase of its full-colour redesign Monday, the Guardian reported Friday.

The paper's redesign will include an expanded times2 features section, as well as offer more full page spreads, and will focus on weekly editions, not the Saturday edition.

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Scottish Catholic paper to relaunch next month

The only national Catholic paper in Scotland, Scottish Catholic Observer, is planning to relaunch next month, allmediascotland.com reported Thursday.

The relaunch of the 1885-founded paper will start on June 13, with a reception taking place in Edinburgh.

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