Ofcom rules will allow BT to offer free football TV March 15, 2010 BT is allowed to offer free Premier League football as Ofcom has already withdrawn restrictions preventing the firm offering “bundle” deals. The former state operator was governed by strict laws aimed at improving competition. But recent changes mean BT would be allowed to tie up Premier League matches with its broadband and fixed-line services. The [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING April 6, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES GAZPROM TO LAUNCH RUSSIA’S BIGGEST BOND ISSUE Gazprom will seek to raise Rbs300bn ($10.2bn) in Russia’s biggest bond issue programme to date, as the gas export monopoly tries to take advantage of a booming domestic bond market to restructure its debts and raise funds for upcoming investments. Gazprom said it had mandated Gazprombank, [...]
Media gets through its toughest trial yet March 7, 2010 THE X Factor winner for 2010 is… ITV. The broadcaster has managed to survive the economic crisis, albeit with a slimmed down staff base, and actually managed to turn a £25m profit at the end of last year, after losing £2.7bn in 2008. There could be more good news to come for the UK’s media [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING March 24, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES EUROZONE DIVISIONS HIT SINGLE CURRENCY The euro came under heavy pressure yesterday, falling to a 10-month low against the dollar, as doubts intensified about the 16 eurozone member states agreeing on financial assistance for Greece – and Portugal suffered a credit downgrade. Sentiment soured towards the European single currency after Fitch, the rating [...]
Go hide away in the sun-drenched valleys of Jordan May 9, 2010 THE afternoon sun is browning our sweaty pink skin as we lie by the pool at Evason Ma’in, nudged between a massive yellowstone fortress-style hotel and a water-spewing rock face. Well, it may be all lemonade, glossy magazines, dramatic scenery and sun-tanning poolside, but just a few kilometres away on the Dead Sea’s south-east coast [...]
Sales jump at M&B as deals cheer punters September 24, 2009 Pubs and restaurants group Mitchells & Butlers yesterday said that it expected its full year earnings to beat current forecasts, after a return to bargain dining and cheap boozing boosted sales. The owner of All Bar One and O’Neill’s pubs chains reported a like-for-like sales growth of 2.6 per cent in the 10 weeks to [...]
They drink its all over… June 9, 2010 IF football is the universal game, then beer must be its companion drink. There is not a corner of the globe where the locals do not relish a kickabout. Similarly, wherever you find civilisation, you will inevitably find a brewery. Yet – and I’m sorry, Thomas Jefferson – not all beers are created equal. Just [...]
BSkyB loses appeal over ITV stake January 20, 2010 BSkyB has been ordered by a court to sell offload some of its 17.9 per cent stake in ITV. The broadcaster lost its appeal and was told to reduce its stake to below 7.5 per cent. BSkyB bought into the company for £940m in 2006 – effectively blocking cable group NTL from buying ITV. However, [...]
Gulf Finance House hit by S&P February 2, 2010 Gulf Finance House (GFH) said yesterday it is seeking to defer payment of a third of a $300m loan due next week as credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s slapped it with its third downgrade in 10 weeks. “Gulf Finance House … confirms that it has been in discussions with members of the WestLB syndicate [...]
NEWS | IN BRIEF January 20, 2010 Thai property scrap escalates A fight to control Thailand property assets co-owned by Lehman Brothers has spiralled, with HSBC and Aberdeen Asset Management joining the fray. Thai police have issued warrants against the pair in relation to their roles administering collateral or assets on behalf of Lehman. The move will further hamper the complex task [...]