Is Tim Gardam, Channel 4’s director of programmes, still giddy with the success of summer sensation Big Brother? It seems likely, given the fighting talk with which he introduced his channel’s winter offerings: “Channel 4’s schedule this winter is proof, I hope, that the future of quality television does not have to be two episodes… Continue reading Channel Four Unveils “Diverse And Intelligent” Winter Schedule
Reed International confirmed the rumours yesterday when it launched its plans for a £1.2bn share placing to help fund a recent US book publishing acquisition and reduce debt. (see Sharewatch). Up to 9.9% of the equity of the parent companies will be offered. Yesterday shares in Reed fell 18½p to £6.29½.Yesterday saw Granada Media release… Continue reading Sharewatch
UBC Media has announced the appointment of Jennifer Donald as Finance Director for the company. She replaces Matthew Honey who will remain at the company as an executive director and head of the group’s Unique Interactive division. Emily Bell has been appointed to the new role of editor in chief of the Guardian Unlimited network.… Continue reading Appointments Brief
Granada Media has released its first set of annual results since its flotation and consequent separation from the catering arm of the company in July this year (see Granada Media Begins Conditional Trading). The results revealed modest growth for the year to 30 September, with operating profit up 8% year on year at £253m, while… Continue reading Granada Media Shows Modest Profit Rise In First Final Results Since Flotation
The BBC has announced it is to invest £45m in programme making outside London. An additional £5m funding will be made available for local sports rights across the UK.In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, money will be pumped into the creation of new entertainment, comedy, drama and popular factual programming. New programme “zones” will be… Continue reading BBC Plans Investment In Programme-Making Outside The Capital
It is thought that the Go Racing consortium, made up of Channel 4, BSkyB and Arena Leisure will win the media rights to racing at the UK’s 59 racecourses. Following months of wrangling, the Racecourse Association (RCA) yesterday advised its members to sign up to a two week “exclusivity period”, during which time the contractual… Continue reading Negotiations For UK Horseracing Media Rights Enters Final Furlong
Media shares did not perform very well yesterday. Among the worst were BSkyB, which dropped 50p to £10.15, despite the fact that the Go Racing consortium it belongs to is expected to announce it has clinched UK media rights for horse racing today.A drop in share price was also seen at Reed International, which announced… Continue reading Sharewatch
New research suggests that outdoor advertising can build awareness three times faster than television campaigns, despite being a much less expensive medium. However, the research, undertaken by the Media Edge and revealed at the MRG conference in Munich this year, also showed that awareness decay for outdoor campaigns was around three times faster than for… Continue reading Outdoor Builds Awareness Faster Than TV, Says New Research
BBC Radio 5 has renewed its contract to broadcast FA Carling Premiership games live. The three-year deal runs from the beginning of the 2001-2002 season and will see Five Live increase its Premiership coverage from 120 to 180 matches per season.Its rival TalkSport has also clinched a deal with the Premier League, however. Kelvin MacKenzie’s… Continue reading BBC Holds Onto Premiership Rights While Talksport Gets Foot In The Door
Last week the Express Newspapers group was finally sold off, ending years of speculation about when United News & Media would let the papers go (see Gossip And Girlie Publisher Takes On Express And Star). The eventual buyer was OK! publisher Northern & Shell which snapped up the Daily Express, Sunday Express and Daily Star… Continue reading Feature: Will Northern & Shell Save Express Newspapers From Declining Circulations?
