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The chief executive of Independent News & Media, Sir Anthony O’Reilly, is to retire in May, to be replaced by his son Gavin O’Reilly with immediate effect. O’Reilly, INM’s largest shareholder with 28.5%, will retire on 7 May, with his son, currently chief operating officer, becoming chief executive-designate with immediate effect. INM shareholder Denis O’Brien… Continue reading INM CEO Sir Anthony O’Reilly to retire in May

UTV has reported pre-tax profits of £20.3 million in 2008, down from £20.8 in 2007. Group operating profit remained static at £28.1 million, with radio operating profit up 12% to £18.5 million. There was also an impressive increase in new media operating profits, of 44%, taking the total to £2 million. However, television operating profits… Continue reading UTV reports £0.5m drop in pre-tax profits

RTL Group, owner of Five, has reported a 1.2% rise in revenue to €5.7 million for the year ending December 31 2008, with underlying revenue at constant exchange rates up 2.6%. Earnings before the deduction of interest, tax and amortization (EBITA) were up 2% to €916 million. The net profit attributable to RTL Group shareholders… Continue reading RTL Group reports 1.2% rise in revenue for 2008

JCDecaux has reported a year on year rise in revenues of 2.9% for 2008, to € 2.2 billion. Excluding acquisitions and the impact of foreign exchange, organic revenue growth was 6.3%, ahead of the growth in the global advertising market in 2008, the outdoor firm said. Group operating margin dipped by 1.0% to €550 million,… Continue reading JCDecaux reports 2.9% rise in revenues

Johnston Press, publisher of The Scotsman and the Yorkshire Post, has reported a 28% drop in adjusted pre-tax profits for 2008, with ad revenue falling 36% at the start of this year. Adjusted pre-tax profits were down from £137.4 million in 2007 to £98.8 million in 2008. The group’s adjusted pre-tax profits do not include… Continue reading Johnston Press reports 28% drop in pre-tax profits

Regional newspaper publisher the Observer Standard Media Group has gone into administration, according to a report in the Birmingham Post. The report says that the company made an announcement to staff, with the group believed to be looking for a buyer for its titles. The group publishes 20 weekly newspapers across the Midlands, most of… Continue reading Regional newspaper publisher goes into administration

Archant has announced a 27% fall in operating profits for 2008 to £2.2 million, down from £30.5 million in 2007. Archant chairman Richard Jewson attributed the drop to declines in recruitment and property advertising revenues in the newspaper business and in property and display advertising in the Life magazines. Turnover from ongoing operations reduced 9.2%… Continue reading Archant’s operating profits fall 27%

Talks between Sky and Tiscali over the satellite broadcaster’s purchase of Tiscali’s UK assets have broken down due to deteriorating market conditions. Tiscali said today that talks with BSkyB are “almost impossible” to continue due to the financial climate. On Friday, Tiscali suspended its shares and asked banks to halt its interest repayments while it… Continue reading Sky and Tiscali end talks

WPP’s chief Sir Martin Sorrell has announced plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs across the world’s second largest advertising and marketing company in the wake of the on-going economic crisis.Despite reporting a strong set of results for 2008 earlier this morning, Sorrell said WPP has a three-pronged strategy for weathering the recession, which will… Continue reading WPP to slash 2,000 jobs

WPP has reported a 3.8% rise in pre-tax profit and a 2.7% rise in like-for-like revenues for 2008. The global marketing services group reported profits of £747 million for the year and an operating margin of 15%, although this was below its target of 15.3%, which WPP said was due to a weak fourth quarter.… Continue reading WPP reports 3.8% rise in pre-tax profits for 2008