IPC is rumoured to be about to take over rival publisher Gruner and Jahr. A deal with German owners of G&J, Bertelsmann, is said to be close to completion, and an announcement could appear within days.IPC announced a revamp last month, changing its name to IPC Media and jumping on the “branding” bandwagon (see Bailey… Continue reading IPC Eyes Gruner and Jahr For Possible Takeover
A new alliance has been formed to bid for regional digital radio multiplex licences as they are rolled out across the UK. GWR Group, the Wireless Group and Scottish Radio Holdings are to team up as the Digital Radio Group.The Digital Radio Group is set to bid for licences for the North East, advertised in… Continue reading Former Rivals Team Up For Next Round Of Digital Multiplex Bids
The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld complaints against Ministry magazine over a direct mailing bearing the caption “Free Drugs”. Complainants, including one from the Glasgow Association of Family Support Group, said that the mailing condoned drug-taking and gave the impression that people who sent for the mag would receive free drugs.In its defence the clubbing… Continue reading ASA Slams Ministry Magazine For “Free Drugs” Mailing
Following the successful flotation of Granada Media (see Granada Media Begins Conditional Trading), the two possible targets for a takeover by the company, Carlton and United News & Media (see ITC Says Proposed Mergers Pass Public Interest Test), rose in price. Carlton ended up 1p at £8.13 while United ended up 14½p at £9.18½. Granada… Continue reading Sharewatch
The huge influx of dotcom advertising to both on- and offline media over that last couple of years has been well documented. The necessity for these new internet companies to build up their brands quickly and effectively from scratch, has seen huge marketing budgets set aside for campaigns covering the full range of media. Television… Continue reading Feature: Dotcom Boom Drives Up Media Inflation
The underlying rate of inflation rose to 2.2% last month, according to official figures. The key index, used by the Bank of England to set interest rates, which excludes mortgage payments, rose from 2.0% in May to 2.2% in June, but is still well below the Government’s target rate of 2.5%. The increase is seen… Continue reading Inflation Climbs To 2.2%
Granada has announced the offer price and allocations for the flotation of its media interests as Granada Media plc (see Granada Unveils Plans For Media Arm Flotation). Conditional trading began today at 8am, with shares offered at £5.15 per ordinary share.Charles Allen, chairman of Granada Media, said, “Today’s listing on the London Stock Exchange firmly… Continue reading Granada Media Begins Conditional Trading
By the end of 2000, television sets are set to overtake PC’s as gateways to the internet, according to Pace Microtechnology. The manufacturer of set-top box technology required to receive satellite and cable television, said that Britain was the world’s fastest-growing market for interactive and digital services.The company, which makes boxes for BSkyB, ONdigital, Telewest,… Continue reading ‘Digital Gateways’ Set To Lead The Race For Net Subscribers
ONdigital saw a 15% increase in its subscriber base in the three months to the end of June. The digital terrestrial television platform said today that it had 774,000 customers and was on target to reach one million by the end of the year.The group, which is joint-owned by Granada and Carlton Communications, also revealed… Continue reading ONdigital Adds 15% To Subscriber Base, Reveals Details Of ONnet
The possibility that BSkyB is to take full control of Open has not inspired confidence in investors (see BSkyB Seeks Control Of Open). Shares in BSkyB dropped again yesterday, by 32p to £12.23.Granada fell 4p to £6.30 yesterday as the market waited for the overnight pricing of Granada Media shares. Conditional dealing in the shares… Continue reading Sharewatch
