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Pan-European broadcasting giant RTL has hired investment bank JP Morgan as it considers the possibility of increasing its majority shareholding in the UK’s smallest terrestrial broadcaster, Five.It is understood that RTL will ask the bank to consider all the options for its stake in Five, including off-loading its shareholding if there is deemed to be… Continue reading RTL Hires JP Morgan To Help Boost Stake In Five

Dennis Publishing is to stop producing its monthly women’s health and beauty magazine Shape after failing to compete for advertising revenue in the increasingly crowded sector.The decision to drop Shape from the Dennis Publishing portfolio leaves the magazine’s owner American Media with the task of finding another publishing partner in the UK, or face consigning… Continue reading Dennis Out Of Shape As Women’s Title Is Dropped

BSkyB today announced that operating profit hit record levels in its third quarter and confirmed that the FA Premier League games would not be sub-licensed as all of the bids received by the group failed to meet the reserve price tag.Operating profit for the nine month period to the 31 March 2004 rose by an… Continue reading Sky Turns Down Premier Bids As Profits Soar

Commercial radio group GWR has announced the sale of its stake in Radio Investments (RIL) to a new company headed by former Jazz FM chief executive, Richard Wheatly, for a total of £10.6 million.The disposal of the 27.8% stake is due for completion later this month once Wheatly’s fledgling Local Radio Company has completed its… Continue reading GWR Off-Loads Radio Investments For £10.6 Million

Interactive Digital Sales and Mediacom have secured a deal that will see Swedish furniture giant IKEA fund a series of short interior design programmes due to be broadcast on UKTV.The series, entitled What you wish for, will consist of ten two-minute episodes airing on UKTV Style and UKTV Bright Ideas. Presented by an animated interior… Continue reading UKTV Secures Ikea To Launch Advertiser-Funded Series

WPP has seen off competition from rival advertising heavyweights Interpublic Group and Omnicom to secure the global media contract for HSBC, believed to be worth around $600 million.The deal is a result of a wide-ranging review by HSBC designed to consolidate its business with one marketing services organisation. WPP will now create a dedicated team… Continue reading WPP Beats Rivals To Win Global HSBC Media Account

Richard Desmond’s Northern & Shell has announced its first foray into retail with the launch of a home shopping channel intended to compete with the likes of QVC and Price Drop TV.The Express Shopping channel will launch on the Sky digital satellite platform later this year. It will be run as a joint venture with… Continue reading Desmond Announces Launch Of Home Shopping Channel

Emap Performance’s flagship dance music magazine, Mixmag, is to receive an extensive overhaul in time for its June issue, as part of a concerted effort to revive the title’s flagging circulation.The relaunch will see Mixmag receive a cleaner, more stylish image, a number of new sections and a series of revamped regular features. The move… Continue reading Emap Revamps Mixmag To Boost Flagging Circulation

BSkyB was seen in the spotlight yesterday with shares rising by 3.08% as investors speculated ahead of today’s third quarter profits announcement. Many are bracing themselves for slowing subscriber numbers, but some argue that the bad news has already been priced into the stock.Meanwhile, ITV saw stocks creep up by a solid 2.18% after revealing… Continue reading Sharewatch: BSkyB In Focus Ahead Of Profit Statement

The National Magazine Company has formed a joint venture with American publishing giant Rodale International, in a move that could see the launch of a range of new health and fitness titles.The partnership will see Rodale’s magazine interests in the UK, which include Men’s Health and Runner’s World, run under the new company banner of… Continue reading Natmags Forms New Joint Venture Company With Rodale