Ofcom launches probe into Chinese state broadcaster over Hong Kong coverage September 23, 2019 Ofcom has launched an investigation into Chinese state broadcaster CGTN over concerns its coverage of protests in Hong Kong broke the regulator’s impartiality rules. Ofcom is understood to be probing four separate news programmes aired on the station in August and early September. Read more: Ofcom gives green light to BBC’s Britbox push CGTN, which [...]
London overtakes New York to steal global fintech investment crown September 23, 2019 London has overtaken New York to become the world’s number one city for investments in fintech firms, new figures have revealed. In the first eight months of the year alone, London has attracted 114 investments with a record-breaking value of more than $2bn (£1.6bn), according to industry body Innovate Finance and the mayor’s promotional agency [...]
NHS software delays cause headache for digital health firm Babylon September 22, 2019 British health startup Babylon has suffered a setback to its expansion plans after the NHS missed the deadline to upgrade a key piece of software. The London-based firm, which connects patients with doctors through a video chat service, won approval in June to expand its operations to Birmingham. Read more: US health firm Centene invests [...]
BT lines up Champions League bid as it looks to retain lucrative rights September 22, 2019 BT is gearing up to defend its control of Champions League TV rights as the telecoms giant cashes in on price rises in its broadcast division. BT Sport paid £1.2bn in 2017 to secure exclusive rights to Champions League and Europa League matches for three seasons, cementing its control of European football coverage. Read more: [...]
Feeling the heat: Carluccio’s waiters rise up in row over tips September 22, 2019 Waiters at Carluccio’s are hitting back at the restaurant chain after a change in tipping policy that has allegedly left them hundreds of pounds worse off per month. Employees at the Italian eatery have joined the Unite union in a bid to scrap a new policy that siphons off a great proportion of tips to [...]
Zac Goldsmith shared in £16m payout before All Star Lanes went bust September 22, 2019 Investors including Tory MP Zac Goldsmith, diamond mogul Anthony Oppenheimer and fund manager Jim Mellon are said to have shared in a £16m payout from a chain of bowling alleys just months before it went bust. All Star Lanes, which owns four bowling alleys in London, was sold to Risk Capital Partners last week as [...]
WPP appoints former Unilever ad chief Keith Weed to board September 19, 2019 WPP has appointed former Unilever marketing boss Keith Weed to its board as a non-executive director, the company announced today. The appointment will come as a major boost for the media behemoth, which has embarked on a three-year restructuring plan amid a challenging time for traditional ad shops. Read more: WPP beats expectations as turnaround [...]
Wework rival Knotel expands London presence with new City locations September 18, 2019 Knotel, the flexible workspace rival to Wework, has snapped up a string of new City locations as it continues to expand its presence in the capital. Read more: Wework rival Knotel secured unicorn status with $400m fundraising The New York-based startup has signed an agreement with property developer Great Portland Estates to take over 82,000 [...]
Transferwise revenue soars as business customers help fuel growth September 18, 2019 Transferwise has posted a huge rise in revenue for the full year as increased uptake of its borderless account and business service helped fuel growth. The London-based money transfer firm reported a 53 per cent increase in revenue to £179m, while net profit after tax hit £10.3m, up from £6.2m last year. Read more: Transferwise [...]
Rural areas ‘left behind’ as government fails to bridge digital divide, MPs warn September 18, 2019 Rural communities are being left behind due to the government’s failure to address gaps in the UK’s mobile and broadband coverage, MPs have warned. A report published today by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) committee said the digital divide between urban and rural areas was marginalising communities and hindering rural business. Read more: [...]
