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Satellite giant BSkyB this morning announced subscribers of more than eight million, surpassing its targets to reach record levels of direct-to-home (DTH) customers. “Sky is achieving strong growth,” explained James Murdoch, Sky’s chief executive. “Nearly one in three homes and counting have chosen Sky and we are especially well placed to broaden Sky’s appeal as… Continue reading Sky Subscribers Pass Eight Million

Regional newspaper publisher, Johnston Press, has announced plans to acquire the entire issued share capital of publishers of the Scotsman newspaper and www.scotsman.com, Scotsman Publications. The deal will see Johnston purchase the company for a cash consideration of £160 million, with the newspaper publisher claiming the acquisition will be “earnings enhanced” within the first year.… Continue reading Johnston Buys Scotsman Publications For £160 Million

United Business Media (UBM) this morning released a trading update, informing investors that, while the company continued to meet expectations, growth within the print sector is becoming “challenged”. The company stated that its difficulties were in line with the industry, however, explaining that other sectors such as exhibitions, online and news distribution have seen profitable… Continue reading UBM Meets Expectations Despite Pressure In Print

DC Thompson, publisher of long-running comic The Beano, has acquired Puzzler Media Group for £85 million, bringing its portfolio of quiz, puzzle and trivia titles under its control. Founded in 1973 and with a staff of 50, Puzzler Media currently holds a 50% market share in the Puzzle sector, far outweighing its competitors. The publisher… Continue reading DC Thompson Snaps Up Puzzler Media

BSkyB’s chief operating officer, Richard Freudenstein, is to leave the company next year to return to his home country, Australia, following the launch of Sky’s high definition (HD) TV service. Freudenstein joined Sky in 1999 as the company’s general manager, before being appointed chief operating officer the following year. The outgoing TV boss will continue… Continue reading Sky COO To Step Down In New Year

Britain’s largest newspaper publisher, Trinity Mirror, has warned investors of a downward trend in media advertising next year, compacting a poor end to 2005, which saw the firm’s ad sales fall by 7.9% in the five months to November. In a pre-close trading statement to the City, Trinity said its group advertising revenues had fallen… Continue reading Trinity Warns Of Downward Slide For Print Ads

Cable giant NTL has announced the appointment of a new president and chief executive to oversee its merger with rival Telewest, giving Stephen Burch the combined role and moving incumbent CEO Simon Duffy to the position of executive vice chairman in the combined company. Commenting on the two moves, which are effective from 16 January… Continue reading NTL Appoints New CEO To Steer Telewest Merger

Media giant Aegis Group has announced the acquisition of Scandinavian market research network Univero for £10 million. The deal sees Aegis extend its reach across Norway, Sweden and Denmark, with Univero’s subsidiary firms MMI Univero, TEMO Univero, LUI Univero, Vilstrup Univero and Fieldwork Scandinavia now forming part of Aegis’ network. The research markets covered by… Continue reading Aegis Widens Reach With Scandinavian Research

ITV is to close its 24 hour rolling news channel at the end of January, threatening around 70 jobs, although the broadcaster has pledged to redeploy as many staff as possible, and work with unions on the scale of any required redundancies. The move, announced this morning alongside a £2 million investment in news programming… Continue reading ITV To Axe News Channel By End Of January

Regional newspaper publisher, Johnston Press, has released a downbeat trading update for the second half of the year, reporting a dip in recruitment advertising revenues of 22.9% year on year. There is little chance of significant improvement in the market next year, the company said, sparking a dip in share price early this morning. In… Continue reading Johnston Downbeat In End Of Year Trading Update