UK entertainment and media market tops European charts with £100bn revenue hit June 27, 2023 The UK’s entertainment and media market is expected to hit revenues of £100bn by 2027, according to PwC’s latest forecast. The accounting firm’s Global Entertainment & Media (E&M) Outlook 2023-2027 also expects the UK to cling onto its top position in Europe as the leading E&M market over the next four years. In 2023 the [...]
Vodafone and Three hit back at national security concerns June 26, 2023 Vodafone and Three UK have dismissed concerns about their merger threatening national security after facing criticism from MPs and trade bodies over Three’s ties to China. Three UK, owned entirely by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchinson Holdings, has provoked MPs and trade bodies to flag their concerns that the telecoms company’s links to China may endanger [...]
Dorries blamed as Huawei watchdog report goes unpublished for two years June 26, 2023 The annual report investigating national security risks posed by the Chinese telecoms company Huawei has remained unpublished for nearly two years, raising concerns about government transparency. According to the Telegraph, the decision to shelve the publication of the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC) report was made by the then-culture secretary, Nadine Dorries. Since 2021, [...]
Musk vs Zuck: Twitter and Facebook bosses agree to a… cage fight June 22, 2023 Twitter CEO Elon Musk and Facebook owner Meta’s boss Mark Zuckerberg appear to have agreed to a cage fight. The social media billionaires will scrap it out after Musk, who also owns Tesla, said he was “up for a cage fight” with his tech giant rival. Zuckerberg posted a story on Instagram this morning, showing [...]
Google is ‘killing off industries’ with online ad monopoly, tech bosses tell Westminster committee June 21, 2023 Several small tech companies have accused Google of stifling competition due to its monopoly of the online advertising market – amid calls to increase competition by lawmakers. The House of Lords communications and digital committee heard the tech giant is “killing off industries”, and that its dominance leads to higher prices. In the hearing which [...]
Forget Marvel: Meet the Barbie Universe, says Mattel boss Ynon Kreiz June 21, 2023 Ynon Kreiz is the CEO of a $6bn company, responsible for some of the world’s most recognisable brands, and I’m pressing him on whether or not he has a favourite Barbie. “I wish I had one so I can give you a straight answer,” he says after the third time I ask him. “But I [...]
Online ad spend at favoured platform Google to hit £653bn by 2026 June 19, 2023 Google is the most popular search engine among advertisers and generates the highest revenues out of all major internet companies, a study on global digital marketing has found. According to the research, conducted by linkdaddyseo.com, Google held a majority 58 per cent share in the search advertising market in 2022, beating major competitors such as [...]
Harry and Meghan’s Spotify deal ends after Duchess hosts just one series of her podcast June 16, 2023 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s deal with Spotify has ended following a mutual agreement between the royals and the streaming giant. The parting of the ways was confirmed by a joint statement from Archewell Audio, the couple’s content creation label, and Spotify. Meghan hosted only one series as part of the deal – the [...]
Vodafone and Three UK ‘transformative’ merger sparks speculation over CMA approval June 15, 2023 Britain’s competition regulator is set to scrutinise the long-awaited tie-up of Vodafone and Three, announced yesterday. The deal will create the largest mobile network in the UK. Vodafone boss Margherita Della Valle said the merger is “great for customers, great for the country and great for competition”, but commentators warned last night the CMA was [...]
Vodafone and Three announce long-awaited £15bn UK mega merger June 14, 2023 Vodafone and CK Hutchinson, owner of Three, have announced their long-awaited UK merger today. The new group ‘MergeCo’, now the UK’s biggest mobile operator, was revealed this morning and is valued at £15bn, according to Sky News’ Mark Kleinman. MergeCo is 51 per cent Vodafone owned and 49 per cent CK Hutchinson owned. Vodafone chief [...]