ITV partners, Carlton and Granada, were among the best performers in last week’s media market following news that their multibillion pound merger would go ahead unchallenged after shareholders gave the deal their unanimous support. The former was seen up 13.35% and the later climbed 10.44% (see ITV Merger Receives Final Green Light From Shareholders).However, Reuters… Continue reading Sharewatch: ITV Partners Lifted As Merger Rubber-Stamped
Channel 4 is understood to have shortlisted former Coca-Cola executive, Penny Hughes, for the role of chairman following the departure of Vanni Treves.Reports suggest that Hughes, who quit her £250,000 post as the first woman president of Coca-Cola nine years ago, has been approached by Channel 4 to take up one of the most high-profile… Continue reading Channel 4 Ponders Hughes To Take Over Chairmanship
SMG has taken the decision to sell its 27.8% stake in Scottish Radio Holdings to Emap in a deal worth £90.5 million.The shareholding was acquired for £150 million at the end of 2000 but SMG has opted to cut its losses and will put the proceeds of the sale towards debt reduction.SRH is the prominent… Continue reading SMG Sells Radio Stake To Reduce Mounting Debts
Centaur Communications is to be sold and floated on the Alternative Investment Market, it has been confirmed.Numis, the UK investment bank and stockbroker is to buy the publisher and conference organiser and immediately sell it on the AIM, a process known as an accelerated initial public offering.The deal, which is said to be worth in… Continue reading Numis To Orchestrate Centaur Flotation
Kelvin MacKenzie’s Wireless Group is planning to strengthen its position in the UK local radio market with the acquisition of Forever Broadcasting for £8.1 million.The Wireless Group already controls 16% of Forever Broadcasting, which owns a handful of local radio stations including Tower FM in Bolton, Peak FM in Chesterfield and The Wolf in Wolverhampton.The… Continue reading Wireless Group Secures Forever For £8.1 Million
Omnicom, the global marketing and corporate communications company, has appointed Interpublic’s Robert Riesenberg to oversee the development of a new entertainment division creating branded programming.The new role will see Riesenberg become president and chief executive officer at the division that will produce and co-develop a range of advertiser funded programming. He will report directly to… Continue reading Omnicom Launches Branded Programme Making Division
The reclusive Barclay Brothers look set to take control of the Daily Telegraph after agreeing a £260 million deal to buy the global newspaper group headed by troubled media mogul Lord Black.The billionaire brothers are understood to have reached an “irrevocable” agreement to take over Hollinger Inc, in a move that will see them assume… Continue reading Barclay Brothers Agree Telegraph Takeover Deal
Carlton has secured Walkers Snacks as the broadcast sponsor of ITV1’s new Saturday morning children’s entertainment programme, Ministry Of Mayhem, which aired for the first time last weekend.The two-hour weekly show, which claims to offer viewers a crazy cocktail of live music, competitions and celebrity guests, replaces the long-running SM:TV Live, which was axed last… Continue reading ITV Secures Monster Sponsor For New Saturday Show
UK advertisers are losing between £4 billion and £10 billion in revenue because of their short-sighted approach to media planning, according to a major study from the Centre for Integrated Marketing.The research shows that agencies could make their marketing communications 10% to 25% more profitable, from a brand perspective, if they adopted a media neutral… Continue reading Poor Media Planning Costs Advertisers Billions
December saw a marked increase in activity at leading agencies as the account pipeline remained strong. There were a number of significant wins for Publicis which clinched the Lehman Brothers 2003 New Business Title.Also On MediaTel Insight Today…More Americans Taking The Broadband RouteGrowth in US internet usage has slowed in recent years but demand for… Continue reading MediaTel Insight: Publicis Tops 2003 New Business League
