More Media Business articles

In a trading update, radio to magazine group, Emap, has said that group revenues for the first half of this year are expected to be up 2%, with celebrity gossip magazine Closer being cited as a key driver. Emap’s consumer media division, which includes Closer, is expected to be up 6% year-on-year for the six… Continue reading Closer Drives Revenues At Emap

Liberty Media has sold its remaining shares in cable operator Telewest for £119 million, a move that will put to rest its chairman’s ambition of dominating the UK cable market. During the 1990’s, chairman John Malone, bought significant stakes in European cable operators and during this time the financial press speculated that he was looking… Continue reading Liberty Media Sells Remaining Shares In Telewest

The BBC committee reviewing the future of its commercial arm, Worldwide, may consider floating a stake on the stock market, according to reports. According to The Independent On Sunday, as expected, the group has primarily been discussing how to set up joint ventures for its publishing, distribution and channel arms, which would allow the Corporation… Continue reading BBC Considering Flotation Of Worldwide Arm

Chief executive of WPP, Sir Martin Sorrell, has this morning confirmed he has been involved in discussions with Havas’ financier, adding further uncertainty to the French group’s future. After losing out in the bidding war for Grey Global Group to WPP, reports suggest that Havas is looking like an increasingly vulnerable take-over target, rumours that… Continue reading Sorrell Involved In Talks With Havas

Radio group, Chrysalis, has said its 2005 financial year has had an ‘encouraging start’, as first quarter revenues are expected to reach high single digits. Chrysalis, owner of London’s Heart 106.2 station, said in a trading update, revenues for the 12 months to 31 August 2004 have met expectations, growing 20% year-on-year to £67 million.… Continue reading Chrysalis Sees An ‘Encouraging Start’ To 2005

ITV has been given the all clear to go ahead with its proposed £31 million acquisition of the majority stake in GMTV, despite wide-spread concern from the advertising industry. The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising had been calling for the Office of Fair Trading to refer the acquisition of Scottish Media Group’s 25% stake in… Continue reading ITV Gets Go Ahead For £31 Million GMTV Acquisition

Commercial broadcaster, ITV, has this morning agreed to sell its 5.5% stake in French multimedia group, Thomson SA, to Citigroup Global Markets and UBS Limited, as part of its £600 million programme to sell-off non-core assets. The 15.5 million shares held in Thomson, which were believed to be the jewel in ITV’s crown, originated from… Continue reading ITV’s Sell-Off Continues With Stake In Thomson

WPP Group is continuing its expansion strategy, with J Walter Thompson purchasing a 30% stake in Chinese advertising and marketing group, Newsun Insight. Newsun, which generates revenue of $1.95 million last year, was founded in 2002 and currently employs 115 people. Clients of the Guangzhou based group include TCL computers, Li Bai detergent and Star… Continue reading WPP Buys 30% Stake In Chinese Ad Group Newsun

Capital Radio and GWR saw their share price rocket this morning after the radio groups confirmed they are in merger talks to create a single broadcaster worth more than £700 million. This morning’s opening share price at GWR and Capital Radio climbed by 9.7% and 6.5% respecitvely as a result of the announcement that talks… Continue reading Capital And GWR Confirm £700 Million Merger Talks

Ulster Television (UTV), saw pre-tax profits for the first six months of this year jump by an impressive 45% to £6.2 million, driven by a strong increase in advertising revenue. Revenue from television advertising met expectations from January to June 2004, growing by 16% and outperforming the ITV network as a whole, which grew by… Continue reading Impressive Profit Growth For Ulster Television