The BBC’s spring and summer schedule, released yesterday, signals the Corporation’s capitulation in the battle with ITV for high ratings. Perhaps the recent strong performance of ITV during peak time (see Goldeneye Nets 52% Share For ITV), since the Network dropped the News At Ten, has led the BBC to rethink its position in the… Continue reading BBC Surrenders In The ITV Ratings Battle
Granada is set to take an 18.6% stake in Scottish Media Group (SMG) off the hands of Mirror Group for approximately £110 million. The deal is conditional upon agreement from Mirror Group shareholders at its Extraordinary General Meeting on 30 March.Mirror said it wished to dispose of the holding, described as a non-core asset, earlier… Continue reading Granada To Buy Mirror’s Scottish Media Stake
Telewest Communications strengthened yesterday, closing up by 16p at 253˝p. The telecommunications company this morning announced that it is offering Senior Discount Notes to institutional buyers in the US, in order to raise £300 million to reduce amounts drawn under the company’s credit facilities.Despite some positive financial results and outlook (see Newsquest ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ For… Continue reading Sharewatch
MediaTel’s offer to pay £1 to Comic Relief for every individual user to MediaTel, Media Village and JICRIT on Red Nose day resulted in a contribution of £1,021.This was added to further by MediaTel’s offer to pay 10% of new business subscriptions agreed on the same day. New subscribers signing up that day to MediaTel… Continue reading MediaTel Users Aid Comic Relief Contribution
ITV’s Vice: The Sex Trade was the subject of a number of complaints to the ITC according to the Commission’s latest Programme Complaints and Interventions bulletin.The three-part documentary, screened at the end of last year at 9:00pm, investigated the world of prostitutes, their clients and those who attempt to prevent or police the trade. The… Continue reading ITV’s Vice Documentary Sparks Complaints
Jim Brown, executive chairman of regional newspaper publisher Newsquest, has said that he is ‘cautiously optimistic’ that his company should see another good year during 1999.“Recruitment advertising, an important economic guide, has held up promisingly in the early period of 1999. The general strength of local economies remains important to regional newspaper businesses, and we… Continue reading Newsquest ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ For 1999
Agency estimates for February 1999 put total terrestrial TV ad revenue (including GMTV) at £204.01 million. Year on year ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 all show increases in their ad revenue whilst GMTV shows a loss of revenue.ITV’s total revenue was up by 16.7%, C4’s rose by 8.9% and C5’s saw a rise of… Continue reading TV Revenue – February 1999
Bids for the European outdoor advertising company, Avenir, were submitted on last Friday night after months of discussions. A number of groups have tabled offers, including Clear Channel, TDI, J C Decaux, Outdoor Systems and possibly News International.News International would not comment on reports that it has made a £400 million bid for the outdoor… Continue reading Bids For Outdoor Company Avenir Received
Media group Pearson, owner of the Financial Times, performed strongly on Friday following an ‘accumulate’ recommendation from broker Merrill Lynch. Shares closed up 94p at 1,333p.Radio group GWR has strengthened recently as it winds up to launch the Digital One national radio service next month. On Friday shares were up by 29˝ to 359˝p.Reed International… Continue reading Sharewatch
Monday Regional newspaper publisher, Newsquest, releases its final financial results today. Merrill Lynch predicts that pre-tax profits for 1998 will be £66.5 million on revenues of £305.4 million (up 7%).Tuesday The retail prices index for February is released by the Office for National Statistics. Inflation in January stood at 2.6%, just above the Chancellor’s target… Continue reading The Week Ahead
