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Orange will not be buying the technology behind Project Kangaroo, the failed VoD venture between ITV, BBC Worldwide and Channel 4.It is understood that the three parties, who invested as much as £20 million in the project, have been attempting to sell off the technology since the service was blocked earlier this year (see Competition… Continue reading Orange ends talks to buy Project Kangaroo technology

Specialist magazine publisher Future has revealed an 11% fall in revenue for the six months to the end of March. Future’s revenue was £76.6 million for the period, a 2% year-on-year fall or 11% when the effects of currency exchange are removed. Overall circulation revenues, accounting for 59% of total revenues, were down 10% year… Continue reading Future reports 11% fall in revenue

Future, the specialist magazine publisher, has reported an 11% fall in revenue for the six months to the end of March.The company’s revenue was £76.6 million for the period, a 2% year-on-year fall or 11% when the effects of currency exchange are removed.Overall circulation revenues, accounting for 59% of total revenues, were down 10% year… Continue reading Future reports fall in revenue

Pan-European newspaper group Mecom has reported a 14% fall in group revenue for the first four months of 2009. Run by former Mirror Group boss David Montgomery, the company also revealed a 22% drop in ad revenue for the period. In a statement it said: “There are now indications that rates of decline have generally… Continue reading Mecom reveals 14% fall in revenue

Google has written a letter to the Office of Fair Trading asking it to relax rules governing UK newspaper mergers.Google said that it would be supportive of publishers wanting to merge with local and regional newspapers to create competition for the search engine and online content aggregators.The OFT is currently reviewing the existing merger rules… Continue reading Google asks OFT to relax newspaper merger rules

talkSPORT owner UTV Media has completed the acquisition of free weekly magazine Sport.The magazine was suspended in April after French parent company Sport Media & Strategie went into administration (see Sport magazine suspends publication).It is understood that Sport will be back on London’s streets on 12 June, with 19 of its 22 UK staff staying… Continue reading UTV Media buys Sport magazine

Channel 4 could cut its News at Noon and More4 News programmes in an attempt to cut budgets by 10%.Although the broadcaster said that no decisions have yet been taken, it is understood that several programmes are under threat, with executives ordering a review of its news operations.Earlier this month, Channel 4 chief executive Andy… Continue reading Channel 4 could cut news programming

Independent News & Media has agreed a financial standstill deal with its investors, giving it until late June to negotiate the refinancing of its €200 million (£178 million) bond.The publisher of the Independent newspaper has also secured €15 million (£13.3 million) in working capital.The standstill period starts today and runs until 26 June. INM said… Continue reading INM agrees “financial standstill” deal with investors

Semantic search engine Wolfram Alpha has launched today, potentially changing the way users find information online.The service, developed by UK physicist Stephen Wolfram, responds to queries by searching through a database and providing a direct answer, including graphs and charts if relevant, rather than providing a list of links as Google does.Wolfram says that the… Continue reading Semantic “search engine” launches today

BBC Magazines is preventing the closure of Good Homes magazine by selling it to Kelsey Publishing.BBC Magazines announced the closure at the end of last month, citing a drop in circulation (see BBC Good Homes magazine set to close).Staff will be asked if they want to transfer to the new publisher, with Kelsey’s first issue… Continue reading Kelsey Publishing buys BBC Good Homes magazine