Political opposition to Murdoch takeover of Sky mounts December 10, 2016 Former Labour leader Ed Miliband, former business secretary Vince Cable and influential campaign group Hacked Off have all voiced their opposition to the possibility of a 21st Century Fox takeover of Sky. Although media analysts appear to believe the deal is unlikely to be blocked by regulators, the news has attracted a number of objections in the [...]
21st Century Fox takeover of Sky unlikely to be blocked by regulators, say media analysts December 10, 2016 Media analysts do not believe regulators would block a takeover of Sky by Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox. Fox said last night it had reached an agreement in principle to acquire the 61 per cent of Sky it does not already own for £10.75 per share. This would value Sky at £18.5bn. Murdoch’s News Corporation [...]
21st Century Fox in talks to buy Sky, valuing UK firm at £18.5bn December 9, 2016 Sky’s share price leapt by more than 30 per cent on Friday afternoon after the company said it was in talks to be taken over by Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox. The directors of both companies have reached an agreement at £10.75 per share in cash – putting an overall value of Sky at £18.5bn. Fox [...]
Shares fall as Daily Mail publisher reveals details of £315m Euromoney stake sale December 9, 2016 Financial information business Euromoney saw its share price drop nine per cent on Friday morning as Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) revealed details of its plans sell part of its stake in the company. DMGT’s share price fell two per cent also after the company, which publishes the Daily Mail, said it plans to raise [...]
Facebook’s review of the year: What were the topics we discussed online in 2016? December 8, 2016 What sticks out about 2016 for you? Is it the massive political upheaval? The incredible number of global superstars who passed away? Or Pokemon? In case you need a bit of help recalling the events of what's been a fairly intense 12 months, Facebook has helpfully revealed the topics that got the most attention online [...]
Have yourself an analogue Christmas: Vinyl outsold digital downloads for the first time last week December 6, 2016 It's going to be a crackly, scratchy sort of Christmas this year, after new figures showed sales of vinyl outstripped those of downloaded music for the first time since the advent of digital downloads last week. The Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) said £2.4m was spent on vinyl albums in week 48 of 2016, compared with £2.1m [...]
Brands need to grow a backbone and stop pandering to the left’s virtue signalling December 5, 2016 On both sides of the pond, a censorious precedent is being set in the name of “brand values”. It’s a petulant reaction to the moral posturing of internet losers. And I don’t mean “losers” in the perjorative, playground sense – I mean literally, those on the losing side of either Brexit, or the presidential election. [...]
Newspaper group chairman to leave, with former News International executive taking up interim role December 2, 2016 The chairman of newspaper publisher Johnston Press is stepping down due to an “acute illness in his family”. Ian Russell will depart the company, which owns more than 200 local newspapers and the i, from 31 December. Read more: Johnston Press confirms late-stage discussions to sell East Anglia papers The company has begun searching for [...]
The editor of the Daily Mail has resigned from a press committee in the most Daily Mail way possible December 1, 2016 Paul Dacre, the editor of the Daily Mail, has announced he is stepping down from a committee that sets out regulatory rules for the press. And, being the editor of the Daily Mail, he has refused to go quietly – taking a swipe at a challenger press regulator, Max Mosley, the government and… the internet. Read [...]
Daily Mail publisher’s shares shoot up despite print advertising woes December 1, 2016 Shares in the owner of the Daily Mail jumped five per cent this morning despite the company reporting falling profits amid print advertising troubles. The figures Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) reported adjusted revenue up four per cent to £1.9bn in preliminary results for the year to 30 September. But operating profit fell four per [...]