Both Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) and Telewest experienced increases in their share prices yesterday following reports linking NTL to the ongoing merger discussions between the two groups (see Newsline). CWC rose 22p to 582p, and Telewest was 1źp to 273˝p.BSkyB rose another 3˝p yesterday, from 595˝p to 599p, following speculation that it is to… Continue reading Sharewatch
Channel 5 is claiming a record weekly share of viewing, at an average 6.5%, for the week Monday 7 June to Sunday 13 June. The channel’s previous highest weekly audience share was 5.8% in April this year.England’s 1-1 Euro 2000 draw against Bulgaria, on Wednesday, contributed to the strong performance. The match had an audience… Continue reading England’s Euro 2000 Match Gives Channel 5 Record Share
BSkyB has confirmed that Rupert Murdoch is to takeover as chairman of the company with immediate effect. The confirmation comes in the wake of reports in yesterday’s Financial Times that Murdoch was to take up the role (see Newsline).Murdoch replaces Jérôme Seydoux, who will remain on the board as a non-executive director.BSkyB: 0171 705 3200
The Radio Authority is advertising its eighth local digital licence, this time for the Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Telford area. The licence is designed to cover an adult population of around 1.1 million, and will initially run for a period of about 12 years. The Authority has already advertised licences for areas including London, Glasgow and… Continue reading RA Advertises Eighth Local Digital Radio Licence
The Board of satellite television broadcaster, BSkyB, is to meet tomorrow to discuss the replacement of its chairman Jérôme Seydoux, also chairman and majority shareholder of Pathé. Seydoux’s departure from BSkyB follows the acquisition of Pathé by French utilities group Vivendi (see BSkyB Shares Soar On Canal Plus Merger Speculation).When Vivendi took control of Pathé… Continue reading Murdoch May Become Chairman Of BSkyB
Golden Rose’s commercial radio station Jazz FM is currently in discussions about the possible launch of a television service. Although still in its very early stages, chief executive of Golden Rose, Richard Wheatly, said that the group is looking at the possibility of launching a 3 or 4 hour service, although there is nothing imminent… Continue reading Jazz FM Looks At Possible TV Venture
The great and the bad descended to Israel to take part in the annual cheesefest that is The Eurovision Song Contest. The event, which this year saw a great deal of political voting from participating countries, managed to pull in an average audience of 8.9 million and a peak of 12.0 million.The movie premiere of… Continue reading TV Viewing Summary W/E 30/05/99
BSkyB closed up 6˝p at 595˝p on Friday. There is currently speculation that BSkyB will re-enter merger discussions with Canal Plus since Canal Plus’ owner, Vivendi, recently became the second-largest shareholder in BSkyB (see BSkyB Shares Soar On Canal Plus Merger Speculation).United News & Media, publisher of the ailing Express and Sunday Express newspapers, closed… Continue reading Sharewatch
Tuesday The Retail Prices Index for May is released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In April inflation stood at 2.4%.Friday Haymarket publishes the first issue of its new internet magazine, the net (see Haymarket’s Internet Title Joins Difficult Market). A review will feature on Newsline shortly afterwards.MediaTel’s weekly media industry focus and analysis,… Continue reading The Week Ahead
Associated New Media (ANM), the internet division of Associated Newspapers, has revealed plans for a major new website launch aimed at women. The site, currently under the working name of CharlotteStreet.com, will be edited by Nicola Davenport, formerly with the Press Association and the group is channeling £5 million into the internet project.The content will… Continue reading Associated Plans Women’s Website Launch
