Discovery goes head to head with Polish govt to protect £2.1bn TV investment August 16, 2021 American media giant Discovery is fighting to keep control of a television network it owns in Poland, an executive has said, as its £2.1bn investment is under threat from a new bill passed in parliament this week. If the bill passes into law, no entity from outside Europe would be allowed to own more than [...]
Marie Claire owner Future snaps up The Week publisher Dennis for £300m August 16, 2021 UK media group Future, which houses publications like Marie Claire and TechRadar, has acquired rival media company Dennis for £300m in a bid to strengthen its foothold in the US. The deal includes The Week, Science & Nature, IT Pro, Computer Active, PC Pro, Minecraft World, and Coach, but not Viz, Fortean Times, Cyclist and Expert Reviews all of [...]
Russia to expel BBC journalist in ‘symbolic deportation’ August 13, 2021 Russia has told a BBC journalist working in Russia to leave the country by the end of the month in what it described as a “symbolic deportation”. In a sign of further tensions between the two nations, Russian state media reported that Sarah Rainsford, one of the broadcaster’s two English-language Moscow correspondents, will be expelled [...]
Spectator sales hit record high as magazine subscription push pays off August 13, 2021 Sales of the Spectator have soared to an all-time high as the magazine’s focus on subscriptions continues to pay dividends. The right-leaning title, which covers politics, culture and current affairs, said sales averaged 105,850 copies in the first half of this year — up 27 per cent on the same period in 2020. The figure [...]
Disney emerges as streaming rival, elevating revenue above expectations August 13, 2021 Disney’s streaming service has emerged as a strong rival in the Netflix dominated sector, which has in turn elevated the group’s revenue above expectations. Revenue was up 45 per cent to £12.3bn in its third quarter – inching past analyst forecasts of £12.14bn. The entertainment giant pulled in £664m in net income in the three [...]
Screenshot: Can the City harness the power of the Netflix model? August 13, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: Victoria Derbyshire’s heels hiccup **Can the City harness the power of the Netflix model? **The CMA goes for GIFs Media Moment of the Week: Victoria Derbyshire’s heels hiccup Late on Wednesday evening prolific BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire tweeted to say she’d be on air three times in a [...]
Big screen bonanza: Londoners set for film fest with free Trafalgar Square screenings August 12, 2021 Trafalgar Square will play host to a string of free film screenings later this month as part of a major campaign to bring people back into London and boost the UK film industry. Over the Bank Holiday weekend Londoners and visitors will be able to enjoy the red carpet experience with six free matinee and [...]
BBC weighs sale of iconic Eastenders studios in Elstree August 11, 2021 The BBC is weighing up a sale of its iconic studios at Elstree in north London in a move that could spark a major upheaval for productions such as Eastenders. Real estate consultant Lambert Smith Hampton has reportedly surveyed the site ahead of a possible disposal, although no decision has been reached. The studio complex [...]
Covid: West End shows halted as self-isolation rules hit theatres August 10, 2021 While the end of lockdown restrictions promised a show-stopping return for the West End, self-isolation troubles mean London theatres are still being forced to put productions on ice. Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jersey Boys and The Lion King have all been forced to cancel performances in recent days after cast or crew members were [...]
Twitter to introduce autoblocking after Euro 2020 racist abuse August 10, 2021 Twitter will trial automatic blocking of accounts that post harmful language after Brits used the platform to hurl racist abuse at England footballers following the Euros final. The social media giant said the UK was “by far” the biggest source of abusive tweets sent on the night of England’s defeat to Italy and in the [...]