Carlton Communications today announced the appointment of Paul Murray as group finance director and executive director, with effect from 1 January 2002. This follows the decision of Bernard Cragg to step down as finance director at the end of this year in order to develop other business interests.

Confusion reigns over the proposed deal between Liberty Media and Kirch Gruppe (see Murdoch In Talks To Sell Stake In Kirch To Liberty Media) as German regulators decide whether the proposed acquisition may go ahead. The deal, which would see Liberty Media become the largest cable operator in Germany, came about following talks between Liberty… Continue reading Confusion Over Kirch TV Deal As Regulators Approval Is Sought By Liberty

According to a report in the Independent this morning the restrictions governing radio ownership in the UK may soon be relaxed, allowing mergers between the larger groups for the first time. Following speculation that TV regulators may scrap the 20% rule, introduced in 1996 to prevent Rupert Murdoch from gaining a controlling interest in UK… Continue reading Government May Soon Relax Radio Ownership Regulations

Chrysalis Group’s radio business has outperformed the market in the year to 31 August 2001, with revenues rising by 18.3% to £44.0 million, according to the company’s year-end financial results released this morning. This growth compares to a more or less flat performance of the radio market as a whole over the same period. Operating… Continue reading Strong Radio Performance Aids Chrysalis Results

Following months of negotiations (see ITV Close To Securing Sky Digital Carriage, Says FT), ITV has finally secured carriage for its flagship and entertainment channels on the Sky Digital platform. The conditional access agreement reached late yesterday means ITV1 will be available on channel 103 giving the Network access to Sky Digital’s 5.5 million subscribers,… Continue reading ITV Finally Agrees Satellite Carriage Terms With BSkyB

Shares in WPP rose to 686½ this morning as Lehman Bros reiterated its buy rating following an ad agency seminar yesterday. ABN AMRO reports that WPP may still see marginal improvements next year despite the ‘dull’ ad market. WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrel believes that the current climate indicates a structural/fundamental shift in the ad… Continue reading WPP Acquires Global Sportnet But Sees No Ad Upturn In 2002

Advertising Association The latest long term figures from the Advertising Association forecast that for the period to 2013, UK consumer magazine advertising revenue will grow in real terms by between 28% and 50% rising to between £841 million and £989 million. The Long Term Advertising Expenditure Forecasts report also predicts that during the same period,… Continue reading Insight Sector Report: PRESS – 22.11.01

Capital Radio has announced a shift in its investment plans which will see a drop in funds for interactive ventures and an increase in money going to digital radio. Expected spend on digital radio is set to increase by a third, from the £3.0 million spent in 2001 to £4.0 million in the new financial… Continue reading Capital Shifts Invesment From Online To Digital

Almost 40% of British adults now have home internet access and six service providers each control more than 5% of this total subscriber base, according to data from Forrester Research released today. The research company says that the penetration of home Net access has risen from 32% of adults to 40% in only the last… Continue reading Britain’s Home Internet Access Reaches 40% Of Adults

Revenue Terrestrial: Recent analyst forecasts suggest that in the coming months ITV revenues will not deteriorate further to any great degree, but nor will it improve sufficiently to pick up the full-year average. Despite this, the run up to Christmas is expected to be poor for ITV. Analysts at ABN AMRO are sticking by their… Continue reading Insight Sector Report: TELEVISION – 21.11.01