The Government has ended the deadlock over the relaxation of the media ownership regulations and has agreed to accept Lord Puttnam’s plurality test amendment to the Communications Bill. In an attempt to avert a last minute defeat in the House of Lords, which would effectively end three years of policy making, Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell,… Continue reading Government Ends Media Ownership Deadlock
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The Government has agreed to allow ITV licence holders to take full control of ITN following a last minute amendment to the Communications Bill. Ministers have previously been unwilling to lift the current restrictions, which prevent individual shareholders owning more than 40% of the commercial news provider that produces News At Ten and Channel 4… Continue reading ITV Partners Cleared To Take Full Control Of ITN
Ofcom’s chief executive, Stephen Carter, has criticised Lord Puttnam’s recent amendment to the Communications Bill to give the new super-regulator a greater emphasis on protecting the interests of citizens. In his first public speech since his appointment earlier this year (see Carter Set For Chief Executive Role at Ofcom), Carter said the amendment, which was… Continue reading Carter Blasts Risky Amendments To Communications Bill
Radio airtime revenues at the Wireless Group (TWG) rose by 1.4% in the six months to June, despite the fact that last year enjoyed a boost to spend during the World Cup competition. Chief executive Kelvin MacKenzie unveiled the stronger figures at the company’s AGM this morning. He also announced that the group’s flagship national… Continue reading Wireless Group Sees H1 Revenues Rise 1.4%
One of the bidders for the Vivendi Universal Entertainment (VUE) portfolio of businesses is understood to have been eliminated from the auction process, according to a report in today’s Financial Times. The paper says that Universal Partners, the consortium led by US oil billionaire Marvin Davis, has been ruled out by Vivendi, as its offer… Continue reading Vivendi Selects VUE Bidders In Auction
The contrasting fortunes of advertising markets on either side of the Atlantic became more apparent in June with bullish mood in the US unmatched in the UK and across Europe. However, economic growth is slow in most major countries and there is little prospect of a boom to rival that of the late nineties. Reflecting… Continue reading INSIGHTanalysis: Media Healthcheck – June 2003
Revenues from online gaming are set to rise from last year’s $875 million to over $5 billion worldwide by 2008, according to a new report from DFC Intelligence. The research group predicts that this growth will be driven by video games consoles users, as well as PC-based subscription services. By 2008, it forecasts that the… Continue reading Online Gaming Revenues To Pass $5bn By 2008, Says Report
The cost of GPRS data will have to fall if it is to achieve its potential. So says a new report, GPRS Pricing Improves, But Users Still Paying A Packet, from Strategy Analytics. GPRS has been made more accessible through the introduction of a pay-per-use pricing system. However, prices are generally found in the $10… Continue reading GPRS Users Still Overcharged, Says Report
EMAP has been given competition clearance to acquire France’s Excelsior Publications, propelling it to the number two spot in the country’s consumer magazing publishing sector. The deal was originally announced on 2 April, but required approval from the French competition authorities before it could go ahead (see Emap Raises Profile With French Acquisition). The newly… Continue reading EMAP Becomes France’s Second Largest Consumer Mags Publisher
Global market research network, Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), this morning said that trading in its markets will yield broadly flat revenues for the first half of the year. The group’s figures paint a similar picture to WPP’s trading statement this week (see Sorrell Sees Signs Of Stabilisation). That is to say, the US is stronger… Continue reading TNS Sees Flat H1, NFO WorldGroup Deal Progressing