Sky has set up a production branch to make films, investing £15 million in making British films over the next 2 years. Called Sky Pictures, the films will be made primarily for Sky’s film channels, and the branch will be jointly run by Elizabeth Murdoch and head of programming James Baker.The move by Sky into… Continue reading Sky Sets Up Film Production Branch
Tobacco advertising on billboards will be banned by the end of next year as part of a renewed Government drive to get people to cut down on smoking. The Government is investing £100 million to cut the number of people smoking by 1.5 million by the year 2010.As well as targeting billboard, magazine and press… Continue reading Government Announces Ban On Tobacco Advertising
Capital Radio and Emap have announced that they have entered into a joint 50:50 venture to bid for and operate local digital radio multiplexes in the London, Birmingham and Manchester areas.If the bid is successful, both parties will simulcast their existing stations, and their analogue licences will be automatically renewed for a further six to… Continue reading Emap And Capital Join Forces To Bid For Digital Licences
Flextech is understood to have been approached by CanWest Global Communications, the Canadian broadcaster, about buying out its 20% share in Scottish Media Group. CanWest already own a 29.9% in Ulster TV and thought to be keen to build a presence in the UK. The Observer has appointed Mark Honigsbaum as its new chief reporter.… Continue reading Newsline Brief
‘Being here on this island and surrounded by all these beautiful women, makes me feel very funny inside’ – Miss Liberia. As well it might, love.Over the past few months Channel 5 has used sex and sport in a bid to attract viewers, so the next logical step was to bring back the global institution… Continue reading TV Viewing Summary W/E 29/11/98
Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail and Evening Standard in London, is planning to launch a new free daily newspaper to be given away to commuters.It is expected that the paper will be launched within the next six months, following year-long preparations and a reported £8 million investment. The morning title will feature news,… Continue reading Associated To Launch Free Daily In London
It has emerged that Sky News is to bid for the Talk Radio news contract, hoping to takeover from current providers, Independent Radio News (IRN).IRN’s contract for the service runs out at the end of the year, and the new director at Talk, Kelvin MacKenzie (see Newsline) is fielding pitches from both IRN and Sky… Continue reading Sky Bids For Talk Radio News
The Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) has published a letter outlining the issues which it is to consider in the light of the BSkyB takeover bid for Manchester United Football Club. The bid was made in early September (see Newsline), and was referred to the MMC by Peter Mandelson at the end of October (see… Continue reading MMC Outlines Issues Of Concern Over BSkyB Bid
Yesterday saw the launch of Blue, a new London based magazine aimed at the inhabitants in the west of the capital.The title is a rather scaled down version of Time Out, containing guides and listings to the area, as well as features on local places, fashions and general lifestyle items.The title is £1 where sold,… Continue reading Blue Joins The Ranks
The Advertising Standards Authority’s monthly bulletin upheld complaints against BSkyB this month, criticising a magazine advertisement claiming that its service was the widest choice of TV provided by any supplier. The ASA ruled that the broadcaster had failed to justify the claim that it offered the widest choice of television, and therefore asked Sky to… Continue reading ASA Clamps Down On Broadcaster’s Advertising
