A consortium of four private equity groups is preparing a bid for Virgin Media worth between $6 billion and $7 billion, according to a weekend report. A report in the Observer said that a private document titled ‘Project Coaxial’ shows that Blackstone, Cinven, KKR and Providence are prepared to approach Virgin Media. The consortium is… Continue reading Private Equity Consortium Prepares Virgin Media Bid

In February, a forecast from eMarketer predicted that 42.8 million Britons will go online in 2012, accounting for about 70% of the population. The UK Internet Users and Usage report said that although the UK is a mature broadband market, penetration is still increasing steadily, with survey data suggesting that 90% of at-home users will… Continue reading INSIGHTanalysis: Media Healthcheck – February 2008

Yesterday’s MediaTel Group seminar on the ‘Future of Consumer Magazines’ saw National Magazine Company chief executive Duncan Edwards say that he has no regrets about being outbid for Emap’s consumer magazine division, which was bought by Bauer in January. He said: It’s publicly known that we were a bidder. Clearly we didn’t put the highest… Continue reading ‘Future Of Magazines’ Seminar Looks At Consolidation

The budding free magazine industry will not replicate the paid-for market, but there is room for a small number of reasonably big free magazine brands. This was the view of Mike Soutar, chief executive of ShortList Media, a panellist at yesterday’s MediaTel Group ‘Future of Consumer Magazines’ seminar held in London. Soutar, creator of the… Continue reading Free Magazine Model Here To Stay

A single metric for measuring the reach of magazines would be a mistake, but merging both the NRS and ABC business infrastructures would be a successful cost-cutting move for the industry. This was the view of panellists at yesterday’s ‘Future of Consumer Magazines’ seminar, held by MediaTel Group. Duncan Edwards, chief executive of The National… Continue reading Single Magazine Measurement Metric Would Be A Mistake

Virgin Media has appointed Neil Berkett to the role of chief executive officer and announced the resignation of its chief financial officer, Jacques Kerrest.Burkett, who been acting chief executive officer since the resignation of Steve Burch in August 2007 (see Virgin Media CEO Steps Down), will also be joining the board of directors.Kerrest, who joined… Continue reading Virgin Media Appoints Chief Executive

Yesterday’s MediaTel Group seminar on the ‘Future of Consumer Magazines’ saw National Magazine Company chief executive Duncan Edwards say that he has no regrets about being outbid for Emap’s consumer magazine division, which was bought by Bauer in January.He said: It’s publicly known that we were a bidder. Clearly we didn’t put the highest price… Continue reading ‘Future Of Magazines’ Seminar Looks At Consolidation

Neil Berkett has been appointed chief executive officer of Virgin Media while chief financial officer, Jacques Kerrest, is resigning from his post. Burkett, who has been acting chief executive officer since the resignation of Steve Burch in August 2007 (see Steve Burch Steps Down As Virgin Media CEO), will also be joining the board of… Continue reading Virgin Media Appoints Chief Executive

Bella, the H Bauer owned women’s weekly magazine, is to extend its celebrity coverage in a bid to boost declining circulation.The move is in order to boost the title’s appeal to its target demographic of women in their mid-30s.At the most recent ABCs, Bella recorded a significant real term decline, of nearly 30% or a… Continue reading Bella Ups Celebrity Content To Boost Sales

Nine out of ten adults are aware of digital television switchover, according to new research from Digital UK and Ofcom.The Digital UK/Ofcom Tracker Survey at December 2007 indicates national awareness of switchover has reached 89%, up from 66% at the beginning of Digital UK’s public information campaign in May 2006.The figure rises to 96% in… Continue reading Nine Out Of 10 Adults Aware Of Digital Switchover