More Media Business articles

Shares in UK media and communications group, Tempus, have soared this morning following reports that French advertising network, Havas Advertising, is to announce a takeover of Tempus for around £400 million (€658 million). According to a report in this morning’s Financial Times, Havas is expected to confirm the takeover tomorrow. Tempus owns UK media buying… Continue reading Tempus Shares Soar On Havas Takeover Reports

Media buying agencies Optimedia and Zenith Media are to be merged by their parent companies, Publicis and Cordiant respectively, creating the world’s fourth-largest media communications group. The resulting business, NewCo, will be UK-based and 75% owned by Publicis and 25% owned by Cordiant. The minimum option price payable for Cordiant’s 25% shareholding in NewCo is… Continue reading Optimedia And Zenith Merged By Parent Companies

Sports.com, a European internet and mobile data provider of sports content, has today announced a further $13 million (£9.3 million) in equity funding from existing investors, including SportsLine.com, Soros Private Equity Partners and IMG. It is expected that the funds will enable Sports.com to continue to implement its business plan and thereby achieve profitability. “Sports.com… Continue reading Sports.com Secures $13m Extra Funding

Two major US newspaper publishers have this week reported declining profits due to fall advertising revenues and a rise in newsprint costs, according to analysts at ABN Amro. Knight Ridder, the second largest newspaper group in the US, saw Q2 profits drop by 85%. The company, which publishes 32 daily titles including the Miami Herald… Continue reading US Newspaper Groups See Profit Falls

More than half of the UK’s internet users are willing to pay for premium content, possibly paving the way for the widespread introduction of paid -for events and information. According to a new survey by technology consultancy iSTRAT, 52% of respondents said that would be willing to pay for good quality information; 80% of these… Continue reading More Than Half Of UK Web Users Willing To Pay For Premium Content

Global marketing communications group, Cordiant, has bought 92.6% of International Business Information (IBI), a leading business communications consultancy in Japan, for Y1.3 billion (£7.5 million). IBI is based in Tokyo and has more than 100 employees. Its business deals with domestic and international clients in the areas of investor relations, public relations and corporate communications… Continue reading Cordiant Acquires Japanese Communications Consultancy

German television advertising growth outperformed the market there during the first half of the year, in stark contrast to the UK TV market, the performance of which is set to be the poorest media sector in Europe (see Insight Analysis: Ad Downturn Could Get Worse Before It Gets Better). According to ACNielsen data analysed by… Continue reading German TV Outperforms Ad Market In First Half

Future Network is to cut 140 jobs as a result of the final stages of a reorganisation of its UK business. The company has divided its UK business into three operating divisions: Games, Computing and Entertainment and through cuts in staffing levels and property overheads has reduced total fixed costs of its UK business by… Continue reading Future Network To Cut 140 Jobs In Cost-Cutting Restructure

AOL Time Warner is now very close to sealing a takeover deal for UK magazine publishing group, IPC Media, according to recent press reports. This morning’s Financial Times claims that the two groups are now negotiating a price for IPC; it is expected that it AOL Time Warner will pay around £1.2 billion for the… Continue reading AOL Time Warner Thought To Be Close To IPC Deal

Legislation to set up the new ‘super regulator’ for the media and communications industries, Ofcom (see Industry Gives Cautious Welcome To White Paper), will be introduced during this parliamentary session, it was revealed today. The Government has published the Office of Communications Bill, making it possible to set up the board for the new body… Continue reading Ofcom Legislation Given Government Go-Ahead