IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 9 March
09-03-2010
by Sylvia Leatham
CAO demand for science, tech rises | US online ad spend set to overtake print
The Irish Independent reports that growing numbers of school-leavers are opting for a career in science. According to latest figures from the CAO, science strengthened its position to the third most popular college discipline -- up from fifth place two years ago -- after an above-average 8.6 percent jump in applications this year. Engineering and technology courses have also shown an above-average rise in demand of 6.5 percent. The trend will come as a relief to the Government and multinational companies, who have been pushing for more highly skilled graduates to build the smart economy. Overall demand for a third-level place in autumn is up 6.2 percent to a record 71,843 applicants.
The Irish Times says that a new scheme will enable members of local libraries to access the music collections of some of the country's largest libraries and archives. Music PAL is a new cross-border initiative launched by the Committee on Library Co-operation in Ireland (Colico). Under the scheme, library users will be able to apply for a Music PAL Access Card at their local library, which will then allow them to visit and make use of facilities at other libraries around the country. Print materials such as scores and libretti will be made available by participating libraries, as well as online databases and audio-visual recordings.
According to the Financial Times, Sony will launch 3D televisions in June. The maker of Bravia flat-panel TVs hopes 3D models will make up 10 percent of more than 25 million LCD televisions it aims to sell in the next financial year. The market for 3D TV is set to get crowded this year: Panasonic plans to launch its 3D TVs in the US on 10 March, while last month Samsung launched 3D TV sales in South Korea and said it would launch them globally this month, with the aim of selling at least 2 million this year. Sony will begin selling 3D TVs in Japan on 10 June and plans to launch in overseas markets around the same time.
The paper also says that US online advertising and marketing spend will overtake print this year, according to a new study by Outsell, a publishing research company. Online spending is forecast to rise 9.6 percent to USD119.6 billion, while print spend will fall 3 percent to USD111.5 billion. As a percentage of spending, advertisers are expected to allocate more to digital budgets -- 32.5 percent -- compared to 30.3 percent to print, according to the study. Advertisers are spending more on web search advertising, their own websites and webinars at the expense of newspapers and magazines, the survey said.
The paper also notes that Cable & Wireless' UK business is stepping up efforts to achieve growth in emerging markets as it secures a stock market listing later this month. The business, C&W Worldwide, will focus on opportunities in Asia, Chief Executive Jim Marsh told the paper in an interview.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Google is testing a new TV search service with Dish Network, according to sources. The service, which runs on TV set-top boxes containing Google software, allows users to find shows on the satellite-TV service, as well as video from sites like Google's YouTube. It also lets users personalise a line-up of shows, the sources said. A Google spokeswoman declined to comment.
The paper also says that the Tokyo Stock Exchange has launched an investigation to see if Japanese technology services firm Fujitsu deliberately hid information regarding the resignation of its president last year. The investigation comes after Fujitsu on Saturday corrected its official explanation for former president Kuniaki Nozoe's September resignation. Initially, Fujitsu said he was stepping down due to illness. But now it says that other Fujitsu executives asked him to resign because of concerns about his ongoing relationship with an individual linked to a company with an "unfavourable reputation."
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