Media minister warns Channel 4 could be privatised in fresh broadcasting row October 6, 2020 Media minister John Whittingdale today said the government was mulling a sale of Channel 4 as he launched a fresh salvo on the publicly-owned broadcaster. Speaking at a virtual event during the Tory party conference, Whittingdale said ministers were debating the Great British Bake Off broadcaster’s future amid competition from streaming services such as Netflix [...]
Licence to kill: Will the Bond debacle be fatal for the UK’s cinema sector? October 6, 2020 It was a plot twist that would have made Ian Fleming proud. For decades James Bond has been a leading light of cinema, delivering a reliable string of blockbuster hits to line pockets in Hollywood. But overnight the suave spy has been transformed into a villain, and has left cinemas fighting for survival. The decision [...]
Queen praises ‘invaluable’ role of trusted news during Covid-19 crisis October 5, 2020 The Queen has thrown her weight behind trusted news organisations, praising them for providing an “invaluable” service during the coronavirus pandemic. The monarch hailed the “vital” work of the mainstream news media amid a proliferation of fake and misleading news on social media. In a letter to industry body News Media Association, the monarch said [...]
Former No 10 spin doctor Sir Robbie Gibb tipped for BBC chairman role October 5, 2020 Former Downing Street spin doctor Sir Robbie Gibb is said to have taken pole position in the race to become the next chairman of the BBC. Gibb, who served as Theresa May’s communications director and formerly headed up the BBC’s political output, was being lined up for a non-executive position on the broadcaster’s board. But [...]
PR outfit Hawthorn poaches BBC veteran Ross Hawkins: ‘right opportunity at the right time’ October 5, 2020 Ross Hawkins is leaving the BBC after nearly two decades, joining Westminister public relations firm Hawthorn Advisors, the political correspondent confirmed to City A.M. “It’s been brilliant fun [at the BBC], but this is the right opportunity at the right time,” Hawkins said. The seasoned reporter, who joined the BBC in 2001, said one of [...]
New BBC boss Tim Davie ‘prepared to fire stars’ who break impartiality rules September 29, 2020 The BBC’s new director general today said he is prepared to fire high-profile figures who break the broadcaster’s devout impartiality rules on social media. In his first major move at the helm, Tim Davie, who took up the post earlier this month, said the corporation will publish new social media rules next month which will [...]
Andrew Neil to leave BBC and lead new UK TV news channel September 26, 2020 Andrew Neil is set to leave the BBC and lead a rival news channel backed by US group Discovery. GB News plans to launch in early 2021 with Neil as its chair and top presenter. The channel is aiming to bring a talk-radio style to the UK “underserved and unheard by their media” and upend [...]
Hipgnosis plots £250m share placing to fund song buying spree September 21, 2020 Hipgnosis today announced plans to raise £250m through a share placing as the music royalties investment firm ploughs on with its aggressive expansion strategy. The London-listed company said it aims to raise the funds through the placing of up to 216m new ordinary shares at 116p per share. It will also offer up to 3.6m [...]
Telegraph boosts profit as subscriber numbers hit fresh high September 17, 2020 The Telegraph has reported a sharp rise in profit for the year after its ongoing shift to a subscription model helped drive subscriber numbers to a record high. Telegraph Media Group (TMG), which publishes the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph and Telegraph website, pulled in operating profit before exceptional items of £14.3m last year. This was [...]
Barack Obama’s memoirs to be published after US election in November September 17, 2020 The eagerly-awaited memoirs of former president Barack Obama will be published in the wake of the US election in November. A Promised Land — the first of two volumes — will be released globally on 17 November, the book’s publisher confirmed today. “There’s no feeling like finishing a book, and I’m proud of this one,” [...]