The media buying and planning group, Aegis, have announced unaudited preliminary results for 1998. Pre-tax profit increased by 17% to £51.1 million, and earnings per share, fully diluted, were up by 6% to 3.7p.Turnover for the group grew by 13%, totalling £4,130 million for 1998.Chief executive of the group, Crispin Davies, commented: “These results demonstrate… Continue reading Aegis Report 13% Gain In Turnover
Following reports last week that broadcasting giants BSkyB and Canal Plus were in talks over a possible merger (see Newsline), the two groups have apparently reached a stalemate situation over the matter of management.According to media reports, Canal Chairman Pierre Lescure said in an interview that Canal Plus will have the leadership, or there will… Continue reading Canal Plus Demands Leadership Of Possible BSkyB Merger
Channel 5 has announced that it is to move its main evening news bulletin to 6pm, after receiving approval from the Independent Television Commission (ITC).The weekday 5 News, presented by Kirsty Young, will be brought forward from its current spot at 7pm on 15 March, and the channel’s hourly updates will also be expanded and… Continue reading Channel 5 Moves News Bulletin
The regional newspaper publisher Trinity has submitted a bid for the Mirror Group. The offer, understood to be around £1 billion, will rival the offer by Regional Independent Media (RIM) of £913 million (see Newsline).Trinity has announced a pre-conditional offer for Mirror on the basis of 0.35 new Trinity shares and 40p in cash. The… Continue reading Trinity Offers £1 Billion For Mirror Group
Channel 5 has created a new business unit for the purpose of exploring opportunities for secondary revenue outside the area of advertising.The new unit will be headed by James Burgon, and is already operational. It will look at projects ranging from basic merchandising opportunities, to possible joint business ventures. Burgon will also be working with… Continue reading Channel 5 Creates New Business Unit
This weekend marked the broadcast of the first pay-per-view football match by BSkyB. The match, which was broadcast on Saturday night, was Oxford United v Sunderland, and estimates in the press over the weekend said that as many as 20,000 subscribers paid £7.95 to watch it.ITV recently secured TV rights to the EUFA Champions Cup… Continue reading BSkyB Pay-Per-View Football Kick Off
Sport First, Britain’s first sports-only national paper, which launched nearly a year ago (see Newsline), is rumoured to be looking for investors and possibly a sale.The Sunday’s managing director, Alison Sparshatt, told Newsline that following the title’s success in the latest ABC figures, they were keen to build on the its success.Sport First achieved the… Continue reading Sport First Woos Investors
Trinity, the UK’s largest regional newspaper publishing group, announced its preliminary results for 1998 today. The group, which this morning launched a bid for the Mirror Group (see Newsline), announced a turnover of £342.2 million, a 5.4% rise since last year.Pre-tax profit increased (before exceptional items) by 13.4% to £83.8 million, and earnings per share… Continue reading Turnover Reaches £324.4 Million For Trinity
Trinity’s share price closed at 486p on Friday, remaining stable throughout the day. At midday today, the group’s price had risen 11˝p to 497˝p following reports of the group’s bid for the Mirror Group.The Mirror Group, who’s shares closed at 194p on Friday, stood at 202p at midday today, a rise of 8p.The Daily Mail… Continue reading Sharewatch
The Financial Times Group and German publisher, Gruner & Jahr, have announced a joint venture today involving the expansion of The Financial Times brand.The new venture will be a German language business newspaper. Printed on pink paper, the new publication will feature the familiar FT brand prominently, and will carry content from the english FT… Continue reading Financial Times To Expand Brand
