Pan-European broadcasting giant RTL has hired investment bank JP Morgan as it considers the possibility of increasing its majority shareholding in the UK’s smallest terrestrial broadcaster, Five. It is understood that RTL will ask the bank to consider all the options for its stake in Five, including off-loading its shareholding if there is deemed to… Continue reading RTL Hires JP Morgan To Help Boost Stake In Five

Telewest today announced that 51,000 internet and 12,000 household subscribers were added during quarter one, helping to reduce the group net loss to £36 million from £187 million on the same period last year. Acting Chief Executive, Barry Elson, said: “Today’s results reflect a good first quarter. Broadband growth, successful marketing and the value of… Continue reading Telewest Debts Reduce As Subscriber Figures Grow

Telecoms giant, British Telecom, today announced that it is slashing the current broadband access price for rival broadband providers by 70%. The price cuts are for the local loop unbundling (LLU) products – the last mile of cooper wire connections linking households to telephone exchanges, which are used by rivals such as Telewest, to provide… Continue reading BT Set To Slash Broadband Price

Personal video recorders (PVRs) are finally making headway, says a new report from market research firm Instat/MDR, as worldwide shipments tripled to 4.6 million last year. The report says, that an increasing number of consumers are becoming aware of the benefits of time-shifted TV viewing and expects 11 million PVR shipments in 2004. Combination DVD/PVR… Continue reading PVRs Finally Making Headway

Video on demand (VOD) over DSL is beginning to look like a realistic option, says broadband analysts Point Topic, who is expecting subscriber figures to reach over one million by this time next year. Point Topic estimates that as of this month there were at least 230,000 DSL subscribers worldwide with VOD, but as many… Continue reading VOD Over DSL To Reach 1m Subscribers By 2005

Commercial radio group GWR has announced the sale of its stake in Radio Investments (RIL) to a new company headed by former Jazz FM chief executive, Richard Wheatly, for a total of £10.6 million.The disposal of the 27.8% stake is due for completion later this month once Wheatly’s fledgling Local Radio Company has completed its… Continue reading GWR Off-Loads Radio Investments For £10.6 Million

WPP has seen off competition from rival advertising heavyweights Interpublic Group and Omnicom to secure the global media contract for HSBC, believed to be worth around $600 million.The deal is a result of a wide-ranging review by HSBC designed to consolidate its business with one marketing services organisation. WPP will now create a dedicated team… Continue reading WPP Beats Rivals To Win Global HSBC Media Account

Commercial radio group GWR has announced the sale of its stake in Radio Investments (RIL) to a new company headed by former Jazz FM chief executive, Richard Wheatly, for a total of £10.6 million. The disposal of the 27.8% stake is due for completion later this month once Wheatly’s fledgling Local Radio Company has completed… Continue reading GWR Off-Loads Radio Investments For £10.6 Million

As BSkyB today announced that operating profit hit record levels, growing 76% during the third quarter, it was confirmed that the FA Premier League games would not be sub-licensed as all of the bids received by the group, failed to meet the reserve price tag. Operating profit for the three months ending 31st March 2004,… Continue reading Sky Turns Down Premier Bids As Profits Soar

The UK TV market will become more, rather than less competitive, the chairman of Channel 4 told equity research company, Lehman Brothers. During the meeting, Luke Johnson said that he expects Freeview to become more attractive as more people find out about it. He also gave a pat on the back to the BBC, the… Continue reading TV Market To Become More Competitive Says C4 Boss