Mirror Group, itself currently at the centre of takeover discussions (see Bidding War Expected To Surround Mirror Group), has today announced the acquisition of Glasgow-based magazine publisher, First Press.First Press publishes a number of sports-related titles including the weekly Rangers News. Following the deal, which was negotiated by the Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail… Continue reading Mirror Group Acquires Scottish Magazine Publisher
The popular internet search engine Lycos is planning to launch a search facility which will make it easier for consumers to find MP3 files, the compressed sound files on which music is stored on the internet. Downloading songs from the internet is becoming increasingly popular, but the move is expected to cause controversy as the… Continue reading Newsline Brief
Digital television managed to shift 171,000 digital satellite set-top boxes through retail outlets between the launch of digital TV on 1 October to 26 December last year; 16,000 analogue satellite units were sold in the same period. These are the latest findings from research company GfK Marketing Services and combines sales from both Sky Digital… Continue reading Sky Set-Top Box Sales Below Predictions
The Radio Authority (RA) is this week advertising a new small-scale independent local radio licence to provide a service within the northern and/or north western sector of the Greater London area. The group is welcoming public comments and opinion about the radio tastes of residents in the area.The licence will be for a period of… Continue reading Radio Authority Advertises North London Licences
One of the front-runners for taking over John Birt’s position of director general at the BBC, Channel 4’s chief executive Michael Jackson, has pulled out of the race. John Birt is to give up the post in March 2000 (see Newsline), but Jackson said in an interview for Sky’s Media Monthly that he has no… Continue reading Newsline Brief
It is understood that The Guardian is to undergo some redesigning soon. Described as ‘tweaking’ rather than a revamp, reports circulating suggest that the title is to have an overhaul of fonts and body displays, although a spokesperson for the group would not confirm or deny this.A representative from The Guardian did say however, that… Continue reading The Guardian To Undergo Tweaking
In the age of virtual villages, teleshopping and a supposed freedom of mobility it has been argued that the fabric of traditional communities is wearing thin. As people leave the High Street for out of town supermarkets and others spend more and more time on the internet (this is probably being read on the Net… Continue reading MRG Evening Meeting – Putting Geography On The Map – Is Locality Still Important In Targeting?
Publisher of Marketing Week, Centaur, is to launch a new title devoted to the electronic media.The magazine, called Evolve, will be be aimed purely at the marketing community and, according to publisher of Marketing Week Annie Swift, “will aim to guide marketeers in current and future electronic media marketing opportunities, and what these new technologies… Continue reading Centaur To Launch New Media Marketing Title
After last week’s rather sycophantic summary of ITV’s peaktime weekend schedule, I thought I would try and line up a cushy job with News International by raving about BSkyB.Sky’s decision to nab the rights to broadcast American imports Friends and ER before Channel 4 has had mixed results. Friends is by far the more popular… Continue reading TV Viewing Summary W/E 17/01/99
