Broadcaster BSkyB has signed a deal with e-commerce business LetsBuyIt.com. The group paid £10 million for a stake in the pan-European company, which specialises in co-buying.Selling products ranging from kitchen appliances to resort holidays, LetsBuyIt.com brings together people who want to buy the same product and allows them to negotiate prices online. The more people… Continue reading BSkyB Buys Stake In LetsBuyIt.com
The confirmation of reports that Pearson is to merge its television business with CLT-Ufa (see Pearson In Merger Deal To Create European TV Giant) was thought to be behind new enthusiasm for media shares on Friday. Pearson shares rose 267p to £23.21.United News and Media and Carlton Communications both saw a rise in share price… Continue reading Sharewatch
The news that entertainment channel TNT is to cease broadcasting from 30 June, to be replaced by Turner Classic Movies (TCM), is part of a long-term strategy by Turner Broadcasting, which runs both channels. The company has decided to concentrate on its strengths, which are described as classic films and cartoons.Mick Buckley, managing director of… Continue reading Turner To Focus On Programming Strengths
Turner Broadcasting will launch a new cartoon channel called Boomerang on 27 May. Appearing on Sky Digital, the channel will show classic cartoons including Hanna Barbera, Warner Bros and MGM titles.The channel is set to go out 7 days a week between 6am and midnight and will be distributed to all Sky Digital subscribers. Discussions… Continue reading Classic Cartoons To Have New Home On Boomerang
The Radio Authority has today awarded the second local digital multiplex licence for London to the Switch Digital consortium. Formed by the Wireless Group, Clear Channel International and Ginger Media, the consortium was one of three bids for the licence, which was advertised last year (see Radio Authority Advertises Second London Digital Multiplex).Switch will broadcast… Continue reading Switch Digital Wins Second London Licence
Technology shares were back in favour on yesterday’s market, and this was reflected in media share prices. BSkyB rose 106p to £15.60, Cable & Wireless 115p to £11.43 and Reuters 122p to £11.64. All three had seen losses in the preceding few days.An agreement on Pearson’s £12bn merger with Germany’s CLT-Ufa could be announced as… Continue reading Sharewatch
Border Television has officially rejected the £100m unsolicited offer made by Scottish Radio Holdings (see Scottish Radio Takes Offer To Border Shareholders), and is thought to be in talks with other media companies to make an alternative deal. The company declined to comment as to whether Chrysalis, thought to be the favoured option, was amongst… Continue reading Border Seeks Alternatives To Hostile Scottish Radio Bid
Representatives of the regional press have called for the relaxation of ownership laws surrounding the industry. At a Newspaper Society Forum, chief executives of the UK’s largest regional press groups said that current regulations were outdated.Tim Bowdler, chief executive of Johnston Press said: “There is an overwhelming need for change in the media ownership regime… Continue reading Regional Press Laws Are Outdated, Says Tim Bowdler
The Guardian Media Group has won the Independent Local Radio Licence for the South Wales area. The group beat six other applicants in its bid for the licence with its programming proposal under the banner of Real Radio (see Seven Applicants Bid For South Wales Licence).Broadcasting across an area which includes Swansea, Newport and Cardiff,… Continue reading Guardian Group Wins South Wales Licence
Pearson Television has today agreed to merge with CLT-UFA in a deal which will see the creation of Europe’s largest “free-to-air” TV company, with annual revenues of e4 billion.Pearson TV, the independent international production company of Pearson Plc, is responsible for programmes such as Baywatch and The Bill. CLT-UFA is co-controlled by German giant, Bertelsmann,… Continue reading Pearson In Merger Deal To Create European TV Giant
