Independent Newspapers, the Irish media group, has today announced a rise in pre-tax profits from IR£66.8 million to IR£100.1 million in 1997. Turnover was IR£598.8 million, up 43% on IR£419.1 million in 1996. Good ad revenues from a strong economy helped boost the figures.Chairman Tony O’Reilly said: “The current year has been positive in all… Continue reading Strong Results For Independent Newspapers
The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) has redrafted (for the second time this year) its procedure for auditing multiple copies/bulk sales of national newspapers.There has been concern in the industry that bulk sales, particularly when performed ad hoc, are distorting the ABC audit figures. To combat this the ABC promised ‘more expansive controls’ in auditing… Continue reading ABC Creates New Bulk Sales Procedures
The ITC today outlined its proposals for remedying what it sees as the anti-competitive practices which are used to “bundle” pay-tv channels.Following an extensive investigation it concluded that a number of practices restrict and distort viewer choices. It hopes that its proposals will lead to a wider range of basic channel packages of different sizes,… Continue reading ITC Recommends Smaller Channel Packages For Pay TV
In the latest report from the Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC) an episode of EastEnders receives 16 complaints for its story in which a young couple learn that their unborn baby has spina bifida and hydrocephalus.Viewers believed that the couple’s response and subsequent storyline were unsuitably difficult viewing for the schedule. The BBC said that the… Continue reading EastEnders Receives 16 Complaints For Spina Bifida Storyline
GWR has announced that profits at its national commercial station Classic FM have not been as strong as expected in the second half of the year.The Group said that the reason for this was the “substantial changes” which were made to the Classic sales team when it was transformed into the new sales house Opus… Continue reading Classic FM Suffers From Sales Upheaval
The European Commission is concerned that the launch and operation of Rupert Murdoch’s British Interactive Broadcasting may be harmful to fair competition in the digital marketplace.Within the next few weeks the EC is expected to request that BIB allays concerns that the broadcaster might restrict access to its networks and subsidise decoding equipment which only… Continue reading EC Seeks Assurance Of BIB’s Market Position
The agreement on Clear Channel Communications’ takeover bid for More Group has been withdrawn by More following a higher bid by its French rivals Decaux (subscribers see French Counter-Bid For More Group).At the beginning of the month billboards company More agreed to the £446 million takeover bid from Clear Channel (subscribers see Surprise Takeover Of… Continue reading More Group Withdraws Clear Channel Agreement
The dispute over Stephen Grabiner’s move from United News & Media (UNM) to become chief executive of British Digital Broadcasting is scheduled to be heard in court this Friday.UNM claims that Grabiner left the company before his contract was seen out and is therefore trying to prevent him beginning the chief executive post until January… Continue reading Court Hearing Scheduled For Future BDB Chief
VNU’s new computer title, Computeract!ve , is claiming first issue sales of over 200,000 copies. This would make the title one of the highest-selling computer magazines on the shelves at the moment. According to the last set of ABC consumer magazine figures, only Future’s Official Playstation Magazine has a higher circulation at 205,619.While Computeract!ve‘s initial… Continue reading Computeractive Pleased With Initial Sales
Ulster TV has said that 1998 will be a “challenging year for the company” in the face of increased competition from Channel 5 and non-terrestrial channels. The broadcaster went on to say that growth is likely to be “modest and not substantially different from that achieved in 1997.”The broadcaster also announced plans for its digital… Continue reading Ulster TV Cautious Over Future Growth
