Virgin and BT join forces in BSkyB attack October 4, 2009 Virgin Media and BT have hit out at BSkyB’s pricing mechanism for its premium channels, saying that its “near monopoly” restricts consumer choice and keeps prices high. The attack came in a joint submission to Ofcom, which is consulting over its proposals to control the wholesale pay-TV market, that would mean BSkyB having to sell [...]
Dunstone to fight piracy laws in court September 29, 2009 CARPHONE Warehouse chief executive Charles Dunstone said last night that he is prepared to take the government to court if it passes a rule forcing internet service providers (ISPs) to cut off suspected file-sharers. Dunstone said that Carphone-owned ISP provider TalkTalk – which supplies 4.25m households – would refuse to slow down or cut off [...]
ITV investors oppose Davis September 27, 2009 Embattled broadcaster ITV faces another struggle as shareholders prepare to block the appointment of Sir Crispin Davis as its new chairman. Ex-Reed Elsevier chief executive Davis and former Channel 4 chairman Sir Michael Bishop are said to be ITV’s favourites for the role. However, it is understood that some shareholders are against Davis as a [...]
BT in next generation push September 24, 2009 BT has unveiled ambitious plans to double the number of homes that are able to receive 24 megabit broadband by spring 2011. Currently 40 per cent of UK homes and business are reached by the telecoms group’s fast copper network, but it said that number will rise to 75 per cent under the plans. The [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING September 23, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES SIEMENS IN BRIBERY ULTIMATUMSiemens yesterday told several former executive board members, including former chief executives Heinrich von Pierer and Klaus Kleinfeld, to agree to pay damages relating to a multibillion euro bribery scandal. The firm, Europe’s largest engineering group, said seven former managers would face legal action if they failed to show willingness [...]
Phorm narrows its losses September 21, 2009 Targeted online advertising firm Phorm posted a narrower pre-tax loss for the first half, helped by cost cuts, and said it remained confident about its future. The company said it was progressing well to commercially deploy its technology in a major market, with expected generation of meaningful revenues. Its pre-tax loss from continuing operations was [...]
DAREDEVIL CHIEF ROLET BRINGS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR TO FUSTY LSE September 17, 2009 XAVIER Rolet is certainly freshening things up over at the London Stock Exchange. The exchange’s new boss has been busy over the past few weeks, having shaken up the LSE’s marketing team, struck a deal to replace its IT provider and got rid of its trusted PR adviser Finsbury (the super-spinner and its arch-rival Brunswick [...]
O2 and BT team up for business September 16, 2009 Mobile network provider O2 said yesterday that it is teaming up with BT to launch its first fixed-line offering to businesses. Telefonica-owned O2 said its has partnered with BT Wholesale to create Joined Up, a new product which will provide business customers with mobile and fixed-line services, along with data, broadband communications, equipment and professional [...]
Ofcom lifts rules on BT sales September 15, 2009 OFCOM said yesterday that it will remove the last piece of regulation that has prevented BT from selling discounted fixed-line voice, broadband and TV packages. Other network providers – such as Virgin Media, BSkyB and Carphone Warehouse’s TalkTalk – are already able to offer reduced rates to customers who take more than one of their [...]
THE LONDON REPORT September 15, 2009 The FTSE 100 rose for a third straight session yesterday to close up by 0.5 per cent, boosted by bullish economic data from the US, as oils, miners and banks underpinned the rally. The index ended 23.28 points higher at 5,042.13, after trading as low as 4,996.52 earlier in the session. Energy stocks were higher, [...]