Boost for broadcasters as filming resumes on film and TV productions May 12, 2020 Filming on UK film and TV productions will be allowed to resume from this week as long as social distancing guidelines are observed, the government has confirmed. Firms had been forced to halt work on productions across the UK after the country was plunged into lockdown to stop the spread of Covid-19. But the sector [...]
Hackers hit celebrity law firm used by Madonna and Elton John May 12, 2020 A law firm used by A-list celebrities including Madonna, Elton John and Lady Gaga has been hacked by cyber attackers. The website for Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks has crashed and hackers claim to have 756 gigabytes of data including contracts and personal emails. The cybercriminals have released an image purporting to show a Madonna [...]
Hamilton film to be streamed from July as Disney Plus fast-tracks release May 12, 2020 A filmed version of Hamilton will be available to stream on Disney Plus this summer after the entertainment giant fast-tracked the release of the blockbuster musical. The original Broadway production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s founding fathers favourite will be available worldwide on the streaming service from 3 July — just in time for Independence Day in [...]
The Long Read: Sir Martin Sorrell on advertising, coronavirus and the new media landscape May 7, 2020 Sir Martin Sorrell has bestrode the ad world for decades – and in the midst of a global pandemic that has hit the industry hard, he’s understandably got some thinking to do. Christopher Jackson spoke to the ad mogul, and his interview for finitoworld – the organisation’s online magazine – is republished here. Prior to [...]
Shares in Mirror publisher Reach jump despite Covid-19 revenue hit May 7, 2020 Shares in Daily Mirror publisher Reach jumped as much as 12 per cent this morning as “unprecedented” demand helped to offset investor concerns about a decline in revenue. The newspaper group, which also owns the Daily Express and a host of regional titles, reported a 13.1 per cent decline in revenue in the four months [...]
S4 Capital shares rise as advertising firm shrugs off Covid-19 hit May 7, 2020 Shares in S4 Capital rose as much as six per cent in early trading as the advertising firm boosted first-quarter revenue despite the impact of the coronavirus crisis. S4 Capital’s like-for-life revenue increased 17 per cent in the first three months of the year to £71m, while gross profit was up 22 per cent on [...]
New York Times hits 6m subscribers but warns of advertising slump May 6, 2020 The New York Times has posted a record rise in new subscribers for the first quarter but warned of a slump in advertising revenue caused by the Covid-19 crisis. The newspaper added 587,000 new digital subscriptions in the first three months of the year, taking its total to more than 6m across digital and print. [...]
Analysis: Can Disney Plus rescue the House of Mouse? May 6, 2020 Disney last night laid bare the extent of the damage from the coronavirus crisis, which has sent shockwaves through all parts of the entertainment giant’s business. Chairman Bob Iger warned of “unprecedented challenges” as the company reported a $1.4bn (£1.3bn) hit to first-quarter operating income. With lockdown shutting down its theme parks, cruises and its [...]
Barclaycard signs concert sponsorship deal with Global May 6, 2020 Barclaycard has inked a three-year deal with Global to sponsor its flagship pop concerts as the companies turn their focus to live events after the coronavirus lockdown. The partnership includes headline sponsorship of the Capital Summertime Ball and Jingle Bell Ball — the first time the two events have been sponsored together. The Summertime Ball [...]
ITV advertising revenue collapses in April amid Covid-19 crisis May 6, 2020 ITV has warned of a slump in advertising revenue for April as the coronavirus crisis ravages the broadcaster’s business model. ITV’s total revenue fell seven per cent in the first quarter to £694m as the pandemic began to take its toll. Revenue from ITV Studios dropped 11 per cent as the company was forced to [...]