Disney scraps successor plans, extends CEO Bob Iger’s deal – and adds bonus of 500 per cent his salary July 13, 2023 Disney boss Bob Iger has extended his contract by two years with his annual bonus potentially reaching five times its previous size. Originally set to expire next year, Iger’s contract will now run through the end of 2026. The boosted bonus means Iger could receive up to 500 per cent of his annual base salary [...]
Hipgnosis working to increase shareholder value after investor complaints July 13, 2023 The boss of Hipgnosis said today that the song management company is working on options to increase shareholder value after investors complained about its dwindling share price. “I am aligned with shareholders in believing that the fundamental value and opportunity of the company fails to be reflected in the current share price,” Merck Mercuriadis, Hipgnosis boss [...]
Ofcom opens Virgin Media probe after customers struggle to ditch contracts July 13, 2023 Ofcom has launched an investigation into whether Virgin Media broke rules surrounding contract termination and the handling of complaints. The company has gained the attention of Ofcom after customers filed a significant number of complaints that the firm was making it difficult for them to cancel contracts. The UK communications regulator said their rules are [...]
Channel 4 bosses decline pay rise as staff battle cost of living crisis and revenues dip July 12, 2023 Channel 4 boss Alex Mahon said the broadcaster’s top executives declined a pay rise and deferred their bonuses to stay “in line” with staff who are battling the cost-of-living crisis amid a “tough downturn” in the advertising market for the channel. The broadcaster’s annual report published on Wednesday said it had to “significantly” tighten the [...]
Investors call on Hipgnosis to sell songs as share price dwindles July 12, 2023 Investors in Hipgnosis Song Management, which owns songs by Rihanna, Nirvana and Justin Bieber, have called on the company to sell some of its holdings as the firm’s share price flounders. Hipgnosis’ share price – which trades as Hipgnosis Songs Fund on the FTSE 250 – has fallen around 30 per cent over the last [...]
CMA agrees pause on Microsoft appeal after US court waves through Activision deal July 12, 2023 The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said it is willing to work with Microsoft over its planned acquisition of video game company Activision Blizzard, which could help end its legal battle with the firms over the deal. It comes after a US judge yesterday handed Microsoft a victory by saying it would not [...]
BT successor has their work cut out, say analysts July 10, 2023 The successor of outgoing BT boss Philip Jansen faces a tough job ahead as the company battles poor earnings amid the pressure to rollout 5G, analysts have warned. It comes as BT confirmed today Jansen will step down “at an appropriate moment” within the next year. “Whoever takes the hot seat at BT will be [...]
Meta Threads rivalry with Twitter intensifies as lawsuit looms July 10, 2023 Meta and Twitter’s rivalry has escalated with the successful launch of Threads and the threat of a lawsuit, but analysts suggest that Twitter still has fight left. Threads, Meta’s highly anticipated app, amassed over 70m subscribers within days of its recent launch. The app’s availability caused a staggering 455 per cent surge in Meta’s stock, [...]
Taylor Swift Eras tour set to break records as tickets go on pre-sale July 10, 2023 TICKETS for Taylor Swift’s European tour are set to go on sale this week, with predictions of sky-high prices on the secondary market. The star’s highly anticipated “Eras Tour” is expected to make a significant impact as it heads to Europe, with projections it will become the highest-grossing tour of all time, surpassing $1.5bn (£1.17bn) [...]
FT undergoes B2B subscription rebrand in growth drive July 10, 2023 The Financial Times (FT) has given its B2B service a makeover in a bid to attract more subscribers and boost revenue. Rebranded as ‘FT Professional’, the British broadsheet has freshened up its infamous pink palette with a splash of mint green. Catering to over 8,000 businesses, governments and educational institutions worldwide, FT Professional aims to [...]