More Media Business articles

According to a report in the Independent this morning the restrictions governing radio ownership in the UK may soon be relaxed, allowing mergers between the larger groups for the first time. Following speculation that TV regulators may scrap the 20% rule, introduced in 1996 to prevent Rupert Murdoch from gaining a controlling interest in UK… Continue reading Government May Soon Relax Radio Ownership Regulations

Following months of negotiations (see ITV Close To Securing Sky Digital Carriage, Says FT), ITV has finally secured carriage for its flagship and entertainment channels on the Sky Digital platform. The conditional access agreement reached late yesterday means ITV1 will be available on channel 103 giving the Network access to Sky Digital’s 5.5 million subscribers,… Continue reading ITV Finally Agrees Satellite Carriage Terms With BSkyB

Shares in WPP rose to 686½ this morning as Lehman Bros reiterated its buy rating following an ad agency seminar yesterday. ABN AMRO reports that WPP may still see marginal improvements next year despite the ‘dull’ ad market. WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrel believes that the current climate indicates a structural/fundamental shift in the ad… Continue reading WPP Acquires Global Sportnet But Sees No Ad Upturn In 2002

Chrysalis Group’s radio business has outperformed the market in the year to 31 August 2001, with revenues rising by 18.3% to £44.0 million, according to the company’s year-end financial results released this morning. This growth compares to a more or less flat performance of the radio market as a whole over the same period. Operating… Continue reading Strong Radio Performance Aids Chrysalis Results

Capital Radio has announced a shift in its investment plans which will see a drop in funds for interactive ventures and an increase in money going to digital radio. Expected spend on digital radio is set to increase by a third, from the £3.0 million spent in 2001 to £4.0 million in the new financial… Continue reading Capital Shifts Invesment From Online To Digital

Pre-tax profits at GWR Group fell by 70.2% during the six months to 30 September 2001 to £2.8 million, the company announced this morning. The decline is clearly a result of the deteriorating advertising market that has hit virtually all media companies over recent months. GWR said that advertising revenues were down by 5.9%, but… Continue reading GWR Profits Drop 70% On Poor Advertising Market

Publishing group, Highbury House Communications, has acquired Millennium Magazines for an initial sum of £1.47 million. Millennium publishes Satellite TV Europe, which had generated revenues of £1.4 million and a pre-tax profit of £274,000 in the 11 months ended 31 October 2001. The current monthly circulation is 75,000 copies. Highbury House may make further payments… Continue reading Highbury House Acquires Millennium Magazines

ITV is now close to sealing a deal with BSkyB that will see the Network’s channels broadcast via the digital satellite platform, according to a report in today’s Financial Times. The paper reports that the year-long wrangle between the two broadcasters (see Sky Will Not Sell ITV Sport Channel To Subscribers) may be settled in… Continue reading ITV Close To Securing Sky Digital Carriage, Says FT

The FT reports this morning that the government may soon act to abolish the media ownership laws brought into place in order to prevent Rupert Murdoch from expanding his media empire to include terrestrial TV in the UK. Murdoch, who controls more than 30% of the UK newspaper market with his News International titles, was… Continue reading Government May Relax ‘Murdoch’ Ownership Regulations

WPP has announced the acquisition of US strategic research and polling consultancy Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, known for its work on Bill Clinton’s successful 1996 re-election campaign. The company had revenues of $31.4 million in 2000 and net assets of $4.3 million as at 31 December 2000. Commenting on the acquisition, Howard Paster, CEO… Continue reading WPP Back On The Acquisition Trail