The government is yet to make a decision over radio ownership regulation, according to Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell.Writing in today’s Financial Times, Jowell claims that the government has agreed to 120 of the 148 recommendations made by Lord Puttnam’s Joint Scrutiny Committee. However, she adds: “There are a few issues on which the government still… Continue reading Government Remains Undecided Over Radio Regulation
A consortium of German magazine group, Bauer Verlag, and Bavarian bank, HVB Group AG, has emerged as the successful suitor to the KirchMedia business, following months of bidding (see Kirch Move Prompts World Cup Rights Auction). KirchMedia, the insolvent arm of the now-collapsed KirchGruppe empire (see Kirch Investors Abandon Rescue Plans), is now in exclusive… Continue reading Bauer Consortium Takes KirchMedia
Although consumer take-up of video-on-demand (VOD) has been limited so far, cable companies are eager to promote the technology and a new study from The Yankee Group estimates that revenues will total $2.8 billion in 2006. The report, Video-on-Demand: Sustained MSO Commitment Drives Rapid Growth, claims that the leading cable operators have been swift to… Continue reading Cable Operators Throw Weight Behind VOD
Vivendi Universal, the troubled media giant, admitted yesterday that it is under scrutiny in the United States over its accounting practices. The US attorney’s office for the southern district of New York has opened a criminal investigation and will work in conjunction with the Miami office of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is carrying… Continue reading Vivendi Facing US Probe
Monday’s media sector experienced a substantial rally, following the broader London equity market upwards, after some bullish guidance from investment banks and a mighty surge on Wall Street late in trading on Friday.BSkyB was the sector’s biggest riser up 9.74% after chief executive, Tony Ball, talked subscriber targets up in the weekend press. The stock… Continue reading Sharewatch
SMG is currently outperforming the market in its television, radio, outdoor and cinema businesses, leading Merrill Lynch to upgrade its investor recommendation on the Scottish media company from neutral to buy.The broker says that SMG is gaining share amongst the ITV franchises, whilst the company’s Virgin Radio station is showing revenue growth year on year… Continue reading Solid Performance At SMG Gains Merrill Lynch Upgrade
With just 50 days to go until Christmas, Sky Active has launched a new shopping service dedicated to all things festive.The channel will be called ‘Christmas Gifts’ and is available to all Sky Digital subscribers. It will stock a wide variety of products from around 60 high street retailers.Sky will be running a number of… Continue reading Sky Launches Christmas Channel
Classic FM has secured a £650,000 sponsorship deal with Baxters soup for its Classic FM Lunchtime Request Show.The sponsorship, which begins this week, will last for six months and include trails on the show and links on Classic FM’s website. The strapline for the campaign will be: “Lunchtime request in association with Baxters Soup –… Continue reading Classic FM Secures Baxters Sponsorship
Vivendi Universal is understood to have written to its bank lenders outlining a plan to take control of the French telecoms company, Cegetel, without increasing its substantial debt burden. According to a report in today’s Financial Times, the media group is proposing to create a special purpose vehicle with which it would make the acquisition… Continue reading Vivendi Talks To Bankers About Cegetel Bid
Cinema Cinema has been the only medium to escape the effects of the advertising downturn and box office takings, admissions and revenues have been on the up for a number of years. The latest media forecasts from OMD UK (see OMD Sees Advertising And Media Turnaround In 2003) show no signs of a slowdown in… Continue reading UK Cinema, Outdoor & Online Forecasts From OMD UK
