BBC ‘risks irrelevance’ unless it adapts to digital age, says director general March 7, 2019 The BBC risks irrelevance unless it adapts to changing viewing habits, the broadcaster’s director general has said. Speaking at the Media & Telecoms Conference this morning, Tony Hall admitted the BBC faces an uphill struggle to keep up with deep-pocketed rivals such as Netflix and Amazon, but insisted public service broadcasters are as important as [...]
‘Tim Apple’: Donald Trump makes latest name gaffe with Apple boss Tim Cook March 7, 2019 US President Donald Trump has referred to Apple chief executive Tim Cook as ‘Tim Apple’ in his latest name-related gaffe. Trump met with the Silicon Valley boss during a White House meeting of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, which was set up to help the country manage the shift to automation and artificial intelligence. [...]
John Lewis slashes bonus as profits plummet 45 per cent in ‘challenging’ market March 7, 2019 John Lewis has cut its staff bonus after posting a 45 per cent fall in profits as the retailer battles against high street woes. Profit before tax dropped to £160m last year as the department store chain slashed prices in a bid to combat declining footfall and excess retail space. Read more: John Lewis considers cutting staff [...]
Quiz shares in freefall as retailer issues second profit warning of the year March 7, 2019 Fashion retailer Quiz saw its share price nosedive this morning after issuing its second profit warning of the year. Shares in the clothes brand plummeted more than 40 per cent in early trading after it revised its full-year revenue forecast to £129m, down from the £133m estimate posted in January. Read more: Quiz shares tumble [...]
Advertising industry group hits back in row over junk food ad bans March 7, 2019 Restrictions on junk food adverts have a huge economic impact and fail to address the problem of childhood obesity, the advertising industry body has said. In a report published today the Advertising Association (AA) states children’s exposure to adverts for products with high fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) contents has declined in recent years, yet [...]
Mars, Mondelez and Kellogg’s hit with advert bans over inappropriate targeting March 6, 2019 Food brands Mars, Mondelez and Kellogg’s have all been handed down advert bans after the watchdog ruled they had inappropriately targeted children and exaggerated health claims. Mars was censured over an advert for its Wrigley’s Extra chewing gum, which featured on Channel 4’s on-demand service. Read more: Sky Incredibles advert banned over superfast Wi-Fi claims [...]
Sky Incredibles Wi-Fi advert banned after BT and Virgin lodge complaints March 6, 2019 An advert for Sky broadband has been banned after rivals BT and Virgin argued it made misleading claims about the company’s ability to boost home Wi-Fi networks. The advert, which featured characters from the hit animated film The Incredibles 2, depicted a Sky employee boosting Wi-Fi throughout the house using just a tablet. Read more: [...]
Biffa shares jump as it remains on track for full-year growth March 6, 2019 Shares in waste management firm Biffa jumped more than five per cent this morning after the company said it is on track to post underlying revenue growth in its full-year results. In a trading update the firm said trading for the second half of the year is expected to be in line with the board’s [...]
Hello Fresh delivers healthy growth as it draws up recipe to break even March 6, 2019 Meal kit firm Hello Fresh today posted a surge in its full-year and fourth quarter sales as it eyes plans to break even in 2019. The figures Revenues for the full year soared 41.4 per cent to €1.2bn (£1.03bn). Losses before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation narrowed from €70.1m to €54.5m. Total number of orders [...]
Shepherd Neame’s exceptional costs take fizz out of profits March 6, 2019 Brewer and pub group Shepherd Neame posted a modest rise in profit before tax for the six months to the end of December, despite being hit by refinancing and contract losses. The figures Underlying profit before tax rose 1.4 per cent to £5.9m in the 26 weeks to 29 December 2018. Like-for-like sales in the group’s [...]