United News & Media today made a move towards strengthening its B2B portfolio with the acquisition of Healthcare Data. An information services provider for the health industry, the deal, worth £6 million, will allow the group to expand its current health sector titles, which include Pulse and Chemist & Druggist.The group announced its intention to… Continue reading United News & Media Strengthens B2B Portfolio
Pearson stock went ex-rights yesterday, a fact reflected in the price drop of £2.50. The £1.7bn rights issue is to finance the acquisition of NCS (see Pearson Buys NCS, Reports Pre-Tax Profits Of £123m). After recalculation, the underlying stock was only down 35p at £17.86, while the nil paid shares were quoted at £7.15.Bright Station… Continue reading Sharewatch
The Financial Times Group has integrated the advertisement sales of its internet businesses with its established newspaper and magazine teams. Two new merged sales operations have been formed, the first incorporating the Financial Times newspaper with FT.com, and the second merging the group’s personal finance products.David Walsh, ad director for the Financial Times, will be… Continue reading FT Group Merges On- And Offline Ad Sales
The online travel industry is expected to be worth $25.2 billion by 2003, with growth rates outstripping other e-retail industries. By the end of this year the sector will be valued at $12.4 billion, according to research by eMarketer. Despite the fast growth and suitability of the internet for searching for a buying travel tickets,… Continue reading Online Travel Worth $25bn By 2003
Growth in the application service provider (ASP) sector is set to be worth $3.6 billion in the US by the end of 2000, up from just $1 billion a year earlier. The sector will then growth to a value of $25.3 billion by 2004, according to Dataquest. The European and Asian ASP marketsÂÂ’ growth-rates faster… Continue reading European ASP Market Catches US
High street newsagent chain WHSmith is trialling M-cast, a screen-based system for in-store promotion, in one of its London Metro stores. The system, developed by Australian company Info-Onscreen, allows stores to target consumers with offers and promotions at the point of purchase.The system uses screens placed around the store. These can either be programmed to… Continue reading WHSmith Trials In Store Screen Advertising
The Guardian Media Group has agreed to sell its remaining interest in television production company, GMG Endemol, to Telefonica. The deal, announced on Newsline yesterday (see Guardian To Sell Television Interests), will allow the company to concentrate on its newspaper, radio and internet assets.Bob Phillis, chief executive of GMG, said: “Major alliances in the US,… Continue reading GMG Confirms Sale Of Endemol
NTL reported losses of $616.5m (£410.3m) in its second quarter results today, an increase of 77% compared to the same period in 1999. However revenues have increased year-on-year to more than $3.25bn (£2.16bn) over the three-month period to the end of June, partly thanks to the acquisition of Cable & Wireless (CWC) (see Government Clears… Continue reading NTL Reports Growing Losses Despite Digital Take-Up
If you’ve ever wondered why the BBC has had to launch a national campaign to find new talent, look no further than Sky’s autumn schedule to find out where all the old talent went. Sky does not reveal how its budget compares with the BBC’s £189 million, (see BBC To Spend £189 Million On Autumn… Continue reading Terrestrial Stars Go To Sky For Autumn
Scottish Media Group has announced the resignation of its group finance director, Gary Hughes, who is to take up the same position at Emap at the end of September. George Watt, currently financial controller and treasurer, will temporarily replace him with immediate effect.Hughes had been part of the group since 1996 and had followed its… Continue reading Scottish Media Group Loses Finance Director To Emap
