Monday, 11 October 2010

Blinkx Plc - trading update

Monday 11 October, 2010

Blinkx Plc

Trading Update
RNS Number : 1425U

Blinkx Plc

11 October 2010


blinkx plc

("blinkx" or "the Company")

Trading Update
blinkx Expects to Report First Half Revenue of approximately $27M, An Increase of around 100%

Schedules First Half Results and Conference Call for 9 November 2010

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. - Oct 11, 2010 - blinkx, the world's largest and most advanced video search engine, today announces a trading update for the 6 months ended 30 September 2010. The Company expects to report revenues for the first half of approximately $27m, an increase of around 100% from the same period last year. The number of video searches and ads served also grew significantly. With revenues growing strongly, the Company expects to report an operating profit above $1m for the first half that will be ahead of current analyst consensus of $0.63m for the period. Since the year ended 31 March 2010 the Company's cash has increased by approximately $2m to around $17m, reflecting the positive cash profile of the group.

Suranga Chandratillake, founder and CEO, blinkx, commented, "Video advertising is the fastest-growing format online - eMarketer estimates continued growth in spending of almost 500% over the next four years to $11.3 billion in 2014. This powerful momentum underscores the vitality of our business model. Over the last six months, blinkx has continued to experience strong user demand, with ever increasing numbers of searches placing blinkx.com in the Quantcast.com Top 100 sites. We also continue to exploit new applications and platforms that represent additional markets for our existing search engine and content partnerships. We expect to further accelerate the growth of our business and given our market position remain confident of the outlook."

Highlights:
- Premium content partnerships announced during the half include deals with the BBC, AccuWeather and Internet Video Archive
- Strategic entry-points established in the mobile market, including the launch of m.blinkx.com and distribution deals with Evri, Mobica, and Samsung which brought blinkx to iPhone and Android devices
- Significant progress achieved in desktop distribution and the proliferation of our partnership with ITN, and a joint initiative with Microsoft to release blinkx-powered Accelerators for Internet Explorer 8
- blinkx continued its beta release programme for Cheep, the transaction hijacker product, including a successful closed test with external users and bloggers

The company expects to announce its results for the 6 months to 30 September 2010 on 9 November 2010.

The above represent preliminary summary results based on blinkx's expectations at the time of publication of this announcement. These results may be subject to revision as part of the analysis process and, at this stage, should be taken as indicative estimates only. Preliminary summary results are provided as an aid to investors based on information available at the time of publication. Full results, including income statement, balance sheet, statement of changes in equity, cash flow statement and related notes and other segmental information will be published in due course, which is expected to be on 09 November 2010. All results, including those set forth above, are subject to quarterly financial review by blinkx's independent auditors, and are considered preliminary and subject to change until publication of any such review or audit.

Enquiries

blinkx plc
+44 (0)1223 488500
Suranga Chandratillake, Founder and CEO
+1 (415) 848-2986
Frances Smith, Company Secretary



Citigroup Global Markets Ltd
+44 (0)207 986 4000
(NOMAD and Broker for blinkx plc)

Charles Lytle

Christopher Wren



Financial Dynamics
+44 (0)20 7831 3113
Edward Bridges


About blinkx
blinkx plc (LSE AIM: BLNX) is the world's largest and most advanced video search engine. Today, blinkx has indexed at least 35 million hours of audio, video, viral and TV content, and made it fully searchable and available on demand. blinkx's founders set out to solve a significant challenge - as TV and user-generated content on the Web explode, keyword-based search technologies only scratch the surface. blinkx's patented search technologies listen to - and even see - the Web, helping users enjoy a breadth and accuracy of search results not available elsewhere. In addition, blinkx powers the video search for many of the world's most frequented sites. blinkx is based in San Francisco and London. More information is available at www.blinkx.com.

This announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of blinkx plc (the "Company"). Citgroup Global Markets U.K. Equity Limited ("Citi"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting for the Company and for no-one else in relation to this announcement, and will not be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for providing advice in connection with the announcement. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by the Company, Citi or by any of their respective affiliates or agents as to or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.

Forward-looking Statements

This announcement contains (or may contain) certain forward-looking statements with respect to certain of blinkx plans and its current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition and performance and which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. blinkx cautions readers that no forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as 'aim', 'anticipate', 'target', 'expect', 'estimate', 'intend', 'plan', 'goal', 'believe', or other words of similar meaning. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding blinkx future financial position, income growth, impairment charges, business strategy, projected levels of growth in its markets, projected costs, estimates of capital expenditure, and plans and objectives for future operations of blinkx and other statements that are not historical fact.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances, including, but not limited to, UK domestic and global economic and business conditions, the effects of continued volatility in credit markets, market-related risks such as changes in interest rates and exchange rates, the policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, changes in legislation, the further development of standards and interpretations under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") applicable to past, current and future periods, evolving practices with regard to the interpretation and application of standards under IFRS, the outcome of pending and future litigation, the success of future acquisitions and other strategic transactions and the impact of competition - a number of which factors are beyond blinkx control. As a result, blinkx actual future results may differ materially from the plans, goals, and expectations set forth in blinkx forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made herein by or on behalf of blinkx speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by the FSA, AIM or applicable law, blinkx expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement to reflect any changes in blinkx expectations with regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

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Comment: Excellent news! Clearing the decks for the imminent launch of Cheep? I sure hope so...

Mobile marketing growing "very rapidly"

Monday, 11, Oct 2010 09:56

The mobile advertising market is growing "very rapidly" as increasing numbers of people use devices such as smartphones and iPads.

This is according to Tim Elkington of the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB), who suggests that internet use for many is no longer dominated by computers at home or at work.

A recent study from the IAB shows that online advertising spend rose by ten per cent during the first half of 2010, with social media and video advertising being the strongest areas of growth.

Meanwhile, advertising on social media sites accounted for 13 per cent of online advertising activity.
"The increase in smartphones, iPads and other portable devices means that there is just more and more people using the internet in lots of different places," comments Mr Elkington.

And the smartphone market holds a lot of potential for advertisers, he notes.

Recently, Graham Charlton of Econsultancy suggested that businesses should focus on developing strategies on the mobile web before looking at releasing apps, as the former will work on a range of devices and can be launched at any time.

Sunday, 10 October 2010

Online video ad spend up 83% H1 2010!























[click for larger image]

from New Media Age, 7th October edition















[click for larger image]

from New Media Age, 7th October edition

















[click for larger image]

from New Media Age, 7th October edition

Friday, 8 October 2010

This looks interesting...

New site Video Volcano looks set to launch soon.

At the moment it looks pretty basic, and of course it's far too early to tell whether it will be a success or not (question: why pay for video on this site when there are all the videos you can eat at YouTube or, of course, through Blinkx itself?), but it does highlight the trend for online video, and the monetising of the same.

All the evidence we have is that online video advertising is booming hugely. Let's hope that is adequately reflected in the next figures from Blinkx, due in November...

Thursday, 7 October 2010

Samsung Galaxy S Sales Hit 5M Worldwide, 2M in U.S.

Samsung has sold five million Galaxy S phones since the line launched in June, the company announced Wednesday.

Samsung sold two million Galaxy S devices in the U.S. and one million in Korea. This means that in just four months, Samsung has almost matched its smartphone sales figures from last year, Reuters reported.

Samsung announced the figures at the end of a press release discussing the Japanese launch of the Galaxy S line and the Samsung Galaxy Tab. Galaxy S will go on sale there in late October and the Galaxy Tab tablet will hit shelves in late November. Both devices are currently on display at Japan's CEATEC conference in Makuhari Messe...

from PC Mag