ITV has denied reports that it is planning to abandon the Saturday night football highlights programme that it poached from the BBC for £183 million.The UK’s largest commercial broadcaster clinched the three-year deal for The Premiership back in July 2000. However, the show failed to attract a significant following in its early evening slot and… Continue reading ITV Denies Plans To Boot The Premiership
The UK TMT sector is being held back by a lack of funding, restrictive legislation and over-caution on the part of content owners. That is the verdict of city media analyst, Neil Blackley, who had some harsh words for industry executives at last night’s RTS Dinner in London.Also On MediaTel Insight Today…NTL Counts The Cost… Continue reading MediaTel Insight: Black Tidings For Advanced TV Sector
Cinema-style classifications should be introduced for television programmes, according to Paul Bolt, director of the Broadcasting Standards Commission.Bolt wants viewers to receive the type of warnings that come with computer games, videos, DVDs and at the cinemas. His comments come amid concern about the type of programmes being shown before the 9pm watershed.In an interview… Continue reading TV Programmes Should Have Cinema-Style Ratings
Linda Genower, managing director of IPC’s women’s weeklies division is leaving the company less than a week after the appointment of Sylvia Auton as chief executive (see IPC Media Appoints Sylvia Auton As New Chief Executive).Genower will officially retire from her role at IPC Connect at Easter after a career spanning 20 years with the… Continue reading Genower Steps Down As Head Of Women’s Weeklies At IPC
The BBC is to ask the Independent Television Commission to force BSkyB to guarantee it the top two slots on its electronic programming guide, following the breakdown of talks between the two broadcasters (see BBC And BSkyB Set To Take Digital Disagreement To ITC). The BBC’s decision not to renew its digital encryption deal with… Continue reading BBC Appeals To TV Regulator To Resolve BSkyB Dispute
NTL has admitted paying more than £100 million to employees and advisers as it sought to maintain stability during its recent refinancing operation. The UK cable firm yesterday reported a pre-tax loss of £1.65 billion for 2002, compared to a loss of £8 billion in 2001. Earnings were up by almost 50% (see NTL Sees… Continue reading NTL Counts The Cost Of Restructuring
The proposed £2.6 billion merger of Carlton Communications and Granada (see Ad Industry Welcomes Scrutiny Of Planned ITV Merger) may be subject to Competition Commission-enforced remedies and restrictions, according to an article in the Financial Times. The paper reports that Sir Derek Morris, the Commission’s chairman, is looking to test new Enterprise Act proposals which… Continue reading Competition Commission May Attach ‘Remedies’ To ITV Merger
UK cable operator, NTL, has increased its earnings by 48.2% to £661 million in 2002, after finally emerging from its Chapter 11 bankruptcy process (see NTL Emerges From Bankruptcy). Reporting the full year results, NTL says that churn – the proportion of people leaving the home cable service – declined from 21.3% in Q4 2001… Continue reading NTL Sees Earnings Up 48% In 2002
Market research company, Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), has this morning confirmed that it is in discussions about the potential acquisition of NFO WorldGroup from its owner, Interpublic Group. The statement from TNS follows press speculation about a deal for NFO, which is a research division of Interpublic. Aegis (see Aegis Heartened By Positive Annual Results)… Continue reading Taylor Nelson Looks At NFO WorldGroup Acquisition
UBC Media, the commercial radio broadcaster and programme producer, this morning said that trading in the final six months of its financial year has been better than expected, with profit now predicted to be around £75,000. Previously, the group had expected only to break even. UBC says it now expects to report reduced losses for… Continue reading UBC Media Has Better Than Expected Second Half
