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The list of bidders for Trinity Mirror’s Irish newspapers has been reduced to four, with Independent News & Media sidelined, according to press reports today. Last month, IN&M made an offer for eight of the titles, which were put up for sale in July (see Trinity Mirror Review Sheds NI Titles, Retains Nationals). The publishing… Continue reading Suitors Line Up For Trinity’s Irish Titles

BSkyB’s new deal with the Premier League could be in jeopardy after the European Commission said that it had serious reservations about the way that the football rights had been distributed. In August, the broadcaster agreed to pay £1.024 billion for all four packages of live Premiership rights available for three seasons from 2004-05 onwards… Continue reading EU Decries Sky’s Football ‘Monopoly’

Seven-in-ten advertising leaders reckon that the industry is recovering but only a small proportion foresee marked growth in the near future, according to a recent survey from the American Advertising Federation (AAF). The poll of prominent figures in the US advertising industry found that a clear majority thought that a revival was underway. However, only… Continue reading US Ad Chiefs Cautious On Recovery Prospects

BSkyB has announced that it has hit its target of seven million pay-TV subscribers three months earlier than foreseen. On the fifth anniversary of the Sky Digital service (see BSkyB Set To Celebrate Seven Million Subscribers), Rupert Murdoch’s satellite broadcaster said that as of September 30 it has 7,015,000 subscribers in the UK and Ireland.… Continue reading BSkyB Reaches Subscriber Target Ahead Of Schedule

News that Chris Tarrant is to leave Capital Radio does not seem to have had an undue effect on the station’s stock with City fears calmed by the prospective arrival of Johnny Vaughan to present the 95.8 FM breakfast show (see Capital Confirms Tarrant Is To Leave Breakfast Show). Tarrant has been regarded as a… Continue reading Capital Holds Up Despite DJ Departure

Weak local markets and waning optimism regarding the extent of the recovery have induced Merrill Lynch to lower its advertising predictions for 2003 and 2004. Newspaper advertising has not bounced back as quickly as hoped and radio revenue forecasts have also been cut to reflect shifting demand. At the start of the year, Merrill analysts… Continue reading Top Broker Trims Advertising Forecasts, Blames Local Ads

This Wednesday marks the fifth anniversary of Sky Digital and BSkyB is expected to announce that it is has reached the landmark figure of seven million subscribers. The satellite broadcaster had earmarked the end of 2003 as the point at which the target should be achieved. However, 133,000 new subscribers were added in the three… Continue reading BSkyB Set To Celebrate Seven Million Subscribers

Capital Radio has confirmed that Chris Tarrant is to leave his job as presenter of the group’s flagship weekday breakfast show after seventeen years. Tarrant’s departure will come as little surprise to some in the industry as his current contract expires in December. He will be replaced by former Big Breakfast presenter, Johnnny Vaughan, who… Continue reading Capital Confirms Tarrant Is To Leave Breakfast Show

The outlook is improving for the majority of communications agencies which are now more optimistic about the business climate than they were three months ago, according to new research published today. The first Agency Barometer survey from the recently established Communications Agencies Federation shows that almost a third of agencies reported that communications budgets committed… Continue reading Outlook Improves For Communications Agencies

UK cable operator NTL is to proceed with a $1 billion rights issue as it seeks to reduce its debt burden and generate new business in the UK. The Sunday Times reports that the company has received the backing of two major shareholders, WR Huff Asset Management and Franklin Mutual Advisors, and hopes to save… Continue reading Rights Issue Underway At NTL