Current regulation is holding back creativity in the commercial radio market, according to the GWR Group, which owns Classic FM and 37 local licences. In response to a consultation on strategy for Oftel submitted last Friday, the group said that greater flexibility was needed to innovate and develop new services.Current regulation, which sets out programme… Continue reading Radio Regulation Holds Back Creativity, Says GWR Group
The ITC’s findings on the proposed merger between Carlton Communications and United News & Media were published yesterday (see United/Carlton Merger Requires Change In Legislation, Says ITC) With the news that the ITC sees “no convincing case” for the law change necessary to allow the deal, share prices for both companies have dropped. United News… Continue reading Sharewatch
News International has invested £9m in UpMyStreet.com, an online community resource. A further £4m investment is being made by Rothschild subsidiary, Continuation Investments, through News Internationals’ new media arm, News Network.The investment will give News International a 21% stake and Continuation a 7% equity stake. News International’s executive chairman Les Hinton is to join the… Continue reading UpMyStreet Secures First-Round Financing From News International
The Competition Commission has today announced that it has cleared all three competing bids for the publishing group Newscom. The three bids, from Trinity Mirror, Newsquest-owner Gannett, and Johnston Press, were submitted for investigation in December (see Newscom Bids Referred To Competition Commission).Stephen Byers, the trade and industry secretary, said: “The Competition Commission has looked… Continue reading Competition Commission Clears Newscom Bids
The chairmen of the twenty clubs in the FA Premier League have agreed a tender document which is set to increase revenue from match broadcasting rights in a new structure to include the introduction of pay-per-view and more live matches.A total of 40 second-tier live matches will be available to the broadcaster who wins the… Continue reading Premier League Bosses Agree More Televised Matches And Pay-Per-View
Carlton Communications is encouraging advertisers to book campaigns online by offering the opportunity to buy special reduced-rate advertising packages exclusively through its Carlton Media Sales website (mediasales.carltononline.com). The packages, which are the first of their kind, have been created by Carlton Digital, for ONdigital, and cinema sales operation, Carlton Screen Advertising (CSA).CSA has put together… Continue reading Carlton Offers Discounted Ad Packages Exclusively Via Website
The Independent Television Commission (ITC) has said that a merger between United News & Media and Carlton Communications would require a change in the law. The Commission asked for views related to the deal earlier this year (see ITC Seeks Views On Carlton/UNM Merger), and today published its findings.The Commission said that some change in… Continue reading United/Carlton Merger Requires Change In Legislation, Says ITC
The Broadcasting Standards Commission has upheld complaints about an episode of Eastenders which depicted drunken behaviour, drug-taking and sexual innuendo. The offending episode concerned a combined “hen” and “stag” weekend in Amsterdam which went “beyond acceptable boundaries” according to the standards body.The BBC defended the episode, broadcast on 16 December last year, by claiming it… Continue reading BSC Upholds Complaints About Eastenders
Greg Dyke today unveiled plans to create “One BBC” in a revamp which saw a whole layer of management disappear and gave a boost of over £1 billion to programme makers. In the most radical gesture since taking over as director-general of the corporation earlier this year (see Dyke To Take Control Of BBC Two… Continue reading Dyke Unveils New Structure For “One BBC”
Pearson shares saw an increase of 120p to £21.81 at the end of a session where prices had climbed as high as £22.50. The increase followed news that the group had acquired a 29.9 per cent stake in publishers Dorling Kindersley.Telewest and Flextech have once again seen share prices fall ahead of their planned merger… Continue reading Sharewatch
