Satellite giant BSkyB has announced an agreement to purchase internet service provider EasyNet in a deal worth £211 million, giving the company a slice of the UK’s rapidly growing broadband market.The deal will see BSkyB pay 175p per share in cash for each share in EasyNet, a price roughly 38% up on their value at… Continue reading Sky Nets ISP For Triple Play Services

Channel 4’s high profile political drama, A Very Social Secretary, drew a peak of 1.98 million last night, securing a share of 9.75% for the broadcaster despite having aired a week earlier on the launch night of digital channel, More4.The programme, chronicling former home secretary David Blunkett’s affair with Kimberly Quinn, publisher of The Spectator,… Continue reading Blunkett Drama Shines In Terrestrial Screening

ITV saw ratings success last night as one-off crime drama Cold Blood drew an average of 6.3 million viewers to secure a 30.36% share.The programme, staring Matthew Kelly in his first leading drama role, treated viewers to an hour and a half of psychological detective work, peaking within the first 15 minutes with 6.87 million… Continue reading ITV Puts Rivals In The Cold With Crime Drama

Internet measurement specialist Nielsen//NetRatings has revealed the scale of Britain’s rapid broadband take up, with almost three quarters of users now accessing websites through high speed connections.This figure, according to the online analyst, represents a growth of 59% in broadband takeup in just one year. In addition, Nielsen//NetRatings reports broadband users to be spending twice… Continue reading Nielsen Lifts Lid On Broadband Usage

French entrepreneur and chairman of Havas, Vincent Bollore, continued to increase his stake in media buying firm Aegis today, approaching the 20% mark with the purchase of 9.15 million shares.The purchase, made through Bollore’s Financiere Du Loch, gives the media boss a total share of 19.96% in the company, which owns and operates the Carat… Continue reading Bollore Boosts Share In Aegis To Almost 20%

ITV has become the latest broadcaster to embrace online TV technology, launching a pilot broadband TV service aimed at viewers in the Brighton and Hastings areas.The new service will offer channels for local news, weather, local films, an entertainment guide, community video and classified advertising, accessible via www.itvlocal.tv.The pilot service will allow ITV to expand… Continue reading ITV Latest To Launch Web TV Trial

The latest ABC results show the Guardian‘s new Berliner format increasing sales during its first month of publication, with the paper adding 7.4% to its circulation year on year in September.The title, which now commands a circulation of 404,187, put its rivals to shame last month, with the new reduced-size format scoring a circulation increase… Continue reading Guardian Sees Sales Rise With Berliner

American computer giant Apple last night launched the world’s first legal download service for TV programmes, widening the appeal of its popular iTunes software with the addition of video content from American broadcasters, and unveiling a new video-capable iPod to accompany it.Apple’s new service will allow consumers to download programmes following their broadcast, with the… Continue reading Apple Goes Public With First TV Download Service

BSkyB is reportedly planning a £1 billion purchase of a broadband service provider, with the company planing to launch triple play services comprising phone, TV and internet.The plans, reported this morning by the Guardian, would enable Sky to compete more effectively with a combined triple play cable service by ntl and Telewest, following their recently… Continue reading Sky Mulling ISP Purchase To Offer Triple Play

Vincent Bollore’s position amid rumours of an Aegis takeover continued to develop this morning, with the French businessman and head of media giant Havas snapping up a further 3.25 million shares in the British firm.Bollore’s latest purchase cements his position as Aegis’ largest shareholder, with a stake of more than 15% in the firm.The media… Continue reading Bollore’s Stake In Aegis Reaches 15%