More Uk articles

Rupert Murdoch is to remove some of the core assets from his digital group, Sky Global, in order to pave the way for a merger with US satellite operator DirecTV, according to a report in the Financial Times this morning. Murdoch is understood to be slimming down Sky Global’s assets in order to reduce the… Continue reading Murdoch Slims Sky Global To Seal DirecTV Deal

Goldman Sachs has downgraded its 2001 and 2002 earnings forecasts for Pearson, owner of the Financial Times, due to concerns about the retracting advertising advertising market, according to reports. The broker has reduced Pearson’s earnings per share (EPS) estimates for this year from 47.8p to 40.0p and for 2002 to 58.3 pence from 71.1p. Particularly… Continue reading Goldman Sachs Downgrades Pearson Figures

Media giants WPP and Gannett have both been making reassuring noises this week designed, no doubt, to allay investors’ fears in these difficult economic times. According to the Guardian, WPP chief executive Martin Sorrell met with analysts last week following the news that profit warnings from other US ad companies had started a run on… Continue reading WPP And Gannett Speak Out To Reassure Investors

Reports this morning suggest that talks between AOL Time Warner and IPC (see AOL Time Warner May Bid For IPC) have fallen through. The valuation of the company is thought to have been the reason for the breakdown as IPC and its largest shareholder, Cinven, deemed the offer price, of between $1.2 billion and $1.5… Continue reading AOL Time Warner Scraps Talks With IPC

Granada and Carlton Communications have hit a stumbling block in plans to bring their pay-TV businesses under the umbrella ITV brand (see Granada And Carlton Bring ONdigital Under ITV Brand), following discussions with some of the Network’s smaller franchise holders. Although all the parties involved have so far declined to comment on the talks, press… Continue reading Granada And Carlton Meet Opposition To ITV Brand Plans, Say Reports

French outdoor media company JC Decaux has delayed its IPO on the French stock market (see JC Decaux To Fund Growth With IPO On French Stock Market) following media scepticism and concerns over investor demand. The announcement follows a week of uncertainty in the French advertising industry as share prices fell following profit warnings from… Continue reading JC Decaux Cuts Price Of IPO

Two US publishing groups – Dow Jones and Knight Ridder – have announced that they are to make a number of job cuts in order to meet financial targets. Knight Ridder, the second largest newspaper group in the US, is to axe 1,700 jobs, costing the group $75 million in redundancy pay-outs. Late last year,… Continue reading US Newspaper Groups Cut More Jobs

IPC Media has announced a series of new appointments, including the promotion of former Nova publisher, Elaine Foran, to director of the newly created central international and fashion sales group.In the new role, Foran, reporting to IPC advertising MD, Georgina Crace, will manage sales strategy and client and editorial liaison across all IPC titles including… Continue reading Management Shake Up At IPC

Cable and Wireless suffered the greatest loss among media stock yesterday, with shares sliding 6.58% to finish at £4.19, a loss of 29.5p on the previous day.Maiden also faired badly in yesterday’s market, slumping 4.66% to close at £4.60, a loss of 22.5pRTL led the field among media groups yesterday, climbing 9.48% to finish at… Continue reading Sharewatch

ProgrammesThe real soap operas, EastEnders and Coronation Street dominated the top ratings as usual during May, with ITV’s flagship production stealing back dominance following the success of the Phil Mitchell storyline on the other side. Coronation Street gained the top spot for three out of the four weeks, with top audiences ranging between 13 and… Continue reading TV Viewing Round-Up – May 2001