As Big Brother’s media circus winds down and its former contestants prepare to sell themselves to the highest bidder, Channel 4 has revealed the audience figures which prove that while it was “only a gameshow” the programme was even better news for Michael Jackson than England beating the Windies for the first time in over… Continue reading Big Brother Finale Gives C4 Largest Ever Friday Night Audience
The Wireless Group has released its first set of interim results since flotation on the London Stock Exchange in May (see Sharewatch). The group, headed by Kelvin MacKenzie, has seen losses increase from £10.1m to £25.7m year on year, partly due to the launch and marketing expenditure for sports radio station talkSport and the purchase… Continue reading Wireless Group Reports Increased Losses In First Interim Results Since Flotation
This week’s fuel crisis may have caused havoc for most people but for news channels and programmes it has been a godsend. ITV’s special broadcasts has allowed its news coverage to gain back some credibility, after months of criticism following the demise of News At Ten (see ITV’s Battle With The ITC Could End In… Continue reading Fuel Crisis Drives News Ratings
Chrysalis New Media has announced its intention to increase its investment in sports portal Rivals.net. Its current 25% stake in the European arm of the US-based group will be increased to 90.1% for a $2m fee.Rivals.net launched in August this year as a fan-based online sports network featuring over 300 independent websites covering a range… Continue reading Chrysalis Increases Stake In Rivals.Net
The Guardian is launching a northern version of its daily newspaper on Monday. Localised information for readers in separate editions for the north-west and Yorkshire will replace London-centric stories: the back page will feature Leeds or Manchester United rather than Arsenal; reviews of plays and shows will be taken from within the area; and TV… Continue reading Launches Brief
The Manchester Evening News retains its position as the country’s biggest-selling regional newspaper, despite a 2.5% dip in its circulation base. Most flagship regional titles reported declining circulations in the latest figures released by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) this week.The steepest fall came from the Belfast Telegraph, which now has new parents following… Continue reading Flagship Regional Titles Record Falling Circulations
The news of good half-year profits improved Trinity Mirror’s share price, even though it came alongside the announcement that group managing director, Roger Eastoe, is leaving (see Trinity Mirror Restructures Management, Reports Profits Up 15%). Shares ended up 17½p at £5.40.Another good performer yesterday was Pearson, part owner of RTL, which released half year results… Continue reading Sharewatch
In the latest set of newspaper circulation figures, released by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) this week, weekly regional titles showed a fairly steady performance. The top two titles in terms of sales, Cornwall’s West Briton Series and the Essex Chronicle Series continue to jockey for position at the top of the table.For the… Continue reading Regional Weeklies Show Steady Performance In ABCs
Natmags is to follow the route taken by rival magazine publishers (see Feature: Publishers Move Towards “Media-Neutral” Brands) and group its titles according to their audience or advertising market. The new structure, due to take effect from 1 October, will also see responsibilities for publishing and advertising sales divided into separate functions.“We need to make… Continue reading Natmags Announces New Brands-Oriented Structure
Pre-tax profits of £104m at the UK’s largest regional newspaper group, Trinity Mirror, were this morning overshadowed by the announcement of the resignation of group managing director, Roger Eastoe (left). A management restructure ensued which included the creation of a new senior executive position.Eastoe is to leave the company at the end of this month… Continue reading Trinity Mirror Restructures Management, Reports Profits Up 15%
