Red Rose set to continue momentum November 18, 2010 ENGLAND vs SAMOA TOMORROW, 2.30PM, SKY SPORTS DARE we say that Martin Johnson’s grand plans to mould England into contenders for the 2011 World Cup are finally taking shape? The scintillating attacking display against the Aussies last weekend suggests so, but we must wait until after tomorrow’s match against Samoa to gauge if that was [...]
News Corp warns Cable over Sky deal November 17, 2010 NEWS Corp’s European boss James Murdoch has called on regulators to back his firm’s £7.8bn bid for BSkyB or risk losing its investment in the “world leader” digital TV operation. Business secretary Vince Cable has asked media regulator Ofcom to investigate whether the takeover would harm “media plurality”. The European Union could also launch a [...]
BETWEEN MURDOCH AND A VERY HARD PLACE November 17, 2010 FINALLY! A chance for harried BSkyB chief executive Jeremy Darroch to let his hair down: the Sky Christmas party – or “Winter Reception” – invites have been issued, the balloons blown up, the goose cooked. And it will be a well-deserved rest. The Capitalist hears that Darroch has had a stressful few weeks in the [...]
Cowell reigns but ITV lacks The X Factor November 16, 2010 HIT show The X Factor helped push ITV to revenue growth of 11 per cent, driven by strong advertising sales. A 30-second slot during the final of Simon Cowell’s talent show will set advertisers back an astonishing £200,000. Overall TV advertising revenues for the third quarter rose 16 per cent year-on-year, narrowly beating the market, [...]
Cridland to be CBI chief November 14, 2010 JOHN Cridland is expected to be named the new director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) today, according to Sky News. The CBI confirmed it would be announcing its new director general this lunchtime but refused to say who had taken the top job. However, Cridland is the current deputy director general and has [...]
Just 50,000 sign up to BT’s sports package November 11, 2010 BT yesterday announced its Sky Sports offering has limped to just 50,000 subscribers since its launch this summer. Chief executive Ian Livingston admitted the firm has a “lot more to do” but reiterated BT’s long term committment to the project. He said: “Around 10 per cent of our BT Vision subscriber base is now taking [...]
Wallabies’ talented backs can give visitors the edge November 11, 2010 ENGLAND vs AUSTRALIA TOMORROW, 2.30PM, SKY SPORTS AGAINST the All Blacks last weekend England showed signs of promise without quite managing to set Twickenham alight, but most impressive was Martin Johnson’s reaction to his side’s performance. He acknowledged that his side shone in fits and starts but maintained that good rugby in fits and starts [...]
United to make it six out of seven away draws November 11, 2010 ASTON VILLA vs MANCHESTER UNITED TOMORROW, 12.45PM, SKY SPORTS ASTON Villa have struggled against Manchester United over the years but last season they pulled off an unlikely 1-0 win at Old Trafford and took a point at home. They have now drawn their past two home league games against the Red Devils, but you have [...]
BT raises forecast after broadband boost November 11, 2010 BT has raised its full-year core earnings outlook after posting better-than-expected second quarter results boosted by demand for broadband and its Global Services unit. It now expects to post full-year adjusted core earnings of around £5.8bn, compared with a previous pledge to perform in line with the year before which achieved earnings of £5.6bn. Britain’s [...]
Sky hits 10m subscribers November 8, 2010 BSKYB issued a statement of intent to potential bidder News Corp yesterday when it announced it has broken through the 10m subscribers barrier. With Sky’s board said to be determined to play hardball with Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, its swelling subscriber base will prove a powerful bargaining tool. But analysts are already questioning how far [...]