General Election 2015: ITV and BBC to show seven-way debates, Channel 4 and Sky share head-to-head February 23, 2015 ITV and BBC will broadcast two separate seven-way debates between political party leaders ahead of the general election, while Sky and Channel 4 will both share a head-to-head between David Cameron and Ed Miliband. The broadcasters drew lots to decide how to distribute coverage of the debates which will see party leaders given [...]
Audioboom user numbers soar ahead of Russell Brand’s arrival February 23, 2015 Online streaming service Audioboom has signed up controversial comedian Russell Brand to produce a twice-weekly podcast in an effort to attract a more "edgy, young" audience. The signing was part of plans, announced this morning by the service as part of its 2014 results, to boost the number of active registered user, as will as [...]
New Look hires JPMorgan as it eyes £2bn float February 23, 2015 Fast fashion chain New Look has taken a step closer to an initial public listing (IPO), having hired JP Morgan to work on options for a flotation. Reports suggest the retailer, which is currently owned by private equity firms Apax and Permira as well as founder Tom Singh, could be valued at as much [...]
Oscars 2015: Academy Awards highlight the allure of live TV February 22, 2015 Surrounded by on-demand challengers, live events are the last bastion of traditional television. While the actors and actresses heading home last night with golden statuettes were undoubtedly the winners of the 87th Academy Awards, they might not have taken home the biggest prize. The Oscar hosts, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, charged [...]
Okinawa: Japan, but not as you know it February 22, 2015 Everyone who is serious about travel should have their Alex Garland destination; somewhere you can casually name-drop at dinner parties, safe in the knowledge that nobody else will have been. Garland immortalised – and doomed – Thailand’s then-pristine Koh Phangan when he wrote about it in his novel The Beach. That was in 1996, just [...]
One chart summing up Britain and Russia’s military spending February 22, 2015 The amount Britain spends of defence has been called into question, after RAF fighter jets were scrambled this earlier week when two Russian bear bomber aircrafts were spotted flying "close to UK airspace." It prompted Lord Stirrup, who headed the armed forces at the time of the 2010 strategic defence and security review to call for the reversal [...]
Funds in High-Wire act for Cirque du Soleil February 19, 2015 Some of Britain’s biggest buyout funds are plotting to take control of Cirque du Soleil, the Canadian live entertainment company. BC Partners, CVC Capital Partners and Permira Advisers are among a troupe of financial investors which have tabled indicative offers for the Montreal-based business, according to Sky News.
Bonuses down despite strong year for Britain’s biggest banks February 19, 2015 Payouts for top bankers have taken a tumble so far this year, according to industry data seen by City A.M., as the bonus cap combined with investor and political pressure takes its toll. Preliminary data from pay benchmarking site Emolument.com shows bonuses for front office staff falling precipitously this year compared with last year’s pay [...]
More houses needed to keep rents affordable February 19, 2015 FAR MORE homes need to be built for rents to become dramatically more affordable and to reduce the sky-high profits of landlords, an estate agent has said today. Rents are now 16.3 per cent higher than five years ago, according to figures released by Your Move and Reeds Rains. Average monthly residential rent in England and [...]
Ballinvarrig to make George king of the BetBright Chase once again February 19, 2015 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE BEST OF THE WEEKEND RACING ACTION IIT IS fair to say that tomorrow’s BetBright Chase at Kempton (3.45pm) isn’t quite the race is used to be. Desert Orchid, Docklands Express, Rough Quest and Gloria Victis are just some of the top class horses to have claimed the prize in the past, [...]