The Long Read: Sir Martin Sorrell on advertising, coronavirus and the new media landscape May 7, 2020 Sir Martin Sorrell has bestrode the ad world for decades – and in the midst of a global pandemic that has hit the industry hard, he’s understandably got some thinking to do. Christopher Jackson spoke to the ad mogul, and his interview for finitoworld – the organisation’s online magazine – is republished here. Prior to [...]
BT scraps dividend as Covid-19 and full-fibre rollout hit profit May 7, 2020 BT today scrapped its dividend as the coronavirus crisis and full-fibre broadband costs weighed on profit. The telecoms giant said it had taken the “exceptionally difficult” decision to suspend the payout until 2022, when it will be reduced 50 per cent to 7.7p per share. It came as BT posted a two per cent dip [...]
Analysis: Can Disney Plus rescue the House of Mouse? May 6, 2020 Disney last night laid bare the extent of the damage from the coronavirus crisis, which has sent shockwaves through all parts of the entertainment giant’s business. Chairman Bob Iger warned of “unprecedented challenges” as the company reported a $1.4bn (£1.3bn) hit to first-quarter operating income. With lockdown shutting down its theme parks, cruises and its [...]
ITV advertising revenue collapses in April amid Covid-19 crisis May 6, 2020 ITV has warned of a slump in advertising revenue for April as the coronavirus crisis ravages the broadcaster’s business model. ITV’s total revenue fell seven per cent in the first quarter to £694m as the pandemic began to take its toll. Revenue from ITV Studios dropped 11 per cent as the company was forced to [...]
Sadiq Khan: There will be no swift return to normality for TfL May 6, 2020 The Covid-19 health crisis has led to thousands of Londoners losing their lives with grief, anxiety and anguish touching too many lives. Many businesses and livelihoods have been adversely affected. It has also had a profound impact on public transport in London – and will continue to do so long into the future. Since the [...]
SMMT: UK coronavirus crisis wipes out April car sales May 5, 2020 New car sales have tanked 97 per cent amid the UK coronavirus crisis, according to new stats from an industry body today. That effectively means new UK car sales ground to a halt in April, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said. Just 4,321 cars were sold over the month – 70 per cent [...]
Coronavirus: The human cost is tragic but winners will emerge May 1, 2020 The human toll is heavy, both physically and morally, health systems are pushed to their limit, the number of bankruptcies is increasing, and millions of jobs have been lost. This crisis affects billions of people around the world in what looks like a major recession, the first in twelve years. The scope of the events [...]
Coronavirus: London’s dynamic economy will return May 1, 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic has changed virtually every aspect of the way we live and its awful legacy will be felt for a long time. Above all, the loss of life is clearly the most terrible and important impact – and the reason we must do whatever it takes to reduce and ultimately to prevent transmission. [...]
China is fighting a Cold War. Has the West realised it yet? April 27, 2020 Beneath the endless conferences and diplomatic niceties, at root international diplomacy is always the handmaiden of power politics. As the 16th century English diplomat, Sir Henry Wotten, so aptly put it, an ambassador can be defined as ‘an honest man sent to lie abroad for the good of his country.’ But the eternal contest for [...]
Coronavirus: First Group receives £300m from Bank of England April 24, 2020 Transport operator First Group today announced it had received £300m from the Bank of England to help deal with the financial damage of the coronavirus pandemic. First is currently running its bus services at 40 per cent of normal capacity, although passenger numbers have dropped 90 per cent, the firm said. The company’s rail franchises [...]