There was much enthusiasm for media stocks yesterday: Financial Times publisher Pearson rose 117p to its best-ever price of £16.38p amid a host of rumours, particularly in the internet department. The group has been developing its Net presence lately, its most recent venture a deal with online auction house icollector (see Sharewatch). Current rumours include… Continue reading Sharewatch
The Guardian Media Group has joined with the GWR Group and Scottish Radio Holdings to bid for the second digital radio multiplex licence for London. The three groups are united under the Score Now consortium, which was formed in November (see GWR And Scottish Radio Unite In London Licence Bid)The Radio Authority decided to make… Continue reading Guardian Media Group Joins Bid For Digital Radio Licence
Pay-TV group Flextech and cable operator Telewest Communications have this morning confirmed that they are in talks which could lead to the merger of the two groups and the creation of a £10 billion TV and telecommunications company.In a statement the two companies said: “These discussions, which include the possibility of a combination of the… Continue reading Telewest And Flextech Reveal Merger Talks
EMAP On Air is to offer advertisers a cohesive sponsorship and promotions package based around its Big City Network of radio stations. For the first time the Big City stations, which target 15-34s in large cities, will be launched as a national brand by EMAP.The Big City Network, part of EMAP’s new Performance Network of… Continue reading EMAP To Promote Big City Network As National Brand
The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) has said that it is not satisfied with undertakings made by the Birmingham Post & Mail (BPM) to offer advertisers compensation for six years of inflated circulations for three of the group’s newspapers.Last month it was discovered by BPM’s parent company, Trinity Mirror, that the Birmingham Evening Mail,… Continue reading IPA Unhappy With Plans To Handle Birmingham Papers’ False ABCs
As news emerged that cable company Telewest has been holding merger talks with Flextech, shares in the latter shot up 182˝p to 1,532˝p. Telewest’s prices closed up 12p to 351źp.Shares in broadcaster BSkyB fell as it announced a deal with German pay-TV group Kirsch (see BSkyB Moves Into German Pay-TV Market). Prices closed down 6˝p… Continue reading Sharewatch
Guardian Unlimited has appointed David Rowan as editor. He takes over from Simon Waldman, who was made head of the newspaper’s nine sites in October (see Guardian Unlimited Appoints New Head).Rowan has been at the Guardian for over ten years and is currently editor of the digest magazine, Editor. David Rusbridger, editor of the Guardian,… Continue reading Guardian Unlimited Gets New Editor
Carlton and Granada have set up a joint $125 million (£78 million) deal to bring the Ask Jeeves internet search engine to the UK. The deal between the two ITV companies and Ask Jeeves Inc. comes as Carlton has upset the ITV apple cart somewhat by announcing the terms of an £8 billion surprise merger… Continue reading Carlton And Granada Bring Jeeves To The UK
UK cinema admissions reached 13.3 million in October, representing a 4.2% increase on the same month last year. Ticket sales were boosted largely due to the success of the Blair Witch Project which contributed to cinema’s best ever weekend, the 29-31 October, when the film opened. Total sales for this weekend clocked up £13 million;… Continue reading Blair Witch Project Boosts Cinema Admissions For October
Kelvin MacKenzie, chief executive of Talk Radio, has once again attack the BBC over its funding by the licence fee. Giving evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s investigation of future BBC funding, he said that the BBC’s operations should be privatised in the same way that other industries have seen once-nationalised business… Continue reading Newsline Brief
