Andrew Neil, former editor of the Sunday Times has confirmed today that he is putting together a bid for the Express Newspapers. Neil has raised around £300 million to try to buy the titles, despite constant denials from United News and Media that they are not for sale.Andrew Neil, speaking today on BBC Radio confirmed… Continue reading Andrew Neil Confirms Express Bid
The Independent Television Commission has issued a defensive statement regarding Virgin TV’s successful application for a judicial review of the Channel 5 decision. ITC has made it clear that this decision is based on evidence provided to the court by Virgin only, and at this stage is not based on merits of the case but… Continue reading ITC Statement On Virgin Challenge
The BBC has signed an £18 million four-year deal with the World Professional Billards and Snooker Association. The deal was accepted despite a more substantial offer from Rupert Murdoch’s BSkyB reported to be in the region of £100 million for a ten-year deal. The WPBSA decided that though the headline figure for the Sky offer… Continue reading BBC Snookers BSkyB Over Rights To Major Tournaments
Channel 5, which is expected to launch in January 1997, will hit Carlton and Granada hardest in terms of television revenues, according to a report out by Goldman Sachs. Carlton is expected to grow by just 1.5% , and Granada at 1.1% in 1997.The report predicts that Channel 5 will take revenues of £99m in… Continue reading Channel 5 Will Affect Carlton And Granada Revenues
The government’s new Broadcasting Bill, announced in the Queen’s speech this month, is expected to be delayed. It was expected to come before the House of Lords within two weeks, but is now unlikely to be introduced in parliament until the new year.The delay is believed to be due to disagreements between the Department of… Continue reading New Broadcasting Bill Delayed
The Sun newspaper has produced what it claims is its biggest ever issue, at 104 pages. Boosted by both a Rosemary West and a Xmas viewing pull-out, this effectively doubles the Sun’s pagination from its usual 50-odd pages.This year’s Christmas schedules from ITV and BBC show ITV in a big effort to improve its line-up… Continue reading Xmas Highlights Produce Biggest Ever Sun
New data released today by the British Medical Association shows that tobacco advertising hooks children aged 11-14 to smoking in far greater numbers than adults.The data compares the top ten brands advertised with those smoked by children and adults, and shows that three out of four of the most heavily advertised brands also figure in… Continue reading Tobacco Advertising Hooks Children – Ban Called For
Reed Regional Newspapers, which have been for sale since July, have been sold to the management team, backed by US based investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & co.The 129 reed titles were sold for £205 million, and will transfer over from Reed Elsevier at the end of December. Jim Brown who will be chairman and… Continue reading Reed Regionals Bought By Management
CIA’s MediaLab has examined British attitudes towards nudity in advertising and found that 76% of adults agree that nudity should only be allowed in ads if it is relevant to the product. This percentage is higher among women and the over 55s, while the 35-44 year old group is most likely to disagree with this… Continue reading Nudity Should Only Be Allowed In Some Ads
Virgin Television has won the right to challenge the ITC’s decision to award the Channel 5 licence to Channel 5 Broadcasting. A High Court judge has today ruled that the ITC’s decision was flawed by “illegality, irrationality and procedural impropriety.” The challenge will be heard in the High Court in the new year.The original shareholders… Continue reading Virgin To Challenge ITC
