WPP gives cautious outlook despite record year with 26 per cent surge in annual profits March 3, 2017 The world's largest advertising group has said "tepid economic growth" is likely to cause a tricky 2017, despite reporting a record 2016 with profit before tax up 26.7 per cent. It's planning conservatively for the year ahead, after noting a slower fourth quarter in 2016 and slower start to 2017. Shares fell 6.02 per cent in early trading to 1,796p. [...]
TV channels including Channel 4, ITV2 and E4 are having a bit of a spat on Twitter March 2, 2017 Criticising TV channels because of the quality of the shows they provide is okay – we all do it. But have you ever thought you’d see them going at each other in public? Probably not. Well, it all started last night when Channel 4 seemingly felt a bit bored and decided to give ITV2 some [...]
Sky takeover: 21st Century to lodge deal papers with European authorities, firing the starting pistol on regulatory approval process March 1, 2017 Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox will take one step closer to sealing its takeover of Sky by lodging documents with European authorities this week. Fox is expected to ask Brussels to approve the deal, a move that starts the clock on 10-day window for culture secretary Karen Bradley to open an investigation into the £11.7bn bid to take control [...]
ITV profits rise – but ad sales fall in “uncertain” market March 1, 2017 Pre-tax profits at ITV rose in the year to the end of December, it said today – but ad sales dipped three per cent, partly thanks to uncertainty. The figures Anyone worrying about the fate of ITV in a post-Downton Abbey era needn't have bothered. The company said total revenue rose three per cent to £3.1bn, while pre-tax [...]
UEFA Champions League auction: BT and Sky prepare bids but could others come to the party? February 28, 2017 BT and Sky will go head-to-head in a near billion pound battle over the UK television rights for European Champions League football. A tender process kicks off with bids needing to be in tomorrow to secure the rights that also include the Europa League and will run for three years starting from the 2018/19 season. BT Sport is the incumbent provider [...]
ITV has snapped up a French TV production company February 28, 2017 ITV has purchased a majority stake in French television production group Tetra Media Studio for an undisclosed sum, the broadcaster announced today. Tetra’s flagship dramas include crime series Profilage (Profiling), now in its seventh season, and Les Hommes de l’Ombre (The Men of the Shadow), the critically acclaimed political thriller. Last year, the group produced [...]
Droning on: How drones are transforming marketing February 28, 2017 From publicity stunts to epic and cost-effective aerial photography, marketers are getting increasingly creative with how they use drone technology. Prior to the rise in camera-equipped drones in recent years aerial photography was restricted to those who could afford helicopter support. All that has changed. As City A.M. reported last year, the drone [...]
Revealed: David Cameron’s mornings begin with City A.M. February 27, 2017 Last time we checked there were 1,456 reasons why City A.M. should be the first thing you read every morning, dear reader. And this week, we found another one: former British Prime Minister David Cameron starts his day reading our newsletters. City A.M.EN to that! Read more: Revealed: David Cameron's new jobs Cameron, who was [...]
There’s no such thing as “fat-shaming” – it’s just advertising February 27, 2017 I take issue with the Vicariously Offended; the virtuous who take up the mantle of oppression, regardless of whether they are personally affected, at every given opportunity. I bit my tongue last week when they took offence at Protein World’s Tube campaign questioning commuters’ ability to “keep up with a [very slim] Kardashian.” It was, [...]
Trinity Mirror sales rise but it strikes a cautious note over the “challenging and volatile” print market February 27, 2017 The UK's biggest local newspaper group, and owner of the Mirror, has reported a big bump in profit and revenue for 2016 – but said the industry is still battling headwinds from falling print advertising. Read more: Daily Express owner mulling sale of tabloids to rival Trinity Mirror The figures Annual profit rose 24 per cent after [...]