BSkyB has announced plans to discontinue the broadcasts of two services on its analogue satellite platform, in an attempt to drive uptake to its Sky Digital service. From April, pay-per-view film service Sky Box Office and subscription film channel FilmFour will both become digital-only on Sky’s service.Sky yesterday announced that it has sold 2.6 million… Continue reading Sky Drops Analogue Channels To Drive Digital
As with the cable and regional newspaper industries, the UK’s radio sector has undergone a period of consolidation in recent years creating a handful of major radio operators. With stations often covering many areas of the country, these companies have begun to brand certain stations in their networks under one name and format. EMAP On… Continue reading Feature: Networked Stations Create Radio “Brands”
Shares in Reuters leapt yesterday as the information group announced its full-year financial results and plans to spend £500m moving its services online (see Reuters To Spend £500m On Net Plans). Prices rocketed 232p to £12.39.Reuters intentions pushed other media stock. BSkyB climbed 143˝p to £16.10˝ as its own web strategy was anticipated in its… Continue reading Sharewatch
The proposed merger between Carlton Communications and United News & Media was referred to the Competition Commission yesterday after months of anticipation. A three-month investigation will commence today which is expected to deliver its report on 16 May.Trade and industry secretary Stephen Byers announced that the Office of Fair Trading had concluded that the planned… Continue reading Carlton-United Merger Deal Referred To Competition Commission
Two top radio executives at Chrysalis have announced their intention to start up their own internet company. Keith Pringle, group programme director, and Ande MacPherson, content director for Chrysalis Radio Online, plan to set up Ride the Tiger with backing from Chrysalis New Media.The group placed shares recently to raise an estimated £27 million to… Continue reading Radio Executives Move Online
BSkyB today extolled the success of its digital services, reporting sales of 2.6 million, despite blaming its rapid expansion in the digital world for a £61.5 million pre-tax loss in its half-year results.The broadcasting group has been giving away set-top boxes in the race to become the largest digital service provider in the UK. It… Continue reading SkyDigital Subscribers Up To 2.6 Million
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a number of complaints about the slow roll-out of Cable & Wireless Communications’ digital services. Ten people complained that the advertised interactive services were not available when promised.A circular had been distributed stating that interactive television would be available from 4 October 1999; on 8 October, however, customers… Continue reading CWC Gets Rap From ASA
Information group Reuters is today expected to unveil a strategy to make its major financial products available on the internet. Plans for the partial flotation of its electronic trading business, Instinet, and the Greenhouse Fund, which invests in net start-ups, are also expected as the group announces its full-year financial results. Prices closed down slightly… Continue reading Sharewatch
The Independent Television Commission (ITC) and the Office for Telecommunications (OFTEL) today announced the provisional conclusions of their joint consultation into the bundling of television and telephony services. The consultation, announced in April last year (see ITC And OFTEL Consult On Cable TV And Telephony Bundling), was set up to investigate the ways in which… Continue reading Cable TV/Telephony Bundling Not Anti-Competitive Says ITC
As the deadline for bids in the auction of the Belfast Telegraph passed last night, a number of major media groups had joined the list. The expected line-up for the Ulster newspaper is expected to include Independent News & Media, Gannett, Regional Independent Media and a management buyout team backed by venture capitalists.The newspaper is… Continue reading Media Groups Line Up For Belfast Telegraph
