Press reports this morning suggest that Rupert Murdoch is considering a takeover of Germany’s largest commercial TV broadcaster Kirch Gruppe. The FT reports that sources close to Murdoch claim he is keen on making the deal, exploiting the ‘put’ option in his contract with Kirch (see BSkyB To Hold Off Sale Of Kirch Stake, Say… Continue reading Murdoch Rumoured To Be Interested In Kirch Takeover
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In its pre-close trading statement, released this morning, European TV group RTL announced that full year earnings were expected to be some 35-40% lower than 2000 totals, due to the increasing deterioration in the European advertising market. Since the group announced interim results in September (see RTL Postpones Float As Results Are Hit By Ad… Continue reading RTL Statement Signals Further Decline In European Ad Market
Anglo-Dutch publishing group, Reed Elsevier, today restated that it is on track to deliver double digital adjusted earnings per share growth this year, despite the deterioration in global economic conditions. Business to business publishing, particularly in the technology sectors, has been badly affected by the economic downturn; the Science & Medical, Legal and Education markets… Continue reading Reed Elsevier On Target For Double-Digit Earnings, Despite Tough B2B Market
UK advertising and public relations group, Chime Communications, has this morning restated its expectation that the advertising market conditions will not improve until well into 2002, adding that trading in the second half of this year will be broadly in line with the same period last year. Chime described the performance of its advertising businesses… Continue reading No Upturn Until 2002 Says Chime, But Double-Digit Earnings Expected
ITV Digital’s future is likely to involve partnerships, according to Carlton Communications chief executive Gerry Murphy, but to what extent they will be with rival BSkyB is still not clear. At the release of Carlton’s full year results yesterday (see Carlton Losses Mount As More Jobs Go), Murphy spoke of the Government’s digital action plan… Continue reading ITV Digital Looks To Future Partnerships
Regional newspaper publisher, Johnston Press, has announced the purchase of Days Out UK, a travel database and guidebook publishing company. Days Out manages a database of UK visitor attractions and special events which will provide a valuable complement to Johnston’s regional newspaper and on-line publishing activities, the company says. Its principal publication is Days Out… Continue reading Johnston Press Acquires Events Database Company
Associated New Media (ANM), the new media arm of Associated Newspapers (ANL) launches its second attempt at a women’s web offering on 6 January. Initially meant as a relaunch of charlottestreet.com,femail.co.ukhas emerged with barely a trace of its forebear and is billed as a “2nd generation women’s web site”. The generation the site is aiming… Continue reading Associated New Media Readies For Launch Of New Women’s Website
Carlton Communications revealed a fall of 39% in core profits in its preliminary year end results, released today. Unsurprisingly the fall in advertising revenue was the prime reason for the slump although the burden of ITV Digital continues to weigh heavy on Carlton’s balance sheet. Around 100 hundred jobs are expected to go at Carlton,… Continue reading Carlton Losses Mount As More Jobs Go
In a pre-conference trading statement today, Cordiant Communications revealed that underlying profits were likely to decline by around 9% for the full year, compared to previous expectations of 5% (see Shares Slump As Cordiant Issues Profits Warning). The group says that market conditions remain “exceptionally difficult” and that the acceleration of decline in the second… Continue reading Cordiant Makes Further Jobs Cuts As 2001 Revenue Predictions Fall Further
Aegis Group have announced the acquisition of Research Fact, a Japanese market research company for an initial consideration of £1 million. There is also deferred cash consideration, subject to performance criteria, payable over the next three years. Research Fact had revenues of approximately £3.5 million during the year ended 30 June 2001. This acquisition extends… Continue reading Aegis Extends Interests In Japan
