ITV holds talks with BT as it eyes Champions League broadcast rights January 12, 2020 ITV is said to be in discussions with rival BT as it looks to secure broadcast rights to Champions League football matches. The public service broadcaster is eyeing up a bid for a package of games held by the telecoms giant after losing out in an auction in November, the Sunday Times reported. Read more: [...]
Samira Ahmed claims victory in BBC equal pay tribunal January 10, 2020 Samira Ahmed has won an equal pay employment tribunal against the BBC. The TV presenter claimed she was underpaid for hosting Newswatch in comparison with the salary Jeremy Vine commanded for his similarly-structured audience feedback programme, Points of View. Read more: Samira Ahmed v BBC: The court case over a 600 per cent pay gap [...]
Sun launches US website in bid to boost online audience January 9, 2020 The Sun has quietly launched a US version of its website as the British tabloid looks to emulate its online success across the pond. The paper, which is part of Rupert Murdoch’s News UK empire, announced in a tweet yesterday that Sun US is now live, though the rollout was accompanied by limited fanfare. Read [...]
Journalists’ union hits back at Harry and Meghan in royal reporting row January 9, 2020 The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) today hit back at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after the Royal couple launched its latest attack on the media over alleged misreporting. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sent shockwaves through the nation yesterday when they announced plans to step back as senior members of the Royal family. [...]
Netflix rival Quibi to launch short video platform in April January 9, 2020 A new streaming service hoping to shake up the crowded on-demand market with its bite-size videos has announced that it will launch in the US in April. Quibi, which has raised an eye-watering $1bn (£766m), has assembled some of the biggest names in Hollywood to produce original shows that are 10 minutes or shorter. Read [...]
Government ‘minded to intervene’ in Daily Mail’s i newspaper takeover January 9, 2020 The government today said it was “minded” to intervene in the Daily Mail owner’s £50m takeover of the i newspaper. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) warned the deal, which was agreed with current i owner JPI Media in November, could raise public interest concerns. Read more: Watchdog gives hold separate order [...]
Twitter trials function to block all replies January 9, 2020 Twitter is trialling a new feature that allows users to block replies on their posts in a bid to cut down on online abuse. The social media giant announced the trial at Las Vegas’ Consumer Electronics Show, and will be brought in alongside an option to choose who can reply to posts. Read more: General [...]
DEBATE: Was the British Museum right to bypass BP as a sponsor for its Arctic exhibition? January 9, 2020 Was the British Museum right to bypass BP as a sponsor for its Arctic exhibition? Marine Tanguy, chief executive of MTArt Agency, says YES. I completely understand why the British Museum would be embarrassed to take the sponsorship of BP while discussing the Arctic in its next exhibition, one of the regions most affected by [...]
BBC commercial arm ‘has more to do’ as streaming competition heats up January 9, 2020 The BBC’s commercial division must up its game if it is to fend off fierce competition from deep-pocketed streaming rivals, according to the public spending watchdog. In 2018 the broadcaster created BBC Studios by bringing together its commercial production and distribution arms into one distinct body. Read more: BBC ‘may not be sustainable’ in current [...]
Public affairs giant Cicero joins Havas’ AMO network ahead of potential acquisition January 8, 2020 The UK’s largest public affairs agency Cicero is set to join AMO, a network of communications firms owned by or affiliated to Paris-based media giant Havas. Cicero, which is currently based in the City, will move into Havas’ Kings Cross headquarters this weekend. Read more: PR giants embroiled in war of words after Tulchan appoints [...]