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Enders Analysis provides a subscription research service covering the media, entertainment, mobile and fixed telecommunications industries in Europe, with a special focus on new technologies and media.

Our research is independent and evidence-based, covering all sides of the market: consumers, leading companies, industry trends, forecasts and public policy & regulation. A complete list of our research can be found here.

 

Rigorous Fearless Independent

TalkTalk Group (TTG) lost broadband customers for the first time in its history in the quarter to December due to dissatisfaction among former Tiscali customers, and to a lesser extent, at AOL UK

But gross additions appeared to remain healthy and ARPU growth was strong, holding group revenue flat

The group remains on track to make guidance for the financial year to March. Beyond that, we remain optimistic about the prospects for further cost reduction, but reducing churn remains a daunting prospect

Vodafone Europe’s revenue growth was broadly flat in the December quarter at 0.2%, but MTR cuts in Germany meant that underlying growth improved by 0.4ppts

Given flat economic growth in its key markets and the cold weather effect, this is a very respectable result, albeit not in line the company’s confident guidance given three months ago

With more severe MTR cuts scheduled over the coming quarters, and GDP growth forecast to not improve, revenue growth is more likely to decline than rise over the coming year

The year ended on a strong note, as Sky broke passed its milestone of ten million homes and achieved yet another record breaking quarter for multi-product take-up

Home communications once more achieved exceptional growth, with triple play penetration jumping from 18% to 24%, while HD take-up resumed strong momentum after halving in Q1 2011

Financially, the company has never looked in better shape, with good prospects for continuing strong multi-product growth, leaving the question of where Sky will choose to invest next to drive further revenue growth

Jeremy Hunt announced on 25 January his intention to refer News Corp’s bid for BSkyB to the Competition Commission

However, he is first providing News Corp with the opportunity to address Ofcom’s concerns, and in so doing protecting his department and Ofcom from any legal threats

If Ofcom or the OFT say the News Corp remedies don’t go far enough, Jeremy Hunt will be then almost obliged to refer the transaction to the CC

The Financial Times

25 January 2011

Following news that the BBC intends radically to prune its online empire from 400 to 200 websites (BBC to shed 360 staff in online revamp), the FT observed: "By ruling out involvement in publishing local listings, social networking or music streaming, the BBC is for the first time attempting to create clear limits for its online ambitions."

Ian Maude was asked for his view. He said: “Even with its wings clipped, the BBC is going to be the biggest online news and long-form [online] video provider in the UK", and he added: “A lot of the cuts are symbolic – all the key sites will continue. Getting rid of a half of their domains does not equate to [losing] half their traffic. It will have a much smaller impact than the figures suggest.”

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/db20cfba-27ac-11e0-a327-00144feab49a.html#axz…

Google’s UK gross revenue rose 18% YoY in Q4 to £550 million (excluding estimated hedging gains), with bad weather and the impending VAT rise helping to deliver better than expected performance

The company’s core search business continues to be a key driver and beneficiary of the growth in consumer e-commerce, which we project will increase by 20% in 2011, compared to 4-5% for retail sales (excluding fuels)

We have raised our 2011 growth forecast for Google’s UK business to 15% – with search supported by growth in mobile and display – we now project UK internet advertising spend will increase 11% this year

French ISPs are about to enter a disruptive four month window of penalty-free broadband subscriber churn, triggered by the VAT rise on IPTV

SFR has followed Iliad’s Free by offering unmetered fixed-to-mobile calls at the risk of ARPU decline

We expect Free’s market share to stabilise, whilst those of SFR and Bouygues should rise to the detriment of Orange

The Financial Times

21 January 2011

Research published by Enders Analysis on the growth of mobile advertising was featured prominently by the Financial Times (UK mobile phone ads set for rapid growth). Emphasising the potential for rapid take-off, Enders Analysis concluded that “The difference now is that the explosion in smartphone sales and even faster growth in mobile internet usage is driving commensurate growth in advertising inventory”, and predicted that mobile advertising will make up 4 per cent of the total online ad market in 2011, reaching 9.5 per cent by 2015.