ITV investigated by watchdog over viewer competitions August 11, 2020 ITV is facing a probe by the media watchdog over its viewer competitions after the broadcaster admitted that some postal entries were never counted in its prize draws. ITV referred itself to Ofcom after discovering that some postal entries were not entered into the winner selection process for six competitions between 2014 and 2019. The [...]
Cryptocurrency and blockchain can help solve many problems for the unbanked and the financially excluded August 11, 2020 Successful British entrepreneur Richard Ells has been around computers and coding from a very early age, and at age 26 he launched an internet business that would later win him an award, but it was not until he launched cryptocurrency start-up Electroneum in 2017 that he felt he could help make a difference in people’s [...]
How to fail in fixing Crypto Projects : Underestimate The Hype Factor August 11, 2020 Phew! I mean, literally, “PHEW!” I just finished a two-month consultancy for an emerging crypto project. I usually stick to blockchain and avoid crypto, but this project looked exciting, and it helped that a trusted colleague made the introduction inviting me to provide strategy and support. Just like the crypto project that got me into [...]
Boris Johnson ‘deeply concerned’ by Jimmy Lai arrest August 10, 2020 The government has accused China of using its new security law to “silence opposition” in Hong Kong after media tycoon Jimmy Lai was arrested today. Lai, 71, is one of the most prominent democracy activists in the Chinese-ruled city and an ardent critic of Beijing. He has become the most high-profile victim of a Beijing-backed [...]
MPs urge watchdog to probe BBC jobs cuts amid fears over local output August 10, 2020 A group of MPs has urged Ofcom to probe the BBC’s plans to cut hundreds of jobs in its local news division amid concerns the broadcaster is failing in its public service obligations. In a letter to Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes, the MPs called for an urgent response to the proposed cuts before [...]
Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai arrested under new security law August 10, 2020 Hong Kong media owner Jimmy Lai was arrested by police today under the territory’s draconian new security law. Lai was accused of collusion with foreign forces and the offices of his Apple Daily newspaper were raided by more than 200 police officers. Lai is the most high-profile victim of a Beijing-backed crackdown following the passing [...]
Can a new Scots Tory leader regain the party’s mojo? August 7, 2020 The Scottish Tories have got themselves a new leader. This might not move share prices or the relative values of sterling, and gossipers in the markets will now be asking “who is Douglas Ross?” But the same could have been said of Ruth Davidson back in 2011 when she became leader, shortly before her phenomenal [...]
How to improve your forecasting in a constantly changing world August 6, 2020 Companies are moving to the next phase of business planning, with one eye on economic recovery and the other on what their business and industry will look like as they emerge from and go beyond the crisis. But the future is a blind spot for many. Prior forecasting methods, based on past customer demand, may [...]
ITV profit halves during pandemic amid ‘most challenging period in history’ August 6, 2020 ITV has reported a 50 per cent slump in earnings for the six months to 30 June, as the public service broadcaster warned of the “significant impact” of the pandemic, which it said presented “one of the most challenging times in the history of ITV”. The results Adjusted earnings before tax, amortization and depreciation (Ebitda) [...]
Home, sweet home: Why it’s time for a national conversation about happier houses August 6, 2020 How have you improved your home during lockdown? And has it truly made you happier? Given that spending on home improvements was one of the first boosts to the economy during spring 2020, with the Office for National Statistics reporting that people in England and Wales spent 147 per cent more time gardening and doing [...]