Porn-no more for Richard Desmond as he sells adult entertainment network Portland TV for less than £1m April 1, 2016 Richard Desmond, the owner of the Daily Express and Daily Star newspapers, has sold his adult entertainment network. Northern and Shell has announced the sale of Portland TV, the company behind Television X and Red Hot, for less than £1m as part of a management buy-out deal. Read more: Desmond hopes Mirror boss "Fox off" [...]
Former New York Times editor Jill Abramson to join Guardian as political columnist March 28, 2016 The former executive editor of the New York Times, Jill Abramson, will formally join the Guardian's US arm as a political columnist, the newspaper announced today. "For over 40 years, Jill has been a trailblazer for women in journalism, and brings an unparalleled knowledge of the relationship between politics and the media in the US," Lee [...]
As last edition of Independent newspaper is published, owner says future will be “global, digital – and profitable” March 26, 2016 The final edition of The Independent newspaper came out today. And owner Evgeny Lebedev described the future of the title as "global, digital – and profitable". The last edition of The Independent featured a nearly-blank cover stating: "Stop press". Today's @Independent, with stunning cover wrap and splash, is the best newspaper in Britain. Also our last. Buy it! [...]
Benefits of Channel 4 privatisation “inherently uncertain”, Ernst and Young report commissioned by broadcaster finds March 23, 2016 The benefits of privatising Channel 4 are "inherently uncertain", according to a new report commissioned by the broadcaster. Channel 4 has today published a report produced by Ernst and Young (EY) as the government reviews whether it should have a different ownership structure. It emerged last summer that the government was considering privatising Channel 4. [...]
Independent journalists facing pay cuts of up to 50 per cent if they switch from newspaper to online-only title March 22, 2016 Independent newspaper journalists switching from print to digital are facing pay cuts of up to 50 per cent. The National Union of Journalists has said it is "concerned for the future" of The Independent, which is moving this week to become digital-only. And The Guardian today reports that some journalists are being asked to take pay cuts of [...]
Johnston Press share price shoots up after newspaper publisher reports pre-tax profits rise of more than 20 per cent ahead of i deal completion March 22, 2016 Shares in newspaper publisher Johnston Press shot up this morning after the company reported a pre-tax profits rise of more than 20 per cent. The figures In the 52 weeks to 2 January 2016, Johnston Press reported a 6.8 per cent year-on-year fall in revenue, from £260m to £242.3m. But the company also cut its [...]
After the government’s volte-face on the sugar tax, will marketeers be left with a crashing low? March 22, 2016 Should the announcement of a sugar tax in last week’s Budget have marketeers worried? It certainly represents a volte-face on the part of the government. In October, when the advisory group Public Health England (PHE) released a report recommending measures to tackle childhood obesity, including a sugar tax of 10 to 20 per cent, a [...]
The Underground adland: After winning TfL’s £1.1bn advertising contract, Exterion Media boss Jason Cotterrell lays out his subterranean vision March 22, 2016 City A.M. may thoroughly engross commuters during their morning Tube journey. But once you’ve alighted, navigating the bustling corridors and escalators of the Underground requires your undivided attention. For the brands and companies which advertise on its billboards, London’s transport network presents a rare opportunity. “In the main, users are younger, affluent, in work, and [...]
Advertising company Exterion Media wins £1.1bn Transport for London contract March 17, 2016 Advertising company Exterion Media has won a Transport for London (TfL) contract worth more than £1bn. The partnership will begin on 1 October 2016 and was described by TfL as the largest outdoor advertising contract in the world. As part of the agreement, Exterion will oversee advertising on trains and at more than 400 stations across [...]
Newspaper publisher Guardian Media Group announces plans to cut 250 jobs as part of bid to break even March 17, 2016 Guardian Media Group, the owner of The Guardian and Observer newspapers, has announced plans to cut 250 jobs. The publisher said 100 of the jobs will be editorial and also said it would be restructuring less profitable parts of the company. The other 150 jobs are expected to come from commercial departments. Read more: Guardian reveals [...]