Theatres warn of ‘devastating’ Brexit impact as pressure grows over touring visas January 28, 2021 UK theatres have called for urgent clarification over post-Brexit touring provisions, warning that a failure to resolve visa rules would have “devastating consequences” for the sector. In a letter to ministers today the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for theatre warned that a current lack of clarity over touring rules posed a major threat to the [...]
Sky owner Comcast beats revenue forecasts on broadband and streaming boost January 28, 2021 The US owner of Sky, Comcast, has posted better-than-expected revenues as broadband sales offset its losses from closed themeparks and empty cinemas
Facebook revenue beats analyst expectations and rises to £28bn in fourth quarter January 27, 2021 Revenue at Facebook rose to $26.44bn in the fourth quarter of 2020, up some $7bn on the same time last year. Facebook beat analysts’ estimates for quarterly revenue on today, powered by increased ad spending by businesses to capitalise on a holiday shopping season driven online by the pandemic. Total revenue, which comprised primarily of [...]
Under the influence: How reality stars’ Dubai trips could sink social media marketing January 27, 2021 While online fitness guru Sheridan Mordew has undoubtedly succeeded at influencing people, she may be struggling to make friends. When the social media influencer, who posts workout videos for her thousands of online followers, insisted that her much-documented trip to Dubai was essential business travel, she was met with little sympathy. In fact, Mordew is [...]
Covid-19 drives growth at Microsoft as cloud business benefits from home working January 26, 2021 Revenue was up at Microsoft in its second quarter, with the pandemic accelerating the company’s switch to cloud-based computing. Microsoft beat Wall Street estimates for revenue growth from Azure, it’s cloud computing service, as the software giant continued to benefit from a global shift to working and learning from home. The company’s shares, which gained about [...]
Facebook launches UK news service in boost for publishers January 26, 2021 Facebook will today start rolling out its dedicated news feed, marking a major boost for publishers in a long-running tussle over online advertising revenue. Facebook News will offer users a selection of curated stories alongside news personalised to their interests from hundreds of national, local and lifestyle outlets. The social media site today said it [...]
Larry King: US talk show host dies after testing positive for Covid-19 January 23, 2021 Larry King, the US talk show legend who quizzed world leaders, politicians and celebrities during a career spanning more than six decades, has died aged 87. The TV star had been admitted to a Los Angeles hospital after testing positive for coronavirus in December. In a statement on social media Ora Media, the production company [...]
Striking a chord: How music rights firms serenaded the stock market January 23, 2021 Anyone who has the misfortune to monitor news updates on the London Stock Exchange will know the name Hipgnosis. Less than a month into 2021, the gauchely-named company has already issued nine wordy announcements. They are not, however, the usual trading updates or dry regulatory disclosures. Instead, Hipgnosis has been on a relentless acquisition spree [...]
Netflix pays £3.2m in UK corporation tax as it ramps up British-made shows January 22, 2021 Netflix pays £3.2m in UK corporation tax as it ramps up British-made shows
No Time to Die: James Bond film release pushed back for third time January 22, 2021 The release of the latest James Bond film has been pushed back for a third time as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. No Time to Die had already been pushed back twice, and will now not hit screens until 8 October, the film’s producers announced today. The Bond blockbuster was originally due to be [...]