Sir Dave Brailsford admits Team Sky errors but denies anti-doping violation March 8, 2017 Under-fire Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford has conceded that mistakes were made in relation to testing practices but has denied any anti-doping rules were broken. Team Sky have failed to substantiate their assertion that a mystery package sent to Sir Bradley Wiggins at the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine contained a legal medicine. MPs [...]
Ford’s Essex-based financing unit gears up for possible shift to Germany to swerve Brexit fallout March 7, 2017 Ford is mapping a possible move to Germany for part of its sizeable financing division, as the car manufacturer plots a route to avoid Brexit fallout. According to Sky News, which first reported the story, staff at Essex-based Ford Credit Europe (FCE) have been told the company has commissioned a study into whether it would be [...]
Inmarsat reveals $3bn savings through embracing its satellite technology March 7, 2017 Satellite firm Inmarsat said today its technology has saved airlines $3bn by enabling planes to fly closer to one another, among other things. The FTSE 250 firm compiled a report in association with specialist consultancy Helios. It concluded $1.1bn had been saved through a single air traffic control system and a further $1.9bn was spared by improving the communications with airline control [...]
BT must innovate to win over more football fans and justify its lavish £1.2bn outlay on Champions League rights March 7, 2017 The business of football TV rights used to be relatively simple. There were rights to show live games, and rights to show highlights. For years, Sky dominated the live market, crushing a series of challengers with its financial fire-power and superior coverage. Highlights were often reserved for traditional free-to-air TV channels such as ITV and [...]
Former Tesco finance chief Laurie McIlwee to join the board of Giraffe restaurant chain and Ed’s Easy Diner parent group March 7, 2017 A former Tesco finance chief is poised to join the board of the restaurant group that owns the likes of Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner, according to reports. Laurie McIlwee has been appointed executive chairman of Boparan Restaurant Group, Sky News reported, months after being cleared of any involvement in Tesco’s 2014 profit overstatement scandal. Read [...]
Most entertainment is consumed online through access services and is not owned outright March 7, 2017 Britons now spend almost 80 per cent of their total expenditure on entertainment online and are increasingly consuming it via access services such as Spotify and mobile apps like Pokemon Go. Data from the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), which represents retailers and digital services offering music, video and games, shows that 27.6 per cent of [...]
Pensions taskforce to call for £1.5 trillion superfund to plug black holes in UK’s retirement funds March 6, 2017 A group of pensions experts will call on the government in the next few days to set up a £1.5 trillion superfund to fix the UK's pensions crisis. According to Sky News, which first reported the story, the committee set up by the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) is expected to urge ministers to consolidate all of [...]
Former chancellor Norman Lamont warns Brexit is “under attack” March 6, 2017 A former Conservative chancellor has warned that Brexit is “under attack”, calling on the House of Lords to “see sense”. Lord Lamont said yesterday that Prime Minister Theresa May should be allowed to begin official negotiations as soon as possible. Lamont, who supported exiting the EU, served as chancellor under John Major between 1990 and 1993, [...]
Murdoch Empire 2.0 or socialist witch-hunt? MPs debate Fox-Sky deal as culture secretary decides whether to refer bid to Ofcom March 6, 2017 Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox is preparing to make its case to culture secretary Karen Bradley as she decides whether to submit the company’s takeover bid for Sky News to broadcast regulator Ofcom. Interested parties have until Wednesday afternoon to submit representations to Bradley. Read more: Government "minded" to scrutinise Fox takeover of Sky After [...]
BT says it has not overpaid after beating Sky to UEFA Champions League rights March 6, 2017 BT has won the battle to secure the UK TV rights for European Champions League football for the next three years in a deal that will cost the telecoms giant £1.2bn and dismissed suggestions it has overpaid for them The deal, announced this morning, means BT will continue its coverage of Europe's premier club football competition until the [...]