BBC to scrap free TV licence for millions of over-75s June 10, 2019 The BBC has announced it will scrap its blanket free TV licence scheme for over-75s and introduce a new, means-tested system. Millions of households will have to start paying the £154.50 annual fee to gain access to the BBC’s live and on-demand programming. Read more: BBC calls on top presenters for Tory leadership race debates [...]
Advertisers slam government over junk food ad ban proposals June 9, 2019 Advertisers have launched a scathing attack on the government’s plans to ramp up restrictions on junk food advertising, describing them as “totally disproportionate” and lacking in evidence. In submissions to a government consultation, seen exclusively by City PM, industry bodies Isba and the Advertising Association (AA) said the proposals would harm advertisers and consumers but [...]
BT in talks with ITV over Britbox investment June 9, 2019 BT is reportedly in discussions over a potential multi-million-pound investment in Britbox, the joint streaming service by ITV and the BBC set to be launched later this year. The telecoms firm has held preliminary talks with ITV about taking a stake in Britbox and helping to fund exclusive dramas produced in the UK, the Sunday [...]
Entertainment One shares jump as it denies reports of senior executive exit June 6, 2019 Shares in Entertainment One jumped as much as 15 per cent this morning after it rebuffed reports that boss Mark Gordon was in talks to leave the company. Read more: Profits slip at Entertainment One after £61m write down President and chief content officer Mark Gordon is reportedly set to leave his role amid a [...]
Video streaming to fuel £10bn growth in UK media sector by 2023 June 6, 2019 The surging demand for video streaming services will drive a £10bn growth in the UK’s entertainment and media sector over the next five years, according to a report published today. The booming industry is set to be worth £80bn in 2023, up from the £70bn projected for this year, according to professional services firm PwC. [...]
Global signs Love Island podcast deal with ITV June 4, 2019 Media giant Global has secured a two-year deal to host ITV podcasts on its Global Player app and promote them across its radio stations. Global, which is the UK’s largest commercial radio company, will acquire a string of hit podcasts including Love Island: The Morning After, which coincides with the return of ITV’s wildly-popular reality [...]
Shares in car manual publisher Haynes soar as it eyes sharp profit growth June 4, 2019 Shares in Haynes Publishing Group jumped as much as 11 per cent this morning after it forecast a sharp rise in full-year profit. Read more: Haynes shares soar as growing digital business boosts half-year results Haynes, the publisher behind the famous car repair manuals, said it expected pre-tax profit to rise roughly 24 per cent [...]
Crackdown on junk food adverts ‘will damage’ broadcasters and advertisers June 3, 2019 The government’s plan to crack down on junk food TV advertising is an “irrelevant symbolic gesture” that will damage business for broadcasters and advertisers, a damning new report has warned. Media research firm Enders Analysis said plans to ban TV adverts for unhealthy food will not tackle the issue of childhood obesity and will cause [...]
John Myers: a radio giant June 3, 2019 When I heard that John Myers had died unexpectedly, I felt more than the usual range of regretful emotions. It’s a sad fact of life that friends pass away; and sometimes they do so suddenly. We are shocked and sad and full of memories, but there was something different about this one. I was shaken, [...]
Global video-on-demand subscriptions set to near 1bn by 2024 June 3, 2019 Global subscriptions of on-demand video platforms are set to surge towards 1bn over the next five years, new figures have revealed. The total number of subscriptions will soar 86 per cent from 439m last year to 947m in 2024, according to London-based firm Digital TV Research. Read more: Live TV still holds top spot despite [...]
