The latest Sensor survey from CIA MediaLab reports that people are switching to purchasing products via computers, faxes and telephones in a move away from direct mail and catalogues. Consumers, says the survey, prefer the speed of technology.The survey asked which method they would choose to buy a cross-section of products and found that electronic… Continue reading Public Switch To Electronic Shopping Says Survey
Channel 5 Broadcasting has this afternoon received a major cash injection through a City bank syndicate.HSBC Banking Corporation has arranged a £150 million financial package which will be used “for future developments”. 5 says that the practical effect will be to “limit Channel 5’s shareholders exposure and increase the return on their investment.”David Elstein, chief… Continue reading City Puts Cash Into C5
Following a request by More Group and Decaux, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is to pass its recommendations on the proposed merger between the two companies to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Decaux’s takeover bid for More of £475 million was announced last week and caused More to back out of a… Continue reading OFT To Give Recommendations On Decaux/More Merger
Talk Radio has announced that it has joined Digital One, the digital radio consortium formed last week by GWR Group and Ginger Media (subscribers see GWR And Ginger Create Digital Consortium).Paul Robinson, managing director of Talk Radio, comments: “Digital is unquestionably the future of radio and clearly presents many exciting opportunities in the future. Talk… Continue reading Talk Radio Joins Digital Consortium
Independent Newspapers, the Irish media group, has today announced a rise in pre-tax profits from IR£66.8 million to IR£100.1 million in 1997. Turnover was IR£598.8 million, up 43% on IR£419.1 million in 1996. Good ad revenues from a strong economy helped boost the figures.Chairman Tony O’Reilly said: “The current year has been positive in all… Continue reading Strong Results For Independent Newspapers
The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) has redrafted (for the second time this year) its procedure for auditing multiple copies/bulk sales of national newspapers.There has been concern in the industry that bulk sales, particularly when performed ad hoc, are distorting the ABC audit figures. To combat this the ABC promised ‘more expansive controls’ in auditing… Continue reading ABC Creates New Bulk Sales Procedures
The ITC today outlined its proposals for remedying what it sees as the anti-competitive practices which are used to “bundle” pay-tv channels.Following an extensive investigation it concluded that a number of practices restrict and distort viewer choices. It hopes that its proposals will lead to a wider range of basic channel packages of different sizes,… Continue reading ITC Recommends Smaller Channel Packages For Pay TV
In the latest report from the Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC) an episode of EastEnders receives 16 complaints for its story in which a young couple learn that their unborn baby has spina bifida and hydrocephalus.Viewers believed that the couple’s response and subsequent storyline were unsuitably difficult viewing for the schedule. The BBC said that the… Continue reading EastEnders Receives 16 Complaints For Spina Bifida Storyline
The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) may well find itself in the centre of a scuffle between News International Newspapers (NIN) and the Mirror Group over the auditing of multiple copies/bulks sales of their newspapers.The issue has been re-sparked by letters sent from NIN’s circulation director, Ian Weston, to the ABC, the Institute of Practitioners… Continue reading Bulk Sales Battle Between NI And Mirror Group
The CIA Group has announced annual preliminary financial results which show an increase in pre-tax profits of 27% to £9.5 million. Turnover at the Group was up 25% to £968 million, with operating profit rising to £7.5 million, up 44%. Earnings per share were up 16% to 9.11p.Chairman of CIA, Chris Ingram said: “A key… Continue reading CIA Group Pre-Tax Profits Up 27%
