The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics have revealed an unexpected rise in inflation, which exceeded the Government’s target level of 2.5% for the first time in over two years. The underlying rate of inflation was 2.6% during August, up 4% points on the previous month. Falling car and petrol prices are thought… Continue reading Inflation Rate Reaches Unexpected High

Scottish Radio Holdings’ (SRH) Score Press has sold the Title Media division and its subsidiary Ireland on Sunday Ltd, which publishes the Ireland on Sunday newspaper, to Associated Newspapers for £7.4 million cash, the company announced this morning. SRH, which has built up a portfolio of 41 local weekly titles over the last six years,… Continue reading Scottish Radio Sells Ireland On Sunday To Associated

Shares in Carlton Communications were down by 29p (13.5%) by midday today, whilst Granada stock was off 9Âźp (9.1%), following downgrades to ITV recovery forecasts by both HSBC and ABN Amro. “The summer has passed and the slowdown in ITV advertising continues unabated,” says ABN. The broker is now forecasting a 15% decline in ITV’s… Continue reading ITV Downgraded Again, Carlton And Granada Stock Falls

For media stocks the short- to medium-term situation is now looking even worse than it did before the tragedy in the US, when there was already a worry of impending full-scale recession. Advertising levels are likely to drop as media devote much of their space to coverage of the events now unfolding in the States… Continue reading Insight Analysis: Media Stocks Show Across The Board Declines As Outlook Deteriorates

BSkyB would be interested in buying a stake in ITV companies Carlton and Granada if the Government changed the current cross media ownership laws, according to CEO Tony Hall. Speaking at the Royal Television Society conference in Cambridge, Sky’s chief executive said that if the current broadcasting laws were changed, Sky would consider investing in… Continue reading BSkyB Eyes Up Terrestrial Opportunities

The US Federal Reserve has just announced a 0.5% point cut in interest rates in what is a concerted move to prop up trading on Wall Street today. The cut, from 3.5% to 3.0%, came only one hour before trading is set to resume. Investors around the world will still be looking anxiously toward Wall… Continue reading Insight Analysis: Can Traders Stabilise The Market As Wall Street Reopens?

For media stocks the short- to medium-term situation is now looking even worse than it did before the tragedy in the US, when there was already a worry of impending full-scale recession. Advertising levels are likely to drop as media devote much of their space to coverage of the events now unfolding in the States… Continue reading Insight Analysis: Media Stocks Show Across The Board Declines As Outlook Deteriorates

BSkyB would be interested in buying a stake in ITV companies Carlton and Granada if the Government changed the current cross media ownership laws, according to CEO Tony Hall. Speaking at the Royal Television Society conference in Cambridge, Sky’s chief executive said that if the current broadcasting laws were changed, Sky would consider investing in… Continue reading BSkyB Eyes Up Terrestrial Opportunities

Stocks indices plummeted as the New York Stock Exchange, Dow Jones and Nasdaq opened today for the first time since the attacks on New York and Washington last Tuesday (see Insight Analysis: Can Traders Stabilise The Market As Wall Street Reopens?). This is despite a 0.5% cut in the US interest by the Federal Bank,… Continue reading Stock Falls As Wall Street Reopens

Pre-tax profits before exceptionals at Ulster Television (UTV) fell slightly in the six months to 30 June, mainly due to the downturn in advertising levels. Interim pre-tax profits came in at £6.4 million, compared to £20.4 million for the same period last year, which included the £13.4 million profit contribution from the sale of the… Continue reading Ulster TV Profits Fall, But Outperform ITV Network