Calls for mobile operators to give guarantees over rural ‘not-spot’ proposals June 6, 2019 Campaign groups have called on mobile operators to give guarantees for consumers and businesses over plans to tackle so-called rural not-spots. Consumer group Which and four rural organisations have penned a letter to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) calling for legal obligations to ensure operators improve 4G coverage in rural areas. [...]
Dentsu Aegis launches new UK marketing agency after mega-merger June 6, 2019 Advertising firm Dentsu Aegis has launched a new UK marketing agency after merging four of its existing brands. Read more: Dentsu Aegis buys creative agency BJL as it expands in the north Dentsu said its new agency, Dentsu X, will bring together skills in media, technology, creativity and data to offer a full-service proposition to [...]
US trade ban on Huawei could slow global 5G rollout, warns Barclays June 6, 2019 The US’s decision to blacklist Chinese tech firm Huawei could slow down the global rollout of 5G, Barclays has warned. In a new report analysts said network carriers in Europe could be hit by heavy costs and technical disruption if they are forced to upgrade existing Huawei 4G technology with gear made by a different [...]
Entertainment One shares jump as it denies reports of senior executive exit June 6, 2019 Shares in Entertainment One jumped as much as 15 per cent this morning after it rebuffed reports that boss Mark Gordon was in talks to leave the company. Read more: Profits slip at Entertainment One after £61m write down President and chief content officer Mark Gordon is reportedly set to leave his role amid a [...]
Tech firms urge Tory leadership candidates to back UK’s digital sector June 6, 2019 Tech firms have issued a desperate plea to candidates in the Tory leadership race, urging them to avoid a no-deal Brexit and back the UK’s booming digital sector. Tech UK, which represents more than 900 businesses, has written to the candidates warning of “long-lasting and damaging consequences” of a no-deal Brexit for tech investment and [...]
Watchdog finds no evidence of junk food ads targeted at children after ‘avatar’ sting June 6, 2019 The advertising watchdog has found no evidence of brands deliberately targeting junk food adverts at children online, but has still pledged to stop children from coming across ads for unhealthy food. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) today said it did not identify “any clear evidence” of brands trying to deliver ads for products high in [...]
Video streaming to fuel £10bn growth in UK media sector by 2023 June 6, 2019 The surging demand for video streaming services will drive a £10bn growth in the UK’s entertainment and media sector over the next five years, according to a report published today. The booming industry is set to be worth £80bn in 2023, up from the £70bn projected for this year, according to professional services firm PwC. [...]
Findel posts surge in full-year profit as it unveils name change June 5, 2019 Home shopping company Findel has posted a sharp rise in profit and unveiled a new brand name, just weeks after it fended off a takeover bid from major shareholder Sports Direct. Pre-tax profit jumped 33 per cent to £29.4m in the year to the end of March, while revenue rose 5.7 per cent to £506.8m. [...]
Card Factory posts sales boost despite ‘challenging’ market conditions June 5, 2019 Card Factory has posted a modest rise in sales for the first quarter as strong performance in its range of seasonal cards helped offset tough conditions on the high street. Like-for-like sales rose 2.3 per cent in the three months to the end of April as the firm cashed in on a spike in demand [...]
Government must do more to protect UK from cyber attacks, MPs warn June 5, 2019 The government has not done enough to protect the UK from the growing risk of cyber attacks, MPs have warned. The influential Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today published a report criticising the government for not making sufficient progress in its cybersecurity strategy. Read more: Less than one per cent of cyber crimes lead to prosecution [...]