ITV, the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster, may be forced to knock £360 million off the value of its assets following a devaluation of regional operator Carlton, according to reports over the weekend.ITV was formed in its present state by a merger between Carlton and Granada last year, although a report by the Financial Mail claims… Continue reading Carlton Devaluation Hits ITV Assets Hard

Media regulator Ofcom has begun the bidding process for the latest commercial FM radio licence in Ashford, Kent, a contract which will run for 12 years.Ofcom estimates that the coverage of the licence would give the winning broadcaster access to an adult population of around 60,000. However, the exact coverage gained by the finalised contract… Continue reading Ofcom Opens Bidding For New FM Radio Licence In Kent

As newspaper sales continue to slowly decline, editors have had to adapt in order for their paper to survive in the age of the internet. More and more people are turning to the web to get their daily fix of news and many newspapers have been successful in their ability to change to meet this… Continue reading Newspapers Adapt To Survive Audience Migration To Web

High-speed internet connections may be a driver in movie piracy, as a Motion Picture Association of America survey (MPAA) revealed that nearly one-quarter of primarily broadband users have downloaded movies. The survey conducted on behalf of MPAA by Online Testing Exchange found that roughly 2,900 of the 3,600 participants in the eight-country study were broadband… Continue reading Broadband Spurs Illegal Movie Downloading

Sales of mobile music players are set to exceed 20 million in 2004, as these become the next must-have accessory for gadget-loving music fans. The Future Of Portable Music report, from Informa Media says consumers worldwide will double the number of players bought during 2004 and sales will continue to rise at an annual rate… Continue reading Sales Of Mobile Music Players Set To Double In 2004

After difficult trading conditions in 2003, consumer magazine publisher Highbury House Communications today announced that it expects pre-tax profits for the first six months of 2004 to be up 27% year-on-year, spurred on by expected improvements in advertising revenue. Although a marked improvement on last year, which saw profits dive by £25.7 million (see Highbury… Continue reading Highbury Profits Expected To Rise 27%

UBC Media, owner of the Classic Gold Digital network, announced this morning at its AGM that the outlook for the remainder of this year is positive, as sales in the first quarter jumped 78% year-on-year. The commercial radio broadcasting company and independent radio programme producer said that the directors believe that current trading remains in… Continue reading UBC Confident Of Positive 2004 Results

The Government has failed to announce a definitive switchover date for digital TV, leaving the industry in a continued state of confusion over exactly how to progress towards a digital-only future. Culture secretary Tessa Jowell had been expected to delay the UK’s switchover process until 2012, but the minister has stated that the wider views… Continue reading Government Still Fuzzy On Digital Switchover Date

TiVo, the television recorder that has revolutionised TV viewing has come under scrutiny, as two of the United States heavy weights try to block expansion plans which could let TiVo’s 1.6 million subscribers copy shows and movies to devices outside of their home. In filings made by Hollywood Studios and the National Football League to… Continue reading Copyright Scare Forces Action Against TiVo

Radio giants UBC and Emap have announced a deal which will see the two companies consolidate their radio airtime sales for traffic and travel across both groups networks.The joint package, to be sold by UBC’s commercial division, will include over 170 radio stations including EMAP Radio, GWR Group, The Wireless Group, Chrysalis Radio, Guardian Media… Continue reading UBC Joins Sales Forces With Emap For Traffic And Travel