Cable and telephony company, NTL, has acquired Cablelink, Ireland’s largest cable television provider, for I£535 million (£445 million). The acquisition is NTL’s first broadband venture outside the UK, will make NTL the largest cable and telephony provider in the United Kingdom and Ireland.With an existing customer base of over 360,000 subscribers, Cablelink currently has an… Continue reading NTL Acquires Irish CableLink For £445m
Future Publishing has acquired US magazine and internet publisher, Imagine Media. The combined business will be the world’s largest computing and games magazine and internet publisher. Metro Networks founder and managing director, Ben Budworth, has left the company. For the immediate future, Tim Vestey, chairman, will assume Budworth’s role at the company. Metro Networks provides… Continue reading Newsline Brief
Emap Radio has promoted Jon Mansfield, business development director of Kiss FM, to the new post of business development director for all of its 18 UK stations. Mansfeild will now oversee the group’s three main brands – Magic, Big City and Kiss FM.Dee Ford, managing director at Emap Radio says: “John has developed a hugely… Continue reading Emap Widens Role Of Kiss FM Director
Internet service provider America Online (AOL) has confirmed reports that it is considering offering internet access through a freephone number. The ISP is testing new pricing schemes amongst its UK customers, and possible pricing plans include 0800 access and a flat fee of £14.99 a month.The move could significantly cut down the amount net surfers… Continue reading AOL May Offer Internet Access Through Freephone Number
Switch Digital, the consortium formed by Talk Radio, Virgin Radio , Clear Channel and Castle Transmission (see Newsline), has announced plans to apply for the London digital radio multiplex. The consortium this morning told a press conference that research of 1000 people in London showed that consumer benefit from the new digital radio services is… Continue reading Switch Digital Submits Bid For London Digital Radio Licence
BSkyB’s aggressive digital television drive, unveiled yesterday, was received very warmly by the City despite the fact that it will cost the satellite broadcaster in the region of £315 million and send it into the red.Shares in Sky soared up 65˝p following the news that it is to offer customers free set-top boxes and reduced… Continue reading Sharewatch
Following Cable & Wireless Communication’s announcement that it is to begin commercial trials of its digital television service on 1 July in Manchester and London (see Newsline), the company has unveiled details of its forthcoming digital services. It will include access to 100 interactive sites, an electronic programme guide (EPG) and an expanded Near-Video-On-Demand service,… Continue reading Cable & Wireless Communications Rolls Out Digital TV Offerings
Mirror Group-owned Century Newspapers is launching Belfast’s first ever weekly newspaper. The first edition of the Belfast News is published today and incorporates a 64-page package.Century already publishes the free monthly paper, Belfast News Letter. The Belfast News will have a cover price of 50p but will be delivered free to households that have been… Continue reading Mirror Group Launches First Belfast Weekly Newspaper
The battle between BSkyB and ONdigital to secure digital television (DTV) customers has been taken a step further today with the announcement of set-top box subsidies from both broadcasters.Whilst ONdigital has said that it will offer customers a ‘free’ set-top box (STB) unit when they buy a new £200 TV set, Sky has stolen the… Continue reading Digital TV War Intensifies
This morning’s announcement by BSkyB that it intends to offer digital satellite television customers free set-top boxes and reduced cost BT telephone calls (see Digital TV War Intensifies) has been described by rival digital terrestrial broadcaster, ONdigital, as “great news for the digital TV market.”Sky’s offer comes just as ONdigital unveils its planned promotion of… Continue reading ONdigital May Develop New DTV Offer To Compete With BSkyB
