In an interview in today's Independent, Sir Martin says that forecasts released last week predicting that internet advertising in the US will overtake magazine adspend by 2007 are intriguing him.
"I think the challenge facing paper publishers -- newspapers and magazines -- is getting greater and greater. I read less weeklies and less fortnightlies. I don't get my 'market close' from the FT any more, I get it from Bloomberg the night before. Can I wait for Fortune or Business Week or The Economist? The answer is probably 'no'," he said.
In a wide-ranging interview, Sir Martin also talks about how he believes that there is room for optimism in the medium term for the advertising industry, saying: "I feel pretty good about the business."
On the subject of making a bid for Grey Global Group, Sir Martin said: "We are in the process of seeing whether it fits. We have discussed conflicts of interest with our major clients and, as long as we keep it separate, it's fine."
WPP Group has already expressed an interest in acquiring Grey and may find itself competing against Havas, which is also considering a bid. The sale could be decided in as little as a few weeks.
Owner of agencies including J Walter Thompson and Ogilvy & Mather, WPP Group is the second largest advertising and marketing services group in the world after US rival Omnicom.
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