Talk of studio sale sends ITV shares soaring October 17, 2022 With shares down over 40 per cent this year, ITV was lifted this afternoon following rumours that it was mulling a sale of its studio arm. According to initial reports from the Financial Times, the maker of both Coronation Street and Love Island is said to be actively reviewing whether to dump its stake in [...]
Kanye West snaps up free speech social media firm Parler in bid to ‘change the world’ October 17, 2022 Kanye West is set to buy right-wing social media app Parler, with the vision to “change the world” with a new free speech vision. Parler was banned by both Google and Apple in 2021 after it was used during the Capitol riots in Washington DC. It was accused of the proliferation of posts on violent political [...]
Just Stop Oil activists throw soup at Van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting October 14, 2022 Just Stop Oil activists have thrown a can of soup at Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” masterpiece in the National Gallery this morning. The two women walked into the room in the National Gallery where the famous artwork is hung and at 11am threw the contents of two tins of Heinz Tomato soup over the painting. [...]
Royal Mail to cut 6,000 jobs by March as losses balloon October 14, 2022 As many as 6,000 Royal Mail staff could lose their job by next summer as the firm tries to counter losses driven by strike action and stunted growth plans. The firm said that it expects its full year adjusted operating loss to tumble to £350m, including the direct, immediate impact of eight days of industrial [...]
Netflix to launch new ad tier for £4.99 next month to win back subscribers October 13, 2022 Netflix has confirmed that its new basic ad-supported offering will launch next month, setting more frugal Brits back £4.99 a month. The new option will be an addition to existing plans, but will mean users who want to save a bit of cash will have to watch an average of four to five minutes of [...]
Royal Mail workers kick off 19 day strike action October 13, 2022 The biggest strike of the year continues today as 115,000 postal workers will come out for a “dignified, proper pay rise”. Members of the Communication Workers Union – which represents Royal Mail Group workers – have kicked off the first day of their 19 day strike. The decision follows the union’s ballot for strike action [...]
Advertising regulator says govt broke rules with series of articles in local papers October 12, 2022 The advertising regulator has ruled the government broke the law with a series of advertorials in local newspapers. The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities published pieces on March 13 on the websites of the Grimsby Telegraph, Derby Telegraph, Birmingham Mail, Leicestershire Mercury and Newcastle Chronicle, and on Cornwall Live and Wales Online. Labour [...]
The analyst: Why now’s the time to invest in advertising, not run from it October 12, 2022 Ian Whittaker is a City analyst, and the current City A.M. Analyst of the Year. Shaky seems to be the best word for the start of results season on Wall Street – at least, compared to the generally positive message we received at the last quarterly go-around. Companies such as Carnival and FedEx – seen [...]
Netflix and counted: Streaming giant agrees for UK TV agency to measure audience October 12, 2022 Viewers will finally be able to get a glimpse into how many people are watching Netflix, with the US streaming giant set to join external TV ratings agency Barb (Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board). From November, viewing figures for the streaming giant will be reported by the organisation, which compiles audience measurement and TV ratings in [...]
Hollywood and West End go into mourning for London legend Angela Lansbury October 12, 2022 Remembering Dame Angela Lansbury as “one of the last Golden Age of Hollywood stars” and a “Broadway and West End icon” following her death, heavyweights from across the film, television and live theatre industries have gone into mourning. Born in London, The Irish-British and American actress, best known for her role as Jessica Fletcher in [...]