Publishing and events company Ascential reports return to pre-tax profit in 2015 after flotation this year March 14, 2016 Ascential, the Cannes Lions advertising festival owner that floated on the London Stock Exchange this year, returned to pre-tax profit in 2015. The figures Ascential reported revenue growth of 6.1 per cent to £319.1m. This growth was down from seven per cent in 2014. Its pre-tax profit for 2015 was £8.4m, up from a loss of £5.4m the year before. The [...]
Digital marketing company Be Heard agrees deal to acquire MMT Digital for up to £20.5m March 14, 2016 Digital marketing company Be Heard has conditionally agreed to acquire MMT Digital for up to £20.5m. If approved by shareholders, Be Heard would pay an initial £5.1m for the design, build and user experience agency. And an additional £15.4m could be paid subject to performance. Be Heard announced a temporary suspension of trading on the [...]
Channel 4 chief executive warns privatisation would be “a solution in search of a problem” March 8, 2016 Channel 4’s chief executive today made the case for the network to remain public, saying: “Privatisation is a solution in search of a problem." Channel 4’s revenue was £938m in 2014, and David Abraham said he expects turnover to exceed £1bn in 2016. He also said Channel 4 has reserves of more than £200m, meaning it [...]
TV producer ITN sets out 2020 vision, with plans to increase revenue by 50 per cent and grow US presence five-fold March 7, 2016 Television producer ITN has set out plans to boost its revenue by 50 per cent in the coming years. The company, which creates content for ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, is aiming for a turnover of more than £180m by the end of 2020. Read more: ITV shares drop despite growth and Euro football hopes [...]
As culture secretary John Whittingdale enters the ad blocking debate, will regulation help? March 7, 2016 Last week, culture secretary John Whittingdale branded ad blocking companies as a “modern day protection racket”, recognising the existential threat which the tech poses to the music and publishing industries. Whitelisting, which sees ad blocking firms approve the advertising of those willing to pay them for the privilege, came in for particular criticism. “My natural political [...]
Facing the muzak: Imagesound’s Derek Mapp talks jazz, Aim and Black Sabbath March 7, 2016 Lift music, or muzak, has got a bad name. But since the 60s, studies have found that in-store background music directly affects customer shopping behaviour and the amount they spend. With the high street relying more and more on a better shopping experience, ambience is everything. In 1998, angel investor Derek Mapp helped to found Muzak [...]
In pictures: Rupert Murdoch marries Jerry Hall with Fleet Street wedding ceremony attended by Bob Geldof, Michael Caine, Andrew Lloyd Webber and other friends March 5, 2016 Media mogul Rupert Murdoch and actress Jerry Hall have held a ceremony to celebrate their marriage at a church near Fleet Street. Friends and family of the couple, including actor Michael Caine, musician Bob Geldof and artist Tracey Emin gathered at St Bride's Church – known as the "journalist's church" – in London. Read more: Can [...]
As Jerry Hall and Rupert Murdoch walk down the aisle, we sum up weddings in numbers: from venue costs and gift lists to tax tips for married couples and engagement ring costs March 4, 2016 Love is in the air, especially if you're in London. Media mogul Rupert Murdoch and supermodel Jerry Hall have, according to various reports, tied the knot today at Spencer House. The two seem like a financially-savvy pair so we're sure they'd appreciate knowing these numbers behind weddings: 1. Friends and family thinking about their budget for [...]
ITV shares dip despite broadcaster reporting rising revenue, profit growth, special dividend ahead of expected Euro football ad boost March 2, 2016 ITV’s shares dipped this morning after reporting a worse-than-expected outlook for the first quarter of 2016, despite a strong set of full year results. Total revenue across the company was £2.97bn, up from £2.59bn in 2014. The company reported a six per cent growth in net advertising revenue to £1.72bn. Online, pay and interactive revenue, meanwhile, was up [...]
BBC’s self-regulating trust should be scrapped, independent report by former Bank of England deputy governor finds March 1, 2016 The BBC’s self-regulating body, the BBC Trust, should be scrapped, a new independent report has suggested. Sir David Clementi, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, was tasked with conducting the review into how the BBC is regulated and governed as part of the Government's review of the corporation’s Royal Charter. He has recommended today that the BBC Trust [...]