Newsquest has dismissed rumours that Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), the US venture capital group, was planning to sell its 36% stake in the regional publisher. The publisher is valued at £900 million. Caroline McDevitt, Chief Executive of BARB, has appointed Tony Wearn as director of research. He replaces Bill Meredith who retires this month. The… Continue reading Newsline Brief
Manchester United’s European Champions League game against Juventus in Turin last night drew in over 13 million viewers for ITV.According to early live overnight figures from the Network Centre, a peak audience of 13.2 million viewers tuned in to the game, giving ITV an audience share of 53% at that time. The match attracted an… Continue reading Man Utd Victory Gives ITV 48% Viewing Share
Capital Radio sustained a 37p drop in its share price yesterday, closing at 772p. Emap on the other hand showed a strong rise of 31p, climbing to 1,314p. Emap and Capital Radio’s joint venture, CE Digital, has submitted bids for a number of local digital radio multiplexes (see Newsline).Both Cable & Wireless and CWC made… Continue reading Sharewatch
Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) has announced plans to launch the UK’s first ‘flat rate’ internet service. Called Connect, the package, which is due for launch on 1 June, combines internet access and telephone charges. Each subscription also offers five free email addresses and 20Mb of web space.Connect 12, which is the cheapest package at… Continue reading Cable & Wireless Announces First ‘Flat Rate’ Internet Service
Cable telecommunications company, NTL, has decided not to make a full takeover bid for Newcastle United Football Club. Its decision to back out of a bid is based on the findings of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) on the proposed merger of BSkyB and Manchester United, which was blocked by the Department of Trade… Continue reading NTL Backs Out Of Newcastle United Bid
http://www.channel5.co.uk/Following a brief foray into the online world in February 1997, Channel 5 returned to the internet proper last weekend with the launch of its new website. Prior to the launch of the new site, C5 was the only remaining terrestrial broadcaster not to have an online offering.The new site reflects the Channel 5 brand… Continue reading Web Review – Channel 5
The pay-TV operator Flextech has registered an interest in buying the Mirror Group’s Live TV venture. One option for Flextech is to purchase Live TV and then replace it with its own set of interactive services. Alternatively, Flextech may choose to run Live as it is at present, a spokesperson for the company told Newsline… Continue reading Flextech Shows Interest In Live TV
Following an announcement by OFTEL and the ITC that they have set up a joint consultation on the bundling of television and telephony services by cable operators (see Newsline), the share prices of cable telecoms companies fell substantially by the close of trading yesterday. Cable & Wireless Communications lost 31˝p from its share price, dropping… Continue reading Sharewatch
UK Plus (www.ukplus.co.uk), the internet search engine for UK user of the web, has signed an exclusive sponsorship deal with Autobytel, the online new and used car buying service. Under the six figure deal, Autobytel will sponsor UK Plus’ new Motoring Channel.Paul Zwillenberg, managing director of Associated New Media, producers of UK Plus, said: “UK… Continue reading UK Plus Signs Six Figure Sponsorship With Car Buying Service
The Independent Television Commission (ITC) and telecommunications watchdog, OFTEL, have set up a joint consultation on the bundling of television and telephony services by cable operators.The consultation document will investigate whether it is anti-competitive of cable operators to refuse to supply either telephone systems or television separately. Amongst the issues being considered are whether there… Continue reading ITC And OFTEL Consult On Cable TV And Telephony Bundling
