Pearson Television has today agreed to merge with CLT-UFA in a deal which will see the creation of Europe’s largest “free-to-air” TV company, with annual revenues of e4 billion.Pearson TV, the independent international production company of Pearson Plc, is responsible for programmes such as Baywatch and The Bill. CLT-UFA is co-controlled by German giant, Bertelsmann,… Continue reading Pearson In Merger Deal To Create European TV Giant
The news that entertainment channel TNT is to cease broadcasting from 30 June, to be replaced by Turner Classic Movies (TCM), is part of a long-term strategy by Turner Broadcasting, which runs both channels. The company has decided to concentrate on its strengths, which are described as classic films and cartoons.Mick Buckley, managing director of… Continue reading Turner To Focus On Programming Strengths
Turner Broadcasting will launch a new cartoon channel called Boomerang on 27 May. Appearing on Sky Digital, the channel will show classic cartoons including Hanna Barbera, Warner Bros and MGM titles.The channel is set to go out 7 days a week between 6am and midnight and will be distributed to all Sky Digital subscribers. Discussions… Continue reading Classic Cartoons To Have New Home On Boomerang
The Radio Authority has today awarded the second local digital multiplex licence for London to the Switch Digital consortium. Formed by the Wireless Group, Clear Channel International and Ginger Media, the consortium was one of three bids for the licence, which was advertised last year (see Radio Authority Advertises Second London Digital Multiplex).Switch will broadcast… Continue reading Switch Digital Wins Second London Licence
Technology shares were back in favour on yesterday’s market, and this was reflected in media share prices. BSkyB rose 106p to £15.60, Cable & Wireless 115p to £11.43 and Reuters 122p to £11.64. All three had seen losses in the preceding few days.An agreement on Pearson’s £12bn merger with Germany’s CLT-Ufa could be announced as… Continue reading Sharewatch
Border Television has officially rejected the £100m unsolicited offer made by Scottish Radio Holdings (see Scottish Radio Takes Offer To Border Shareholders), and is thought to be in talks with other media companies to make an alternative deal. The company declined to comment as to whether Chrysalis, thought to be the favoured option, was amongst… Continue reading Border Seeks Alternatives To Hostile Scottish Radio Bid
Arcwind Publishing launched a new title on 1 April aimed at the relatively untapped market of teenage boys. Slack will cover sports such as BMX, skating and snowboarding as well as features on related interests such as graffitti art, computer games and music reviews. The 84-page monthly title had an initial print run of 35,000… Continue reading Slack To Offer Teenage Kicks For The Pre-Loaded Market
Media communications specialist, Tempus Group, has posted pre-tax profits of £15.6 million for 1999, an increase of 18% compared to the same period last year. Turnover for the group, including acquisitions, grew by 16% to £1,426 million.The company’s performance was boosted by further acquisitions and a buoyant ad market. Throughout the year it has been… Continue reading Tempus Group Reports 18% Increase In Profits
The newly-formed internet arm (see GWR Group Launches New Internet Company) of radio group GWR has announced the acquisition of a stake in web services provider Altodigital.com. The group paid £7 million for a 5% stake in the company.GWR will use the services provider to enhance its local portal koko.co.uk, which is soon to begin… Continue reading GWR Group Invests £7 Million In Altodigital.com
Trading in London did not begin until 3.45pm yesterday, thanks to a breakdown of the electronic systems. As a result of the backlog trading was extended until 6.30pm.The court hearing to approve NTL’s purchase of Cable & Wireless’ UK cable division, CWC (see Government Clears NTL/CWC Merger), has been set for 17 April. At the… Continue reading Sharewatch
