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 [...]
Virgin mulls free football March 16, 2010 VIRGIN Media is considering plans to give away Premier League matches for free as part of a package including its broadband, TV subscription and telephone services. It joins BT Vision, which is also considering offering top flight matches as part of its existing “bundle” deal, according to industry sources. If the firms go ahead it [...]
Ofcom rules will allow BT to offer free football TV March 15, 2010 BT is allowed to offer free Premier League football as Ofcom has already withdrawn restrictions preventing the firm offering “bundle” deals. The former state operator was governed by strict laws aimed at improving competition. But recent changes mean BT would be allowed to tie up Premier League matches with its broadband and fixed-line services. The [...]
BT might offer free Premiership March 15, 2010 BT could launch a sensational attack on Sky’s dominance of subscription TV by offering Premier League football for free. Plans are being discussed at board level about how BT Vision could take advantage of an expected Ofcom ruling that will slash the price Sky can charge rivals for its prized premium content. One option being discussed [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING March 7, 2010 THE SUNDAYS The Sunday Telegraph NORTHERN ROCK £400M LOSS Northern Rock made multi-million pound losses for a third year running in 2009, the nationalised lender will reveal this week. The bank will report pre-tax losses of about £400m, analysts believe, a marked improvement on the £1.36bn of losses in 2008. Since the Government bailed it [...]
Media gets through its toughest trial yet March 7, 2010 THE X Factor winner for 2010 is… ITV. The broadcaster has managed to survive the economic crisis, albeit with a slimmed down staff base, and actually managed to turn a £25m profit at the end of last year, after losing £2.7bn in 2008. There could be more good news to come for the UK’s media [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING February 28, 2010 THE SUNDAYS The Sunday Telegraph NIKE BOSS MARK PARKER DEMANDS NEW RULES ON VALUING BUSINESS The global chief executive of Nike, one of the most powerful retail brands in the world, has said that companies will have to find more sophisticated ways of judging value and impact on the environment if they are to resist [...]
Products set to boost ITV February 9, 2010 EMBATTLED broadcaster ITV could boost its revenues by £50m a year, after the government lifted a ban on product placement. Culture secretary Ben Bradshaw yesterday said commercial broadcasters would be allowed to accept payment for displaying branded products in most shows. ITV insiders think the firm will earn around £50m-a-year from product placement deals by [...]
Sky launches 3D footie and defies slump January 28, 2010 SATELLITE broadcaster BSkyB will broadcast Manchester United’s clash with Arsenal this weekend in 3D at a handful of pubs. The event, which Sky is billing as a world-first, will drum up interest for its 3D TV service, which launches in April. Nine pubs in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Dublin will take part. Sky announced its [...]
X-TRA AD MONEY January 19, 2010 ITV’s last hope for easing restrictions on its advertising rates was dashed yesterday when UK competition regulator Ofcom said the company would have to stick to its six-year old price cap. The move will limit the supply of advertising minutes in its top rating show, The X-Factor (above). Ofcom said that ITV’s new proposal on [...]