Overall print circulation in the U.S. and Europe has fallen substantially over the past five years, while the global ad spend market on newspapers contracted by 3% in the first half of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. At the same time, digital ad spend grew by 8%. In the GCC, print newspaper publishers now stand on the edge of a major shift in the digital space that will transform their business models.

RapidTVNews reports that the economic crisis is creating difficulties for Middle East broadcasters, and media analyst Booz & Co is predicting it will lead to mergers. Gabriel Chahine, a partner with media analyst Booz & Co, says that a number of major players were holding serious talks about possible mergers.