Mass Media 2000-2004

During those years, television companies faced stiff competition for viewers. At present, the main TV market players are arranged in pairs in close competition with one another. The main pair of competitors are First Channel and Rossiya (these channels each have about a 20-25% audience share), followed by NTV and STS (10-12% each) and TNT and Ren TV (5-7% each). TVC and Culture (Kultura) have 3-5% each, and the remainder (Muz-TV, DTV, 7TV, and MTV) each have about 1% or less of the viewing audience.

Print media and radio also went through business concentration processes under competitive conditions. Today, the ten leading publishing houses account for nearly 60% of advertising revenues. The situation in radio is even more indicative � one Moscow market leader, Russian Media Group (Russkaya Mediagruppa)), currently controls nearly one-third of all advertising budgets.


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FARO Reports Sales Growth of 25.7% in 2007; Orders Increase 21.8% for 2007

LAKE MARY, Fla. (Map) - LAKE MARY, Fla., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FARO Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: FARO) today announced results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2007. Net income for the fourth quarter was $8.4 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, an increase of $4.7 million, compared to $3.7 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2006. Net income for fiscal 2007 was $18.1 million, or $1.15 per diluted share, compared to $8.2 million, or $0.56 per diluted share for fiscal 2006. Fiscal 2007 results include a charge of $2.65 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, for the estimated fines and penalties that the Company anticipates could be necessary to resolve the previously announced Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") matter with the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") and U.S.


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Nigeria: Before the APRM Verdict

Do Nigerians need the Country Review Team of highly eminent Africans currently criss-crossing the country's territorial landscape to tell her how bad things are or the need to remedy her deficit areas and provide the enabling environment for the propagation of the ideals of development and consolidation of liberties and best practices? Here are highlights of her (Nigeria) own assessment of her foibles and frailties as documented by a team of her own assessors made up of citizens of Nigeria. Kunle Somorin reports on the 30 pitfalls that could make Nigeria fail APRM.

The frenzied publicity and reception accorded the Country Review Team of the African Peer Review Team by the political apparatchiks underscores the significance attached to the continental initiative that midwife the process of peer review of the leadership at all levels of governance in Africa.


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Earnings expectations cut despite results

EARNINGS expectations for the Australian stock market are being downgraded against the volatile backdrop of spiralling inflation and a targeted slowdown of the economy.

Midway through the first-half reporting season analysts have been surprised by the strength of the earnings, particularly from diversified industrials.

But the uncertain interest rate environment and the Reserve Bank's aim to reduce non-farm GDP growth from 4.5 per cent to 2.75 per cent is creating concern that earnings will slip.

Citigroup head of economics Paul Brennan said the bank's equities analysts had downgraded earnings growth for 2008 to 5.6 per cent, but the 2009 target had been maintained at 12.3 per cent.

"The prospect of inflation reaching close to 4 per cent and only falling back to the top of the RBA's inflation target through a material rise in unemployment is not a healthy backdrop for the equity market," he said.

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http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=90355

Over the last few years mortgage holders have fixed their interest rates. In 2008 many fixed rates will revert to he lenders variable rate and so 1000s of will be searching for a better deal.

According to Damian Youell of http://www.remortgagesupermarket.co.uk a large percentage of mortgage holders will be shopping around, looking for a better fixed-rate deal. Unfortunately, over the last 12 months, the mortgage market has changed, whereas two or three years ago it was possible to fix your mortgage interest rate at an extremely low rate. Due to the Bank of England and the monetary policy committee increasing the base rate over the last couple of years, fixed interest rate mortgage bargains are hard to come by.

Damian went on to add that the credit crisis and the tightening up of lending criteria, will also make fixed law interest rate mortgage products.


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Bulgaria Consolidates Five Energy Companies into Holding

Bulgaria's government decided to set up an energy holding that will be composed of gas company Bulgargaz, power grid operator NEK, Kozloduy nuclear power plant, Maritza-Iztok II thermal power plant, and the Mini Maritza Iztok (Maritza Iztok mines). The consolidation of the five companies into the Bulgarian energy holding, one of the biggest energy companies in the region, is expected to be completed by the end of 2008. The assets of the holding will amount to EUR 4 B, its forecast annual profit is set at EUR 1,8 B. The state will hold a 100% stake in the energy holding. The Energy and Economy Ministry will hold up to 75% stake in each of the five energy companies, while the minority shares, varying from 25% to 49% will be transferred to the newly established company. The consolidation of the energy sector aims to restructure the corportate management and supervision of the companies included in the holding, prepare them for listing on local and international stock exchanges, boost their investment potential and improve their credit ratings.


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Bills.com Suggests Debt Options Whether Credit Is Good or Bad

10 ways to cope with crippling debt for any credit score.

San Mateo, CA (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- It's the best of times, and it can be the worst of times, when it comes to looking at consumer debt, says Bills.com co-founder and co-CEO Brad Stroh, who this week provided a host of options for consumers with any credit rating to cope with debt.

"Home foreclosures hit record levels in 2007. But even those not swept up by the wave of foreclosed mortgages can suffer from excess debt," said Stroh, whose Bills.com (www.bills.com) is a free online consumer finance portal. "The good news is no matter what the situation, a solution is available."

Stroh's suggestions for managing debt -- whether with good or bad credit -- follow.

If credit is bad:
Those who are behind on payments, have creditors calling or have given up hope of repaying debts probably realize that their credit rating is likely low and falling.

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