In the midst of Popstars fever, the BBC is making plans for a re-launch of its flagship pop music show Top Of The Pops. The show will shortly move from its old home at Elstree, in order to accommodate a further weekly episode of Eastenders which is also filmed at the Hertfordshire studios. One possible… Continue reading BBC To Re-Launch Top Of The Pops
Telewest Communications was one of the best performers last week, its share price climbing 11% to 157p, following the issue of positive fourth quarter operating statistics (see Telewest Fourth Quarter Results Delivering On Target, Says Singer).European group RTL was down however, the market responding badly to news of its broadband deal with Bertelsmann (see European… Continue reading Sharewatch
Bertelsmann has taken majority control of European television company, RTL. It has purchased a further 30% stake in the group from Groupe Bruxelle Lambert, increasing its hold to 67%.In return Groupe Bruxelle Lambert will receive a 25.1% stake in Bertelsmann AG, which includes Bertelsmann Music Group and magazine publisher Gruner & Jahr. Pearson, which publishes… Continue reading Bertelsmann Acquires Controlling Stake In RTL
Monday MediaTel’s weekly media focus and analysis, Media Track, is featured in Campaign Media Business.Wednesday Pay-TV company BSkyB releases first half results for the year 2000, and is expected to announce a subscriber base of 5m.Granada holds its Annual General Meeting, following the completion of its demerger last week (see Granada Rises On Positive Ratings).Friday… Continue reading The Week Ahead
Advertising group Aegis has announced the acquisition of Pegram Walters Market Research Group. The cash and share deal, worth up to £5m, is a continuation of Aegis plans to expand its range of services into market research.Doug Flynn, CEO of Aegis, said: “The acquisition of Pegram Walters is another step towards our goal of building… Continue reading Aegis Expands Market Research Portfolio
Reuters has acquired a 25% stake in rival online news service Citywire as part of its continued reinvention as an internet company (see Reuters To Spend £500m On Net Plans). The group’s planned personal finance portal will carry commentary and analysis from www.citywire.co.uk and the two will collaborate in the development of new products and… Continue reading Reuters Takes Stake In Citywire
The latest RAJAR figures for local commercial radio showed that weekly reach has decreased by 1% quarter on quarter. Local commercial radio’s share of listening has also dropped, by 0.8 percentage points.Of the local commercial stations broadcasting outside London, the largest percentage increase in terms of weekly reach was seen at Preston-based station Magic 999,… Continue reading December 2000 RAJAR – Local Commercial Stations
Shares fell heavily at Cable & Wireless yesterday as once again the market’s confidence in technology shares dropped. The company ended down 53p at £8.56. Shares in RTL also ended yesterday’s trading greatly reduced, by £5.31 to £57.37, a reduction of nearly 8.5%.Reuters announced yesterday that it has acquired a 25% stake in rival online… Continue reading Sharewatch
European media groups DirectGroup Bertelsmann and RTL have struck a deal which will see them working together to develop interactive television and broadband activities for what they hope will be a “clear competitive advantage” in this area over other European competition. The arrangement will see RTL take over Bertelsmann Broadband Group, which is currently part… Continue reading European Media Giants Team Up To Tackle Interactive TV And Broadband Challenges
A Digital Radio Development Bureau has been formed to accelerate the roll-out of the new medium. The news was announced as radio industry figures met to discuss the challenges of the market at Marketing Week‘s Digital Radio conference yesterday.Although Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) technology is now in its sixth year (see BBC Launches Digital Radio… Continue reading Digital Radio Development Bureau Forms, Medium Set To Be Market Leader By 2015
