The Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) yesterday cleared the proposed takeover of Home Counties Newspapers by Johnston Press, but in the time it took to conduct the investigation Home Counties had accepted a rival offer from Eastern Counties Newspapers (see Home Counties Surprise Sell To Eastern).It is believed that Johnston may call for a review… Continue reading Too Late For Johnston’s MMC Clearance
Emap Elan’s New Woman has been completely redesigned following its award of PPA Consumer Magazine of the Year last month (see New Woman Wins Consumer Mag Of The Year At PPA Awards).Despite the title’s success at the PPA Awards, editor Dawn Bébe says, “We must keep modernising the brand… there’s always more to be done…… Continue reading New Woman Gets New Look
According to a study by US marketing information group, JD Power and Associates, cable TV companies gained three times as many new subscribers to pay-TV as BSkyB in the last twelve months. The company says that customers are choosing cable rather than satellite “because of a desire for better price and a dislike of satellite… Continue reading Cable Leads Pay-TV Market, Says Survey
The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) has finalised it rules in the auditing of bulk sales of national newspapers. This new set of codes is intended to prevent the disputes over bulk sales which have been dogging the ABC for some time (see Bulk Sales Battle Between NI And Mirror Group).The Mirror Group has been… Continue reading ABC Attempts To Put An End To Bulk Sales Bickering
IPC Magazines’ Ideal Home has announced the resignation of its editor-in-chief, Sally O’Sullivan.IPC says that O’Sullivan was instrumental in the magazine’s relaunch in June 1996 which was instigated to ‘turn around its declining sales base’. The title’s circulation, however, has not dramatically improved according to ABC figures.O’Sullivan says: “I have enormously enjoyed my two and… Continue reading Ideal Home Loses Editor-In-Chief
BSkyB has unveiled the logo which will be used to brand all its digital satellite communications businesses. The logo, along with a similarly redesigned corporate image, will be used on Sky as from yesterday.The new digital logo, seen here, was designed by The Clinic from a brief by Sky’s marketing team. It is intended to… Continue reading Sky Unveils Digital Logo
Media and leisure group Granada has today announced half-year pre-tax profits of £274 million, up from £243 million for the same period last year. Turnover for the group was up 12% to £1.93 billion. Earnings per share stood at 21p, up 10%.Charles Allen, chief executive at Granada, said: “The Group continues to fire on all… Continue reading Granada Pre-Tax Profits Up 13% To £274m
A poster ad which read “61% of children aged 12 have had sex” has caused the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to issue warnings about the use of ‘teaser’ advertisements.The advertisement in question, inviting people to a debate on social issues, went on to state that the statistic was a hypothetical fact of the future. Techniques… Continue reading ASA Is Concerned About Advertisers’ Teasing
Rupert Murdoch’s News International announced yesterday that it would be investing in Kelvin MacKenzie’s bid consortium for Talk Radio. It is to become a 20% shareholder in the consortium, which is the maximum allowed by broadcasting legislation.MacKenzie yesterday announced that he was leaving his deputy chief executive post at the Mirror Group in order to… Continue reading Murdoch Backs MacKenzie’s Talk Project
BT has announced plans to offer access to the internet without the need to subscribe to a service provider. A trial of the service is to begin in Northern Ireland, prior to a national roll-out in September.Access will operate on a pay-as-you-use basis and is designed to allow people to sample the internet at low-cost… Continue reading BT To Offer Internet Access For All
