Monday, 30 September 2013

More than half of people in Latin America can access one or more pay TV service

"It’s Pay-TV boom time in Latin America. According to the regional advertising council LAMAC more than half of Latin Americans can currently access one or more Pay-TV platforms. That’s up from 36.3% since 2008 (the actual present-day statistic is 56.3%) – a significant advance that advertisers, the LAMAC stresses, are reportedly remaining a little slow to take advantage of, with over 85% of advertising campaign efforts targeting free channels, and only 10% of investment directed at Pay-TV."
Source:  IP&TV News, 27th September 2013
Note - just because they can doesn't mean that they do

3 million taxi journeys in London have been made using the Hailo app

"Three million taxi journeys have been made in the capital using smartphone app Hailo, the London-based tech start-up announced today.
Investor Sir Richard Branson also predicted that the number of cabbies using Hailo — which number 42,000 worldwide, including 13,000 in London — would double over the next year."

Alibaba's sites account for 60% of all parcels delivered in China

"Alibaba’s various e-commerce sites account for 60 per cent of parcels delivered in China; just two of its portals handled more sales globally in 2012 than eBay and Amazon combined. Half of all online payments in China go through its online payment processor, Alipay."
Source:  Profile of Jack Ma in the Financial Times, 28th September 2013

Friday, 27 September 2013

Wednesday, 25 September 2013

The global and regional reach of mobile chat apps among iPhone users


Click to enlarge

Source:  Data from Onovo Insights, reported in The Next Web, 8th August 2013
Note - Android has more users in most regions, but the figures should still give a good indication of popularity

Ad revenues rose 45% y-o-y for DMGT newspaper websites

"Daily Mail & General Trust's national newspaper division, DMG Media, has reported a slight year-on-year rise in underlying ad revenues for the 11 months to the end of August.
Strong growth for DMGT newspaper websites including Mail Online, with ad revenues up 45% year on year, offset print decline during a period that included tough comparisons with last year's money-spinning London Olympic and Paralympic Games. Other digital ad revenue, mostly from Evanbase and Wowcher, was up 21% year on year during the period."

Tuesday, 24 September 2013

Apple sold 9 million iPhone 5s & 5c models in the first three days

"Apple® today announced it has sold a record-breaking nine million new iPhone® 5s and iPhone 5c models, just three days after the launch of the new iPhones on September 20. In addition, more than 200 million iOS devices are now running the completely redesigned iOS 7, making it the fastest software upgrade in history. Both iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c are available in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK. Demand for iPhone 5s has exceeded the initial supply, and many online orders are scheduled to be shipped in the coming weeks.
“This is our best iPhone launch yet―more than nine million new iPhones sold―a new record for first weekend sales,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and while we’ve sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5s, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly. We appreciate everyone’s patience and are working hard to build enough new iPhones for everyone.”"

Friday, 20 September 2013

GTA5 generated $800 million in first day sales

"Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) today announced that Grand Theft Auto V delivered the highest first day retail sales of any title in the history of the Company and the Grand Theft Auto series. Launched on September 17 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the title has already received widespread critical acclaim and achieved first day sell-through of more than $800 million worldwide, excluding the upcoming launch in Japan and Brazil, according to Company estimates.
“All of us at Take-Two are thrilled with the initial response to Grand Theft Auto V. Once again, the team at Rockstar Games have outdone themselves, setting the entertainment industry's new standard for creativity, innovation and excellence," said Strauss Zelnick, Chairman and CEO of Take-Two. “Beginning at midnight on Monday, consumers around the world gathered in anticipation to be among the first to experience the evolution of this remarkable series. In North America alone, more than 8,300 stores opened their doors at midnight to welcome fans whose loyalty and enthusiasm were rewarded with what The New York Times called ‘the most immersive spectacle in interactive entertainment’. We are incredibly proud of Rockstar Games’ creative achievement and could not be more pleased with the success of this launch.”"
Source:  Press release from Take-Two Interactive Software, 18th September 2013
Update - $1bn in 3 days

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

The development & marketing budget for GTA5 is estimated at $265 million

"The budget for Grand Theft Auto V is the highest of any video game, it has been revealed ahead of the keenly-awaited title’s release next week.
It is also is more than any movie bar Pirates of the Caribbean 3, with the game expected to make $1.57 billion in just one year.
Although games with a budget of around $100 million are becoming relatively commonplace, the $265 million (£170 million) budget of Grand Theft Auto V is more than double that of 2008’s Grand Theft Auto IV.
A number of movies hover around the same mark, including famous flop John Carter, but the only film that cost more to make than Grand Theft Auto V is 2007’s Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.
Despite this colossal investment newspaper The Scotsman reports that Grand Theft Auto V is likely to sell 25 million copies in its first year alone, generating sales of £1 billion ($1.57 billion)."