Music streaming revenues overtake ownership for the first time amid shift to ‘rental’ market March 4, 2019 The popularity of subscription services reached record levels in the UK last year as music streaming revenues overtook ownership formats for the first time. Revenues from paid-for music subscription services such as Spotify jumped 39 per cent last year to £829m, meaning subscriptions now account for 62 per cent of all music revenues, according to figures [...]
AT&T announces Warner Media restructuring to prepare for streaming battle March 4, 2019 AT&T detailed plans to restructure its Warner Media business in a memo to employees today. The American telecommunications giant is preparing to enter the world of streaming and do battle against Netflix and Disney. Last week, it defeated the US government’s efforts to undo its $85bn (£65bn) purchase of Warner Media, formerly called Time Warner, [...]
Daily Mail shares jump following Euromoney shareholder giveaway March 4, 2019 Shares in newspaper group Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) jumped more than five per cent this morning after the company said it would return shares to shareholders. The company last night said it would return its 49 per cent stake in business media group Euromoney, along with £200m in cash, to certain DMGT shareholders. [...]
The future of news: could tax breaks make online news sustainable? March 3, 2019 Sarah Cartwright’s news kiosk is as much a fixture in Sloane Square as the high-end boutiques that have surrounded it since her grandfather began selling newspapers from a wooden box there in 1892. But the kiosk may do well to survive another decade, let alone a century. “Print is dead,” she says. The Cairncross Review [...]
Lord Rothermere tightens grip on Mail group with Euromoney share give away March 3, 2019 Lord Rothermere is set to tighten his control over Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) by returning all of DMGT’s shares in business media group Euromoney to shareholders. The company said today that it would return its 49 per cent stake in Euromoney along with £200m of cash to certain DMGT shareholders. Read more: Daily [...]
Advertising outlook clouds picture at ITV March 1, 2019 | City Talk There's excitement over plans for BritBox, but advertising trends at ITV still make uneasy viewing. ITV (LSE:ITV) has a strategy which is delivering the required results, even though in the very near term the company's own outlook is more guarded. The inevitable culprit is Brexit, as advertisers become less willing to commit to an expensive, [...]
Profits plunge at advertising giant WPP as it warns of ‘challenging’ 2019 March 1, 2019 Profit before tax plummeted at advertising giant WPP last year as it repeated its warning about a challenging 2019, but shares rose as the media firm beat low market expectations Read more: Martin Sorrell regrets nothing after WPP exit amid misconduct allegations The figures Profit before tax dropped 30.6 per cent to £1.46bn compared to [...]
Software developers beat average UK salary by 154 per cent February 28, 2019 Top developers earn 154 per cent more than the average Brit, a report released today has revealed, with blockchain fuelling a rise in employer demand for such skills. Read more: Blockchain oil firm taps former JP Morgan director as new chief Software supremos command an average salary of £71,000 a year compared with the UK [...]
Video killed the radio star – is it TV’s turn for the chop? February 27, 2019 I read the news about the proposed merger of BBC and ITV today with interest. The new service – apparently called ‘Britbox’ – will reportedly cost around £5 a month. Just last week, I interviewed outgoing CEO of UKTV, Darren Childs, for my Media Masters podcast, where we discussed the future of television and the [...]
ITV and BBC announce online streaming service to rival Netflix February 27, 2019 ITV has reported boosted revenue this morning as the broadcaster announced it is in final talks with the BBC to launch Netflix rival Britbox. The figures Total external revenue was up three per cent to £3.2bn and total non-advertising revenues grew five per cent to £1.9bn, ITV said in its full-year year results for [...]