The new Channel 5 licence should be awarded on the basis of a sound financial business plan, with social aspirations for a truly local TV service taking a back seat, according to a new report from the Economic and Social Research Council.A series of local channels, largely insulated from each other, may stretch competition to… Continue reading Unviable Local C5
A London-wide cable network distribut- ing local programming and offering advertisers a one-stop alternative to ITV could be in place next year following agreement in principle amongst the Capital’s cable TV operators to build a new fibre-optic link connecting their systems.The link-up would reduce distribution costs, open up the 100,000 subscribers to advertisers and promote… Continue reading Local London TV Channels
It is “highly unlikely” that Thames Television will retain its franchise, according to a new report from Barclays de Zoete Wedd.The report posits that, if Thames keeps its franchise, it is likely to be rated at a significant premium, both for its earning prospects and because Thorn is expected to sell its majority stake to… Continue reading TV Franchise Bids – Assessments
Latest TV franchise bid leaks suggest that LWT has been significantly outbid in its efforts to retain its franchise, with news this week that its rival LIB has put in a cash pledge of £35.4m at 1993 prices.LWT is believed to have bid less than £30m a year, making it the third of the ‘big… Continue reading LWT Outbid
The latest JICNARS bulletin highlights the system behind the new NRS contract, which will run from 1992 to 1996.The sample size for the new contract will be 35,000, with disproportionate sampling to increase the number of ABC1 social class respondents contacted.This will allow for a new system of reporting (see table).Titles in categories A and… Continue reading Jicnars Bulletin
THAMES: Thames is still trying to reduce its costs, cutting staff to 1230 by 1993. Recent sale of BET stake to Thorn EMI valued Thms at £124.1-£148.9m Thought to have bid around £52m. Turnover – £270.6m of which advg.is 72% Est.Share of ITV ads – 16.33% (Jan’91) Households in region – 5.3m Pre-tax profit –… Continue reading TV Franchise Auctions – Prospects
TV franchise incumbents may end up pay- ing two or three times their current Exchequer Levy in order to retain their franchises, according to a report from stockbrokers Gilbert George.Some incumbents will be forced to bid so highly to retain their franchises that after the franchise auction there will have to be a stringent round… Continue reading TV Franchise Costs
The ITC has received 3 applications for the national breakfast franchise and 37 applications for regional Channel 3: Regional: No/Applications Borders/Isle of Man 1 Central Scotland 1 Channel Islands 2 East/South/West Mids 1 East England 3 London Weekday 3 London Weekend 2 North/Scotland 3 NE England 2 NW England 2 N Ireland 3 South/SE England… Continue reading 40 Applications Received For Frans.
Independent Television Publications has announced that it is planning to give the TV Times a redesign, although it will not reveal any details.The announcement comes in the same week that its main rival, Radio Times, is revamped. Radio Times now carries a double spread of listings for each day. The listings section is now unbroken… Continue reading TV Times Redesign
