Disney revenue slides as it fails to find blockbuster success of last year’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens February 7, 2017 The Walt Disney company reported quarterly earnings that topped analysts' expectations, though revenue fell short of Wall Street estimates. The figures The firm posted first-quarter earnings per share of $1.55 on $14.78bn in revenue. Analysts had expected first-quarter earnings of $1.49 per share on $15.26bn in revenue, according to Thomson Reuters consensus estimates. At the [...]
Ascential buy: FTSE 250 media company behind Cannes Lions festival buys $69m US firm February 7, 2017 Ascential, the FTSE 250-listed media company formerly known as Emap, has agreed to buy US advisory and business services group MediaLink. The company behind the Cannes Lions advertising festival has agreed an initial cash consideration for MediaLink of $69m (£55m) plus future earnouts. The target company, which was founded in 2003 and has four offices [...]
London’s classic red phone boxes are getting a makeover – complete with Wi-Fi and touchscreens February 7, 2017 You may have noticed some rather different phone boxes to what you're used to popping up on the streets of the capital. Well that's because the iconic red phone box is getting a revamp and New World Payphones has been wheeling out swanky new versions complete with high-speed Wi-Fi, touchscreen functions for local services and digital [...]
21st Century Fox beats earnings forecasts thanks to US election boost February 6, 2017 The heated US presidential race provided a boost to 21st Century Fox as the Murdoch-controlled firm beat earnings forecasts. Revenues rose four per cent to $7.68bn (£6.2bn) for the three months ending in December, just short of forecasts. Operating income rose 27 per cent to $857m, compared to $674m for the same period a year [...]
Making his mark on Mediacom UK: Meet chief executive Josh Krichefski February 6, 2017 I’m waiting in the lobby of MediaCom’s home in Holborn to meet Josh Krichefski; a six storey hive, buzzing with the to-and-fro of a thousand-strong population, tied together by a dominating atrium. Expecting to head straight to the executive suite on the top floor, his assistant instead guides me to the second: “he likes to [...]
The irony of the filter bubble for advertisers is bittersweet February 6, 2017 "Algorithm" became a dirty word in 2016; few know what one is, fewer know how one actually works. Sure sounds scary though. “Filter bubble” can be added to that list, the latter a product of the former. The notion that social media algorithms nurture confirmation bias through reflecting self-affirming views, and therefore prejudice, is rife. [...]
Boss of troubled newspaper group Johnston Press set for meeting with activist investor February 5, 2017 The under-pressure chief executive of newspaper group Johnston Press is preparing for talks with activist investor Crystal Amber, which recently became the company’s biggest shareholder. Ashley Highfield expects to meet the investor shortly, with chief financial officer David King, after a trading update at the end of last week. Read more: Why Brexit, Trump and [...]
Newspaper group Johnston Press hit by sterling fall, but Brexit, Trump and fake news could be a boost in 2017 February 3, 2017 Newspaper group Johnston Press has a complicated relationship with Brexit. The publisher of the i, Yorkshire Post and Scotsman today reported being hit by “Brexit-related uncertainty” in a trading update. In addition, the fall in the value of sterling that followed the vote has increased the cost of imported paper and ink, adding more pressure [...]
For that reason, they’re out: Two Dragons are quitting the Den at the end of this series February 1, 2017 Two of Dragons Den's best-loved names will be roaring their last this series, after they announced plans to quit. Moonpig founder Nick Jenkins and Bombay Bicycle Club entrepreneur Sarah Willingham have both said they will step down at the end of the current series. With just four episodes left before the finale on 26 February, that [...]
Fresh from its dispute with Sky, Discovery channel Eurosport has clinched the Olympics across six countries February 1, 2017 Fresh from securing a last-minute deal with Sky to save its channels yesterday, Discovery today announced an Olympic tie-up with broadcasters across six European countries. Discovery spent last week embroiled in a public spat with Sky over the future of its channels on Sky's UK and German platforms. Read more: Sky & Discovery close in on 11th [...]
