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In a widely anticipated move, Barry Diller has resigned as co-chief executive of Vivendi Universal Entertainment and will turn his full attention to the USA Interactive business. This development has raised speculation that Vivendi is planning to sell off its entertainment unit which includes film studios, theme parks and cable networks (see Bidders Move On… Continue reading Diller Quits Post At VUE

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation has announced plans to issue a bond exchangeable for shares in its UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB. The company maintained that the $1.35 billion issue was necessary for “general corporate purposes” but the move has rekindled speculation that Murdoch is raising funds in preparation for a bid for US satellite company DirecTV.… Continue reading News Corp To Raise $1.35 Billion By Remortgaging Sky Stake

One in five Europeans banks online, and that number will double to 130 million in 2007, according to a new report from Forrester Research. The study suggests that some 60 million European surfers make use of internet banking services with Scandanavian and Dutch internet users most likely to pursue this activity. This backs up the… Continue reading Online Banking Gaining In Popularity

JCDecaux, one of the world’s leading outdoor advertising companies, has today announced strong end of year results which were achieved in spite of challenging market conditions. The group saw EBITDA rise by 7.4% to €405.3 million and net income more than doubled from €10.2 million in 2001 to €26 million last year. These results reflected… Continue reading JCDecaux Exceeds Expectations In 2002

ITV advertising revenues at Granada are expected to be flat year on year in the company’s first half, which covers the six months to March. The comparisons are made tougher by the fact that the relatively lucrative Easter weekend fell into the first half in 2002, but will be in the second half this year.… Continue reading Granada Sees ITV Adspend Up 3-5% In April

Regional newspaper publisher, Johnston Press, says that it has made a satisfactory start to 2003, although the outlook remains ‘cloudy’ as a result of wider geo-political events. The group’s year-end financial results show pre-tax profit up by 32.1% to £97.2 million and operating profit up 44.7% at £129.5 million in 2002. Johnston says that advertising… Continue reading Johnston Press Remains ‘Acquisitive’ As Profits Rise

The Advertising Association (AA) has set up an industry task-force to examine the feasibility of creating a self-regulatory system for broadcast advertising. The rules governing television and radio advertising are likely to be relaxed following the creation of Ofcom later this year. However, Lord Currie, chairman of the new super-regulator, has emphasised that the responsibility… Continue reading AA Launches Task Force To Drive Self-Regulation

Advertising and public relations firm, Chime Communications, saw its pre-tax profits fall by 57% in 2002, from £16.3 million in 2001 to £7.0 million this time. Lord Bell, Chime’s chairman, described 2002 as a ‘very poor year’, with operating profits down by 50%. “Our market has been in reverse for 18 months and the effect… Continue reading Chime Communications Profits Plummet In ‘Very Poor’ 2002

The Daily Mail & General Trust has expressed satisfaction with turnover in the first half of its current financial year but warned that the political and economic climate was fostering uncertainty in some of its markets. In a trading statement issued today, DMGT said that growth of 2.4% was achieved in the five months to… Continue reading DMGT Sends Out Mixed Messages In Trading Update

Patricia Hodgson, chief executive of the ITC, has called on the Government to conduct an in-depth review of the ownership structure at ITN before allowing Carlton and Granada to increase their stake in the news provider. The two ITV partners are currently calling for an amendment to the Communications Bill to allow them to take… Continue reading Hodgson Calls For Review Of Ownership At ITN