Metro Radio’s long running bid for the Yorkshire Radio Network looks close to victory following the announcement yesterday that 75% of YRN’s shareholders have accepted Metro’s £15.6m offer. (Newsline 27/9) For the takeover to go ahead shareholders must now approve an alteration to YRN’s articles of association, at present any one shareholder is prevented from… Continue reading YRN Close To Metro Takeover
Robert Maxwell announced last night that he is to sell his TV interests, including his 20% stake in Central Television. The sale of Maxwell’s stake in Central could result in a change of ownership in the run-up to the next franchising round. Maxwell also intends to sell off his 12.5% stake in France’s TF1, his… Continue reading Maxwell To Sell TV Interests
Oftel yesterday made “formal orders” under telecomms legislation requiring four cable companies to “remedy delays in completing their networks”. The four companies, with franchises covering Coventry, north-west Glasgow and Clydebank,Guildford and Westminster have been given new deadlines to meet, and if they fail to do so they could have their licences revoked. Oftel acknowledged that… Continue reading Cable Operators Reprimanded
The bi-monthly men’s magazine For Him has appointed Geoffrey Aquilina-Ross as new editor to replace Eric Musgrave. (Newsline 13/9)
Saatchi is continuing its moves to raise capital by selling its US agency McCaffrey & McCall and looking at ways of restructuring its £212m Euroconvertible preference issue.
“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
