UK to gain new £700m film and TV studio amid streaming goldrush August 1, 2021 The UK is set to gain yet another major film and TV studio complex after private equity giant Blackstone unveiled plans to build a major new hub near London. Funds managed by Blackstone Real Estate Partners and LA-based Hudson Pacific Properties have acquired a 91-acre site in Hertfordshire, 17 miles north of central London, for [...]
Olympics broadcaster Discovery mulls bid for Channel 4 August 1, 2021 American broadcaster Discovery is considering a bid for Channel 4 as the government attempts to privatise the channel. Discovery, which owns Eurosport and a number of other UK channels, is reportedly looking to challenge ITV with the potential move. The Sunday Telegraph reports that Discovery is holding preliminary talks around putting in a bid for [...]
Gary Lineker joins LaLigaTV in ‘multi-year’ deal July 30, 2021 Gary Lineker has joined LaLigaTV as a presenter in a “multi-year agreement” to front coverage of Spain’s top-flight football league. The former England striker will present key fixtures on the 24-hour channel and feature regularly on its Viva LaLiga studio programme broadcast live from Barcelona. Lineker, who played for Barcelon during his career, already presents [...]
Scarlett Johansson sues Disney over Black Widow streaming release July 30, 2021 Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney over its decision to release new superhero blockbuster Black Widow on its streaming platform. The actor, who stars in the new Marvel thriller, alleges that the media giant breached her contract when it offered the film on Disney Plus at the same time as in cinemas. Disney said there was [...]
Pearson hikes dividend as it swings back to profit July 30, 2021 Education giant Pearson has hiked its dividend for the first half of the year as it swung back to a profit following a torrid pandemic year. The FTSE 100 firm today reported an adjusted operating profit of £127m for the six months to the end of June, compared to a loss of £23m in the [...]
Cineworld secures $200m loan boost as it gears up for bumper film slate July 30, 2021 Cineworld today said it had secured $200m (£143m) in incremental loans to help shore up its finances as the chain prepared for a bumper schedule of film releases later this year. The loan facility, which matures in May 2024, was secured from a group of Cineworld’s existing lenders. The company said it did not have [...]
Screenshot: Will the digital advertising boom ever end? July 30, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: You are what you tweet **Will the digital advertising boom ever end? **Esports: Britain’s next big thing? Media Moment of the Week: You are what you tweet You know the scenario: someone says something you don’t like on Twitter and you have an overwhelming urge to rise to [...]
Exclusive: HMV’s new owner on where he wants to take his High Street stores July 29, 2021 Music and entertainment retailer HMV confirmed last week plans to open 10 new stores, including a flagship London site. Following its decline into administration two years ago its Oxford Street store – along with many others – were closed. However, new owner Doug Putman, a Canadian music retail executive, bought the struggling business and believes [...]
Netflix, Google and Facebook to require jabs for return to office July 29, 2021 Netflix, Google and Facebook will require all US employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19 before they can return to work. In an email to staff Google boss Sundar Pichai said the tech giant was pushing back its return to the office from September to mid-October. He added that vaccinations will be compulsory for US staff, [...]
Informa hikes revenue forecasts on hopes of trade show return July 29, 2021 Informa has increased its revenue forecasts for the full year as the exhibitions group struck an optimistic tone over the return of in-person events. The FTSE 100 company said it now expects to pull in revenue of £1.8bn in 2021, up from previous guidance of £1.7bn. This reflected a “progressive return” of physical events in [...]