Felix Dennis, chairman of the business and consumer magazine company Dennis Publishing, has warned that the golden age of magazine publishing is over and that its already shaky foundations are crumbling fast in the face of the electronic age.Quoting Bob Dylan at the PPA Magazines ’99 conference yesterday, Dennis said that ‘it is a hard… Continue reading Dennis Publishing Chairman Sees Magazine Industry Crumbling In The Electronic Age
Satellite broadcaster BSkyB is supporting the Independent Television Commission’s (ITC) opposition to a digital television licence fee (see Newsline).Sky, which runs the satellite DTV service Sky Digital, has warmly welcomed the ITC’s submission which strongly opposed the idea of an additional digital licence fee, arguing that it would slow the transition to digital, and would… Continue reading BSkyB Supports ITC Opposition To Digital Licence Fee
Scottish Radio Holdings (SRH) today reported the acquisition of a third outdoor advertising group as well as a 15% rise in turnover to £24.5 million in its financial results for the 6 months ended 31 March 1999. Pre-tax profit was up by 35% to £7.2 million, and earnings per share were up by 41% to… Continue reading Third Outdoor Acquisition Enhances Scottish Radio Portfolio
Keith Wilson, the editor-to-be of the unlaunched Crime Weekly magazine has been made redundant by Cabal Communications. The consumer publisher suspended the launch of the magazine earlier this year, at the same time that IPC annnounced that it was publishing a crime one-off title called called Chat, Crime and Passion (see Newsline). The future of… Continue reading Cabal’s Crime Launch Uncertain As Editor Departs
Johnston Press’ agreed £266 million takeover of Portsmouth & Sunderland Newspapers (PS&N) (see Johnston Seals Portsmouth & Sunderland’s Fate With £266m Offer) brings major regional titles like the Sunderland Echo and the Portsmouth News into Johnston’s control. P&SN has a total weekly circulation of around two million papers. The map below shows P&SN’s regional newspaper… Continue reading Johnston’s P&S Acquisition Boosts Coverage
BSkyB has denied reports that it is re-entering discussions with French broadcaster Canal Plus about a possible joint alliance. Sky’s statement follows speculation in the Observer last weekend that discussions were to recommence.Talks between the two broadcasters began in February when possible joint ventures were discussed (see Newsline), but broke down in March after Canal… Continue reading BSkyB Denies Rekindling Of Talks With Canal Plus
Following the announcement of a £266 million takeover offer for Portsmouth & Sunderland Newspapers (PSN) yesterday (see Newsline), Johnston Press’ share price remained nearly unchanged, dropping a ˝p to 272p, but PSN shot up by 272˝p to 2222˝p. By 10:15 this morning, the group had dropped back to 2210p.Outdoor advertising group Maiden fell by 38p… Continue reading Sharewatch
Wagadon, publisher of the Face, Arena and Frank, is subject to speculation that it may be put up for sale in the near future following its restoration of self-ownership. Another consumer publisher, Condé Nast, has sold back the 40% stake which it held in Wagadon to Nick Logan, editorial director and already 60% owner of… Continue reading Wagadon Reclaims Control Amid Sell-Off Rumours
Following news that Reuters is to combine its interactive business services with Dow Jones to form a new company called Dow Jones Reuters Business Interactive LLC (see Newsline), Reuters rose 4˝p to 891˝p by the close of trading yesterday. By 11 o’clock this morning, Reuters had risen to 909p.Capital Radio climbed 4p yesterday to 865p… Continue reading Sharewatch
The long-running battle to take control of regional newspaper publisher, Portsmouth & Sunderland Newspapers (P&SN), looks set to end today as Johnston Press moves in with an agreed takeover offer of 2,225p per share.The offer values P&SN at £266 million and is a 15.4% premium on the company’s closing price of 1,950p yesterday. Johnston’s moves… Continue reading Johnston Seals Portsmouth & Sunderland’s Fate With £266m Offer
