BSkyB’s latest attempt to wrest the contract for ITV news provision from ITN has sparked an undignified war of words between the two groups. BSkyB announced yesterday that it was joining with two American and two UK broadcasters to form a consortium which would bid for the new contract beginning at the end of next… Continue reading Fighting Over News Moves To Fresh Battleground As Sky Consortium Eyes ITV Contract
Talk of an imminent recession has filled the media trade press in recent weeks. AC Nielsen and the IPA disagreed over the extent of the slump but the message from all sides was the same: the next six months will be tough for the sector as a whole.Blame has been laid on excessive dotcom spend… Continue reading Feature: Media Sector Slumps After Unparalleled Year Of Deals
Yesterday the overnights from the first News at Ten head-to-head (see ITV And BBC1 Go Head To Head With Evening News) indicated that ITV had won this latest bout in the ratings war (see ITV Victorious In News At Ten Clash). ITV franchisees Carlton and Granada Media, which have been weakened recently by fears of… Continue reading Sharewatch
ITV claimed victory in the first head to head battle with BBC1 over the 10pm news slot. More than 8m people tuned in to watch the re-launched ITV News At Ten, while the BBC’s 10pm news bulletin drew in only 4.4m viewers.A BBC spokesman said: “We are in this for the long term. This is… Continue reading ITV Victorious In News At Ten Clash
Maiden Group has released a trading update prior to the closed period it will enter ahead of preliminary results on 28 March. The board has stated its belief that Maiden has traded “within the range of expectations” for the year ended 31 December 2000, despite a slow end to the year in comparison to the… Continue reading Maiden Group Met Trading Expectations Last Year, Having Encouraging Start to 2001
The MXR consortium has won the digital multiplex licence for the South Wales and Severn Estuary area. The group, whose shareholders include Chrysalis, Capital Radio, Guardian Media Group, Jazz FM, Soul Media and UBC Media, won the north east regional licence in December last year (see Radio Authority Dishes Out Digital Licences In North East).MXR… Continue reading MXR Wins Second Digital Licence
BSkyB is preparing to write off as much as £250m of a £301m investment in new media company Sports Internet Group, according to reports. Confirmation of the loss is expected to be revealed when financial results for BSkyB are released next month.Sky made the investment in the firm, which runs official websites for a number… Continue reading BSkyB Set To Write Off Millions In Internet Losses
IPC has announced key appointments in its Music & Sports division. Keith Kendrick is to take on the mantle of editor of flagship lads mag Loaded, the job made famous by its first incumbent, James Brown, who has since gone onto form his own company (see Ex-Loaded Editor Plans To Float New Venture).Since his departure,… Continue reading IPC Music & Sport Announce Appointment And Promotion
Havas Advertising is to acquire the 55% of the Media Planning Group (MPG) it does not yet own, it was announced yesterday. MPG is the leading media buying agency in Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia. It is ranked 2nd in France, 12-13th in the US and in the top ten in the UK and… Continue reading Havas Acquires Remaining Shares In The Media Planning Group
Cable & Wireless yesterday sold 8 million of its shares in NTL for £813m. The buyer was Goldman Sachs, which has placed the entire block to institutional investors- the offer was over-subscribed. The sale took place with NTL’s knowledge, and C&W continues to work with NTL in order to address the balance of its remaining… Continue reading Cable & Wireless Disposes Of 8 Million NTL Shares For £183 Million
