The BBC has poured £189 million into BBC 1’s autumn schedule in an effort to prove that its plans for a themed future for its TV output (see BBC Plans Themed Future For TV Channels) will not see the flagship channel dominated by entertainment.Announcing that the new season will see an extra £10 million spent… Continue reading BBC To Spend £189 Million On Autumn Schedule
Reed Elsevier, the Anglo-Dutch publishing group, reported pre-tax profits down 5% at £351m in its interim results released this morning. Chief executive Crispin Davis was confident that the group’s performance was in line with targets set earlier this year, however.“In February, we laid out in some detail our strategic priorities to turn around Reed Elsevier’s… Continue reading Profits Fall 5% At Reed Elsevier
Telewest Communications, which has been through some turbulent times of late (see Sharewatch), managed a rise of ½p yesterday to end at £1.70½. Cable & Wireless, meanwhile, jumped 37p to £11.41 and BSkyB dropped 32p to £11.55.Among the radio stations, Jazz FM wavered slightly from its usual steady course to fall ½p to £1.34. More… Continue reading Sharewatch
A report last week showed that Sunday newspapers have enjoyed a 10% increase in total advertising revenue over the past year, with broadsheet Sunday Business increasing from £1.5m to £2.5m, or 61%, and both the Sunday Times and the Sunday Telegraph registering a year on year increase of 16% (see Ad Revenues Up For Sunday… Continue reading Feature: Sunday Newspapers Continue To Prove Fertile Ground For High Income Advertisers
A few short weeks ago it seemed that the only way Channel 4 got over 3 million viewers was by screening expensively imported US sitcoms in prime Friday night slots or setting fire to another set in disaster-soap Brookside. Who would have thought that 70 grand in prize money, an East-end lock-up full of cameras… Continue reading Big Brother Is Watching Audience Figures Go Up
Ecast Ventures, the new media arm of GWR Group, has signed a deal with UBC Media Group who will provide entertainment content for the new internet portal, koko.co.uk. UBC already supplies content to the radio group’s 38 FM and AM radio stations.The new deal involves text, audio and video internet packages for the koko brand,… Continue reading GWR Signs New Media Deal With UBC Media
As rumours of a possible bid for Telewest Communications resurfaced (see Cable Industry Mulls Consolidation As Telewest Stock Tumbles) shares in last week’s worst media share performer rose 10p to £1.70 yesterday.Other good performers yesterday included Chrysalis, which ended up 12½p at £2.90, and Pearson which rose 59p to £19.90.On a less positive note, Cable… Continue reading Sharewatch
Paul Castro believes that blue chip advertisers have been lacking a means to reach an economy worth up to £12 billion. This is what he hopes to redress as managing director of Blackserve.com, a black news and entertainment portal which launches on Friday.“About 18 months ago, when I was at DoubleClick, BA came to us… Continue reading Blackserve Aims For Blue Chip Advertisers With Black Interest Website
The monthly cost of Blueyonder, Telewest’s high speed internet service, has been cut by a third, the company has announced. Launched in March this year, the high speed broadband internet service for home PCs originally cost £50 per month (see Telewest And Flextech Report Losses Ahead Of Merger). It will now cost £33 per month,… Continue reading Telewest Cuts Price Of Internet Service
The Competition Commission is holding a hearing as part of its inquiry into the proposed acquisition of newspaper group Regional Independent Media. Bids put forward by Gannett, Johnston Press and Guardian Media Group will be scrutinised and evidence from interested parties examined.The three groups submitted proposals to the Commission last month (see Competition Commission Invites… Continue reading Competition Commission Holds Hearing As Part Of RIM Inquiry
