The magazine industry is in the midst of a revolution with opportunities outweighing risks in the sector, according to Paul Keenan, chief executive of Emap Consumer Media, who was speaking at MediaTel Group’s latest seminar this morning. Fellow panellist, Future plc’s chief executive, Stevie Spring, was equally optimistic. “The buying and reading of magazines is… Continue reading Seminar Spawns Optimism For Magazine Market

A new report from In-Stat claims that portable devices for playing media are becoming more popular than ever before. The In-Stat report forecasts that digital radio receivers will reach 26 million unit shipments worldwide by 2010. It adds that the worldwide market for ‘edutainment’ toys is expected to hit 81 million units by 2010. In… Continue reading Portable Media Devices Becoming More Popular

The secretary of state for trade and industry, Alastair Darling, has asked Ofcom to review BSkyB’s acquisition of a 17.9% stake in ITV, with reports in the trade press claiming that the review could be widened to include all of Rupert Murdoch’s UK media assets. The review is to ascertain whether the Sky purchase “raises… Continue reading Darling Orders Investigation Of Sky/ITV Deal

Former director general of the Confederation of British Industry, Sir Digby Jones, could lead a bid to buy 47 of Trinity Mirror’s Midlands based newspapers. The titles include the Birmingham Post and 46 other local papers, including the Birmingham Mail and the Coventry Evening Telegraph. Sir Digby is quoted in today’s Financial Times as saying… Continue reading Digby Jones Could Buy Trinity Mirror’s Midlands Papers

The US satellite radio company XM saw its revenue for 2006 increase 67% year on year to $933 million. The company also added 1.6 million new net subscribers in 2006 for a total of 7.6 million subscribers. Hugh Panero, XM CEO, said: “2006 was a pivotal year for XM. The automobile market is emerging as… Continue reading XM Radio Records Revenue Increase

All future episodes of the BBC cookery programme Saturday Kitchen will be broadcast live after the Corporation admitted that viewers were asked to phone in for a show they had no chance of appearing on.Viewers were asked to call in for a chance to appear on the next week’s show. However, the show was being… Continue reading Saturday Kitchen Goes Live After Phone-In Mistake

The BBC Trust has provisionally approved the launch of the Freesat service, which would give viewers free digital television via satellite.The Trust said that the service would create significant public value by giving licence fee payers an additional way to access digital television.The Trust decided that a Freesat service would have a positive impact by… Continue reading BBC Trust Approves Freesat Service

Emap, owner of Heat and Magic FM, has in the past few days been surrounded by rumours concerning an imminent restructure, with many at the company fearing job cuts.Emap is holding meetings with its staff over the coming days to discuss matters which arose from its operational review, announced in November, which examined the consumer… Continue reading Emap Restructure Could Face Seminar Spotlight

Virgin Media has disputed Sky’s claims that it has offered significant concessions and a new annual price of 90 pence per subscriber for the carriage of its basic channels.The two companies are negotiating over the price paid by Virgin Media to carry the basic Sky channels, which include Sky One and Sky Sports News (see… Continue reading Virgin Media Disputes Sky Price Claim

The controller of features and entertainment, Ben Frow, and the controller of special events and pop features, Sham Sandhu, are expected to announce their departure from Five imminently.Frow was hired by Five in 2003 from Channel 4, while Sandhu joined in 2000 from the BBC, where he was head of new media and new channels.On… Continue reading Two Key Figures At Five Set To Leave