Channel 4 to furlough staff in £245m coronavirus cost-cutting plan April 8, 2020 Channel 4 today said it will furlough 10 per cent of staff and implement pay cuts for executives as part of a plan to save £245m during the coronavirus crisis. The broadcaster warned the TV ad market was expected to plummet 50 per cent in April and May as brands pull their campaigns during the [...]
Audioboom shares jump as its ramps up podcast production April 7, 2020 Shares in Audioboom rose almost 17 per cent this morning after the podcast company posted a sharp rise in revenue for the first quarter. The Aim-listed company, which hosts and distributes podcasts, reported revenue of $6.4m (£5.2m) in the first three months of 2020, up 40 per cent on the same period last year. The [...]
Roku launches ad-funded UK streaming channel with classic British shows April 7, 2020 Roku has today launched a new UK channel as the ad-funded streaming service ramps up its TV offering for British consumers. The Roku Channel will offer users free access to more than 10,000 films, TV episodes and documentaries. It will feature British favourites such as Homes under the Hammer, Kitchen Nightmares and Skins, as well [...]
TV sector faces ‘bleak future’ without government intervention April 6, 2020 The UK’s commercial TV sector faces “permanent change” as a result of coronavirus unless the government steps in to help, top media analysts have warned. In a note to clients published today, Enders Analysis warned a combination of declining advertising revenue and a shutdown in filming had left broadcasters and the production sector facing a [...]
Mirror publisher Reach cuts wages and furloughs a fifth of its staff April 6, 2020 Dairy Mirror publisher Reach has today announced its employees will take a pay cut during the coronavirus crisis, as it continues to operate all of its regional and national titles. The publisher said some members of the senior editorial and management team will take a 20 per cent cut as part of cost-cutting measures. Other [...]
Video games firms tapped to feature in-game coronavirus health messages April 6, 2020 The government has teamed up with the British video games industry to insert public health information about coronavirus into some of their most popular hits. Candy Crush Saga, Sniper Elite 4 and Dirt Rally 2.0 are among the games that will feature the ‘Stay at Home, Save Lives’ slogan. The government has already launched ads [...]
Coronavirus: ITV bosses take 20 per cent pay cut as bonuses scrapped April 3, 2020 ITV today scrapped director bonuses and said its entire board would take a 20 per cent pay cut in light of the coronavirus crisis. The broadcaster became the latest company to announce executive salary cuts in the face of coronavirus, after scrapping its 2019 dividend and abandoning 2020 guidance. Executive directors asked that their annual [...]
Podcast giant Acast doubles revenue as on-demand listening grows April 2, 2020 Podcast giant Acast doubled its revenue last year as it racked up almost 2bn listens on its growing portfolio of shows. The Stockholm-based firm, which helps podcast makers distribute and monetise their shows, reported revenue of 361m Swedish krona (£29m) in 2019, up from 180m krona the previous year. Acast, whose shows include the Adam [...]
BBC to reshow London 2012 Olympics as sports schedule collapses April 2, 2020 The BBC will reshow the London 2012 Olympics as the broadcaster battles to fill holes in its schedule caused by the cancellation of sporting events. The opening ceremony will air on BBC One and iPlayer this spring alongside a selection of highlights, including the so-called Super Saturday, when Team GB won six gold medals in [...]
MPs call for clarity over coronavirus support for film and TV workers April 2, 2020 MPs have urged the government to clarify what support it will offer to people in the UK’s entertainment sector who are unable to work due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Select Committee warned there was a loophole in government measures that meant many workers could be excluded from existing [...]