Time Out boss: Tech giants have destroyed internet freedom February 19, 2021 The unbridled power of tech giants such as Google and Facebook has destroyed the concept of freedom on the internet, the chief executive of Time Out has said. In an interview with Morning Wire, Julio Bruno said that while tech companies had given us “a lot of good things”, they now exerted too much control [...]
Review into Hong Kong’s only independent broadcaster sparks media freedom concerns February 19, 2021 A Hong Kong government review launched today into the city’s only independent broadcaster has sparked concerns over media freedoms in the region. The publicly funded outlet Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) was found to have editorial management “deficiencies” and inadequate transparency of complaints following an unprecedented government-led review. Founded in 1928, the broadcaster is the [...]
Screenshot: Will Facebook regret going nuclear over Australian news? February 19, 2021 This week **Media Moment of the Week: A jumbo jab mix-up **Will Facebook regret going nuclear in Australia? **Arm’s getting chippy Media Moment of the Week: A jumbo jab mix-up When Liam Thorp received a text inviting him for his first Covid jab he was confused, given the healthy 32-year-old is pretty low down the [...]
Publisher Future lifts profit forecasts as it completes Go Compare deal February 19, 2021 Magazine publisher Future today said it expects full-year profit to come in ahead of previous forecasts as it completed its £600m takeover of price comparison site Go Compare. The media group, which owns titles such as Country Life, Four Four Two and Tech Radar, reported strong trading in the four months to the end January [...]
British music exports to hit £1bn by 2030 amid song rights boom February 18, 2021 The value of British music exports could double to £1bn by 2030 if the UK cashes in on the surging value of music rights and growth in new markets after Brexit, according to a new report. The rise of streaming services such as Spotify has fuelled a boom in music assets, with global revenues from [...]
UK nightlife ‘faces extinction’ without government support February 18, 2021 The UK’s nightlife scene is at risk of extinction without urgent financial support, the government has been warned. A group of 40 cross-party MPs today urged the prime minister and chancellor Rishi Sunak to bring forward a sector-specific grant package and lay out a detailed roadmap for reopening venues to avoid “irreversible losses” for businesses. [...]
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp strikes news partnership deal with Google February 17, 2021 Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp has inked a three-year deal with Google that will see the US tech giant pay to use the publisher’s news content. New Corp, which owns titles such as the Times, the Sun and the Wall Street Journal, said it will provide “trusted journalism from its news sites around the world in [...]
Champions League highlights to be screened on London advertising billboards February 17, 2021 Londoners will be able to enjoy highlights from UEFA Champions League matches on digital advertising billboards thanks to a new tie-up between Ocean Outdoor and BT Sport. The deal will see Ocean, which operates major advertising sites including Piccadilly Lights, screen next-day match clips from the last 16 fixtures of the tournament through to the [...]
‘Beanz on bix for breakfast’ boosts brand scores for Weetabix and Heinz February 17, 2021 Last week, an "unholy union" of Weetabix and Heinz - featuring "beanz on bix for breakfast" - prompted popular outcry on social media.
Ocean Outdoor swings to loss as pandemic batters advertising sector February 16, 2021 Billboard operator Ocean Outdoor today said it expects to post a loss in 2020 after repeated coronavirus lockdowns devastated the advertising sector. The digital ad firm, which operates sites including Piccadilly Lights, forecast adjusted earnings to fall from £33m to a loss of £400,000. Revenue is expected to drop 38 per cent to £86m. It [...]