BSkyB, NTL and ITV emerged as the winners in the battle for Premier League broadcasting rights when the outcome of the bidding war was announced last night. The BBC lost the right to televise highlights of the games to its commercial rival ITV, in a move which will effectively bring an end to Match of… Continue reading BSkyB, NTL And ITV Win Bidding War For Premier League Games
Football may remain a game of two halves, but its broadcasting rights are set to be divided into a lot more parts. Yesterday’s bidding, which saw the BBC lose yet another element of its ailing sports schedule and the Premier League significantly increase its income from rights revenue will end in a complicated set of… Continue reading How The Premier League Will Cash-In On Kick-Offs
While grown men were mourning the end of Match of the Day today Greg Dyke, the BBC’s director-general, was in fighting mood. Blaming the outcome of the bid, which brought to an end 36 years of televised highlights on the BBC, on the greed of Premier League officials, he said the Corporation will continue to… Continue reading The Game Isn’t Over Yet, Says Greg Dyke
Two factors helped BSkyB to be one of the best performers yesterday. Firstly, news that Vivendi, which holds a minority stake in the company (see Vivendi Given Clearance For BSkyB Stake) was in talks with Seagram of Canada and Canal Plus of France to form a three-way strategic business combination. Secondly anticipation that the satellite… Continue reading Sharewatch
Today sees the launch of Digital Versatile Television (DVTV), the UK’s first web-based TV channel. Broadcasting a mixture of live and archived programming aimed at 18-35 year olds, it is accessed via its website, www.dvtvchannel.com.With the young online generation as its main target the programming output will include dramas, animation, fashion and music shows and… Continue reading Web-based TV Launches In The UK
TalkBack Productions, which counts Da Ali G Show, Smack The Pony and They Think It’s All Over amongst its recent successes, has been bought by Pearson Television. The TV production arm of Pearson plc acquired the group in a £62m deal.Richard Eyre, chief executive of Pearson Television, said of the acquisition: “TalkBack brings creative power… Continue reading Pearson Acquires TalkBack In £62m Deal
Cable group NTL has signed a £31m media partnership with Rangers football club. The deal will see the Scottish team and the Premium TV subsidiary of NTL working together to maximise media and commercial rights.NTL also revealed that it has made a similar offer to the team’s rival Celtic. Amid news reports that Celtic felt… Continue reading NTL Signs Media Deal With Rangers
Channel Television has been sold to a management buy-in team for £16.3 million. Media Holdings is to take over the ITV licensee for the Channel Islands in a deal which also includes Creative Channel, the TV production business which is a subsidiary of Channel Television Ltd.The new owners of the company include former directors from… Continue reading Channel Television Sold In £16.3m Deal
Wpp.com, the parent company for the interactive activities of the WPP Group, has announced a series of investments in internet companies. A total of five deals, costing the company almost $16m, are aimed at increasing the interactive solutions available to its clients.The investments include 10% stakes in software solutions group Imagine; e-commerce solutions group Metapack;… Continue reading WPP Ups Its Interactive Investment
Channel Four has announced a series of sponsorship and commercial deals for pay-tv channel Film Four. Sony and Stella Artois have been signed as major sponsorship partners and Renault has agreed an airtime deal allowing it car exclusivity on the cult and alternative film channel.Sony will sponsor Film Four’s Director’s Seasons and Stella will sponsor… Continue reading Film Four Signs Major Sponsorship Deals
