American-style glitz and glam come sailing into Barcelona March 28, 2010 WHATEVER the brand values are that the W Hotel group holds dear, subtlety probably sits low on the list. Take, for instance, the way it classes its rooms. Not for W those fuddy-duddy words like Superior (meaning bog-standard) and Deluxe – instead, W offers you Mega rooms and Fabulous rooms, or if you want a [...]
US resistant to open skies agreement March 25, 2010 EUROPEAN negotiators said yesterday European ownership of US airlines was in sight after three days of “Open Skies” talks but reaction from the US suggested agreement remained distant. The US? departments of state and transportation made no mention of lifting ownership limits in summarising the talks that took place in Brussels. The two sides agreed [...]
Sky worried despite likely revenue boost March 23, 2010 BSkyB could generate additional revenue of more than £700m if it is allowed to sell Premier League football through Freeview. In a move described by Sky as a “sop”, Ofcom is likely to allow the broadcaster to go ahead with a project dreamed up in 2007 codenamed “Picnic”. This would involve setting up a subscription [...]
OH, FOR THE DAYS BEFORE PURITANS WIELDED THE BUDGET BRIEFCASE… March 22, 2010 BUDGET Days, under New Labour, have become a decidedly austere affair in recent years – and not just because the public finances are spiralling out of control. Alongside bringing a battered red briefcase to the House of Commons, the incumbent chancellor is traditionally allowed to drink from a glass of his favourite tipple while presenting [...]
We must choose either fairness or freedom March 22, 2010 ALTHOUGH we are becoming more connected, more empowered by digital devices and more able to control our lives with technology, we are also becoming more nannied, more kept by the state. Shouldn’t there be an alignment towards more freedom rather than a contrast between our personal and civic lives? We spend our days listening to [...]
Sky may sell Premier footy on Freeview March 21, 2010 BSKYB could soon offer pay-per-view Premier League games and movies to customers through their set-top box. Broadcast watchdog Ofcom is expected to change the rules to allow the new venture this week as part of a massive shake-up of broadcasting laws. The ruling would allow Sky access to millions of homes that do not currently [...]
Freeview could be a poisoned chalice March 21, 2010 THE outcome of Ofcom’s long-anticipated review of the pay-TV market is the world’s worst secret: it will almost certainly make BSkyB slash the amount it charges rivals to show its premium content. Less attention has been given to the ways in which Ofcom might placate Sky. Allowing the pay-TV giant to access customers via the Freeview [...]
WHERE TO STAY: MASSERIE TORRE COCCARO AND TORRE MAIZZA March 21, 2010 ON arrival in Brindisi, we were greeted by a smiling Italian named Carmello, who took our bags and drove us the 40 minutes or so to the Masseria Torre Coccaro, where we were to spend the first two nights of our stay in Puglia. Coccaro is, like many other boutique hotels in the area, a [...]
M&S chairman Sir Stuart Rose sets departure date as he takes a pay cut March 18, 2010 Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose is to give up his executive duties and take a 25 per cent pay cut in July with a view to stepping down by March 2011, the company announced yesterday. Under fire since taking on the dual roles of chief executive and chairman two years ago, Rose had [...]
French fancied to pile on the points in Paris March 18, 2010 FRANCE V/S ENGLAND TOMORROW-7.45PM-BBC1 FRANCE have historically tended to do well in Six Nations tournaments after Lions Tours but to suggest that their faultless record this year is due to the relative tiredness of their opponents is unfair. Marc Lièvremont’s side have been sublime at times over the last six weeks and a comparison of [...]