The Court of First Instance has upheld actions seeking the annulment of EC decisions concerning an agreement on fixing postal rates and the practice of certain public postal services of intercepting “remailed” post (Case T – 133/95, IECC v Commission). The Commission decided that public postal operators, entrusted with the provision of universal service, are… Continue reading EU: CFI annuls remail decision
Inflation has hit the Government’s target level of 2.5% for the second month running, according to the Office for National Statistics, which uses figures excluding mortgage payments and interest rates.The Retail Prices Index for September was announced this morning as 161.8, a 0.4% increase on last month and a 3.2% increase on September 1997.The news… Continue reading Inflation On Target At 2.5%
The Department of Culture has proposed an amendment to its broadcasting law that would protect important national and international sporting events from being shown only on pay or pay-per-view TV. It proposes that only channels reaching 90% of the population will be allowed to broadcast those events, which will include the summer and winter Olympic… Continue reading NOR: Protected sports list introduced
The meeting of the EU’s Expert Group on Commercial Communications on 22 October will apply the proportionality assessment methodology for the first time to discounts, and will also have a first exchange of views on premiums. Predictions that the group would also start to consider advertising to children may be premature, as the EC is… Continue reading EU: Expert Group meeting
The Department of Trade and Industry has sent to interested parties a Consultative Document “Liberalising Trade in Services” seeking comments and advice on what should be the UK’s objectives and priorities for the new multilateral negotiations on trade in services starting in 2000. Copies of the Document are available from the DTI, 348 Kingsgate House,… Continue reading UK: DTI Consultation on GATS
In reaction to the ECJ´s recent criticism of EC inaction, Competition Commissioner Karel Van Miert, has announced that the EC is drawing up a working paper on ‘State Aid to Public Television Stations’. Speaking at a press conference last week, Van Miert said that he intends to draw up guidelines to enable the EC to… Continue reading EU: EC Acts on Public TV Funding
IPC Magazines has bought Link House Media, of which Link House Magazines is a wholly-owned subsidiary, in the first IPC acquisition since its leveraged buyout in January (see IPC Magazines Gains Independence). The financial consideration for the purchase was not disclosed, although the group was backed by venture capitalists, Cinven, the same group which financed… Continue reading IPC Acquires Link House Media For Undisclosed Sum
Representatives of EU and US consumers´ organizations have met with government officials in the first Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue conference in Washington. The dialogue, which forms part of the New Transatlantic Agenda, signed by President Clinton, Council President Tony Blair and Commission President Santer in December 1997, calls for discussions on product safety, food safety and… Continue reading EU: Consumer Dialogue Group meets
A survey for Reuters Business Insight reports that top UK brand companies are forecast to increase spend on direct marketing and sales promotion to 45% of marketing spend by 2002 (compared to 41% in 1997).
The Newspaper Society has commissioned research to examine the regulatory and commercial framework within which regional and local newspapers operate.A working party has been set up, and NERA (National Economic Research Associates) have been appointed as consultants to produce a report on the economics of the regional press and to examine the commercial impact of… Continue reading Newspaper Society Examines Ownership Regulation
