BSkyB has signed a five year carriage agreement with cable and satellite youth channel, Rapture Television. Rapture joins the Sky Digital line-up tomorrow, with broadcasts initially only at weekends, but increasing to seven days a week from February next year.The agreement increases Rapture’s reach by 1.8 million homes; the channel now reaches six million homes… Continue reading Sky Digital Secures New Channel Carriage Deals
The ITV Network took a further step toward what many see as its inevitable consolidation today, as Carlton Communications and United News & Media (UNM) announced the terms of a £7.8 billion merger. The new group will become the largest commercial broadcaster in the country and by far the largest player in the ITV Network.Between… Continue reading Media Merger May Hit Regulatory Obstacles
IPC Magazines has promoted Caroline Ward to the position of managing director at IPC tx, the group’s TV weeklies division. Ward, who is currently publishing director of IPC tx, replaces Sly Bailey who became group chief executive earlier in the year following the retirement of Mike Matthew (see Matthew Retires As Chief Executive Of IPC… Continue reading IPC Promotes Ward To IPC tx Managing Director
Shares in Carlton Communications and United News & Media climbed as the two group’s announced plan to merge (see Carlton And United News & Media Set For £7.8bn Merger). United jumped 37˝p to close at 745˝p; Carlton rose 3žp to 554źp.Bristol United Press saw its share prices leap 202˝p to 722˝p as the Daily Mail… Continue reading Sharewatch
The UK’s largest commercial television broadcasting group is set to be created by the merger of two of the ITV Network’s heavyweight companies, Carlton Communications and United News & Media (UNM). The £7.8 billion deal will create a company with the scale to compete with the two groups’ ITV rival, Granada Media Group.It is expected… Continue reading Carlton And United News & Media Set For £7.8bn Merger
Revenue Total terrestrial television revenue for October 1999 (including GMTV) came in at £307.6 million, according to agency estimates. The ITV Network saw a year on year increase of 12.2%; Channel 4’s revenue was up 8.4% and Channel 5’s grew by 12.5%. Revenue for GMTV dropped back year on year this month, by 2.7%. Total… Continue reading TV Market Round-Up – October 1999
The Telegraph Group has established a separate company to house its new media division. Hollinger Telegraph New Media will develop the group’s online activities and expand its e-commerce opportunities.The new company, which has been in the pipeline for months (see Newsline Brief) will be headed by Hugo Drayton, currently marketing director and director of new… Continue reading Telegraph Forms New Media Group
Channel 5 and Bass have struck a deal to fund, produce and screen a series of 20 short films. Using the Bass’ Hooch brand the mini-movies are to be screened from this Sunday until millennium eve.Called “Sharp Shots” each film focuses on a strong role model who is passionate about their life and job and… Continue reading Channel 5 and Hooch Launch Millennium Movies
The Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT) has this morning made a £121.5 million takeover bid for regional newspaper publisher Bristol United Press (BUP). The offer values BUP at 742˝p per share and has pushed the group’s shares up by an enormous 202˝p (39%) to 722˝p at 1:00pm today. BUP stock closed yesterday at just… Continue reading Daily Mail Makes £122m Agreed Offer For Bristol United Press
Planet on Sunday will relaunch this week, three years after it closed down within a week of publication. Published by New Millennium Newspapers, the national paper with a strong bias towards environmental issues will go on sale this Sunday under the slogan: A New Paper for a New Millennium.The original Planet on Sunday launched in… Continue reading Planet On Sunday Set To Relaunch
