Bottom Line: Beware the hype, this game’s only just kicked off July 25, 2013 IT HASN’T even started broadcasting yet, but BT Sport has already cost the group £40m – or one Luis Suarez – in pre-launch expenses. Yesterday outgoing chief executive Ian Livingston was keen to highlight the 500,000-odd households that have signed up for the new service, which goes live next Tuesday. But take a closer look at the [...]
Owners of Lion King venue the Lyceum weigh up an exit plan July 25, 2013 THE LYCEUM Theatre, current home of West End smash The Lion King, could be in line for new owners after its private equity backers started exploring plans to exit the theatre business. Exponent Private Equity, the UK mid-market buyout shop, is thought to have appointed UBS to explore options for its stake in portfolio company [...]
Grandeur can shake up Mukhadram in York feature July 25, 2013 ONLY six runners have been declared for tomorrow’s Sky Bet York Stakes (2.55pm) and Mukhadram is as short as 1/2 with one bookmaker to justify Paul Hanagan’s decision to abandon Ektihaam in the King George at Ascot. The market leader reappeared this season with a win in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown and was [...]
BT Sport signs up half a million pre-launch July 25, 2013 TELECOMS company BT today said more than half a million households have ordered its new sports offering to challenge Sky Sports, as it reports a smaller than expected decline in first quarter profit and revenue. BT Sport is being launched in August as part of the British firm’s plan to compete with Sky and [...]
Network Rail chief executive eyes departure July 24, 2013 NETWORK Rail boss Sir David Higgins looks set to leave the company next year, to coincide with the group’s five-year funding cycle. Sir David, who has been in the post since February 2011, has flagged up his looming departure within the firm to allow for a thorough search for his replacement, a company source said. [...]
Network Rail chief executive to quit at crucial transition point July 24, 2013 Network Rail chief executive Sir David Higgins is expected to step down next year, according to reports from a Sky News editor. EXCLUSIVE: Network Rail chief executive Sir David Higgins expected to step down next year. Only been in job since 2011. Full story up soon. — Mark Kleinman (@MarkKleinmanSky) July 24, 2013 Higgins has [...]
Freesat boosts TV subscribers July 23, 2013 Freesat, the subscription free TV service, will anounce today that it added 145,000 new homes to its service last year. The rise, which follows 21 straight quarters of growth, means the service could soon outpace pay-TV rivals like Sky and Virgin Media, the company said.
Froome won’t rest on laurels as Brit targets further Tours July 22, 2013 TOUR de France champion Chris Froome insists winning cycling’s most famous race has only heightened his appetite for claiming the title multiple times. Froome, who sealed his first yellow jersey in Paris on Sunday evening, is also targeting a historic victory at this year’s World Championship road race. But the Kenya-born Briton has played down [...]
UK economy heats up July 21, 2013 THE UK ECONOMY looks set to finally record robust growth this week, after a bundle of positive indicators from consumers and firms this morning all point to an expanding economy. All five of the latest surveys are positive, continuing a run of steadily strengthening data over the past few months and bolstering hopes that Thursday’s [...]
Froome overwhelmed by historic Tour win July 21, 2013 TOUR de France champion Chris Froome revealed he was reduced to tears after crossing the line on the Champs-Elysees, in the final stage of this year’s race yesterday, linking arms with the fellow Team Sky riders that made his stunning win possible. The British rider knew only a disastrous final day on the 100th edition [...]