Newspapers still benefiting from Brexit bounce despite July circulation dip August 18, 2016 National newspapers appear to have maintained some momentum from their Brexit bounce. The circulations of several paid-for newspapers jumped up in June, the month of the EU referendum. The total circulations of the UK’s 19 paid-for national newspapers jumped 1.5 per cent from 12.34m in May to 12.52m in June, according to figures from ABC. Read [...]
TalkSport owner shareholders accept takeover by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp August 18, 2016 The takeover of TalkSport owner Wireless by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp has become “unconditional”, the companies have announced. Wireless has received 92.17 per cent backing from shareholders for the takeover, which will lead to the company being delisted from the Irish Stock Exchange. Read more: Rupert Murdoch's News Corp to buy TalkSport owner for £220m [...]
Telegraph not for sale, say owners after rebuffing approaches from two high-profile media figures August 17, 2016 The owners of the Daily Telegraph have reiterated that their newspapers are not for sale after it emerged that two high-profile media figures have approached them about the company this year. Evgeny Lebedev, the owner of the Evening Standard and now online-only Independent newspapers, is understood to have made an informal approach over the availability of Telegraph [...]
The BBC has a new forecaster after it ended its long-term relationship with Met Office August 17, 2016 The BBC has appointed a new weather forecaster after ditching the Met Office. MeteoGroup will take the reins next spring, after the Met Office confirmed its more than 90-year-old relationship with the BBC was ending last summer. Read more: BBC not happy – MPs want to know which of its stars earn more than the PM "MeteoGroup is [...]
Worrying news from the media coalmine: The “maddest left-wing website in the world” is thriving August 16, 2016 Worrying news from the media coalmine – the canary is alive and thriving. Political website The Canary, described by one Telegraph commentator as “the maddest left-wing website in the world”, is now more popular online than the Spectator, New Statesman and Economist, according to one measure. Read more: Are #CorbynFacts factual when it comes to polls? [...]
UK publisher snaps up shopping comparison business from Down Under August 16, 2016 Magazine publisher Future has announced the acquisition of an Australian and south east Asian digital shopping comparison business. The UK company behind Tech Radar and PC Gamer has completed a deal for Next Commerce. The acquisition comes shortly after Future announced a £14.2m takeover deal for fellow UK publisher Imagine. Read more: Magazine publisher imagines bright future with £14.2m [...]
Disney interest? Third parties? Bidding wars? Here’s what analysts think will happen to Peppa Pig owner Entertainment One August 15, 2016 Analysts have named Walt Disney, Vivendi, Lionsgate and Studio Canal as possible suitors for Peppa Pig owner Entertainment One. EOne’s share price was trading at 251p on Monday – up more than 25 per cent from below 200p at the beginning of last week. [stockChart code="ETO" date="2016-08-15 16:40"] This rise has come after the board [...]
Investors Peppa Pig out on EOne shares as more takeover interest emerges August 15, 2016 Peppa Pig owner Entertainment One’s share price soared on Monday morning after more takeover interest in the company emerged over the weekend. Broadcaster ITV had a £1bn bid for EOne rejected last week, with the target company saying the offer “fundamentally undervalues” it. Read more: Competition emerges for ITV in pursuit of Peppa Pig owner [...]
Barter for a living: Astus co-founder Frances Dickens talks media barter, tackling China and risk aversion August 15, 2016 "I can't think of anything more stupid than setting up my own media barter company,” says Frances Dickens candidly. “But it has worked.” Since 2003, the Astus co-founder and her partner Paul Jackson have grown Astus into the largest barter company in the UK, Ireland and Australia, and with it, the size of the market [...]
Competition emerges for ITV in pursuit of Peppa Pig owner EOne August 14, 2016 Private equity giant KKR is said to be considering a bid for Peppa Pig owner Entertainment One. News of the interest comes after ITV had a £1bn bid for EOne rejected last week. Read more: Peppa Pig maker turns down £1bn takeover offer KKR held talks with EOne’s main shareholder, Canadian pension fund CPPIB, before ITV’s [...]