Covid pandemic has changed online dating, Tinder boss says June 22, 2021 New updates to dating app Tinder will reflect changes in users’ dating behaviour due to the pandemic, moving towards more “holistic” profiles. Tinder’s CEO, Jim Lanzone, told the BBC: “As we know from the past 15 to 18 months, people have really leaned in to getting to know people virtually, even having relationships virtually, before they [...]
David Attenborough calls for govt to stop ‘short-sighted’ attack on broadcasting June 22, 2021 The British broadcaster has put his name to a campaign accusing the government of “short-sighted political and financial attacks” on the UK’s television networks. Sir David Attenborough is the latest media star to support the British Broadcasting Challenge campaign, as the government mulls the privatisation of Channel 4. The 95-year-old presenter today signed the campaign’s [...]
Vivendi shareholders back $40bn Universal Music Spac deal June 22, 2021 Shareholders in Vivendi today backed the company’s plans to spin-off its $40bn Universal Music Group through a Spac deal, marking a major boost for billionaire owner Vincent Bollore. Pershing Square Tontine Holdings, a blank-cheque company run by Bill Ackman, has signed a deal to buy 10 per cent of the iconic record label for $4bn. [...]
Channel 4 boss warns of ‘irreversible’ privatisation risk June 22, 2021 The chief executive of Channel 4 has warned against any “irreversible” decision to privatise the broadcaster, saying it could have a damaging impact on the wider sector. Channel 4 has come under increasing pressure from ministers as they prepare to launch a consultation into a potential sale. Culture secretary Oliver Dowden has previously said that [...]
Youtube handed major victory in EU copyright battle June 22, 2021 The EU has ruled that Youtube is not responsible for copyright-infringing material uploaded to its platform by users, marking a major victory for the social media firm. Music producer Frank Peterson took Youtube and parent company Google to court in Germany after users uploaded several phonograms to which he owns the rights in 2008. Publisher [...]
Murdoch’s News UK ‘held talks’ over BT Sport tie-up June 22, 2021 Rupert Murdoch’s News UK is said to have eyed up a partnership with BT’s TV division as the mogul looks to secure the future of his media empire. News UK, which publishes The Sun and The Times titles, held talks with the telecoms giant over a potential tie-up with BT Sport. Bankers from Lazard were [...]
Audioboom hikes revenue forecasts as podcast ads boom June 22, 2021 Audioboom has hiked its revenue forecasts for the full year after cashing in on strong advertising sales across its podcasting platform. The London-listed company said signed advertising bookings had already hit 99 per cent of its overall expectations for the whole of 2021. As a result, the firm expects revenue to be “significantly” ahead of [...]
GB News boycott: ‘Small but vocal minority is undermining democracy’ June 20, 2021 Democracy in the UK is being undermined by a “small but vocal minority”, the Culture Secretary has said after multiple brands pulled advertising from GB News. Oliver Dowden has warned that basic democratic values can no longer be taken for granted after the upstart channel saw the withdrawal of advertising from companies such as Ikea, [...]
War of WAGs: The Sun shared revenues from leaked Coleen Rooney stories with Rebekah Vardy, court told June 18, 2021 Judges were told this morning that the wife of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, Rebekah Vardy, received positive coverage from newspaper The Sun in return for leaked stories about Coleen Rooney. Rooney accuses Vardy of leaking “false stories” about her private life in late 2019 after carrying out a months-long “sting operation” which saw her [...]
Screenshot: Can GB News survive the ad boycott backlash? June 18, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: Richard Madeley goes full Partridge **Can GB News survive the ad boycott backlash? **London’s bumper fintech float: a Wise move Media Moment of the Week: Richard Madeley goes full Partridge It’s always risky when producers attempt a comeback of an old show, so I was sceptical when I [...]