Boots refuses to back Hewitt after lobbygate March 23, 2010 ALLIANCE Boots is refusing to back special consultant Patricia Hewitt, after she was sensationally suspended from the Labour Party over the cash for lobbying scandal. A spokesperson for the leading pharmacy chain said her contract was “still in place” and that it was being “reviewed regularly”, but she would not confirm that the former health [...]
Sky worried despite likely revenue boost March 23, 2010 BSkyB could generate additional revenue of more than £700m if it is allowed to sell Premier League football through Freeview. In a move described by Sky as a “sop”, Ofcom is likely to allow the broadcaster to go ahead with a project dreamed up in 2007 codenamed “Picnic”. This would involve setting up a subscription [...]
Ofcom allows competitors access to BT’s new internet fibre lines and ducts March 23, 2010 RIVAL Internet service providers will have access to BT’s new fibre lines via a so-called virtual network or they could lay their own fibre in the telecom firm’s ducts under new proposals from the regulator. Ofcom said yesterday it would propose allowing competitors to have access to new fibre lines laid by BT, at a [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS March 22, 2010 Mirae Asset Global Investments Elliot Berman has been promoted to the role of head of sales for the EMEA region at Asian asset management firm Mirae Asset. Berman originally joined the group’s UK team in August 2008 as a senior manager for European distribution. He previously worked at Morley Fund Management, latterly as sales manager [...]
Sky may sell Premier footy on Freeview March 21, 2010 BSKYB could soon offer pay-per-view Premier League games and movies to customers through their set-top box. Broadcast watchdog Ofcom is expected to change the rules to allow the new venture this week as part of a massive shake-up of broadcasting laws. The ruling would allow Sky access to millions of homes that do not currently [...]
Virgin mulls free football March 16, 2010 VIRGIN Media is considering plans to give away Premier League matches for free as part of a package including its broadband, TV subscription and telephone services. It joins BT Vision, which is also considering offering top flight matches as part of its existing “bundle” deal, according to industry sources. If the firms go ahead it [...]
Ofcom rules will allow BT to offer free football TV March 15, 2010 BT is allowed to offer free Premier League football as Ofcom has already withdrawn restrictions preventing the firm offering “bundle” deals. The former state operator was governed by strict laws aimed at improving competition. But recent changes mean BT would be allowed to tie up Premier League matches with its broadband and fixed-line services. The [...]
BT might offer free Premiership March 15, 2010 BT could launch a sensational attack on Sky’s dominance of subscription TV by offering Premier League football for free. Plans are being discussed at board level about how BT Vision could take advantage of an expected Ofcom ruling that will slash the price Sky can charge rivals for its prized premium content. One option being discussed [...]
Conservatives pledge to invest in a high-speed Internet network March 11, 2010 INVESTING in a high-speed Internet network would open up a new global trade route for Britain, boosting economic recovery and creating thousands of jobs, the opposition Conservative party claimed yesterday. The party plans to stimulate £29bn of private investment in the broadband network by opening up access to infrastructure currently dominated by BT and providing [...]
Digital bill is savaged by ISP bosses March 10, 2010 ON the morning Gordon Brown insisted Britain’s digital economy would be the envy of the world, his digital economy bill was being savaged by business chiefs. Web giants Google, Facebook, eBay and Yahoo have teamed up with internet service providers including BT, Virgin Media, Orange, TalkTalk to protest against an amendment to the digital economy [...]