BSkyB has signed a five year carriage agreement with cable and satellite youth channel, Rapture Television. Rapture joins the Sky Digital line-up tomorrow, with broadcasts initially only at weekends, but increasing to seven days a week from February next year.The agreement increases Rapture’s reach by 1.8 million homes; the channel now reaches six million homes… Continue reading Sky Digital Secures New Channel Carriage Deals
The ITV Network took a further step toward what many see as its inevitable consolidation today, as Carlton Communications and United News & Media (UNM) announced the terms of a £7.8 billion merger. The new group will become the largest commercial broadcaster in the country and by far the largest player in the ITV Network.Between… Continue reading Media Merger May Hit Regulatory Obstacles
IPC Magazines has promoted Caroline Ward to the position of managing director at IPC tx, the group’s TV weeklies division. Ward, who is currently publishing director of IPC tx, replaces Sly Bailey who became group chief executive earlier in the year following the retirement of Mike Matthew (see Matthew Retires As Chief Executive Of IPC… Continue reading IPC Promotes Ward To IPC tx Managing Director
Shares in Carlton Communications and United News & Media climbed as the two group’s announced plan to merge (see Carlton And United News & Media Set For £7.8bn Merger). United jumped 37˝p to close at 745˝p; Carlton rose 3žp to 554źp.Bristol United Press saw its share prices leap 202˝p to 722˝p as the Daily Mail… Continue reading Sharewatch
The UK’s largest commercial television broadcasting group is set to be created by the merger of two of the ITV Network’s heavyweight companies, Carlton Communications and United News & Media (UNM). The £7.8 billion deal will create a company with the scale to compete with the two groups’ ITV rival, Granada Media Group.It is expected… Continue reading Carlton And United News & Media Set For £7.8bn Merger
Revenue Total terrestrial television revenue for October 1999 (including GMTV) came in at £307.6 million, according to agency estimates. The ITV Network took £216.3 million of this, a year on year increase of 12.2%; Channel 4 took £64.1 million, up 8.4% and Channel 5’s ad revenue was up 12.5% at £18.8 million.Revenue for GMTV dropped… Continue reading TV Market Round-Up – October 1999
Shares in Granada dropped yesterday as the posting of good year-end financial results by the group (see ITV Ad Revenue Helps Granada Profits) was marred by bid talk (see Granada Would Not Buy Scottish Media/Ginger Company, Says Chairman). Prices closed down 18p to 542˝p.The strong growth in TV advertising revenue announced by Granada, however, boosted… Continue reading Sharewatch
BSkyB has acquired a 5% stake in internet toy retailer, www.toyzone.co.uk, representing the satellite broadcaster’s first equity holding in an ecommerce company.The deal is the first of a number of further new media acquisitions planned by BSkyB. The company is understood to have built up capital to fund the acquisition of other new media and… Continue reading BSkyB Takes Stake In Toyzone And Eyes More New Media Equity
Revenue Total terrestrial television revenue for October 1999 (including GMTV) came in at £307.6 million, according to agency estimates. The ITV Network saw a year on year increase of 12.2%; Channel 4’s revenue was up 8.4% and Channel 5’s grew by 12.5%. Revenue for GMTV dropped back year on year this month, by 2.7%. Total… Continue reading TV Market Round-Up – October 1999
The Telegraph Group has established a separate company to house its new media division. Hollinger Telegraph New Media will develop the group’s online activities and expand its e-commerce opportunities.The new company, which has been in the pipeline for months (see Newsline Brief) will be headed by Hugo Drayton, currently marketing director and director of new… Continue reading Telegraph Forms New Media Group
