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Shares in satellite broadcaster BSkyB were shaken yesterday by speculation that european media giant Vivendi Universal was seeking to sell its 23% stake in the company to institutional investors. Shares began the day’s trading at £7.16½, but as the speculation appeared across the media, shares dipped, dropping below the £7 mark by late morning. By… Continue reading Sky Shares Shaken By Vivendi Stake Sale Speculation

Cable operator Telewest Communications released its first quarter results this morning which fell in line with expectations. Pre-tax losses grew from £137 million to £209 million, whilst operating profits rose by 34% to £321 million. These figures fall in line with analysts’ predictions and reflected aquisitions and merger activity initiated by Telewest in the past… Continue reading Telewest Losses Belie Success In Q1 Results

Carlton Communications and BT have held discussions about a possible media alliance, according to a report in the Financial Times newspaper. It says that BT would benefit from Carlton’s content as one of the two main ITV companies and Carlton in turn would be able to gain access to BT’s broadband networks. An alliance could… Continue reading BT And Carlton Reported To Be In Alliance Talks

Global marketing group, Cordiant Communications, is to merge its European subsidiary Scholz & Friends Group with Germany’s United Visions Entertainment (UVE). Scholz is an advertising and integrated communications network with offices in 14 countries across Europe. UVE is listed on the German Neuer Markt and specialises in the production of live entertainment programs for television… Continue reading Cordiant Creates German Advertising And Entertainment Agency

Italian newspaper publisher Class Editori has reported a 34% increase in advertising revenue in its first quarter financial results. However, despite the growth, this shows that the market has deteriorated in March as growth in the first two months of the year was 45%. The outlook for Q2 has become poorer, according to analysts at… Continue reading Class Editori Results Are Below Market Consensus

Outdoor company JC Decaux has announced its intention to float on the French stock market next month, in order to fund future growth and acquisitions. The share offering is expected to value the company at between €3.8 and €4.4 billion (£2.3 – £2.6 billion). Proceeds from the IPO, in which 20-22% of JC Decaux’s enlarged… Continue reading JC Decaux To Fund Growth With IPO On French Stock Market

Independent News & Media (INM), owner of the UK’s Independent newspaper, today said that the UK market is performing well despite tough local market conditions. Speaking at the company’s annual meeting today, executive chairman Sir Anthony O’Reilly said that cost control continues to be a major focus in all of the group’s operations. O’Reilly said… Continue reading Independent To Maintain Cost Control

IPC has surpassed the Advertising Association’s revised forecast of 2.1% growth in consumer magazine advertising revenue by revealing year on year growth of 6.9% for the last two quarters. In what chief executive Sly Bailey described as a “Solid set of interim results”, net profit before tax for the half year to March 2001 was… Continue reading IPC Surpasses Ad Revenue Expectations With 6.9% Growth

French marketing and communications group Publicis is buying two New York PR agencies – Fabianne Gershon Associates and Hudson Stone Group – for an undisclosed sum. Fabianne Gershon handles corporate PR, whilst Hudson Stone offers an investor relations service. Analysts say that the acquisitions will help boost Publicis’ exposure to marketing services, where it is… Continue reading Publicis Buys New York PR Firms

European cable group UPC has received a â‚Ź1.0 billion cash injection from US media group Liberty Media. Nevertheless, the group has still admitted to a further â‚Ź1.0 billion shortfall in necessary funding. UPC’s parent company, UnitedGlobalCom, is currently in the latter stages of merging with Liberty Media. The deal is two to three months from… Continue reading UPC Gets £1.0bn Cash Injection, But Needs More