The boost to digital television uptake required to allow analogue switch-off could be provided via a subsidy on equipment from licence-fee money, said BBC director-general Greg Dyke yesterday. Speaking at the Commons media select committee, Dyke is reported to have said that the corporation was considering whether to use licence-fee money to fund a large-scale… Continue reading Licence Fee Money May Fund Digital Box Giveaway
Results released earlier this week by BSkyB (see BSkyB Hits Digital Target But Losses Grow) continued to have a bad effect on shares, which fell 33p by the end of yesterday’s trading, to £10.37.Reuters has announced that its subsidiary, news and technology group Instinet, has filed for flotation on the Nasdaq. Reuters shares on the… Continue reading Sharewatch
ONdigital has asked the government to appoint a digital television “champion”. The digital terrestrial broadcaster suggests the creation of such an position will allow further promotion of the new medium and facilitate the switchover from analogue.In a statement relating to the Communications White Paper, the group said that a national switchover plan should be formalised… Continue reading ONdigital Calls For Appointment Of Digital TV “Champion”
RevenueITV’s annual revenue growth during 2000 showed an improvement on the previous year with total revenue coming in at £1.96bn. This represents an annual growth of 4.9%, which is, however, down on 1999’s 6.3% growth level.The network saw the worst performances of the year during the second half of 2000. October was the worst month… Continue reading Annual TV Market Round Up – 2000
Stephen Byers, secretary of state for trade and industry, has said that he will not refer the takeover of Express Newspapers by Northern & Shell to the DTI. The announcement allows completion of the deal, which was agreed in November last year (see Gossip And Girlie Publisher Takes On Express And Star).Since then the Express… Continue reading Express Takeover Cleared By Byers
Emap Performance is launching a new music magazine, Kingsize, which it says, will be a hybrid of Q and Kerrang!. Set to launch in March, it will be a monthly title with an initial print run between 60,000 and 70,000 and will target the 18-28 age group covering music from rock to hip-hop and featuring… Continue reading Launches Brief
BSkyB was down 30p to 1070p at close of trading yesterday following the release of interim financial results showing increased losses at the pay-television group (see BSkyB Hits Digital Target But Losses Grow).Granada was up slightly despite forecasting slow ad revenues in the first four months of 2001 at the group’s AGM yesterday (see Revenues… Continue reading Sharewatch
Rupert Murdoch is understood to be on the verge of sealing a deal that would merge his Sky Global Networks business with US’ satellite television company, DirecTV. This in turn could pave the way for a global float of the Sky Global Networks satellite group.Investors are anticipating the announcement today as Murdoch’s News Corporation unveils… Continue reading Murdoch May Be Close To Agreeing DirecTV Deal
Lord Dubs has been appointed the new chairman of the Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC). He will hold the position for three years, commencing immediately.Lord Dubs was formerly deputy chairman of the Independent Television Commission (ITC) as well as deputy chairman of the BSC. Announcing the appointment culture secretary Chris Smith said: “I am delighted that… Continue reading Lord Dubs Appointed Chairman Of The BSC
BSkyB had signed up 5.25 million digital customers by 6 February and had hit the 5 million mark by the end of last year, according to the satellite broadcaster’s interim financial results released this morning. This represents a record quarterly growth of 538,000 subscribers. However, whilst the company’s digital targets were achieved ahead of schedule,… Continue reading BSkyB Hits Digital Target But Losses Grow
