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Influential Labour peer, Lord Puttnam, is believed to have warned the Government that he intends to lead a rebellion of peers opposed to the liberalisation of the cross-media ownership regulations. It is understood that in a speech during the second reading of the Communications Bill in the House of Lords, Puttnam said the Bill contained… Continue reading Puttnam To Lead Media Ownership Rebellion

The BBC looks set to take its dispute with BSkyB over a satellite broadcasting deal to the regulators after talks between the two broadcasting giants collapsed last week. BBC recently announced its intention to withdraw from the BSkyB service to begin broadcasting to Sky’s 6.6 million viewers from a different satellite, in a move that… Continue reading BBC And BSkyB Set To Take Digital Disagreement To ITC

Carlton Communications chairman, Michael Green, says that despite some signs of advertising improvement in the first quarter of the year, the group still expects the following months to be challenging. Addressing the company’s AGM this morning, Green said that ITV1’s ad revenues for the first half of the financial year are expected to be more… Continue reading Carlton Sees Challenging H1 For ITV Ad Revenues

Underlying consumer magazine advertising revenues at EMAP rose by 6% in the year to 31 March, whilst radio revenues fell by 2% on the same basis, according to a trading statement issued by the group this morning. EMAP says that in its consumer magazine division, revenues were strong at heat, MaxPower, Kerrang!, New Woman, Empire… Continue reading EMAP Cautious As 2002 Revenues Rise 2%

The impact of the Iraqi war on US advertising is being exaggerated and overall losses could be as low as $100 million, according to Jack Myers Report. The implications of war for the economy are not clear cut (see INSIGHTanalysis: War And The Ad Economy) but it is estimated that $130 to $150 million worth… Continue reading Effect Of War On Ad Revenues Is Overstated, Says Myers

Charles Allen, the Granada chairman, is coming under mounting pressure to renounce his rolling two-year contract, which entitles him to a £2 million payout if and when he decides to leave the company. A report in the Sunday Times claims that Schroders and Morley, which own almost 10% of Granada, want to scrap a clause… Continue reading Granada Chairman Set To Give Up Walk-Out Clause

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation is preparing to make a bid for DirecTV, the largest US satellite operator, according to reports emanating from Wall Street. The Observer claims that Murdoch is tieing up loose ends ahead of $7 billion offer for the broadcaster that would represent the media mogul’s first foray into the American satellite market.… Continue reading Murdoch Set To Swoop For DirecTV

The BBC will meet with BSkyB today in an attempt to negotiate the cost of keeping its channels listed in their current position on the satellite broadcaster’s electronic programme guide. Last week the BBC announced its intention to withdraw from the BSkyB service to begin broadcasting to Sky homes from a different satellite, in a… Continue reading BBC Seeks Satellite Listings Agreement With Sky

UK magazine group, Highbury House, has this morning confirmed the acquisition of Front publisher, Cabal Communications, for up to £10 million (see Highbury House To Buy Cabal Comms, As Profits Rise 9%). As announced earlier this week, at the time of Highbury’s financial results, the group will pay £8.0 million upfront in cash and shares,… Continue reading Highbury House Confirms Cabal Acquisition

BSkyB has signed a new, five year, £600 million credit facility which is being used to cancel its existing £750 million facility, the group said today. The satellite broadcaster says that total available facilities are now valued at £800 million. This will reduce to £600 million from June 2004, in line with the anticipated reduced… Continue reading BSkyB Signs New