News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch has announced the formation of a new company to investigate and manage media investments in continental Europe.News Corp Europe will be based in Milan and chaired by Mrs Letizia Moratti, the former chairman of Italian state broadcaster RAI.Mr Murdoch also announced that News Corp Europe, along with French TV company… Continue reading Murdoch In New Europe Media Move
It is believed that two significant players in the internet industry, America Online (AOL) and Netscape, are on the verge of merging. AOL will reportedly spend around two and half billion pounds to acquire the web browser company.If the deal goes ahead, it would be a significant boost for Netscape as its browser software is… Continue reading Netscape And AOL May Merge
DMG Radio, a subsidiary of Daily Mail & General Trust, has agreed to acquire Sussex-based Radio Mercury for £3.75 million.Radio Mercury runs Mercury FM and Fame 1521 AM which broadcast across the Reigate and Crawley area and have a combined weekly reach of 87,000 listeners according to the latest RAJAR figures. The takeover will be… Continue reading DMG Radio Acquires Radio Mercury
The German government’s case concerning the EU Directive on tobacco advertising reached the European Court of Justice on 19th October. The government’s core argument against the legality of the Directive is that the EU has no competence to set up rules in the area of health protection. The German company Salamander AG has filed an… Continue reading DE: Legal action gets under way
The South African Health Minister has presented a bill to the Parliament’s health committee proposing a ban on all forms of tobacco advertising and sponsorship, plus a ban on smoking in any public area including the workplace. Enforcement measures have not yet been defined.
On 17 November at the Culture Council, Commission Oreja will present a joint paper with Commission Van Miert, on the funding of public service broadcasting. Having considered proposals from a commissioned think tank, Oreja claims to have reached a solution which will achieve a consensus. However, opposition exists between Germany, whose Länder have a direct… Continue reading EU: Public Service broadcasting
During a two-day Health Council meeting last week, EU Health Ministers were told that the German Government is considering dropping its objections to the tobacco advertising ban. During a debate which focused on EC progress in the fight against tobacco addiction, Commissioner Flynn announced a series of measures to provide more information to consumers on… Continue reading EU: Germany to review Court action
The UK’s Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) is consulting agencies, consumer organisations and the Government on proposals to develop a self-regulatory scheme for UK ads on the internet. The “Trustmark” scheme would use icons on ads to show that advertisers and publishers have agreed to comply with the British Codes of Advertising and Sales Promotion.
The European Parliament has welcomed a Commission Green Paper on the implications of the convergence of the telecommunications, media and IT sectors in a resolution which calls for consumer rights to be safeguarded and an examination of the consequences of convergence on employment. During its October II meeting in Strasbourg, MEPs asked the Commission for… Continue reading EU: EP Calls for Media Ownership rules
Hell comes in many guises according to ITV. Following on the heels of In Laws From Hell, Weddings From Hell and Neighbours From Hell, ITV’s latest look into the old adage ‘if it can go wrong, it will go wrong’, Holidays From Hell pulled in an impressive 12.18 million viewers.Featuring stories of mass food poisoning,… Continue reading TV Viewing Summary W/E 08/11/98
