| Learned Information Europe, Ltd. has announced
that, according to a new report, Europe's online information market—representing
the sale of paid-for content—grew by 6 percent in 2001, surpassing its
4-percent growth in 2000. Revenue in this sector was worth $1.4 billion
in 2001. The findings came from a survey of 260 information professionals
from the U.K., France, Germany, and Scandinavia, the four largest markets
in Europe.
Business information (news, company, market research,
and legal) currently accounts for 77.6 percent of the industry, withscientific,
technical, and medical (STM) information accounting for the remaining 22.4
percent. Sales growth has been achieved through an increased penetration
of Web-based products and services at the desktop, more flexible delivery
and pricing options, and the further penetration of European markets outside
the U.K.
According to the report, the last 12 months have
seen the three major business information vendors (Thomson Corp., LexisNexis,
and Factiva) concentrate on internal restructuring and refocusing. In the
STM information sector, the major players (Elsevier Science, Wolters Kluwer,
Thomson, and John Wiley) have concentrated on the development of more Web-based
products.
Katherine Allen, event director for the Online
Information conference, said: "This report indicates that despite the prevailing
economic conditions, charging for content continues to be a viable strategy
for information providers. Vendors continue to compete on price, but users
in business and professional environments have always been prepared to
pay for information that is trustworthy, reliable, and relevant."
Full results are published in the
European
Online Information Market report. The report covers two markets: business
information and STM information. Copies can be ordered from Learned Information
by calling 011-44-1865-388034, or via its Web site at http://www.learned.co.uk/report.
The European online information market, as defined
in the report, comprises online company, financial, news, legal, and market
research information, and online scientific, technical, and medical information
in CD-ROM format as well as Web-based and traditional online sources. It
includes historical information services and near-real-time services, but
excludes real-time services.
Source: Learned Information Europe, Ltd., London,
011-44-1865-388034; http://www.learned.co.uk. |
