How BT, EE, Plusnet, Talktalk, O2 and Virgin Media misled customers over mid-contract price rises October 9, 2024 Six of the UK’s biggest broadband providers, BT, EE, Plusnet, Talktalk, O2 and Virgin Media, failed to make mid-contract price increases clear to consumers, the advertising watchdog has ruled. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said the companies misled consumers by placing important information about price rises separately to headline prices and in areas of less [...]
The Independent’s profit soars after TV and US growth October 7, 2024 British online news site The Independent has seen profits soar on the back of its success in TV and US expansion, lining it up for double-digit revenue growth in 2024. In its financial year 2023, operating profit shot up by 82 per cent to £3.5m, from £1.9m the previous year, despite flat annual revenue at [...]
Sir Ridley Scott’s production company in the red after battling ‘turbulent waters’ October 4, 2024 Sir Ridley Scott’s production company fell into the red as it battled with the “turbulent waters” of the film and TV industry, it has been revealed. Ridley Scott Associates has reported a pre-tax loss of £2.6m for the 12 months to 30 September, 2023, according to newly-filed accounts with Companies House. The loss comes after [...]
Pearl & Dean: Cinema advertising giant banking on Wicked and Gladiator 2 success after loss-making year October 2, 2024 Cinema advertising giant Pearl & Dean is hoping that the expected commercial success of Wicked and Gladiator 2 will help it return to the black. The London-headquartered business fell to a pre-tax loss of £1.7m in 2023 despite the boost provided by the popularity of films such as Barbie, Oppenheimer and Wonka. The loss came [...]
Mission Group: Mastercard contract win helps group growth September 24, 2024 Advertising agency Mission Group posted first half results in line with expectations as it gears up to open a new office in Saudi Arabia to muscle in on the region. The London-listed company reported revenue edged up two per cent to £42.2m in the six months to 30 June. Excluding the results of the group’s 80 per cent [...]
S4 Capital: Revenue down and debt up at Sir Martin Sorrell’s ad giant September 19, 2024 Sir Martin Sorrell’s S4 Capital’s post-pandemic struggles have carried through into its latest results, which revealed a sharp decline in revenue and ballooning debt. The London-listed media holding group, which ad guru Sorrell founded after a sudden exit from WPP in 2018, saw its net revenue reduce by 15.6 per cent from £445.5m to £375.1m [...]
M&C Saatchi: ‘Significant improvement’ in profitability as problems ease September 18, 2024 Ad agency M&C Saatchi said that cost-saving measures had contributed to a much-improved performance in the first half of the year, adding that it was “excited” about the future. The company told markets this morning that revenue grew by six per cent in the six months to 30 June, with 12.9 per cent growth in [...]
Transport for London selects Global and JCDecaux to run ad estate September 10, 2024 Transport for London (TfL) has selected Global and JCDeacux to run its lucrative advertising estate, following a hotly-contested tendering process. Global continues its stint managing advertising sites on the Tube, London Overground, DLR, Tram and across the Elizabeth Line. JCDecaux, the French multinational ad corporation, will manage advertising at more than 4,700 bus shelters across [...]
PwC: UK media market set to overtake Germany as largest in Europe August 14, 2024 The UK is on track to dethrone Germany as Europe’s largest entertainment and media market next year, driven by a surge in internet advertising and a resurgence in cinema and live music, according to new PwC data. Despite a sluggish recovery from a flat 2023, the UK’s entertainment and media sector is forecast to exceed [...]
Huel and Zoe adverts featuring Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett banned August 14, 2024 Adverts featuring Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett for nutrition brands Zoe and Huel have been banned after it was ruled they failed to disclose their commercial relationship with the celebrity entrepreneur. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has said the adverts, which were seen on Facebook in February, “omitted material information” about their links to Bartlett. [...]