The Radio Authority has announced that it is inviting applications for a local digital multiplex licence in the Northern Ireland area. This is the latest of the planned advertisements of digital radio licences, at a rate of one per month, designed to provide local digital services throughout the UK.The licence is to cover an area… Continue reading Radio Authority Advertises Digital Licence For Northern Ireland
The Granada Group today announced a 10% increase in media sales in the six months to 31 March. Net advertising revenue is estimated to have grown by 11%, which it claimed is well ahead of ITV averages for the period.The media and hospitality group announced the increases in a trading update ahead of going into… Continue reading Granada Reports 10% Increase In Media Sales
The Daily Mail has had a complaint against its Monday supplement M upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority. An objection was raised when the complainant bought a copy of the newspaper, having read a front page flash the previous week which described the supplement as “A brilliant new Monday Magazine”. When she discovered that M… Continue reading ASA Upholds Complaint About Daily Mail Spoiler Supplement
The Competition Commission has told the Department of Trade & Industry that it believes there should be an extension to the deadline for its enquiries into the proposed merger of Carlton Communications and United News and Media. A report on the merger was proposed on 8 February, with the Commission expected to complete its report… Continue reading Competition Commission Extends Deadline To Report On Carlton/UNM
Faith in technology, media and telecoms (TMT) shares continues to falter, exacerbated by the court decision against Microsoft. This factor, combined with heavy falls on the US Nasdaq index, made yesterday a bad day for media stock.United News and Media fell 49p to 735p in spite of a vote of confidence from Deutsche Bank, which… Continue reading Sharewatch
The darkness passengers on the London Underground currently see from the window could soon be replaced by seven-second long ‘silent movie’ adverts. The developers of the technology, the MotionPoster Company, says it could be used in around 300 locations on the London Underground and that talks are underway with TDI, which manages Tube advertising.The adverts… Continue reading New Technology To Turn Tube Tunnels Into Advertising Space
Current regulation is holding back creativity in the commercial radio market, according to the GWR Group, which owns Classic FM and 37 local licences. In response to a consultation on strategy for Oftel submitted last Friday, the group said that greater flexibility was needed to innovate and develop new services.Current regulation, which sets out programme… Continue reading Radio Regulation Holds Back Creativity, Says GWR Group
The ITC’s findings on the proposed merger between Carlton Communications and United News & Media were published yesterday (see United/Carlton Merger Requires Change In Legislation, Says ITC) With the news that the ITC sees “no convincing case” for the law change necessary to allow the deal, share prices for both companies have dropped. United News… Continue reading Sharewatch
News International has invested £9m in UpMyStreet.com, an online community resource. A further £4m investment is being made by Rothschild subsidiary, Continuation Investments, through News Internationals’ new media arm, News Network.The investment will give News International a 21% stake and Continuation a 7% equity stake. News International’s executive chairman Les Hinton is to join the… Continue reading UpMyStreet Secures First-Round Financing From News International
The Competition Commission has today announced that it has cleared all three competing bids for the publishing group Newscom. The three bids, from Trinity Mirror, Newsquest-owner Gannett, and Johnston Press, were submitted for investigation in December (see Newscom Bids Referred To Competition Commission).Stephen Byers, the trade and industry secretary, said: “The Competition Commission has looked… Continue reading Competition Commission Clears Newscom Bids
