Sky News cancels Tory leadership debate after Boris Johnson refuses to take part June 24, 2019 Sky News today said it has cancelled its scheduled debate between the two remaining Tory leadership after Boris Johnson refused to take part. Earlier this month Sky unveiled plans for a head-to-head debate between the last two contenders, which was due to take place tomorrow evening. Read more: Boris Johnson shirks Channel 4 TV debate [...]
WPP confirms sale of post-production house The Farm Group to US rival June 21, 2019 WPP has confirmed the sale of its TV and film post-production firm The Farm Group to LA-based rival Picture Shop. Read more: Sorrell poaches two former media executives with links to WPP for new venture S4 Capital The ad giant today said it has signed a deal to sell its 75 per cent stake in [...]
Creative advertising ‘in crisis’ as brands pursue short-term targets June 19, 2019 The advertising industry is suffering a crisis in creativity as both brands and industry awards pursue short-term targets, according to a report published today. Read more: Ad industry faces ‘brain drain’ amid creativity crisis The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) has warned creativity no longer translates into effective marketing, with award-winning creative campaigns now [...]
Premier League most active user of High Court in attempt to crackdown on copyright breaches June 17, 2019 Football and music bodies are the most active users of the UK High Court as they try to crack down on copyright breaches, research published today shows. The organisation that brought the most claims to the High Court last year was the Premier League, with 36 claims in the year to 31 March. The Performing [...]
Vodafone taps up Onecom for partner deal June 16, 2019 Onecom has today announced a deal with Vodafone UK – the telecoms giant’s largest ever signed partnership – which will allow the two to reach combined business of £600m over the next five years. Following a £30m funding deal with HSBC last month, Onecom said its deal with Vodafone aims to deliver more than £100m [...]
Independent and Evening Standard could face probe over Saudi stakes June 13, 2019 The Independent and the Evening Standard could face an inquiry over public interest concerns after a mysterious Saudi investor took major stakes in the titles. Culture secretary Jeremy Wright today said he is mulling an investigation into the groups behind the two newspapers, amid fears the deals could compromise freedom of expression and the accurate [...]
Podcast listeners outspend their peers, report finds June 13, 2019 Podcast listeners outspend their peers by as much as 179 per cent, a new study has revealed, in a sign that brands can cash in on avid on-demand audiences. People who listen to podcasts spend significantly more in all areas than those who do not, with the starkest contrast found among millennials, according to figures [...]
Sky puts Netflix in its sights as it doubles investment after Chernobyl success June 12, 2019 Sky has unveiled plans to double its investment in original programming as it looks to build on the success of hit show Chernobyl and take on streaming services such as Netflix. The company said it has secured backing from new owner Comcast to launch Sky Studios, a new Europe-wide development and production division. Read more: [...]
Publishing platform Minute Media raises $40m in funding round June 12, 2019 Digital publishing platform Minute Media has raised $40m (£31m) in a funding round as it looks to ramp up its “aggressive” acquisition strategy. Minute Media said it has secured the investment from new investors Hamilton Lane and Maor Investments, alongside its existing backers. The latest round takes the firm’s total funding to $120m. Read more: [...]
Channel 4 grows revenue as it doubles down on digital June 11, 2019 Channel 4 has posted a modest rise in revenue for the year as it looks to shift its focus to digital viewing amid a “challenging” economic environment. The broadcaster reported a 1.5 per cent rise in revenue to £975m in 2018, as record digital revenue offset a decline in traditional viewing. Pre-tax profit hit £5m, [...]