BSkyB shares surged yesterday on the back of the company’s interim financial results and the announcement that 350,000 Sky Digital set-top boxes had been sold by the end of January (see BSkyB Profits Fall Following Sky Digital Launch, But Targets Are Met). BSkyB closed yesterday up 14.6% (60˝p) at 474žp.Despite an upbeat trading statement released… Continue reading Sharewatch
Newscom, the regional publisher which changed its name from Southern Newspapers last year (see Newsline), has announced that it is to join the bidding war for Portsmouth & Sunderland Newspapers. The group has confirmed that it is in preliminary discussions with the P&S board with a view to making an offer for its newspaper assets.Newscom… Continue reading Newscom Keen To Join Bidding Race For Portsmouth & Sunderland
Carlton Communications released a statement yesterday following its annual general meeting. The media group declared it had made a good start to the year, with television performing well and advertising revenue continuing to grow.According to the group’s chairman Michael Green, ITV is extending its lead over the BBC thanks to programmes such as Who Wants… Continue reading Carlton Delivers Upbeat Statement Following Strong Revenue Growth
Huddersfield FM has been fined £5,000 by the Radio Authority (RA) for breaching its Promise of Performance eight separate times.The watchdog found that the station had not broadcast, amongst other things, two separate weekly hour-long arts and entertainment features, education features or satisfactory sports coverage, after pledging to do so.Peter Gibbings, chairman of the RA,… Continue reading RA Fines Huddersfield FM For Eight Promise Breaches
Following the acquisition of The Petersen Companies in December last year (see EMAP Makes £720m US Move), EMAP has today announced the purchase of General Media’s Automotive Group of magazines for £21.9 million.The portfolio includes four monthly titles, Four Wheeler, Stock Car Racing, Open Wheel and Drag Racing Monthly along with the rights to Four… Continue reading EMAP Augments US Interests With £22m Acquisition
1998 saw a continuation of growth in the cable sector, with the industry breaking through the 11 million homes mark at the beginning of the year. By 1 October it had risen further to just under 12 million (11.99) according to ITC data*. Over 2.7 million broadband homes now receive a cable TV service, which… Continue reading Cable And Satellite Annual Round-Up 1998
Talk Radio has announced that it has set up a regional sales office in Manchester as part of a strategy to take control of its own sales effort ahead of the launch of its Scottish Macro service in April.Julia Upton takes the role of regional sales controller at the new unit, which began operating from… Continue reading Talk Radio Opens Manchester Sales Office
The cable company NTL has announced that it is to carry an interactive games channel on its cable digital TV service, which is due for launch in the spring. The channel is the first of its kind in Britain and involves the cable operator teaming up with interactive software publisher Infogrames Entertainment.NTL digital cable subscribers… Continue reading Game On With NTL’s Interactive Services
DMG Radio’s bid for Radio Mercury Ltd has received approval from the Radio Authority (see Newsline). The group has been acquired for £3.75 million. Radio Mercury controls the local radio services Mercury FM and Fame 1521. Capital Radio is to sell off its Henry J Beans chain of restaurants to a consortium led by a… Continue reading Newsline Brief
BSkyB has announced today that its pre-tax profits for the six months ended 31 December 1998 fell by 58.6% year on year to £53.2 million following the launch of digital satellite television, Sky Digital, in October last year (see Digital Launch Update). Turnover at Sky stood at £753 million (£691.8 million last year), 65% of… Continue reading BSkyB Profits Fall Following Sky Digital Launch, But Targets Are Met
