“Due impartiality” must continually be observed on “individual issues” states a new amendment to the Broadcasting Bill announced yesterday. The legislation, which will apply to both television and radio, produced a heated reaction from broadcasters. The amendment was described as “constructive censorship”, and David Elstein, Thames Televsion’s director of programmes, claimed that the move “will… Continue reading Broadcasting Bill “Bias” Amendments
Home secretary David Waddington yesterday affirmed that the BBC’s licence fee increases will be set at less than rises in the RPI after next April. The Home Office is to appoint independent consultants to assess the way in which the Corporation spends its licence fee income. In response to the announcement, BBC director general Michael… Continue reading BBC Licence Fee Examination
British Telecom is to sell its 25% stake in the Children’s Channel to Flextech, a UK oil-services group which is currently diversifying into the media. United Artists Entertainment had originally hoped to acquire the share. The move reflects BT’s decision to move out of the cable industry.
The Sunday Correspondent relaunched yesterday as the UK’s first quality tabloid in a format consisting of two sections plus a magazine. As promised the editorial style remained almost unchanged with the main section consisting of news, opinions, analysis, a review of the week, a 6-page business section and 14-pages of sport. The 60-paged main section… Continue reading Correspondent Tabloid Relaunch Report
Only two ITV companies are prepared to confirm that they are planning to bid for other franchises, according to a survey conducted last week by the Sunday Times amomgst the senior ITV executives of each ITV company. Whilst Tyne Tees and Granada admit that they are eyeing a second franchise TVS and HTV are refusing… Continue reading Sunday Times Survey
LLoyd’s of London has disclosed it is considering the sale of its shipping newspaper LLoyd’s List.
ITV revenue for August showed a year- on-year increase for the first time since last October, coming in at £99,943,474, an increase of 0.1% on August 1990. August 1990 was, however, the steepest fall, year-on-year, during the whole of 1990, down 17.8%.Of the individual contractors,Yorkshire fell heavily, down 0.74% points to 8.18%, whilst HTV was… Continue reading TV Round-Up – August
The publisher Robert Maxwell is expected to announce disposals worth around $450m this week, to reduce Maxwell Communication Corporation’s debts of £1.9bn. Among sales to be announced it is thought one will be a consumer publishing company worth $100m. Maxwell has already confirmed his intention to sell his 20% stake in the UK specialist printers,… Continue reading Maxwell To Announce Disposals
Central Television has announced pre-tax profits down 40% from £11.3m to £6.79m for the six months to 30 June. Turnover was up 0.3% to £153.1m, comprising £113.4m of advertising revenue (£112.9m) and £39.7m (£39.1m) of other income. The group has projected that ad revenue for the full year will reflect “nil growth”.
UK banking group Kleinwort Benson is to take a 7% stake in French private TV channel La Cinq in a deal which also involves the re-shuffling of other shareholder interests.
