The latest episode in the saga of BSkyB’s bid for Manchester United Football Club (see Newsline) has unfolded today with the Independent Television Commission (ITC) urging the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) to consider the implications very carefully.The watchdog commented: “The ITC has always wanted to see effective competition for the rights to broadcasting sports… Continue reading MMC Hears ITC Concerns Over A BSkyB/Man Utd Deal
The last six months of 1998 have thrown up a mixed batch of circulation figures for women’s monthly magazines. Year on year, the rises and the falls of the sector are fairly 50:50. Looks showed the greatest proportional rise, gaining 18.1%, taking its circulation up to 136,340. Essentials and Marie Claire were its closest rivals… Continue reading Prima Leads The Way For Women’s Monthlies
The latest consumer mags circulation data, released by the ABC this morning and covering the period July-December 1998, is now available in the Press database. Full Round-Ups by market sector will appear on Newsline throughout the day. At present, subscribers can access the data and run reports from the Press database.In the men’s lifestyle market,… Continue reading Consumer Magazines ABC Data Now Available
Open, the consumer branding of British Interactive Broadcasting, has rolled out its first ad campaign in the run up to the launch of interactive TV services on Sky Digital. Open this week announced that Argos and Dixons have joined the venture to provide interactive home shopping services through digital satellite television (see BSkyB Profits Fall… Continue reading Open Rolls Out Ad Campaign For Interactive TV Services
BSkyB shares surged yesterday on the back of the company’s interim financial results and the announcement that 350,000 Sky Digital set-top boxes had been sold by the end of January (see BSkyB Profits Fall Following Sky Digital Launch, But Targets Are Met). BSkyB closed yesterday up 14.6% (60˝p) at 474žp.Despite an upbeat trading statement released… Continue reading Sharewatch
Newscom, the regional publisher which changed its name from Southern Newspapers last year (see Newsline), has announced that it is to join the bidding war for Portsmouth & Sunderland Newspapers. The group has confirmed that it is in preliminary discussions with the P&S board with a view to making an offer for its newspaper assets.Newscom… Continue reading Newscom Keen To Join Bidding Race For Portsmouth & Sunderland
Carlton Communications released a statement yesterday following its annual general meeting. The media group declared it had made a good start to the year, with television performing well and advertising revenue continuing to grow.According to the group’s chairman Michael Green, ITV is extending its lead over the BBC thanks to programmes such as Who Wants… Continue reading Carlton Delivers Upbeat Statement Following Strong Revenue Growth
Huddersfield FM has been fined £5,000 by the Radio Authority (RA) for breaching its Promise of Performance eight separate times.The watchdog found that the station had not broadcast, amongst other things, two separate weekly hour-long arts and entertainment features, education features or satisfactory sports coverage, after pledging to do so.Peter Gibbings, chairman of the RA,… Continue reading RA Fines Huddersfield FM For Eight Promise Breaches
Following the acquisition of The Petersen Companies in December last year (see EMAP Makes £720m US Move), EMAP has today announced the purchase of General Media’s Automotive Group of magazines for £21.9 million.The portfolio includes four monthly titles, Four Wheeler, Stock Car Racing, Open Wheel and Drag Racing Monthly along with the rights to Four… Continue reading EMAP Augments US Interests With £22m Acquisition
1998 saw a continuation of growth in the cable sector, with the industry breaking through the 11 million homes mark at the beginning of the year. By 1 October it had risen further to just under 12 million (11.99) according to ITC data*. Over 2.7 million broadband homes now receive a cable TV service, which… Continue reading Cable And Satellite Annual Round-Up 1998
