Tube strike survival guide February 3, 2014 LONDON is bracing itself for the worst – forget the storms, this evening a Tube strike is going on. But instead of ducking for cover and barricading ourselves in, most of us will have to face the maelstrom head on as we battle to get to work (relatively on time) and back again. There’s still a [...]
Investors back BSkyB despite drop in profits January 30, 2014 INVESTORS remained confident in BSkyB yesterday, despite a 18 per cent drop in half year profits, as Britain’s biggest pay-TV broadcaster added over 100,000 new customers during its second quarter. Shares in Sky closed up 4.4 per cent on the results, which included news of a new deal with HBO to secure exclusive access to [...]
Strikes over air traffic changes cause delays at French airports January 30, 2014 HUNDREDS of flights in France were cancelled yesterday as air traffic control staff across Europe walked out over plans to unite the continent’s air space. The French civil aviation authority asked airlines to axe a fifth of flights into Paris airports yesterday, while passengers in Italy and Portugal also faced disruption. UK services, however, were [...]
Sky’s growing customers fail to stop profits falling January 30, 2014 Broadcasting giant Sky has reported a fall in profit before tax from £642m to £527m for the half financial year 2013/14 compared to a year earlier. In the six months to 31 December operating profit fell by a hefty 16 per cent. The company said it was moving through a year of investment, absorbing the [...]
Watchdog objects to Bostock’s dual role January 29, 2014 THE Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has reportedly objected to Santander’s hiring of Nathan Bostock as both deputy chief executive and chief risk officer Sky News originally reported the decision, suggesting that the bank will have to hire somebody else to fill the risk role. Bostock came to the bank after just ten weeks at RBS.
Inside Track: Ross’s brutal shake-up could prove painful for taxpayers January 29, 2014 ROSS’S Brutal Shake-up – come next month, that will be the most appropriate use of the initials of Britain’s most troubled lender. After Monday’s kitchen and bathroom sinking all rolled into one, it’s not difficult to see why. McEwan’s predecessor as chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Stephen Hester, was fond of describing [...]
Encore une fois: ITV launches new on-demand pay channel on Sky January 29, 2014 ITV WILL launch its first new channel in eight years on Sky as part of a four year deal that includes a renewal of the broadcaster’s retransmission deal covering Sky’s 4.8m high definition subscribers. ITV Encore will host some of ITV’s top drama series from recent years, as well as original content from 2015. “ITV [...]
ITV to bring Britain new pay-TV drama channel January 29, 2014 Britian's about to get a new pay-TV channel that's dedicated to British drama. As part of a new four-year partnership between ITV and BSkyB, ITV is launching Encore, which’ll be exclusive to Sky’s satellite and online platforms. ITV Encore will broadcast re-runs of shows previously aired by the provider, including hits like Downton Abbey (cast [...]
Sentance’s book launch pulls in the City’s musos January 28, 2014 WHEN Andrew Sentance organised his book launch he had no idea it would fall on the same day as the GDP figures were released. Cue a lot of running around as the economist juggled appearing on Sky, the BBC, writing a column for City A.M. (see page 19) and dashing to present his book, “Rediscovering [...]
Vodafone sent tumbling after AT&T backs off January 27, 2014 US MOBILE giant AT&T yesterday backed away from a long-rumoured bid for Vodafone, sending the telecoms group shares lower as it promised to stay away for at least six months. In a brief statement released at the request of the UK’s takeover panel, AT&T said it “does not intend to make an offer for Vodafone”. [...]