NEWS | IN BRIEF
Arriva is optimistic for 2010
The operator of the CrossCountry rail franchise has said that there had been a “substantial improvement” in passenger revenues in recent weeks. In a trading update, Arriva reported a 2.1 per cent rise in CrossCountry revenues for the year to date, accelerating to a gain of 6.1 per cent over the past 13 weeks.
Despite the upturn Arriva said the improvement was still insufficient to compensate for declining franchise support payments.
Chrysalis gets Jackson boost
Music group Chrysalis has said an “extraordinary surge” of interest in Michael Jackson following the death of the pop legend will boost business next year. Revenues from music publishing rose by £6.4m to £36m in the year to September 30, with pre-tax profits jumping to £1.9m from £200,000 previously.
The overall group returned to the black with an underlying pre-tax profit of £500,000.
blinkx in Express Group web deal
blinkx, the world’s largest video search engine, announced a deal to power web advertising on Express Group’s newspaper and magazine websites. Under the terms of the deal, advertisements served by blinkx are being packaged around video content from ITN, which is shown on the websites of the Daily Express, Daily Star, OK! Magazine, new! Magazine and Star Magazine. blinkx has powered advertising across ITN and its syndication partner sites since July 2008.