Dow Jones has agreed to a takeover by News Corporation in a deal worth approximately $5.6 billion (£2.8 billion). About 37% of the Bancroft family, who control 64% of Dow Jones voting stock, agreed to the News Corp offer of $60 per share. Murdoch, chairman and CEO of News Corp, said: “I am deeply gratified… Continue reading Dow Jones Agrees Sale

Guardian Media Group (GMG) has published its annual report, showing that its turnover from continuing operations increased to £716.1 million for the financial year ending April 1 2007, up from £700.3 million the previous year. GMG, which owns the Guardian, Observer and Manchester Evening News and the Smooth Radio network, added that Profit before taxation… Continue reading GMG Reports Profits Increase

Trinity Mirror is to sell 27 regional newspapers and nine niche titles in London and the south-east for £18.75 million. The titles, including the South London Press, North London and Herts Newspapers and the Yellow Advertiser, will be sold to Tindle Newspapers. Last month, Trinity Mirror sold 25 weekly regional newspapers to Daily Mail and… Continue reading Trinity Mirror Sells 27 South-East Titles

Emap is to relaunch Heat Radio with a celebrity news format and sponsorship, promotions and ad-funded programming in place of spot advertising.The national digital station, which is currently an automated jukebox, will be relaunched at the end of September with an “exclusive club” of five clients whose advertising will be worked into the station’s content.Traditional… Continue reading Heat Radio To Relaunch With Integrated Advertising

Thinkbox has just published its Quarter 2 review for 2007, which shows that commercial TV is continuing to grow.The research shows that as digital penetration has expanded, so too have commercial impacts.Thinkbox says that individuals’ impacts rose over 3.3% against the same quarter last year and, as in the first three months of the year,… Continue reading Commercial TV Continues To Grow

Phil Riley, Chrysalis Radio’s chief executive, has resigned following the group’s acquisition by Global Radio.The £170 million disposal of music group Chrysalis’ radio division to Global Radio, a new company backed by Irish investors and chaired by former ITV chief executive, Charles Allen, was completed yesterday (see Chrysalis Radio To Sell For £170 Million).Riley was… Continue reading Riley Quits Chrysalis Following Global Sale

BSkyB has bought Amstrad in a deal worth £125 million – 150 pence in cash per share – which should see Sir Alan Sugar collect £34.5 million. Sky said that the acquisition of Amstrad will provide the satellite broadcaster with an in-house design and development capability, which Sky believes will deliver significant operational and financial… Continue reading Sky Buys Amstrad For £125m

GCap Media could be considering purchasing Emap’s radio assets, following Emap’s announcement last week that it is reviewing its portfolio of assets. When Emap announced the review last week it said that “all options to maximise shareholder value will be examined, including a possible sale or demerger of some or all of its constituent businesses”… Continue reading GCap Could Buy Emap’s Radio Assets

Text messages will be obsolete within the next five years, according to new research from Gartner. Although there are currently 114 million text messages sent daily in the UK, Gartner says that due to wireless internet technology coming down in price, more mobile phone handsets will include online technology and therefore more users will move… Continue reading Text Messaging To Be Obsolete Within Five Years

The latest edition of ZenithOptimedia’s UK Television Forecasts to 2012 predicts that the television ad market will stop shrinking this year, and start growing again – if at a modest 2% a year – in 2008. Television will however grow for only 1%-2% a year for the rest of the forecast period, and its market… Continue reading UK TV Ad Market To Grow