Can rugby union and the Six Nations survive behind TNT paywall? January 28, 2025 For the next two months, up and down the country, you’ll walk into the pub when the Premier League is supposed to be on and instead see Six Nations rugby. It is testament to the reach of a tournament that, despite football being the national sport, kicks off its rivals for the bumper Saturday and [...]
Time to breakup? Which UK stocks might benefit from selling assets January 27, 2025 Selling assets is a fashionable activity for UK stocks: WH Smith announced this morning that it is exploring a possible sale of its high street business to focus on its travel trade, following in the footsteps of Reckitt Bensicker, Marston’s and DCC, all of which have sold assets to unlock value recently. The news from [...]
Ambani family on course for £100m London Spirit in Hundred auction January 22, 2025 The likely destinations of English cricket’s crown jewels in the Hundred auction are taking shape, with the Ambani family’s determination to buy 49 per cent of the London Spirit in a deal expected to exceed £100m forcing other bidders to look elsewhere. A consortium of Californian investors led by Nikesh Arora, chief executive of Palo [...]
Simon Cowell denied huge pay after profit slashed at Britain’s Got Talent owner January 3, 2025 Simon Cowell has not repeated the huge £50m pay day he awarded himself after profit was slashed at his TV empire behind Britain’s Got Talent. Syco Holdings did not issue a dividend to the TV mogul in the year to 31 March, 2024, after its pre-tax profit was cut from £21.1m to £11.9m. Newly-filed accounts [...]
Thames Water to avoid state bailout, the FTSE 100 at 7900 and an ITV bid: my predictions for UK plc in 2025 January 2, 2025 Predictions may generally be a mug’s game, but looking back at my forecasts for the business world in 2024, I seem to have fared better than usual. Klarna, the buy now pay later giant, opted for a New York listing; Dame Alison Rose made a comeback in a senior private equity role; Unilever announced that [...]
Ahead of the Game: Illegal Usyk vs Fury streams dealt heavy blow December 23, 2024 Illegal streaming services appear to be in retreat judging by the collapse of viewing figures for last weekend’s Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury rematch compared to the original world heavyweight title fight between the pair in May. Analysis conducted for City AM by online intelligence platform Yield Sec identified a peak audience of 3.2m illegal [...]
ITV shares jump as it emerges as a takeover target by private equity November 25, 2024 ITV has emerged as a possible takeover target by private equity giants including CVC Capital Partners amid an ongoing dip in its share price, according to reports. There are reportedly a variety of private equity bidders circling the UK’s largest terrestrial commercial broadcaster, Sky News revealed. These included CVC Capital Partners with a major European [...]
Ahead of the Game: Lineker to score tax saving from company liquidation November 20, 2024 Goalhanger Films, which is co-owned by Lineker and former ITV controller Tony Pastor, has appointed a voluntary liquidator despite being a solvent company.
The world’s most lucrative jockey competition is coming to British racing November 14, 2024 British racing has announced the world’s most lucrative jockey competition, the David Power Jockeys’ Cup – a new league for riders with a prize fund of £1.5m. The initiative, which will launch on Friday at Cheltenham’s November Meeting, is an attempt to inject more excitement into jumps season and backed by bookmakers the Flutter Group. [...]
ITV: Shares drop after revenue plunges at production arm November 7, 2024 A drop in revenue at ITV studios due to the ongoing effect of the US writers’ strike has pulled profit down, with cost savings and an increase in advertising revenue failing to offset the fall. The company’s share price fell nearly eight per cent in early trades. Group revenue in the first nine months of [...]