The Government announced today that the BBC licence fee is to go up to £101 for a colour TV, and to £33.50 for a black and white licence as from 1 April 1999.The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said that the rate of increase is set according to a 5 year formula, which… Continue reading BBC Licence Fee Goes Through £100 Ceiling
Virgin Radio is the process of planning its first advertising campaign since Chris Evans took over the station at the end of last year (see Newsline).The campaign is to star Evans and his radio team, and is to feature on TV and outdoor advertising. Evans’ Virgin radio breakfast show is simulcast every weekday morning on… Continue reading Virgin Launches First Ad Campaign Since Evans’ Buy Out
Volkswagen has renewed its sponsorship of ‘Sport on 4’ in a new deal which runs from May next year until May 2000. Continuing the format of the original deal, which was struck in March this year (see Volkswagen To Sponsor C4 Sport), VW will be associated with Channel 4’s entire output of sports programmes. This… Continue reading Volkswagen Renews Channel 4 Sports Sponsorship
Global media group, Pearson, has issued a trading statement which reports growth in both revenues and operating profits. The company, whose interests include the Financial Times, Penguin and Pearson Television, said that it is trading in line with expectations and reiterated its aim of achieving double-digit earnings growth (see Pearson Profits Up Despite C5 Losses).The… Continue reading Pearson Trading Remains Strong Despite Gloomy Economic Climate
Newcastle United has sparked a frenzy of speculation after admitting it is in takeover talks but refuses to name the possible suitor. The potential mystery buyer could be prepared to pay up to £158 million for the club, the club said.In a strong suggestion that a media company was involved, the club said no formal… Continue reading Newcastle In Talks Over Possible Takeover
The Observer has revealed the details of three new tabloid sections to be launched on 3 January next year (see The Observer Creates New Sections): Screen, Cash and Escape represent the first major changes to be instigated by new editor Roger Alton who started at the Sunday broadsheet in July (see Observer Sees A New… Continue reading Observer Unveils 3 New Sections
Regional newspaper publisher, Adscene, has sold Flair Press, which comprises the substantial part of the Commercial Printing Division, to Spectrum Press for approximately £1.3 million. Adscene describes Flair’s operations as non-core and a drain on the Group’s management resources.Adscene says that its publishing operation is showing improvement on the previous year and that advertising is… Continue reading Adscene Disposes Of Non-Core Assets
BSkyB announced a deal with Wilcon Homes today that will give Sky guaranteed access to 5,000 more homes. During 1999, the house-building company will build homes which come complete with a SkyDigital minidish.The deal makes Wilcon the first developer to make a policy decision to install SkyDigital capability in all of its houses. Sky, however,… Continue reading BSkyB To Be Built In To Homes
Quality MarketTotal broadsheet circulation fell year on year by 3.5%, resulting in a total circulation of 5,633,201 for the June-November period. The Financial Times was the only title to show a substantial rise in circulation, showing a growth of 11.5% to 363,525. The Sunday Times has the highest circulation of all the quality newspapers, currently… Continue reading National Newspaper ABC Round-Up – November 1998
Inflation has hit the Government’s target rate for the fourth month in succession, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics put underlying inflation for November unchanged at 2.5%.The headline rate of inflation, which includes mortgage interest payments, continued to fall, dropping from 3.1% year-on-year to 3.0%.Subscribers can access RPI trends by selecting “Encyclomedia”… Continue reading Inflation On Target Again
