The long-drawn-out saga over the future of the media buying agency Media Business Group has come nearer to a conclusion when a US company launched an agreed takeover bid worth nearly £28 million.Grey Advertising is set to buy the group – known as TMBG for short – which buys newspaper advertising space and TV airtime… Continue reading Media Business In £28 Million Takeover Deal
Quality MarketThe total circulation across the broadsheet market in October 1998 was down by 3.6%, currently standing at 5,635,335. Only two of the quality titles increased their circulation. The Financial Times showed a healthy rise of 11.8% in its circulation, taking it up to 361,699, and The Sunday Times’ circulation increased by 0.7%. The Independent… Continue reading National Newspaper ABC Round-Up – October 1998
Underlying inflation (excluding mortage payments and interest rates) hit the Government’s 2.5% target for the third month in succession in October, according to official data released by the Office for National Statistics this morning.At the same time headline inflation – which includes mortgage interest repayments – rose 0.1% on the month, while the year-on-year rate… Continue reading Inflation Steady For Third Month
The Independent Television Commission (ITC) is to meet later this week to determine the licence payments which the ITV franchises will have to pay the Treasury in order to retain their licences to broadcast. It is expected that the Commission will decide that, in light of increased competition from cable and satellite multichannel television, the… Continue reading ITV Companies May See Licence Payment Reductions From ITC
The Radio Authority is to pre-advertise another radio licence, this time for the FM waveband in Cornwall, for an eight year period from 3 April 2000. The present licence, currently held by Pirate FM, is due to expire on 2 April 2000. Emap’s music title Smash Hits has appointed a new editor. John McKie takes… Continue reading Newsline Brief
Consumer and business publisher Emap has bucked the economic gloom by posting a big jump in profits today.The group, which also has interests in radio and exhibition organising, made a profit of £66.4 million before tax during the six months to 30 September, compared with £47.4 million last year. Turnover was up at £410.2 million… Continue reading EMAP Writes Up Bigger Profits
BSkyB has complained to the Independent Television Commission (ITC) about the current ITV ads which are promoting digital terrestrial television (DTT). The advertisements illustrate how DTT is ‘simpler’ than Sky Digital to install by showing a satellite dish logo with a cross through it alongside the voice-over which says “dish-free digital”.BSkyB, which launched its Sky… Continue reading BSkyB Takes Issue With ITV Digital Ads
IPC Magazines is to have its first masthead programme screened on the cable channel Living, starting from 23 November. The programme is in conjunction with Practical Parenting, and will consist of a series of twelve five minute programmes.Jayne Marsden, editor in chief at Practical Parenting, commented on the development: “This is a fantastic opportunity for… Continue reading Practical Parenting On Television
The Radio Authority has announced the outcome of the public interest test into the proposed acquisition of Choice FM Birmingham by Chrysalis Group and of Kent and Sussex Radio Ltd by DMG Radio. The Authority’s determination in both cases is that the acquisition is not expected to operate against the public interest.In the case of… Continue reading Radio Authority Public Interest Tests
The first digital terrestrial television (DTT) service was launched by ONdigital yesterday, the company joint-owned by ITV groups Carlton Communications and Granada. The service was modestly unveiled by the illumination of its Crystal Palace transmitter in London.A spokesman for ONdigital described the launch as ‘brilliant’ this afternoon saying a Radio Rentals shop sold twenty set-top… Continue reading ONdigital Takes To The Air
