Xfm, the London-based indie music station owned by GCap Media, has denied reports that drivetime DJ Lauren Laverne is to host its Breakfast Show following the departure of Christian O’Connell.A spokeswoman for the station said: “The story this afternoon hasn’t come from us. No such appointment has been made, although we do hope to make… Continue reading Xfm Denies Laverne To Take Breakfast Slot

Cable giants Telewest and ntl have this morning announced their long-awaited merger, designed to present a more united threat to multi channel dominant Sky, and ease the companies’ individual financial woes.The new business, which is valued at around $6 billion, will command a subscriber base of almost 5 million pay TV and broadband subscribers. This… Continue reading Cable Giants Tie Up To Tackle Sky

Rupert Murdoch’s News International has offloaded its subsidiary firm TSL Education, publisher of the Times Educational Supplement, in a deal worth £235 million.The company has been sold to Exponent Private Equity following a lengthy bidding process involving Emap and Guardian Media GroupAmongst the properties now owned by Exponent Private Equity are The Times Educational Supplement,… Continue reading Murdoch Sells Education Titles For £235 Million

Cable operator ntl this morning confirmed that a sale of Telewest’s Flextech television business, which had been widely expected in the run up to the two firms’ merger, has now been put on hold at least until after the consolidation is complete.Simon Duffy, chief executive of ntl, told reporters this morning that the company currently… Continue reading Ntl In No Rush To Sell Off Flextech

Tomorrow will see the latest broadcast devices put under the spotlight by MediaTel Group’s TV Technology Seminar, held in association with MediaGuardian.Taking place at from 9.30am – 11.30am at the Guardian Newsroom, 60 Farringdon Road, London, the event will see a panel chaired by Steve Busfield, media editor, Guardian Unlimited, discussing today’s hottest topics in… Continue reading Seminar To Throw Spotlight On TV Technology

London’s newest free morning paper, City AM, has announced its first brand extension just weeks after hitting the capital’s streets.The paper will launch City AM Living, its new fortnightly property supplement on 6 October, with plans to take the title weekly later in the year.Printed in full colour, the new supplement will comprise 24 pages… Continue reading City AM Expands Within Weeks Of Launch

Internet and TV provider HomeChoice has become the latest firm to join the Internet Watch Foundation, an organisation tasked with tackling inappropriate web pages and the online trading of illegal pornography.The move is designed to instil more confidence in HomeChoice, with customers offered new services which build on the platform’s existing child safety features.Explaining the… Continue reading HomeChoice Joins Internet Watch Foundation

Chrysalis has revamped the daytime line-up of its talk-based radio station, LBC 97.3FM, in an effort to outdo regional competition from the BBC and extend its listenership.The move, unveiled by the station’s new managing director, David Lloyd, kicks in this month to see comedian Iain Lee move from his current late night weekend slot to… Continue reading Chrysalis Revamps LBC Line Up To Compete With BBC

Highbury House has announced the appointment of Michael Peter Alan Frey as its new chief operating officer with immediate effect, promoting the magazine boss from his previous position as managing director of Highbury Entertainment.Frey joined the company as managing director of Highbury Entertainment in September 2004, with 20 years of experience in magazine publishing, beginning… Continue reading Highbury Appoints Entertainment Boss As New COO

Future has announced that trading for the second half of 2005 has continued at levels below expectations, with the specialist magazine publisher attributing the demise to newsstand weakness in the UK and France, combined with a higher level of new product development expenditure. According to its trading statement, total group turnover for the 11 months… Continue reading Future Reveals Trading Below Expectations