Chernobyl effect drives British TV exports to record high November 26, 2020 The value of UK TV exports hit a record high last year as blockbuster dramas such as Chernobyl sparked a boom in international demand. Hit TV shows generated £1.48bn in the year to March, a six per cent increase year on year, according to figures from industry body Pact. Scripted drama was the key driver [...]
Government backtracks on full-fibre broadband rollout pledge November 25, 2020 The government has backtracked on its pledge to bring full-fibre broadband to the whole of the UK by 2025. The promise to reach all premises across the country with gigabit-capable speeds was a key part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s manifesto at the last election. But in its national infrastructure strategy published today, the government [...]
Bertelsmann snaps up Simon & Schuster in $2.2bn deal November 25, 2020 The German media group behind Penguin Random House has acquired US publisher Simon & Schuster for $2.2bn (£1.6bn). Bertelsmann today confirmed it had secured the deal with owner Viacom CBS following a closely-fought bidding war. The takeover cements Bertelsmann’s position as the world’s largest book publisher, and strengthens its footprint in the US — its [...]
Selling like hot cakes: Bake Off final smashes Channel 4 ratings record November 25, 2020 Channel 4 last night smashed its ratings records after millions of Brits tuned in to the final of The Great British Bake Off. The final baked up a storm with a record-breaking average audience of 9.2m viewers, taking an almost 40 per cent slice of the audience pie. Viewing numbers for the baking bonanza peaked [...]
Sky beefs up content slate with Entertainment One film deal November 25, 2020 Sky today said it has inked a multi-million-pound film deal with Entertainment One as it looks to ramp up its content offering for the escalating streaming wars. The long-term deal covers almost 200 movies from eOne’s library, including the Twilight franchise and Dallas Buyers Club, which will now be available to Sky Cinema customers at [...]
Magazine publisher Future to buy Go Compare in £600m deal November 25, 2020 Publishing firm Future has agreed to buy Go Compare in a deal that values the price comparison website at almost £600m. The media group, which owns titles including Country Life, Four Four Two and Tech Radar, said the tie-up would allow it to tap into “growing consumer demand for informed and value driven purchasing decisions”. [...]
London black cab advert banned for exaggerating Covid-19 safety claims November 25, 2020 An advert for London black cabs has been banned after the watchdog found it exaggerated the extent to which the taxis can prevent the spread of Covid-19. A radio ad for black cabs, which aired in July, featured a woman’s voice listing the apparent safety benefits of hailing one of the capital’s classic cars. It [...]
On the charge: Tesla breaks $500bn market valuation after stock rally November 24, 2020 Tesla has broken through the $500bn (£375bn) market value mark following a mammoth rally that has seen its share price rise more than sixfold this year. The company’s shares were opened more than five per cent up today to give the firm a market cap of $519bn. The growth will round off an historic year [...]
Sadiq Khan: ‘Right and sensible’ to put London in Tier 2 after lockdown November 24, 2020 London is set to be placed under Tier 2 restrictions after the national lockdown ends next week, Sadiq Khan has said. The mayor said placing the capital back in Tier 2 would be the “right and sensible decision”, but added the final verdict would be made on Thursday based on the latest Covid-19 figures. Prime [...]
New government website warns tech firms over China risk November 24, 2020 The government has launched a new website warning British tech firms about the risks of doing business with Chinese companies. The site, which carries the slogan “China. See the Potential. Know the Challenge.”, is designed to help UK firms negotiate the ethical, legal and commercial challenges when expanding into China or accepting investment from Chinese [...]
