BT ramps up broadband target as pre-tax profit drops 23 per cent May 13, 2021 BT today said it would extend its full-fibre broadband network to 25m premises by the end of 2026. The provider aims to fund the 5m additional homes and businesses through a joint venture with other parties. It is thought the move, which could cost up to £50bn, will lead to as many as 7,000 new [...]
BT results: Will the telecoms giant ring the changes after Covid? May 12, 2021 The City will turn its attention to BT tomorrow morning, when the blue-chip telecoms giant will announce its results for the full year. The former state monopoly has seen its share price recover in the last year, but it’s been a tough year as the pandemic took its toll on revenue and profit. Here’s what [...]
Screenshot: Will GB News’ traditional TV bet pay off? April 30, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: Blair’s hair mare **Will GB News’ traditional TV bet pay off? **BT puts sport on the sideline Media Moment of the Week: Blair’s hair mare With allegations of sleaze, rows over John Lewis and Kevin Keegan-esque outbursts, it’s fair to say that all the attention has been on [...]
ITV in talks to take stake in BT Sport April 30, 2021 ITV is one of the parties in talks to buy BT Sport, a move that could bring major football back to free-to-air television if the sale went ahead. BT yesterday confirmed it was in talks with major streaming platforms to offload a stake in its television arm as it focuses on its broadband division. ITV [...]
Week in Sportbiz: Taxman cometh for football (again); BT Sport; Simone Biles; social media boycott; and NHS x NFL draft April 29, 2021 HMRC has cashed in by increasing scrutiny of the football industry, so perhaps it should be no surprise that the taxman has begun a new crackdown on players and clubs. Investigations into footballers almost tripled in 2019-20, while those concerning clubs more than doubled. The result was an increase from £35m to £73m in tax [...]
Premier League set for TV cash boost after it agrees to renew £4.7bn contracts with Sky, BT and Amazon on same terms April 27, 2021 The Premier League is close to renewing its £4.7bn domestic broadcast contracts with Sky, BT and Amazon, according to reports. It has chosen a private sale to current partners on the same terms as existing deals rather than a traditional auction of the rights for 2022-2025, according to SportBusiness Media. The arrangement must still be [...]
Former BT boss Gavin Patterson approached over Super League top job April 19, 2021 The former chief executive of BT is said to have been approached about heading up a controversial new football competition dubbed the European Super League (ESL). Organisers made an informal overture to Gavin Patterson, who left the telecoms giant in 2019, over becoming the inaugural boss of the venture, Sky News reported. His name is [...]
BT frontline workers to bag £1,500 bonuses and shares March 24, 2021 BT has offered its frontline workers a bonus of £1,500 in recognition of their efforts to keep its customers connected during the pandemic. The bonus, equivalent to around five per cent of their average salary, is being made to 59,000 workers despite the broadband provider freezing pay across the company. The company is in discussions [...]
Screenshot: Who’s invited to the UK’s summer of fun? March 19, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: No 10’s power vacuum **Who’s invited to the UK’s summer of fun? **BT gets a broadband boost Media Moment of the Week: No 10’s power vacuum There are two main things to remember when unveiling your grand £2.6m briefing room to the world: make sure it doesn’t look [...]
Ofcom gives BT green light to charge more for full-fibre broadband March 18, 2021 Ofcom has given BT the green light to continue charging higher prices for its full-fibre broadband services in a bid to encourage investment in the network across the UK. The media watchdog today said BT’s Openreach will be free from price caps on its wholesale offering for at least a decade. The long-awaited announcement forms [...]
