Sharewatch: UBC Leads As Channel 4 Radio Sparks Interest

The majority of media stocks enjoyed a fruitful week, but UBC Media was by far the market’s leading success story, rising by 12.79% week on week following the company’s confirmation of a deal with Channel 4 to launch the TV giant’s first digital radio station.

The joint venture is expected to transform UBC’s existing Oneword service into Channel 4 radio, with UBC providing both operational, technical and creative input. The two companies are understood to be developing programming ideas and creative plans for the new station in the run up to a formal launch, but have yet to define a timeframe for development (see UBC Announces Plans For Radio With Channel 4).

Also performing well last week was Future Publishing, rising by 3.06% week on week to close at 59p on Friday. The niche publishing giant recently announced plans to enter the burgeoning children’s magazine market with the launch of a new title called Jetix based around hit television shows such as Power Rangers, Spider Man and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (see Future Enters Kids Market With Jetix Magazine).

Lord Rothermere’s Daily Mail and General Trust also announced an expansion of its portfolio last week, with the purchase of classified advertising specialist Bargain Pages Media for a total of £8.5 million. DMGT saw its share price rise by 1.81% week on week after announcing that the Birmingham based operation will now form part of the company’s regional newspaper division, Northcliffe Newspapers Group (see Daily Mail Snaps Up Midlands Bargain Papers).

The closing prices of media company shares on Friday were: