Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible pauses UK filming after crew Covid cases June 4, 2021 UK-based production of Tom Cruise’s latest Mission: Impossible film has been stopped for two weeks after people tested positive for Covid-19, studio giant Paramount said today. While it is unclear how many tested positive for the virus, which has prolonged releases since March last year, the blockbuster action sequel will resume shooting on 14 June, [...]
Bill Ackman’s Spac closes in on $40bn deal with Universal Music June 4, 2021 Billionaire Bill Ackman’s blank-cheque company is closing in on a deal to buy a 10 per cent stake in Universal Music Group for roughly $4bn (£2.8bn). Pershing Square Tontine Holdings is in talks with Universal’s French owner Vivendi over the deal, which would value the record label at around $40bn. Vivendi, controlled by billionaire Vincent [...]
Screenshot: Is Channel 4 facing a Great British Sell-Off? June 4, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: Baby Musk (Doo, Doo, Doo, Doo, Doo, Doo) **Is Channel 4 facing a Great British Sell-Off? **Etsy dials into Gen Z fashion Media Moment of the Week: Baby Musk (Doo, Doo, Doo, Doo, Doo, Doo) It’s fair to say Elon Musk has a bit of a reputation for [...]
Twitter’s first-ever subscription service goes live June 3, 2021 Twitter today rolled out Twitter Blue, its first subscription service, in Australia and Canada. Users will pay either $3.49 CAD or $4.49 AUD depending on location for access to new features. The service includes features such as a reader mode, the ability to “undo” or edit sent tweets for 30 seconds before they are published, [...]
AMC shares drop over 35 per cent after stock sale announcement June 3, 2021 AMC shares plummeted by over 35% today, prompting the NYSE to briefly halt the stock shortly after open. Shares in AMC turned negative premarket as AMC filed to sell 11.5m in shares. In an SEC filling, the company said: “In accordance with the terms of the Distribution Agreement, we may, through our sales agents, offer [...]
Reality TV stars’ Instagram debt ads banned by watchdog June 2, 2021 Instagram posts by three reality TV stars promoting a debt advice service claiming it could wipe out 85 per cent of people’s debt have been banned by the advertising watchdog. Geordie Shore’s Chloe Ferry, Helen Briggs from Ex On The Beach and Towie’s Myles Barnett, who have more than 4m followers between them, all posted [...]
ITV returns to the FTSE 100 amid summer rebound hopes June 2, 2021 ITV is set to return to the FTSE 100 this month after its shares staged a major rebound since its lows at the height of the pandemic last year. The broadcaster was kicked out of the top flight of the index in September after a major slump in advertising and the cancellation of summer hit [...]
Channel 4 privatisation plans heat up amid media deal frenzy June 1, 2021 Ministers have taken another step forward in plans to explore a potential sale of Channel 4 as the growing popularity of streaming sparks a frenzy of major media dealmaking. The state-owned broadcaster has reportedly been added to a list of assets that could be sold as the Treasury looks to shore up the country’s finances [...]
Sun shines on FTSE 100 amid reshuffle as ITV aims for prime-time slot June 1, 2021 The sun is shining on the FTSE 100 with the index receiving an early summer boost pushing it firmly above the psychologically important 7,000 mark. As the global growth recovery story unfolds, miners in particular are on the front foot today, as high demand for metals in particular push prices higher. Anglo American and Rio [...]
Losing faith: French music firm Believe lowers fundraising target ahead of IPO June 1, 2021 French music firm Believe, which helps artists get discovered on streaming platforms such as Spotify, has trimmed down its fundraising hopes ahead of a stock market float this month. The startup today said it planned to raise €300m (£258m) when it lists on the Euronext Paris exchange — below the €500m initially planned. The price [...]