The advertising industry isn’t feeling quite so gloomy about Brexit now August 2, 2016 Sir Martin Sorrell’s reaction to the UK’s Brexit vote was: “This is not good news, to say the least.” But the latest forecasts from the advertising industry, including from GroupM, which is part of Sorrell’s WPP, appear more upbeat. In a worst-case scenario, GroupM’s worldwide media and market forecasts report predicts a 4.5 per cent [...]
BBC not happy – MPs want to know which of its stars earn more than the Prime Minister August 2, 2016 The BBC should have to disclose the salaries of all those it pays more than the Prime Minister, a group of influential MPs has ruled. But the corporation is not happy about the suggestion, claiming it would represent a “poacher’s charters” that would not be in the interest of licence fee payers. Currently, while the corporation [...]
Advertising spend is expected to keep growing after Brexit vote (in some sectors, at least) August 2, 2016 Advertising expenditure in the UK is predicted to grow this year and next, despite uncertainty around the Brexit vote. But forecasts from the Advertising Association/ Warc Expenditure Report are down on previous estimates from before the EU referendum. Total UK adspend is expected to grow 4.2 per cent to £20.9bn this year, down from the [...]
Ascential step away from print advertising exposure helps media company grow August 1, 2016 Ascential, the business-to-business media company that floated in London this year, has reported a 13.5 per cent revenue growth in the first half of the year. The figures Turnover on a reported basis was £202.5m, up from £178.4m in the first half of 2015. The company’s adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda), [...]
Trinity Mirror boss: New Day failed because consumers didn’t want what they said they wanted August 1, 2016 Trinity Mirror’s New Day newspaper – launched this year and closed after less than three months – failed because consumers did not want what they said they wanted, according to the publisher’s chief executive. Asked why the daily title did not succeed, Simon Fox told City A.M.: “I think because, at the end of the day, what [...]
No Brexit blues for Dave, Del Boy or Rodney: Business as usual for UKTV after referendum August 1, 2016 It’s “business as usual” for UKTV, the owner of TV channels Dave and Gold, after the UK’s Brexit vote. The company has today reported that it is “outpacing the British broadcast market”, with a record share of commercial impacts (SOCI), claiming 9.74 per cent, and “significant growth” of audience share and on-demand viewing in the first half [...]
Branding and buyouts: Brand Union’s Toby Southgate on corporate takeovers, Tesco’s farms and Tesla’s higher purpose August 1, 2016 Perceptions of brands change over time,” says Toby Southgate, worldwide chief executive of Brand Union. “And building them takes a long time. It’s not about the final push over the line.” A consultative arm of WPP, Brand Union specialises in brand strategy, and has shaped the identity of some of the world’s biggest names, including Vodafone, Absolut [...]
Mobile momentum: Why advertising on handheld devices will allow Google and Facebook to sustain their remarkable growth August 1, 2016 If there was any lingering doubt about the potential of mobile advertising, it was put paid to last week. Advertising’s two behemoths, Google and Facebook, beat analysts’ expectations for growth in the second quarter, thanks largely to the rise of mobile advertising. In its statement, Google’s parent company Alphabet said that not only were companies continuing [...]
David McCourt explains why micro-working is vital, and why he’s so disappointed by Trump and Clinton August 1, 2016 Do you mind always having to up sticks?” I ask David McCourt, founder, chairman and chief executive of telecoms and media investment firm Granahan McCourt, in regard to his likely move to London later this year. “No,” he replies. “I was only in the house my kids grew up in for 14 days last year; I’m [...]
Winter is coming for Game of Thrones as HBO reveals final season July 31, 2016 It's time to say goodbye to John Snow for real this time… on the small screen, at least. The show of the century, Game of Thrones, is officially coming to an end, its maker HBO has said. There will be just two more seasons of the hit show which has been a cash cow (or should that [...]