Two media companies released full year results yesterday, to differing reactions from the market. SMG announced the record pre-tax profits that analysts had anticipated, despite a year of heavy investment (see SMG Reports Record Pre-Tax Profits, Looks To Future Opportunities). However, shares ended the day at £2.40, the same as Monday’s closing price.United Business Media… Continue reading Sharewatch
Despite an initially positive reaction from the market following its financial results yesterday, stock in United Business Media (UBM) had begun to fall this morning, down by 22½p to 726p by 1:00pm. Strong profits in a fairly cautious statement pushed demand for UBM shares up in the first instance, but a mixed broker and press… Continue reading United Business Media Financial Results: Reaction
Since the 1998 launch of the first digital TV service, UK growth has exceeded expectations. Last year saw continued penetration and there are now estimated to be more than 6m digital households in the UK. The successful heavy marketing and free hardware approach was boosted by increased channel choice, including the launch of Channel 4’s… Continue reading Insight Analysis: Another Year In The Life Of Digital TV
The contents of the recent Communications White Paper began the discussion at MediaTel’s Question Time event last night with the panel reacting to culture secretary Chris Smith’s assertion that the media industry has broadly welcomed its proposals. Speaking to MediaTel last week, Smith said: “I think with the broad direction in which we are going… Continue reading Billett Lambasts White Paper As Produced By “A Bunch Of Inept Broadcasting Advisory Cronies”
United Business Media (UBM) has this morning turned in an 11.4% rise in headline profit to £342.4 million for 2000. The market reacted very positively to the results with shares up by 35½p at 765p by midday today.The 11.4% profit growth at UBM is taken before the cost of new media initiatives which ran to… Continue reading UBM Shares Surge On Strong Profit
Channel 5’s marketing and communications director Jim Hytner gave advice to the new owner of the Express newspaper, Richard Desmond, as its war with the Daily Mail came to a head this week. At MediaTel’s Media Question Time event last night, Hytner said the paper should stop worrying about its midmarket rival, the content of… Continue reading ‘Stop Worrying About Midmarket Rivals’ Hytner Advises New Express Owner
An email questionnaire undertaken for last night’s Media Question Time revealed that 70% of the media professionals who responded felt that it would be more beneficial to advertisers if ITV’s nightly news bulletin went out at 10pm rather than 11pm.On the subject of the possible consolidation between ITV giants Granada and Carlton, for which last… Continue reading Industry Thinks News At Ten, Not Eleven, Best For Advertisers, Says Survey
Scottish Media Group (SMG) reported record pre-tax profits in its preliminary full year results today. Its performance during 2000 was in line with analyst expectations, with an 18% increase in profit before tax, which reached £59m.SMG chairman, Don Cruickshank, described the year to 31 December as “a period of significant development for the group.” and… Continue reading SMG Reports Record Pre-Tax Profits, Looks To Future Opportunities
Jazz FM announced a pre-tax profit for the first time in interim results yesterday (see Jazz FM Sees First Ever Pre-Tax Profit In Interim Results). The market was unmoved, however, and shares in the radio station remained at £1.72½.WPP was boosted by a £9.15 target price set by brokers Credit Suisse First Boston. Shares jumped… Continue reading Sharewatch
Scottish Media Group (SMG) reported record pre-tax profits in its preliminary full year results today. Its performance during 2000 was in line with analyst expectations, with an 18% increase in profit before tax, which reached £59m. SMG chairman, Don Cruickshank, described the year to 31 December as “a period of significant development for the group.”… Continue reading SMG Reports Record Pre-Tax Profits As SRH Stake Increases
