NTL’s plans to create a ‘quadruple play’ business with the acquisition of Virgin Mobile have hit a stumbling block, as Virgin’s board rejected an £817 million bid, despite the deal having majority shareholder Sir Richard Branson’s backing. Virgin’s board opposed NTL’s offer, claiming that it undervalued the business, although press speculation this morning suggests that… Continue reading Virgin Mobile Backs Away From NTL Deal

Telecoms giant BT has announced the first content deals for its forthcoming IPTV service, signing up BBC Worldwide, Paramount and Warner Music Group to provide customers with films and TV programmes via their broadband connections.The agreements precede the service’s launch next Autumn, allowing BT customers access to a range of on-demand film, music and television… Continue reading BT Signs First Content Deals For IPTV Service

Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) has tabled a bid for online content firm Fastcrop, seeking to widen its online portfolio with the company’s primelocation.com residential property website.Primelocation is one of the UK’s leading websites for estate agents wishing to advertise properties online, as well as for listings of properties located abroad.DMGT’s bid totals £48… Continue reading DMGT Widens Portfolio With Property Bid

SMG released a trading update this morning, reporting that it will perform broadly in line with analysts’ forecasts for 2005.The group expects to perform well, despite soft advertising markets in the second half of 2005, with the company’s Scottish TV and Grampian TV expected to outperform the ITV Network for the year as a whole,… Continue reading SMG Sees Business On Target For End Of Year

NTL’s plans to create a ‘quadruple play’ business with the acquisition of Virgin Mobile have hit a stumbling block, as Virgin’s board rejected an £817 million bid, despite the deal having majority shareholder Sir Richard Branson’s backing.Virgin’s board opposed NTL’s offer, claiming that it undervalued the business, although press speculation this morning suggests that the… Continue reading Virgin Mobile Backs Away From NTL Deal

ITV returned to the jungle last night, with reunion show I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here: Coming Out offering viewers the chance to catch up with the now concluded show’s contestants and drawing over 6.5 million viewers.The programme dominated prime time viewing last night, with BBC One’s competing Life in the Undergrowth notching… Continue reading ITV’s Celebrity Reunion Continues Primetime Dominance

The Advertising Association (AA) has announced the election of Mark Lund, chief executive of Delaney Lund Knox Warren & Partners, as its new chairman-elect following the decision by current chairman, David Kershaw, chief executive of M&C Saatchi, to stand down at the end of March 2006.In announcing his intention, Kershaw suggested Lund as his successor,… Continue reading AA Appoints Lund As New Chairman

ITV is to extend its online presence with the purchase of Friends Reunited for £120 million, as well as an extra payment of £55 million in three years’ time if the website’s performance meets expectations.The website, which was created by husband and wife team Steve and Julie Pankhurst five years ago, has expanded rapidly in… Continue reading ITV Plans Online Expansion With Friends Reunited Purchase

The BBC secured a ratings win over ITV last night, despite the commercial giant airing the final match in group G of the Champions League between Chelsea and Liverpool.The match, which drew an average of 5.6 million adult viewers, ended in a 0-0 draw to leave Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho visibly downbeat.Meanwhile, the BBC’s Eastenders… Continue reading BBC Scores Ratings Win Over ITV Football

Research commissioned by free morning newspaper City AM claims that more workers in the City and Canary Wharf now read the title than the Financial Times.The findings, unearthed by research firm NOP, show 16% of London’s population read City AM, compared to 12% who read the FT.NOP also reports City AM’s readership reaching 98,000, almost… Continue reading City AM Claims More Readers Than FT