Five has renewed its conditional access agreement with BSkyB, ending speculation that other terrestrial broadcasters would follow the BBC’s lead and begin broadcasting unencrypted on digital satellite. Earlier this year the BBC withdrew from the BSkyB service to begin broadcasting to digital viewers from a different satellite, in a move designed to save the Corporation… Continue reading Five Renews Conditional Access Deal With Sky
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The Competition Commission has been given an extra two months to investigate the proposed £2.6 billion merger of Carlton and Granada and will now report back to Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt on 26 August. The Commission, which was due to have completed its inquiry by the end of this month, says it needs… Continue reading Competition Commission Delays Verdict On ITV Merger
It has been announced that KirchMedia is to be liquidated after creditors were unable to secure a buyer for the insolvent German media group. The company, which once held TV rights to World Cup football and Formula One, has been in limbo since the collapse of the parent Kirch Group in April 2002 (see KirchMedia… Continue reading KirchMedia Goes Into Liquidation
International advertising group WPP has acquired a 30% stake in the Spanish television company Mediapro for an undisclosed sum. Mediapro is based in Barcelona and specialises in television rights and production. It employs 1,000 people and had revenues of Â160 million for the year ended December 31 2002. The company has operations in Spain, France,… Continue reading WPP Buys Stake In Spanish TV Firm
Vivendi Universal today announced a reduction in first quarter losses and affirmed that it is on track to achieve year-end targets. The French media group, which is in the process of trying to sell its US entertainment assets (see Party Is Over For Vivendi), said that net loss in the three months to March 31… Continue reading The Tide Turns At Vivendi
Wireless local-area network (WLAN) equipment shipments experienced triple-digit growth in 2002 but there was no corresponding increase in revenues, according to new figures from Gartner Dataquest. The research company said that global WLAN equipment shipments totalled 19.5 million units last year, representing an increase of 120% from 2001 shipments of 8.9 million units. However, the… Continue reading Worldwide WLAN Sales Double In 2002
There appears to be no improvement in ITV advertising levels on the horizon, according to Morgan Stanley analysts, with September looking unlikely to provide the previously-anticipated pick-up in trading. At a broadcasting conference held by Morgan Stanley, a major UK media buyer told analysts that his firm sees no sign of recovery in September, with… Continue reading Morgan Stanley Downgrades ITV Forecasts
The importance of television to the younger age groups is beginning to diminish in the US, according to Parks Associates’ Electronic Living @ Home research. The survey shows that TV’s significance decreases steadily toward the younger demographic, with internet access and personal computing becoming increasingly prevalent for these groups. “Perhaps most surprising is how obviously… Continue reading TV Viewing Loses Importance For The Young, Finds US Survey
The BBC has resolved its dispute with BSkyB over the positioning of BBC1 and BBC2 on the satellite broadcaster’s electronic programming guide. Earlier this year the Corporation’s decision not to renew its digital encryption deal with BSkyB sparked a row between the two broadcasting heavyweights, with the latter threatening to relegate the BBC’s flagship channels… Continue reading BBC Resolves Digital Distribution Dispute With BSkyB
Shares in Cordiant Communications were suspended on the London Stock Exchange this morning pending clarification of the advertising group’s tenuous financial situation. The latest development comes after a weekend of intricate negotiations as Cordiant sought to secure a buyer. A takeover appears to be the only way the company can be saved following a number… Continue reading Cordiant Shares Suspended Amid Takeover Fight