BSkyB has today confirmed that James Baker is to replace Sara Ramsden as controller of Sky One following her decision to step down after less than a year in the job.Baker has been at Sky One since 1996 and is currently head of content and creative affairs at the satellite television group. He was also… Continue reading Baker To Replace Ramsden As Controller Of Sky One
Carlton and Granada have announced a 7% increase in ITV1’s network programme budget after the Government cleared the way for their £4.2 billion merger.The £57 million year on year increase to £849 million for the current financial year, from 1 October to 30 September 2004, could increase once cost savings from the merger a factored… Continue reading ITV Merger Leads To Increase In Programme Budget
US online retail sales will hit $88.1 billion by 2005, whilst total US business-to-consumer (B2C) ecommerce revenues will reach $133.3 billion by this time, according to a new report from eMarketer. The report predicts that by 2005, 66.7% of the population aged 14-plus will be online and 78.0% of these will be using the web… Continue reading MediaTelINSIGHT: US Ecommerce Forecasts From eMarketer
The underlying rate of UK inflation dipped slightly to 2.8% during September, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics.A fall in the price of clothes and shoes were the biggest downward influences on the figures. However, the impact was minimised by the hot summer, which pushed food costs higher.The headline rate… Continue reading UK Inflation Dips Slightly During September
The majority of advertisers and media buyers fear that the creation of a single ITV sales house will drive up the cost of airtime, according to a new poll carried out for the Financial Times. The study shows that around 70% of respondents believed that advertising rates at ITV would increase following the merger of… Continue reading Advertisers Fear ITV Sales House Will Push Up Airtime Costs
Conrad Black, chairman and chief executive of Hollinger International, is set to announce a “comprehensive reconstruction” of parts of its parent firm, according to press reports. Hollinger Inc, which controls Hollinger International, publisher of the UK’s Daily Telegraph and the Chicago Sun-Times faces a potential funding shortfall after a profits warning in August (see Financial… Continue reading Hollinger Chief Plans Reconstruction
Carlton and Granada have announced a 7% increase in ITV1’s network programme budget after the Government cleared the way for their £4.2 billion merger. The £57 million year on year increase to £849 million for the current financial year, from 1 October to 30 September 2004, could increase once cost savings from the merger a… Continue reading ITV Merger Leads To Increase In Programme Budget
Independent News & Media has announced the sale of its stake in a Portuguese newspaper group as it continues to dispose of non-core assets. The publisher has sold its 19.1% stake in Lusomondo Media to the Lisbon-based Cofina Group for £17 million. Cofina owns several of the biggest titles in Portugal including Correio da Manha,… Continue reading INM Accepts Offer For Portuguese Stake
ITV has unveiled a wide-ranging seven point plan for growth that will help it stave off any American take-over through the launch of a series of new digital channels and a new commitment to produce more format-based television programmes. The strategy has been unveiled in an interview in the Sunday Times with Charles Allen and… Continue reading ITV Unveils Growth Plan And Vows To Fight Off Takeover Bid
Last week’s big movers were ITV partners, Carlton and Granada, which both shot up following the Department of Trade and Industry’s decision to allow their £4 billion merger to go ahead without the divestment of their sales houses (see ITV Cleared To Merge With Sales Houses Intact).The group also unveiled its management board last week… Continue reading Sharewatch: ITV Partners Surge On Merger Decision
