Increased fragmentation, one ITV, and a privatised Channel 4 will be part of the future shape of British television, according to the panel at MediaTel’s Media Question Time event.The members of the panel all believed that the future role of the BBC will take on increasing importance but they disagreed over what this role should… Continue reading Media Panel Divided About The Future Shape Of British TV
EMAP has this morning announced the acquisition of stakes in two internet-based companies for a combined sum of around £4 million. The company has acquired an 18% investment in US group, Alloutdoors.com, for $5.5 million and a 13.5% stake in Thematis in France for FFr6 million (£560,000).Alloutdoors.com is currently the largest online site for the… Continue reading EMAP Makes New Media Investments
BSkyB has announced its purchase of a 9.9% stake in Chelsea Village, the company which owns Chelsea Football Club. The deal, worth £40 million, will allow the broadcaster media and sponsorship rights for the club.BSkyB will act as exclusive media agent for the Chelsea Village Group for an initial period of five years. This excludes… Continue reading BSkyB Buys Stake In Chelsea
Richard Eyre blamed the competing members of the ITV network for its failure to create a stong net brand at MediaTel’s Media Question Time event. He said that ITV’s online presence is currently in its infancy because each franchise wants to develop its own voice on the internet.In response to a question from the floor… Continue reading ITV Brand Must Unite On The Web, Says Richard Eyre
News International has announced the sale of Bun.com to pan-European net company World Online. The internet service provider which was launched last year (see The Sun Serves Up CurrantBun) was sold for an undisclosed sum.The sale will increase World Online’s subscriber base by more than 450,000 users and allow News International to concentrate on the… Continue reading News International Sells Bun.com
Cable & Wireless continued to make gains after selling its controlling stake in Hong Kong Telecom. Prices closed up 68˝p to a best-ever £14.86 as bid rumours circulated.Shares in broadcaster BSkyB climbed 92p to £18.35˝ as the group announced a net deal with Tottenham Hotspurs (see BSkyB And Spurs Sign Net Deal).The closing prices of… Continue reading Sharewatch
The UK’s first national sports station, TalkSport, has signed its biggest sponsorship deals to date. Nationwide Building Society and interactive betting service Blue Square have been signed up to the station, which launched in January (see Talk To Launch UK’s First Sport Station).In a £300,000 deal Nationwide, official sponsor of the England football team, will… Continue reading TalkSport Signs Up Sponsors
The Office of Fair Trading has issued the terms of reference for its review into BSkyB’s position in the pay-TV market. The inquiry was announced in January to ensure that regulation of the broadcaster remains appropriate to the changing marketplace, and that effective competition within the industry is protected (see OFT To Review BSkyB’s Position… Continue reading OFT Issues Terms For Inquiry Into Dominance Of BSkyB
Reuters was one of the strongest performers on the FTSE yesterday with brokers recommendations from Goldman Sachs and Merrill pushing the stock. Shares closed up 123˝p at £14.92˝p.Cable & Wireless bounced back to a highest ever £14.17˝p, an increase of 102˝p, as the market recognised the value of the disposal of its stake in Hong… Continue reading Sharewatch
NME.com will broadcast its first WebTV show today, becoming the first UK online music site to deliver masthead programming on the internet. Highlights from the NME Premier awards event earlier this year will be available on demand from midday as the site unveils its plans for TV and radio net-based shows.An internet radio channel, Music… Continue reading NME.com Broadcasts First WebTV Show
