The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has decided not to conduct a formal competition inquiry into the practices of ITV sales houses. The possibility of an inquiry was raised following concerns that ITV may have been acting anti-competitively (see OFT Seeks Industry Response To ITV Sales Practice).Concern had been expressed within the industry, and particularly… Continue reading OFT Clears ITV Sales Houses Of Unfair Practice
http://www.rapture.co.uk/Rapture TV, the newly-launched cable-only teenage lifestyle channel, has produced a website which is frustrating to use mainly because it does not fulfil its potential.The site looks good and, although I have never watched Rapture, I would imagine the design and “feel” of the web pages accurately reflects the Rapture “brand”. It is also easy… Continue reading Website Of The Week – Rapture
Sky’s digital satellite service is to slowly unroll this month in preparation for a larger promotions push this summer. Initially the service will be available to a small number of Sky subscribers and then, when more set-top box hardware becomes available, it will be offered to all the subscribers to Sky’s analogue service.A spokesperson for… Continue reading Sky Rolls Out Digital Service Anticipating Increased Summer Customer Demand
IPC will be launching 17 special one-off titles before the end of the year as part of an aggressive expansion plan.New publications will include: Family Health, 40+ Health, Celebrity Cooking Now, Beautiful People, Best Entertaining, 150 Summer Recipes, Jets and Digital Photography and Country Life Gardens. Summer specials for Woman’s Realm , Woman’s Weekly ,… Continue reading IPC To Launch Magazine One-Shot Offensive
The Cable Communications Association (CCA) has said that it is to restructure its role following a high degree of consolidation of companies in the cable industry.As a result of this the Association’s chief executive, Bob Frost, has left the CCA. The reorganisation meant the chief executive’s post was ‘no longer deemed necessary’, according to a… Continue reading CCA To Restructure In The Light Of Cable Industry Consolidation
Sky Sports today announced that it had won exclusive live TV rights for the new Scottish Premier League competition. The satellite broadcaster paid £45 million for the coverage, which will last for four years.Under the contract, Sky will broadcast 30 matches live each season. These will be screened at 6.05pm on Sunday afternoons.The deal for… Continue reading Sky Signs Up New Scottish Football League
Bristol United Press has reported a 73% increase in pre-tax profits to £14.5 million for the period ended 31 March 1998.The regional publisher, which produces the Bristol Observer Series, gained £1.1 million operating profit from the acquisition of Wessex Newspapers in September last year for £35 million (see Newsquest Sells Titles). It also gained exceptional… Continue reading Bristol United Press Reports £14.5m Pre-Tax Profit
Which? Online, the website of Which? magazine, is considering introducing a pay-per-view service. This would be a first for a UK consumer publisher.It is anticipated that users who do not subscribe to the whole site will be able to purchase specific Which? reports. Payment systems are currently being tested by the publisher, which is part… Continue reading Which? Online Considering PPV First
The Institute of Economic Affairs will be holding a conference on 29 and 30 June 1998 to discuss the future of broadcasting in the digital media market.Speakers will include Sir Christopher Bland, chairman of the BBC, Nigel Walmsley, director of BDB, Graham Duff, chief executive of Zenith and Richard Dunn, adviser to the Premier League.Topics… Continue reading Conference To Debate Future Of Broadcasting
Viewing shares stand at more or less the same levels this week. ITV continues to hold a commanding 33%. BBC1 follows with 28%, BBC2 has 10.7%, Channel 4 10.8%, and despite an overall improvement in some of its audience figures over recent weeks Channel 5 still sees no improvement and clings on to its 3.9%… Continue reading TV Viewing Summary W/E 24/05/98
